new to WA and elk hunting. Elk call question

[agm1563]

As the subject states I'm new to WA and elk hunting. Currently I'm serving my last year in the Army and then will be living in NW Washington. I've been wanting to get into elk hunting and was wondering if it's worth using a cow call or bugle during the firearm season. I would be primarily be using modern firearm but also muzzle loader. Thank you for any insight.

[buglebuster]

Elk are vocal all year long, bulls are more vocal during the rut which is september into mid october. Bugles will probably only be effictive during that time. Cow calls will work all times of year since elk are a heard animal, but harder to call them in outside of the rut.

[ICEMAN]

I am no elk expert, but during the rifle hunt, the only call I have ever used was a cow chirp to ATTEMPT to calm down elk as I bungled a stalk.

[pianoman9701]

Cow calls are the bomb used correctly. Cow calls and young bull calls together have worked for me. Jason Phelps makes an excellent open reed call, as well as producing a good tube with some mouth reeds for the bull call. Elknut1 Has a CD or DVD and book called Elknut's Playbook. I would recommend all of these for you to get off to a good start on elk.

[Eli346]

Cow calls during modern firearm can be used but due to the numbers of hunters on public land and, more importantly, the number of cow tags given out I use it sparingly. I've jumped elk before and stopped them with a cow call to get a shot. One bull stopped three different times as I was chasing him up a hill before I got the shot. The bull I shot last year I stopped with a cow call as he was heading over the hill in front of me.

[pianoman9701]

Cow calls during modern firearm can be used but due to the numbers of hunters on public land and, more importantly, the number of cow tags given out I use it sparingly. I've jumped elk before and stopped them with a cow call to get a shot. One bull stopped three different times as I was chasing him up a hill before I got the shot. The bull I shot last year I stopped with a cow call as he was heading over the hill in front of me.

  Hunt archery or ML.

[kentrek]

Nothing stops an keeps an elks attention like a good aggressive bugle...nice thing to have when you have small shooting windows with elk on the move

[WapitiTalk1]

Elk are vocal all year long, bulls are more vocal during the rut which is september into mid october. Bugles will probably only be effictive during that time. Cow calls will work all times of year since elk are a heard animal, but harder to call them in outside of the rut.

This    I would add that a nervous grunt is a sound all elk hunters need to have in their tool kit (for all weapon seasons).  It is a great tool to stop an elk in his/her tracks for a shot. 

[boneaddict]

A lot of people would be better off if they left their calls in their dresser at home.   Its human nature for everyone to buy one then run around squawking on the thing thinking its to their advantage.   Probably one reason so many elk survive the season.   Hoochie Mammas probably saved a lot of elks lives.

[rtspring]

Cow calls are deadly when used the right way during modern season.
I cow call alot, not so much to locate elk but to make it sound as though I am an elk. 

Bulls will bugle way into modern season, just depends on how much pressure they have had.

I walk 10 steps stop and listen and look. About every 50 yds I give a single chirp on the cow call.

This process truly works when you are awY from crowds and roads..

Rtspring