What Did You Just Say To Me? Episode 1

[WapitiTalk1]

Disclaimer: I'll try to be a descriptive as possible with these scenarios but please understand I can’t cover all the variables potentially encountered in each of the presented situations. For these threads, let’s assume everybody knows what the different elk noises sound like (cow chatter, locater bugle, screams, chuckles, grunts, alarm barks, nervous grunts, etc.). Remember, it’s all about sharing knowledge from experience, asking questions, and perhaps, learning a thing or two.

Scenario: its late afternoon, the third week in the Idaho September archery season and you find yourself on a hillside you hunted a few days before. The last time you were here, you’d received one answer to your locater bugle but no follow on action in that area. You believe it may be a transition area for elk between feed and bed. You have decided to stop short of a tiny finger ridge and throw out a few cow/calf calls to see if there may be anybody interested in joining you for dinner. You get close to the finger ridge, almost to the top so your calls can be heard in the alder bench on the other side, throw out some soft cow calls and immediately move backwards, off to one side of where you’d just called, 25 yards or so to set up. You hear what sounds like brush being bashed on the other side of the finger ridge. A few more cow calls by you, a bit more brush bashing coming from the other side of the little ridge. No bugles or cow calls come back at you from over the ridge, just the brush raking. You give this setup a good 10 minutes and continue to receive the same results. Finally, you decide to work the thermals and get a bit closer. As you crest the little finger ridge and are making your way uphill on an elk trail to gain the thermals advantage, you physically see alder moving below you to the left, about 75 yards. The elk perhaps heard you moving and is responding to what he perceives as the cow he heard? You move 20 to 30 yards more along the sidehill, above the bull and again, set up to do some soft cow sounds. Same response but this time you can see a young bull with pretty white antler tips knocking the snot out of some alder brush, and, pawing the ground. I’ll stop here. What is this elk communicating and what action, if any, should you take to potentially get a shot?

[Jonathan_S]

I'd say he's trying to figure out if there is a larger bull with the cow(s) he hears.  He's coming in queit because he doesn't want a butt-kicking from a larger bull   

I'd sneak in as close as I could and throw out some soft estrous calls.

[JLS]

I'd say he's trying to figure out if there is a larger bull with the cow(s) he hears.  He's coming in queit because he doesn't want a butt-kicking from a larger bull   

I'd sneak in as close as I could and throw out some soft estrous calls.

 

[Jonathan_S]

"quiet" that is   

[Tbar]

I would guess he is displaying in all his moxee (which might not be much). He wants you to show yourself to him, my guess is you could carefully move in on him.  I've had this scenario play out and called them in several times. After displaying and getting no reaction or visual he will probably move off a short distance and try circling. Prior to him moving off you will probably get several popping grunts asking you for some company. The Bulls in the scenario you describe seem to be the easiest to call multiple times and also allow you to establish a good setup.  I wouldn't get aggressive with said bull. 

[WapitiTalk1]

The bull in this situation (been there more than a few times) is using non verbal communication in an attempt to impress and "call in" some chicks (responding to the cow sounds you made as you set up before and beyond the finger ridge). Not sure why they don't bugle sometimes (perhaps got his buns kicked the day before, bad hunter experience(s), cat got his tongue, sore throat , has had success using this method before, timing of the rut, etc., etc., not sure) but bulls will definitely use this method of displaying (postureing, raking, pawing/stomping the ground, running back and forth on a specific spot) in an attempt to put their elkhood on display and impress any cows within earshot. Bottom line in this scenario when Mr. Bull is standing his ground and asking for you to come to his location, oblige him, the best way you can in the terrain you're currently deployed in. What's appealed to him to this point is the cow calling, that should not be abandoned. Bugling in this scenario may not be the best option. Pehaps work as close as possible (terrain/cover dependent) and try to coax him in with additional soft cow calls. Working the thermals, move when the raking is occurring.. he'll have his forhead into the trunks of the brush. If he's really going to town on the brush, and, it's pretty thick, you may be able to crawl right in for a close shot. As Tbar mentioned, have your nervous/popping grunt ready to stop him for the shot if he's moving by you.

[Tbar]

Phantom first Thank you for starting the discussions, I love talking elk.  Second if I'm way off base feel free to tell me, I have thick skin and am always learning.