What Would You Do? Scenario 4

[WapitiTalk1]

It’s the third week in SEP and you and your hunting partner are working down and across a series of finger ridges on the side of XXX Mountain in the Gem state. Its late afternoon and you know there will be elk in one of the smaller draws that run up and down the huge side hill you’re descending down and across. You’re sweeping from south to north as you hunt, using game trails as much as possible. Yep, a series of east/west flowing draws which means, you’re dropping down on all north facing slopes each time you crest a small ridge and descend. As you top each small ridge, you drop down a bit, set up and try to strike up some conversations with the indigenous population. After two of these endeavours with no results, you top the third finger ridge, listen for unsolicited elk sounds for a few minutes, then commence with another set up. You decide to start with a locater bugle for this set up. Well, all hell breaks loose. From a small semi- flat spot below you in the draw, (70 or 80 yards below and slightly left) you hear immediate responses to your bugle from several cows! Across the draw, in a somewhat benchy area... two bulls sing back. The larger sounding bull is approximately 100 yards across and down; the smaller bull seems to be directly across the draw. Well, you’ve just woke up the sleepy mountain side for sure. As you and your partner share a few, quick thoughts on how to proceed you hear immediate movement to your left 30 yards or so and hear a few calves nervously chirping. Below you to the left, momma elk has moved up the side hill a bit and is now really talking (come back down here young ones). This all happens in less than a minute. Well now you’ve done it, it seems like you’ve walked into a small herd that was on the move... seemingly, in your direction. You have calves to your left, a concerned cow down below you and to the left, several cows down to the left in the small flat bottom, and two bulls across the small draw, perhaps 30 yards from the main group of cows. It’s very, very thick in this particular area (timbered but tons of 10+ foot tall alder and waste high huckleberry brush) but there is a small opening on the bottom of the draw where there are cows having a chipper conversation. From where you’re currently sitting, there are a few shooting lanes out to maybe 20 yards in a few directions going downhill. It’s so thick here that moving to the right and across the draw will be extremely unwise. I know, lots going on here.

Thermals are just about to switch in this area but currently, are still moving up.  Bull only tag. 

 Would you:


 a. Drop the shooter in place, head back up the side hill 20-25 yards, do some raking and throw out some excited cow sounds followed by a scream? 

 b. Give the shooter a few minutes to get down to the small opening (bottom of the draw where the cows are talking) to set up. You’ll stay put and commence to throw out cow/calf talk, mixed with some screams and chuckles in an attempt to pull one of the bulls across your partner?

 c. Phone a friend for advise (oops, no cell service here)?

 d. Don’t make another elk sound until you need a popping/nervous grunt, split up, and try to sneak across the draw on elk trails through the alder to get close to the bull(s)?

e.  Other?

 What say you elk hunters? After a few post up their thoughts, I’ll tell you what I did in SEPT 2012 when I experienced this situation. My chosen course of action (not necessarily the best), resulted in my buddy drawing on the herd bull at 25 yards.

[Tbar]

E- I blow the cows out let out as big ofa bugle as I can (I can't sound that mean) and run towards the Bulls.  One of us charges ahead 20 yards in front I stay at 50 and keep the conversation.  By the way I hate those alders, you can be inside of 10 yards and not have a shot.  In this situation I may change due to there being 2 bull's already but I don't worry about  bulging too much.   With the thermals about to switch you don't have time to wait,  it will swirl and result in game over. 

[xXLojackXx]

Call in an air strike and get the hell out of there 

[Bullkllr]

e-

It may not be too late to avoid spooking the whole herd. If I had to to keep the wind favorable I'd move back/up what ever needed. If the cows spook the bulls will too. Then just see what happens. If the cows stay left and are moving upslope they may lead the bulls right past you. Depending on what the elk do, then a, b, or d may be called for.

Although I like T-Bar's approach too and it sounds like more fun.

[northwesthunter84]

Wow.  This one is tough.  I am going to try A.  I would try to sound like an immature bull to give the bigger bull a feeling like he has the opportunity to steal some cows from a lesser bull.  This has to be quick, the bull if he is going to commit is going to come in quick to at the very least separate his herd from the younger bull.

[Odell]

I think B. Always so many variables though. Hard to know what's right and all the answers are sometimes wrong!

[Jonathan_S]

B.  What'd you do?

[slim9300]

If this location has the ability to shoot a few good lanes, which it sounds like it does. I would have the caller drop back immediately no more than 20 yards. While doing so I would have him let out a few distressed cow sounds (ie. getting worked over and not liking it too much) along with a few estrus sounds with my Phelps external reed call (so combo of external reed and mouth reed). It's almost good if the caller makes stomping type noise while moving away. I would direct those cow sounds he is making directly behind the shooter. Once the caller gets to a spot 20 yards behind the shooter, since it's so thick (remember to make sure he can barely see the shooter if possible). Once he gets to this point, I would have him start with some light chuckles pointed behind him and away from the elk/shooter. A scream would have the same exact effect but would be more 'aggressive' right off the bat and would probably work just the same depending on the bulls temperament. The scream and the chuckles are telling the cows/calves that you 'created' with your calling and the others below/above to come to him. The bull below will not like that since these are his cows, and as long as he's within 80 or so yards, he's most likely going to come in. If he stay still and challenges the 'intruder' or screams at the cows himself, I would give it one more scream right at him (still attempting to call his cows) along with a few more distressed/estrus cow sounds (at the same time do some raking). This raking represents 'courting' the cows. At this point he is about 90% likely to come in. If he still holds up and gets more pissed (ie. challenges you), your best bet is to bugle your baddest challenge bugle with grunts right over top his grunts. This should be the last straw. Remember none of this works unless you are in his breadbasket (60-100 yards in thick stuff).

Just my .02 RJ


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[WapitiTalk1]

It was a modified "B" for us.  We were sweeping down and across the side hill/N facing fingers attempting to be below anything we heard or encountered as the thermals were pretty steadily flowing down by that time of the day.  By the luck (or bad luck) of the draw, it happened that the group of elk we encountered we're doing the same thing as they left their day time beds.  As oftentimes happens, it seemed to be like almost immediate action was necessary before it was crashing hooves.  I sent my partner down towards the smallish opening and I backed up a bit (not much, just enough to make some noise to perhaps cover Joe's ninja movement through the alder and huckleberry brush) still staying pretty close to where we were when we got the "hits".  Wasn't too worried about the calves to my left but felt that I needed to at least get my shooter down closer to the small group of cows.  My sounds included cow/calf mews, whiny "help me" cow sounds, and a few screams (including some pretty intense raking as Slim mentioned) which really got the boys going.  The satellite did not move much from his position but the big guy (a nice wide 5 point) strolled right into the little opening a minute or so after my partner set up within 25 yards of the cows.  My partner said he only had one shooting lane into the small opening but it was enough he could see all 3 or 4 of the cows due N of him (same elevation/thermals not a factor).  As the boss trotted into the opening, my buddy drew and.......the bull stopped less than 30 yards broadside from my partner and looked directly up the hill at the intruder (me) and screamed at his girls, saying it was time to move.  The problem was, the bull stopped directly on the "other" side of one of the cows.  No shot and the situation turned into crash, crash, crash within another minute after our scent finally stunk up the noses of the cows.  Fun day in the elk woods, but no shot.