locator bugles at night?

[steeliedrew]

Say you're hunting out of a spike camp going after Rosies on pressured, public land...and you decided to do some calling after dark, How far from your camp would you want to call? I just figure if I was to be calling after dark I wouldn't want to be laying in a Bivy.  Some reading I've been doing lately suggests that when elk are silent sometimes after dark calling can help locate bulls for the morning hunt.

Has anyone accidently had a bull come in, in the dark? 

[HUNT-HARD]

We had elk feeding at night last year and bugling within 500 yards of camp. They would answer locator calls at night but would be in the thick stuff by daylight and wouldn't be talkative at all during the daylight hours.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I'm not hunting at camp so a little calling never hurt.  Although the local residents like to battle on the bugle...  We are still hiking or riding out at night.  So we'll stop every 100-200 yards and rip a few bugles.  Got five bulls to answer in a four mile ride out last year.  There was a bull in every draw.  But by morning like said there all quiet.  I'd say bugling in the morn before sunlight would be more effective and give you better idea than the night before.  But the night before might put yup right in em.

[Shawn Ryan]

Agree that night bulging can help locate elk. I suggest moving away from camp. 

However, where I backcountry camp, I am right among the elk.  I regularly have elk around camp and hear them walking or vocalizing during any time of the night or day. I don't call from camp at night because I don't want elk coming in to camp at night. Sometimes they come by anyway. Hearing elk walk by the tent at night is a great thing.

Last year a bull spent parts of my 10 days hanging out close to my camp. I heard him bulging close by while in my tent most mornings and a few times during the afternoons. I saw his rump or hindquarters a couple times. Never got a shot at him. Point being that he didn't spook because he was close to camp. He was cagey and I spent many hours sneaking and calling him. There was little other pressure in the area.

[deerhunter_98520]

Works great....where I hunt here on the wet side its no camping so we drive in several hours before dark and locate them....I had one 2 years ago answer and charge at us on the road at 3 am....it was pretty exciting.

[lagnar]

I had three bulls responding from the Naches permit as I was on the Bumping GMU, tried to get them to come across the American River that night, so we could check them out in the morning.  One came in so quickly I dove on the ground and was afraid he was going to stab me as he passed by....  really fun after the adrenaline and fear wore off.
Cow called only.

[WapitiTalk1]

Agree that night bulging can help locate elk. I suggest moving away from camp.  However, where I backcountry camp, I am right among the elk.  I regularly have elk around camp and hear them walking or vocalizing during any time of the night or day. I don't call from camp at night because I don't want elk coming in to camp at night. Sometimes they come by anyway. Hearing elk walk by the tent at night is a great thing.

This    We had bulls singing within a few hundred yards almost every night last year in the Gem state.  I put up a trail came, 70 yards from camp to see whom was lurking (besides our evening dose of mule deer).  Didn't get a head shot pic on the bull "elk" but got these shots    Not sure if the elk butt  had horns on the other end but I suspect so.. As you see from the time on the pic, he swung by long after we'd left camp and headed into the alder draw he was moving towards (about that time, I was having a heated conversation with a bull on the other side).  Bullwinkle moose graced our presence a few times during our two week hunt, always at night. 

Yes, night time locating is a good thing.  Elk are more comfortable in many instances sounding off under the cloak of darkness... particularly in WA's crappy season (so early in the rut).  As Shawn mentioned, do it away from camp.  I have numerous "bugle points" in the spots/states I hunt which I use to locate.  Many times, you don't need to spout off, just listen... If they're talking, you're golden.. no need to toot your horn.  Sometimes it takes a bit of a drive, or walk, to get to nocturnal bugle points but many times your effort pays off with a hunt for the morning.  Elk will normally be where you heard them in their night time feeding areas come morning.. just gotta get right on them before they head to the Motel 6.

[steeliedrew]

Thanks guys.  I'll give it a shot this year.

[Shawn Ryan]

Cool photos Phantom. Would be neat to see Bullwinkle at camp.

[REHJWA]

I got so fired up hearing the bulls all night after they got fired up in reply to our calls that I couldn't sleep.  We most of done something right at least 4 bulls wear talking ALL night. At first light they must of had sore throats because they didn't make a chirp...

[cryder]

this is all very exciting stuff, but up in the rimrock area calling at day or night is just silly,its become a darn recreation area even after I pay to hunt there,but any way I don't call at all till 430 am and only when I here movement .I read a article written by Wayne Charlatan  ( my hero by the way ),and he advised very strongly to call only when necessary because in to days hunting situations the critters already know you are there in some capacity,he says that the lost calf call is the most productive way to call elk today anywhere ,because it will attract the curios cow which is a popular tag situation and also that big bull will be following to tell her hold on were do you think your going. you just have to be patient !! I used this method last year and it worked to a teee !although I didn't get off a shot last year it was the most exciting season I've had in five seasons with the bow.so at least keep that in mind.and oh ya ! the lost calf call is the shortest  lightest single mew you can do imitating a calf that has strayed from the rest Wayne says this is the sound of confusion to all the heard and HES RIGHT ! ( I LOVE THAT GUY ! )

[steeliedrew]

I'll give the lost calf call a shot this year.  Thank you.