Who Bugles?

[blacktailcody]

Do not bugle. Just run through the woods saying here elky elky.

Works every time.

[HUNT-HARD]

I tend to let the Elk dictate what calls I use. Some bulls shut right up when you bugle and some just cant handle it and come in on a string. I do prefer to rely more on the cow call though.

[Bullkllr]

I really think most people would be better off not using a bugle.  I hardly ever use one.

Maybe by how often or when they use them.  I don't think it matters how good your bugles sound.  Some of the worst ones I've ever heard came from elk.  I heard a bugle last year, followed by chuckles that gave me visions of a hunter swallowing his reed in the middle of it and gagging it back up.  Two minutes later I watched a 6 point bull come out of the coulee where I'd heard the "worst chuckle of my life"

Knowing when to bugle, where to bugle, how to set-up when bugling, how often to bugle etc. is the hardest part. Making an elk-like sound with some kind of call can be mastered pretty quickly. The rest takes time. I'd hate to see a guy who drew a good tag ruin his chances for success with poor calling practice. I see/hear more poor calling (not sound/tone necessarily than good calling every year.

[bucklucky]

I agree with your #5 completely, but I haven't been able to figure out which one works better (of course it depends on each individual situation).

In my experience, when leading with a bugle most of the time the cows scatter but the bull usually holds his ground.  I usually use this tactic when I know it is herd bull and i am very close.

Even with how effective it has proven to be i always find myself painting the picture "there is a cow In estrous over here and another bull is challenging for her" and forcing him to "come and get it or leave it".

My take on this .  I will get as  close to the cows as I can silently and I mean close like say 30 - 50 yards . If I can get into that window I will challenge the heard bull every time . I have been absolutely successful many more times than not . Now this is with a good mature heard bull not some dinky wanabe "heard"  bull that might be acting as the big man but really isn't,  type deal. They run away with there tail tucked between there legs most of the time  I have killed my biggest 2 bulls by this . My 370 bull I snuck in as close as I could and let er Rip. Got a 35 yard broadside on him. It can be a deadly way to kill a big old heard bull, they usually don't back down when your in close to steal his action.

    Next time you can watch a heard during the rut , watch how the heard bull reacts to the satellite bulls and the herim . Its fun to see 8 different sattelites trying to get a piece of the action and that heard bull run around like a chicken with his head cut off chasing those little suckers off.  A lot of times the satellite bulls may pair up a couple hundred yards off and be sparing while other bulls move in to grab a cow.

[Pilot_Hunter]

Great info! Thanks everyone, I can't wait to get out and try it. I'm so excited for elk season!

[ridgefire]

I am 100% convinced that those who do not bugle do not know what they are missing out on. Alot of people hear that bugling is not effective but give it a shot.. odds are you will probably be pleasantly suprised at the results. 

[norsepeak]

I just play "yankee doodle dandy" with my Phelps cow call in the woods and the bulls usually will run up, jump into the truck and lay down.  99% of the time it works every time, almost.

[boneaddict]

You were baiting with beer weren't you?

[norsepeak]

Yes, but we've found they only like "lite" beer.  Shhh, that's our guiding secret.

[blacktail luv]

I bugle way more than I cow call.  I like to piss them off, just my style I guess.  Works almost every time if you know how to do it right.

[coachcw]

I've seen bulls push there cows out when you bugle them close in . I like to find a herd then slip in close once the cows get settled into bed I will meow like a cow that strayed away often the bull will come to find her , if the rut is on I will esturus whine like crazy till he can't take it if he buggles and hangs up I may whine at him as he bugles , that gets them going . a soft muffled bugle will give you his location if your not sure where he bedded up . I will also just cow call as i'm hiking along making noise often I've walked in on them not realizing elk where there , then you get the meow back , that's cool .

[boneaddict]

I bugle way more than I cow call.  I like to piss them off, just my style I guess.  Works almost every time if you know how to do it right.

I'm the same way.    I find more call shyness with cow calling

[Bean Counter]

I've gotten pretty decent at bugling and cow calling, but I can't seem to figure out chuckling to save my life. I guess part of it is paranoia: I'm afraid I'll choke on my reed 

Any tips?

[donnyp96]

If u are planning on going into the woods to call I would suggest you do it somewhere ur not intending on hunting. No need to educate the elk with ur specific tone and style. I've watched many people make that mistake prior to season then go back a week later and get no reply.

[Pilot_Hunter]

If u are planning on going into the woods to call I would suggest you do it somewhere ur not intending on hunting. No need to educate the elk with ur specific tone and style. I've watched many people make that mistake prior to season then go back a week later and get no reply.

Yep, already planned on that. I don't want to educate the ones in the area I'm hunting.