What Would You Do? Scenario 1.

[WapitiTalk1]

Figured I'll throw a few of these out and see what kind of traction they get.  Trying to stimulate some off season elky conversation ..

You started out before daylight, traversing down a long access trail that drops steeply on one side of a ravine/canyon. There are at least two bulls bugling directly across from you, one sounding like a decent herd bull and a the other a satellite on the outsirts of the herd, on the other side of said canyon. Thermals are still moving steadily down at this time in the early morning so you bust down the trail (hoping to get close to but underneath the elk so the thermals are in your favor) and hit a semi open finger ridge which takes you down to the creek bottom that will put you below the bulls. You move quickly down the finger ridge, cross the small creek which puts you on the other side of the canyon. You immediately smell and see fresh elk sign all over the place, and hear the bulls singing above you on the sidehill 100-150 yards, which sound like they're moving steadily uphill. To this point, you haven't made a sound.  It's 23 September; bull only area; Northern Idaho.     

Would you:

A. Knowing you have the wind in your favor for at least a while, move as quickly as possible towards the bugling bulls without making a sound and see how close you can get before saying (elk sounds) or doing (raking, stomping) anything and ultimately set up and try to dislodge big stinky with some whiny cow calls and a scream/challenge bugle?   

B. Stop, set your partner up on the other side of the creek, and throw out a challenge bugle to see if you can possibly pull the smaller of the two bulls (non herd bull) your way?

C. Try to get dog the elk/herd as they're very vocal (but on the move), set up as close as possible to their same elevation when they slow, and try to get a shot as bullwinkles makes his rounds, checking cows for estrus.  The terrain is very steep and somewhat thick but there are sporadic elk trails. 

D. Other...

Yep, a true scenario from my ID hunt two years ago... I ended up drawing back on the satellite but there was not a clean shot so I let off. As I've explained the situation, what would you do, or, what plan would you craft as you headed down the access trail in this situation?

[lostbackpacker]

If I am in WA state, I would wake up from my dream

[cbond3318]

If I am in WA state, I would wake up from my dream

  Since I am a dedicated Eastern Washington Elk Hunter with 3 bull points, I would work the area of fresh sign looking for the herd of females and pray a True Spike is with one of the old gals  sharing stories of epic knitting sessions.

[tonymiller7]

A

[Tbar]

 If they are moving I would try to get ahead of them without ever calling. If they are stationary I would try to get as close as possible without calling. If I'm within 60-70 yards I might, and I mean might try a setup. Anything outside this range I've had them take the cows and move on. If you are in their comfort zone to pose a threat otherwise they take their ball and run flight is usually easier than fight even if they sound mean as they distance them selves from you. If the bull is circling cows and covering some ground I would try to kill without ever calling.
If you gave the chance to set up on their route of travel and you feel like you are in his comfort zone get aggressive.  I'm not afraid to make noise and lots of it at this point. The last thing I want is for him to think he has the option of flight at this point. Wind and setup are going to screw you way before noise at this point. I also mix up the cow calls and bugles. I use cow calls aggressively if I think he's locked on my position, they don't like leaving cows but have no problem leaving a bull and sounding tough as they leave. 

[Ccortez]

If they are moving I would try to get ahead of them without ever calling. If they are stationary I would try to get as close as possible without calling. If I'm within 60-70 yards I might, and I mean might try a setup. Anything outside this range I've had them take the cows and move on. If you are in their comfort zone to pose a threat otherwise they take their ball and run flight is usually easier than fight even if they sound mean as they distance them selves from you. If the bull is circling cows and covering some ground I would try to kill without ever calling.
If you gave the chance to set up on their route of travel and you feel like you are in his comfort zone get aggressive.  I'm not afraid to make noise and lots of it at this point. The last thing I want is for him to think he has the option of flight at this point. Wind and setup are going to screw you way before noise at this point. I also mix up the cow calls and bugles. I use cow calls aggressively if I think he's locked on my position, they don't like leaving cows but have no problem leaving a bull and sounding tough as they leave. 

[Pygmy]

C.

[Tbar]

I will add a bit more that would dictate my decision making. The wind will decide which bull I target, period. Also I will add that satellite bulls (or any single bull) are easier to kill than herd bulls. The herd bulls make a lot of right moves.
You also mention that you get to the same elevation. I would also consider getting below the targeted bull, I usually find it easier to get them to come down than up (and you  the thermals going down).

[kentrek]

Hmmm...ive been in this exact set up lol

We snuck into about 50 yards of the last cow an I put my brother about 45deg off to my left toward the bull..i then did a calling sequence that sounded so good the bull turned with half his herd an started pushing them up the hill away from us, a spike an cows came to about 30 but boogerd after not seeing elk....after that we kept the herd bull talking but couldnt get close enough to get him to turn around..800 feet in elevation later, dead dog tired, the thermals finally switched an that was that..

16 weeks of elk hunting experience later I have no doubt I would either leave them for other elk or get to one side of the herd an get to the same elevation as the bull..I would pretend to be a bull about a year younger than that of the bull im after...if he wanted to circle down wind to smell us we'd have him...if he wanted to circle up hill to show dominance, wed have him.....or id like to think  that would be the case 

[buglebrush]

Get above and ahead of them.  Move in once thermals switch to uphill

[asl20bball]

A. Stealth is best option at that point. They don't know ur there

[northwesthunter84]

I vote for C.  All it takes is one gust if you go with example A.  If you were to call I would put the shooter above and closer to the elk while the caller using cow calls set up further out say 50 yards and a little below .  That way you the shooter has the wind and can make a move if needed.  The caller should be ready for a sneaky satellite bull. If the big bull hangs up a challenge bugle might be what it takes and he will be more apt to investigate from the uphill side.

[WapitiTalk1]

I moved up and off to the side of the small group of elk.  Got to where I could hear them moving a bit above me, to the left, on a quasi bench where they slowed down considerably (nappy nap time).  Set up with good cover behind and what I thought was decent shooting lanes.  I was probably within 90-100 yards of Bullwinkle and his girls.  I didn't feel I was quite close enough to challenge his bullhood and dislodge him with a challenge bugle so started with a few soft whiney cow calls to check his mindset.  The herd bull screamed back and tacked on some chuckles for good measure.  He was calling me to him.  Problem was, it was very..very thick on that ID hill side and to move closer would put me in 10-15' high alder and 5' huckleberry brush which would ultimately mean, no shot if homer came a calling.  I continued with one more series of whiney cow calls and "CRASH", a decent 5X5 satellite did a batman lurch over the little ridge up to my left and stopped, head on "close" to one of my identified shooting lanes.  Close was not close enough as he was covered to his throat in berry brush.. I kept him interested for a minute by continuing with some very soft cow calls behind me, into the dirt.  He moved a few times left, right, then a bit closer but again, no shot.  I drew back two or three times before he finally decided he'd had enough and back over he went.  I backed out of that spot and hunted it a few days later but the little herd had moved on, probably over the next ridge and down into a larger draw.  Soo, I guess my approach/choice for this situation was A.  Worked out pretty well.. except for the part of not getting a shot    Good times in the elk woods.  Thanks for all the discussion on this thread folks.  Some very smart tactics, courses of action were offered by you guys.       

[plugger]

Well, I don't bow hunt so I would set up on the opposite side of the creek, level with the elk, and shot the heard bull with my rife when he gave me a shot. Since there only a hundred yards above and its steep, Should be  200 yards give or take.