collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Topic of the week - Locator Bugle  (Read 19110 times)

Offline JPhelps

  • I EAT ELK!!!
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2007
  • Posts: 2898
  • Location: Pe Ell
Topic of the week - Locator Bugle
« on: June 26, 2012, 06:58:01 PM »
I decided to dust off the detailed notes I have been keeping over the last 15 years of calling elk and put them to use.

With elk season approaching I thought it would be cool to pick a topic a week and discuss it and see what questions people have, strategies they use, etc...  I will try and post up a new topic every week until September.  For next weeks discussion what direction should we go; imitation, getting setup before calling, effective cow calls, challenge bugle or anything else you have questions about.


Locator Bugle

What it is used for/What it means: Non-Confrontational communication between bulls looking or checking for other elk.  Used by a bull announcing his location and looking for response from other bulls to see where they are at. 

What it Sounds Like:  Usually a two or three note bugle where extra emphasis is put on the high note.  I usually run this call for about 3 seconds holding the high note.  Very little growl or grunt is used at the beginning and end of the bugle. There is a tone that just “makes your ears ring” and that is the high note that produces the best results (if you have to ask if it’s the right tone then you’re not hitting the right note).

How/When to use it:  I have found that this call is most effective if used in the morning (30 minutes before light to about 2 hours after sunrise) and the evening ( 2 hours before dark).  These times correlate with herds moving between feeding and bedding and vice versa.  It can also work mid-day, but it usually isn’t as effective.  The best use of the locator bugle may be between 10 and 12 at night for locating bulls when they are very vocal.  When calling at night only call once and DO NOT add in any other calls.  You will be amazed at how many times an area you hunted all day and was complete silence will have a bull fire off when night locating.

I like to use this call when blind locating by calling off of ridge tops or finger ridges every 150 to 250 yards.  I will wait 20-30 seconds before moving on.  A lot of times you will get a bull to respond right next to where you just used a location bugle (to the best of my knowledge I believe bulls do not answer in an effort to avoid a confrontation with the new bull being so close to his new area, but once you move away and call again he is comfortable enough to respond).

Responses to It:  The majority of the time you will get a location bugle in response to your location bugle.  If hunting with a partner you can use one guy to continue to locate why the other guy slips in.  If hunting solo get a good read on the elk (time of day, wind direction, natural path, etc…) and try to get in tight on the bull.

Some bulls will respond with a threating bugle (challenge bugle, grunting, screaming).  This is letting you know that you are too close to the area he is calling his and he would like you to leave.  When faced with this situation get in tight and create a threat to the bull.  You already know he is defensive of his area and will most likely not want to leave.

Examples of me using a locator bugle in the field @ 5:52 and 6:15
Primetime Outdoors - Gettin After It: Season 2 - Archery Elk Part 1


Offline stealth

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 34
Re: Topic of the week - Locator Bugle
« Reply #1 on: June 26, 2012, 09:42:28 PM »
good info thanks for the tip :tup:

Offline washelkhunter

  • Region 5 State Delegate #3
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2011
  • Posts: 3549
  • Location: Vancouver
  • Site sponsorhttp
  • Groups: TPE, NRA, RMEF, AST
Re: Topic of the week - Locator Bugle
« Reply #2 on: June 26, 2012, 10:10:37 PM »
This is a great idea for a weekly post.  :tup:
Seems like we are reading off the same page as the location bugle goes. We have the same experiences as well. Once we get a response we move in quick and quiet and try to get a visual on an animal before trying a call again. when we think weve closed a good distance we'll call as nonthreatening as possible to pinpoint his location. If we get a return bugle we make our move and try to work the setup plan.

Online Dan-o

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+30)
  • Explorer
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2010
  • Posts: 18125
Re: Topic of the week - Locator Bugle
« Reply #3 on: June 26, 2012, 10:15:57 PM »
I love the topic of the week idea!

I use a locator bugle when I can.   Timing is everything, of ocurse.   It sure is easier to find a bull when he'll yell back.....     :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Member:   Yakstrakgutp (or whatever we are)
I love the BFRO!!!
I wonder how many people will touch their nose to their screen trying to read this...

Offline coachcw

  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2009
  • Posts: 8821
  • Groups: Team getsum !
Re: Topic of the week - Locator Bugle
« Reply #4 on: June 27, 2012, 06:38:28 AM »
It's a great way to locate other hunters to !

Offline jackmaster

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Nov 2010
  • Posts: 7011
  • Location: graham
Re: Topic of the week - Locator Bugle
« Reply #5 on: June 27, 2012, 06:46:18 AM »
just out of curiosity, how can you tell between an elk and a hunter, i dont really elk hunt except in my backyard, i know not much sport....... but anyways i have heard elk bugle that i would swear that they were hunters but it turned out to be a bull, one was one of the biggest bulls i have evr seen in my life, it was down right funny listening to that bull with his broke up whimpy bugle.? :chuckle:
my grandpa always said "if it aint broke dont fix it"

Offline Woodchuck

  • GO TEAM!!!
  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+13)
  • Explorer
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2009
  • Posts: 12147
  • Location: Walla Walla
  • HuntWA Woodblock
Re: Topic of the week - Locator Bugle
« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2012, 07:00:09 AM »
I am under the impression that you hunt the wet side primarily but thought I would ask anyway. It seems to me that the elk over here have bugled less and less over the years. It has been stated by some that this is a defense against calling wolves to the herd. Do you think this may be true or do you have some other theory? If this is the case, do you have any thoughts or another idea on a reliable form of location?
« Last Edit: June 27, 2012, 07:16:37 AM by Woodchuck »
Antlered rabbit tastes like chicken


Inuendo, wasn't he an Italian proctoligist?

Offline Woodchuck

  • GO TEAM!!!
  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+13)
  • Explorer
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2009
  • Posts: 12147
  • Location: Walla Walla
  • HuntWA Woodblock
Re: Topic of the week - Locator Bugle
« Reply #7 on: June 27, 2012, 07:01:37 AM »
just out of curiosity, how can you tell between an elk and a hunter, i dont really elk hunt except in my backyard, i know not much sport....... but anyways i have heard elk bugle that i would swear that they were hunters but it turned out to be a bull, one was one of the biggest bulls i have evr seen in my life, it was down right funny listening to that bull with his broke up whimpy bugle.? :chuckle:
FWIW in my opinion humans call too much, too often and don't move.  :twocents:
Antlered rabbit tastes like chicken


Inuendo, wasn't he an Italian proctoligist?

Offline D-Rock425

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+12)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jun 2009
  • Posts: 13262
  • Location: Lake stevens
Re: Topic of the week - Locator Bugle
« Reply #8 on: June 27, 2012, 07:14:52 AM »
I love this post already great idea.  I would say dont over do this calling if you dont get an answer dont keep calling until you do (most likely you won't get one anyway).  Every year where i hunt this guy we nicknamed bugle boy walks the road and bugles all morning long.  Most of the time the elk in the area aren't talking anyway so he never gets an answer.

Offline TommyH

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 2101
  • Location: Eastside
Re: Topic of the week - Locator Bugle
« Reply #9 on: June 27, 2012, 07:57:04 AM »
I am under the impression that you hunt the wet side primarily but thought I would ask anyway. It seems to me that the elk over here have bugled less and less over the years. It has been stated by some that this is a defense against calling wolves to the herd. Do you think this may be true or do you have some other theory? If this is the case, do you have any thoughts or another idea on a reliable form of location?


Not sure that elk on the wet side have been calling less because of drawing wolves in...........its not something they have had to deal with! More and more people walking around bugling would be my guess. :twocents:

Offline Woodchuck

  • GO TEAM!!!
  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+13)
  • Explorer
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2009
  • Posts: 12147
  • Location: Walla Walla
  • HuntWA Woodblock
Re: Topic of the week - Locator Bugle
« Reply #10 on: June 27, 2012, 08:04:42 AM »
I am eastside, that is why I was asking
Antlered rabbit tastes like chicken


Inuendo, wasn't he an Italian proctoligist?

Offline PlateauNDN

  • Y.A.R. Medicine Man
  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 10691
  • Location: God's Country
  • R.I.P. Colockumelk 20130423. Semper Fi!
Re: Topic of the week - Locator Bugle
« Reply #11 on: June 27, 2012, 08:27:11 AM »
good info thanks for the tip :tup:

 :yeah: X's 2
This is a great idea for a weekly post.  :tup:
Seems like we are reading off the same page as the location bugle goes. We have the same experiences as well. Once we get a response we move in quick and quiet and try to get a visual on an animal before trying a call again. when we think weve closed a good distance we'll call as nonthreatening as possible to pinpoint his location. If we get a return bugle we make our move and try to work the setup plan.

 :yeah:
If you can read thank a teacher, If you can read in English thank a Marine! 
Not as Lean, Just as Mean, Still a Marine!
He who shed blood with me shall forever be my brother!

"Around this camp, there's only one Chief; the rest are Indians!"

"Give me 15 more minutes, I was dreaming of Beavers!"

Offline BowBender87

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 300
  • Location: SW Wa
    • http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=100001041254815
Re: Topic of the week - Locator Bugle
« Reply #12 on: June 27, 2012, 11:38:32 AM »
just out of curiosity, how can you tell between an elk and a hunter, i dont really elk hunt except in my backyard, i know not much sport....... but anyways i have heard elk bugle that i would swear that they were hunters but it turned out to be a bull, one was one of the biggest bulls i have evr seen in my life, it was down right funny listening to that bull with his broke up whimpy bugle.? :chuckle:

Sometimes it is pretty tough to tell. Not very often but sometimes.  When I'm not sure i go investigate. I dont want to be back at camp arguing with myself.."Im sure that was a hunter...but wait i dont know, those chuckles sounded really deep." In my opinion, I havent heard many callers that could truly imitate a bulls chuckle..nothing quite as deep and guttural as the actual thing. So that is usually what i go off of.  Other times you can tell that its a hunter and he is using a hoochie mama with a primos terminator bugle  :chuckle: and it sounds like a flute. It also kinda depends on where the bugle is coming from. You just kinda have to judge it like...I know there is a road over there..or theres a landing up there where that fluty bugle is coming from. I think that just being out there that time a year gaining experience is the only way to be able to determine hunter or bull.

Offline JPhelps

  • I EAT ELK!!!
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2007
  • Posts: 2898
  • Location: Pe Ell
Re: Topic of the week - Locator Bugle
« Reply #13 on: June 27, 2012, 12:31:27 PM »
It can be very hard to tell between a human (good or bad caller) and the real thing.  The external reed style bugles are much easier to detect as they all have the same pitch.  Like others have said grunts and chuckles seem to be the hardest for most to reproduce accurately.

Woodchuck, I have some friends in Wyoming that have noticed in the last 10 to 15 years the bugling has decreased.  This correlates with population boom of grizzly bear and of course wolves.  It could be they don't want to give away their location or it could be the fact that the elk population has decreased in these areas.

I agree with D-Rock in that don't over use this call.  I will play it  slightly differentl if I KNOW there are elk there, by using a couple locators (left them there the night before or spotted them from a ways away and it took a while to get there).  Although last year I called multiple times from one area and didn't get a response then I switched to a Challenge Bugle and got a response right below me, so you never know.  I would error on the side of not continuously calling from one spot.
« Last Edit: June 27, 2012, 01:36:03 PM by JPhelps »

Offline Woodchuck

  • GO TEAM!!!
  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (+13)
  • Explorer
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2009
  • Posts: 12147
  • Location: Walla Walla
  • HuntWA Woodblock
Re: Topic of the week - Locator Bugle
« Reply #14 on: June 27, 2012, 12:39:25 PM »
Any thoughts on getting those "predator shy" bulls to sound off?
Antlered rabbit tastes like chicken


Inuendo, wasn't he an Italian proctoligist?

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Looking for Solid 22 LR input by EnglishSetter
[Today at 03:13:54 PM]


WSTA 2025 Summer Rendezvous Agenda by Humptulips
[Today at 03:09:35 PM]


Fullsized Truck Opinion: HiMiNew vs LoMiOlder by rainshadow1
[Today at 03:01:42 PM]


2025 Montana alternate list by JBar
[Today at 02:20:40 PM]


Rotator Cuff repair X 2 advice needed by Wood2Sawdust
[Today at 01:36:26 PM]


Rock creek gone? Next? by JBar
[Today at 01:00:56 PM]


AUCTION: SE Idaho DIY Deer or Deer/Elk Hunt by teanawayslayer
[Today at 12:45:43 PM]


Archery elk gear, 2025. by pcveen
[Today at 09:35:38 AM]


2025 Canning by blackpowderhunter
[Today at 07:19:25 AM]


Lynx kittens confirmed in the Kettle Range by dwils233
[Today at 12:04:14 AM]


How To Get Your $0.00 Tax Stamp - Black Hammer Arms by dreadi
[Yesterday at 11:33:25 PM]


Seeking recommendations on a new scope by Klickitatsteelie
[Yesterday at 09:23:56 PM]


First attempt at polish sausages by Stein
[Yesterday at 07:58:22 PM]


Sockeye Numbers by Southpole
[Yesterday at 07:44:30 PM]


Best all around muzzy (updated) by jjhunter
[Yesterday at 07:44:26 PM]


38% increase in fishing and hunting licenses by Sitka_Blacktail
[Yesterday at 07:02:41 PM]


50 inch SXS and Tracks? by 92xj
[Yesterday at 05:34:03 PM]


3 days for Kings by MADMAX
[Yesterday at 05:06:49 PM]


Full moon and last week of September by pd
[Yesterday at 04:51:23 PM]


Hunting bears in the thick stuff by ghosthunter
[Yesterday at 04:33:46 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal