Elk Game Plan - Episode #2

[WapitiTalk1]

8:45 AM, 16 September, bull only area. While standing on a game trail, right after daylight, you’ve located (by hearing advertising and warning bugles) a herd bull/with cows and at least two satellites in harassment mode. They were down and across a steep draw, on the opposite side hill, a bit below your current elevation, when you first heard them right before the sun came up. You decide to take the battle to them and dump down off the trail, across the small wet creek in the bottom (the stream bottom is covered in sign by the way), and up the other side to where you figure you’re pretty close to where the herd seems to be slowing down on their probable movement to bedding area. The herd bull is still pretty vocal, warning the satellites to stay away with bugles/grunts. You also hear at least two bulls promoting their bullhood via brush bashing and advertising bugles, off a bit from the herd. This area is “thick”, sporting 8-10 foot high alder and some mixed in fir stands. You and your buddy are on the approximate same elevation as the group, within what you think is about 80 yards. To this point, you haven't made an elk sound with your calls. Your move. What is your game plan to maximize a shot opportunity on one of the bulls?

[rover758]

Okay .... First we get Pinned Down by the Enemy and then we get Episode 1 and while I'm still trying to figure out how I let myself get downwind of the Enemy and at the same time I'm contemplating my 7.5 minute quad and foul that up by thinking Episode 2 is a continuation of Episode 1 ... oh ... sorry ... I digress.  Assumptions:  I heard them right before the sun came up and I still hear them so I know what direction they are traveling, I did my homework and know where they are going to bed, and when we crossed over we ended up ahead of them.  I roll the dice and my buddy and I try to cut the distance by about 20 yards.  We only move when said herd pull bugles/grunts and/or said satellites harass.  We take good vantage points that offer two or three shooting lanes and wait for them to come to us - one of us above the projected trek and one below.  (I admitidly know nothing about calling, so...... I ain't gonna try calling.  Knowing my buddy he would probably try one or two soft cow calls and not put another bull in the mix.)  I'm just going to hope I read the terrain and wind right and an opportunity will present itself to shoot.)  ((My buddy and I got ahead of a bull that way last year and I drew on him.  25 yards.  Standing still.  Broadside.  He was looking uphill at my buddy who took the high road.  Fork on both sides in a spike only area.  Some times ya just got to admire them as they walk away.))

[Shawn Ryan]

The thick cover is daunting as it seems we will be very close prior to any shot opportunity. But I'm with Rover, its time to get in their path, just above and below and let them walk on in. Always minding the wind, which appears to be flowing towards their noses (isn't it always?)  If the herd bull appears to be getting by, then we might try a few estrous cow calls--it is 9/16, after all, and the first cows should be ready and the herd bull is waaay over due for some loving.  If the herd bull slips by, then I'm hoping one of the satellites is just hot enough to come to the same sound.  All the boys want some action, we are in close, so I'm counting on hormones to close the deal.  Like Rover, again, I'm not introducing another bull into the mix, yet. I have low success rates with that strategy this close in; mostly I bust the cows with that bugle and the herd bull follows.

If all of that fails, I'd try to follow the herd.  If they are close to bedding, they'll slow down and the bull will not want to bed as fast as the cows. That leaves him pacing around, looking/sniffing for some action; maybe getting cows up from their beds. If that wasn't working or as it was working, I'd use a few estrous whines. If that wasn't working then he'd get a combination of estrous whines and pants, huffs, and glunking to project the image of a satellite having hooked or trying to hook a willing and ready cow.