Calling in October Bulls

[brianb231]

Hey Guys,

Getting ready to head out and help my partner (BrianMTSinc) with his White river Muzzy tag. I will be calling for him. The elk are screaming as we expect. I am curious though. We have been bowhunting the past 25 years. We have been very successful call in Pre Rut and Early stage Rutt Bulls in Sept. We got a decent 5 point earlier this year. But my question is this:

In October 4th-10th later in the Rut or what some may call during peak rut or some may think it is Second Estrus Rut how do the bulls react to the calls? Meaning is being aggressive bugling better when bulls are cowed up or is still giving that sweet estrus cow talk most effective in October? Or is it business as usual like in September with a combination of both?

Any added info to this will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a bunch!

Brianb231

[grundy53]

Tagging

sent from my typewriter

[Whitpirate]

I'd say locator bugles and then stalk.  They aren't going to leave based on cow talk much.  Wind and get eyes on them!

[boneaddict]

I'd say business as usual.  Heck, most of the Yakima units don't even really start firing until the first of October.

[X12shtr]

It's going to be on a bull to bull bases some will have cows and are ready to take on the country side to keep them some with cows will tuck tail and push there cows away then you'll have the one tha are fighters and ready to go for it kinda like us guys and or family's you got talkers and you got fighters. I'm a archery hunter my self but have called bulls for buddy's with muzzs before its a lot of fun those first two week of oct those bulls are hitting it hard. Good luck guys you should have lots of fun with that tag

[TheHunt]

I agree business as usual call like you would during archery season.

[RadSav]

I find you can get a bit more aggressive during October than you can during early archery.  As cows get bred the bulls get into a bigger brain funk.  Throwing more caution to the wind and wanting that last unbred cow.  My best elk calling by far has been October 1st through the 15th.  Also the time when I call more multiples...so if you get busted hang tight a little longer and continue to work the call before moving on.

[vandeman17]

If it were me, I would spend a few nights out and about trying to locate where the bulls are. They will be very active at night and will almost always be in the same small area come morning. Head out in the dark, rip off some locator bugles and see if you can locate some bulls. If you can, be there before first light the next morning and just some lost calf and cow chirps. See if you can spark his interest to leave his cows and investigate. Also be ready for them to come in silent. Had it happen to me on more then one occasion. Crazy how a big bull can come in completely silent.

[brianb231]

Thanks guys, keep the opinions coming. We had eyes on about 8 respectable bulls on Sunday and the bugling was a frenzy. I just think that most will be with cows and wondering what is best to either lure them away looking for that cow or piss them off and get them coming in to challenge?

[deerhunter_98520]

I dont think you will have a problem getting them to come in.....i just called like i do in archery season....Yesterday I slipped into a herd and was 80-100yds away and did some estrus whines for 5 min or so then threw out a chuckle and had this guy come running in looking for a fight....he tore up the ground 45-50yds away




And this guy didn't like me bugling so close to his cows....he tore up a tree and came and bugled back at me

[brianb231]

I dont think you will have a problem getting them to come in.....i just called like i do in archery season....Yesterday I slipped into a herd and was 80-100yds away and did some estrus whines for 5 min or so then threw out a chuckle and had this guy come running in looking for a fight....he tore up the ground 45-50yds away




And this guy didn't like me bugling so close to his cows....he tore up a tree and came and bugled back at me

That's Awesome! Deerhunter! And great second photo. that is very cool!

Thanks

[cjensen]

Every year is different but they definitely act different for me in October.   In 2012 I couldn't get anything going with estrous whines or locator bugle but I literally had two bulls run in at full speed to some long drawn out lost cow sounds.   Anything that might be different than the sounds they just got pounded with the archery or rifle tag guys.

[Damnimissed]

Every year is different but they definitely act different for me in October.   In 2012 I couldn't get anything going with estrous whines or locator bugle but I literally had two bulls run in at full speed to some long drawn out lost cow sounds.   Anything that might be different than the sounds they just got pounded with the archery or rifle tag guys.

Some great advice.

[deerhunter_98520]

I posted a bunch more pics from the day in the photo section....a lot more close encounters

[brianb231]

I posted a bunch more pics from the day in the photo section....a lot more close encounters

Very Nice

[deerhunter_98520]

Hopefully you will have some pics from even closer soon  good luck on this hunt you guys should have fun

[huntnnw]

If it were me, I would spend a few nights out and about trying to locate where the bulls are. They will be very active at night and will almost always be in the same small area come morning. Head out in the dark, rip off some locator bugles and see if you can locate some bulls. If you can, be there before first light the next morning and just some lost calf and cow chirps. See if you can spark his interest to leave his cows and investigate. Also be ready for them to come in silent. Had it happen to me on more then one occasion. Crazy how a big bull can come in completely silent.

whats funny is have done this alot up here in NE WA....spent the whole archery season in the blues and the bulls there shut up at night or got very quiet...soon as there was light they would fire up again and bugle all day..odd

[liljozie495]

They were talking real aggressively this weekend when I was up bear hunting/pestering bulls with the bugle lol good luck you guys!

[coachcw]

most of the bigger bulls I've seen so far have taken there cows and split any time another bull gets close . i'm sure after most of the cows are breed that will change.

[elkoholic1]

just last night i was up calling found a nice group with hat id say was a hurd bull ( 7x8 ) he would call back and bugle up a storm but would just take his cows and walk off the little rag bull that was hanging around came right in to 60-80 yards dont think the big guy wanted any chance of loosing his cows now if you were to get inside his comfort zone and scream at him id bet he change his tune

[kentrek]

most of the bigger bulls I've seen so far have taken there cows and split any time another bull gets close . i'm sure after most of the cows are breed that will change.

If they aren't comfortable where they are at they will push their cows to an area where they feel they have an advantage...if it's a big bull he will hold up eventually (maybe, it's elk hunting lol )

If it's a satellite bull he's gona run for the hills as if he just got away with robbing a bank

 

[longstevo]

tag

[vandeman17]

Not to thread jack but question for you guys that is related. I was talking to a co-worker yesterday who is a non hunter and knows nothing about it. A guy he knows invited him to go "bugle up some bulls" this weekend. They won't be hunting but just out trying to call in bulls in a unit that is open to hunting. I told him that as a hunter, we don't prefer people to educate the elk, not to mention that it COULD put them in a potentially dangerous situation if the hunters are idiots. I also said there is nothing illegal and they have every right to do it but something to think about. Thoughts?

[Old Man Yager]

Last Thursday evening my son and I called in a sweet 7x7 right at dark. We had spotted 3 bulls in a clearcut with a cow, but none of them would answer, and then we got a reply from another cut up the hill .We humped it up there, spotted a 6pt bedded, and thought he was the one we had heard, but he wouldn't answer us either. So we realized there must be a bigger bull down in the timber patch, and sure enough we called back and forth with him for about 10 min, until the 7x finally came out on the edge of the timber below us. We finally had to go, it was getting to dark to see. I recorder it on the I Phone, to dark to see, but the audio was pretty cool.

[washelkhunter]

Not to thread jack but question for you guys that is related. I was talking to a co-worker yesterday who is a non hunter and knows nothing about it. A guy he knows invited him to go "bugle up some bulls" this weekend. They won't be hunting but just out trying to call in bulls in a unit that is open to hunting. I told him that as a hunter, we don't prefer people to educate the elk, not to mention that it COULD put them in a potentially dangerous situation if the hunters are idiots. I also said there is nothing illegal and they have every right to do it but something to think about. Thoughts?

They'll be about as popular as Ebola in Texas.

[RadSav]

Not to thread jack but question for you guys that is related. I was talking to a co-worker yesterday who is a non hunter and knows nothing about it. A guy he knows invited him to go "bugle up some bulls" this weekend. They won't be hunting but just out trying to call in bulls in a unit that is open to hunting. I told him that as a hunter, we don't prefer people to educate the elk, not to mention that it COULD put them in a potentially dangerous situation if the hunters are idiots. I also said there is nothing illegal and they have every right to do it but something to think about. Thoughts?

They'll be about as popular as Ebola in Texas.

Sounds like his friend is an anti.  Out trying to upset the muzzy opener and needs a human shield

[vandeman17]

Not to thread jack but question for you guys that is related. I was talking to a co-worker yesterday who is a non hunter and knows nothing about it. A guy he knows invited him to go "bugle up some bulls" this weekend. They won't be hunting but just out trying to call in bulls in a unit that is open to hunting. I told him that as a hunter, we don't prefer people to educate the elk, not to mention that it COULD put them in a potentially dangerous situation if the hunters are idiots. I also said there is nothing illegal and they have every right to do it but something to think about. Thoughts?

They'll be about as popular as Ebola in Texas.

Sounds like his friend is an anti.  Out trying to upset the muzzy opener and needs a human shield

His friend actually isn't an anti, I do know that. I think he is just naive to it all

[Taco280AI]

Seven or eight years ago, who knows, it was opening day of deer rifle season. I hit the thick stuff hoping others might push deer around into cover. Generally I carry a cow call or something in case I snap a stick, just pull it out, give it a blow, and hopefully they think I'm an animal and aren't alarmed. I'd been sitting for about 30 minutes, wanted to get up and stretch my legs, took a few steps, and snap. Blew my cow call once, and stood for about five minutes.

After standing silently I heard a small twig snap behind me so I turned and looked to find a 7-point bull staring at me just 20 yards away! He came straight into that call, and very, very quietly. Wish I had a camera since he stood there for about two minutes looking at me, turning his head in different angles before walking off.

[RadSav]

His friend actually isn't an anti, I do know that. I think he is just naive to it all

Well that's good.  There are a lot of areas with elk that are not open for muzzy season.  Should be a good time to get something going if it's not mucking up a hunt!

I was at a pheasant release site one opening day when the anti's thought they would make a mess of things.  There must have been 30 of them out there with sticks whacking the brush.  It was like an English grouse hunt...freakin' awesome!  One of the guys I was with approached what appeared to be the ring leader.  Asked them if they could come back the following weekend!  They would not shake his hand, but he was sure to tell them, "Thank you!  The best opening day ever!"

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

I will.tell u from first hand experience.  I had the White River archery tag 2 years ago.  The bulls were very vocal but NOT aggresive.  They will respond but are a challenge to get to.commit

[rosscrazyelk]

They were talking real aggressively this weekend when I was up bear hunting/pestering bulls with the bugle lol good luck you guys!

If you were where I think you were I saw a large herd run for their lives sat morning.  That must of been you

[liljozie495]

Haha..... No not where you thought I was lol, we did hear someone else later in the day sitting in there rig bugling (or so he thought) I wish you would have been decent enough to say hi  hahaha 

[rosscrazyelk]

Haha..... No not where you thought I was lol, we did hear someone else later in the day sitting in there rig bugling (or so he thought) I wish you would have been decent enough to say hi  hahaha 

I am pretty sure by the time I got down you were gone.

[JimmyHoffa]

His friend actually isn't an anti, I do know that. I think he is just naive to it all

Well that's good.  There are a lot of areas with elk that are not open for muzzy season.  Should be a good time to get something going if it's not mucking up a hunt!

I was at a pheasant release site one opening day when the anti's thought they would make a mess of things.  There must have been 30 of them out there with sticks whacking the brush.  It was like an English grouse hunt...freakin' awesome!  One of the guys I was with approached what appeared to be the ring leader.  Asked them if they could come back the following weekend!  They would not shake his hand, but he was sure to tell them, "Thank you!  The best opening day ever!"

Yeah, lots of units not open to muzzy, so might not interfere.  I've gone to those during the rut for bear and avoided the muzzy gmus to not interfere.  The one time I kind of forgot the rut was going on and climbed down to so reprod that had some bear sign.  I guess I made too much noise and a really angry and huge bull decided he was gonna come get me.  His bugle-scream was so loud as he was crashing through the trees, my first thought wasn't elk....I really thought, 'uh oh, maybe there really is a bigfoot!'

[longstevo]

His friend actually isn't an anti, I do know that. I think he is just naive to it all

Well that's good.  There are a lot of areas with elk that are not open for muzzy season.  Should be a good time to get something going if it's not mucking up a hunt!

I was at a pheasant release site one opening day when the anti's thought they would make a mess of things.  There must have been 30 of them out there with sticks whacking the brush.  It was like an English grouse hunt...freakin' awesome!  One of the guys I was with approached what appeared to be the ring leader.  Asked them if they could come back the following weekend!  They would not shake his hand, but he was sure to tell them, "Thank you!  The best opening day ever!"

Yeah, lots of units not open to muzzy, so might not interfere.  I've gone to those during the rut for bear and avoided the muzzy gmus to not interfere.  The one time I kind of forgot the rut was going on and climbed down to so reprod that had some bear sign.  I guess I made too much noise and a really angry and huge bull decided he was gonna come get me.  His bugle-scream was so loud as he was crashing through the trees, my first thought wasn't elk....I really thought, 'uh oh, maybe there really is a bigfoot!'

 

[BOWHUNTER45]

I was just out in September ...which I think ended yesterday  Had one all fired up but for some reason he did not show himself ..But tomorrow is October 2nd and Thursday . I think I best give it a go in the morning ...Sure leaves a guy sleepless at night when one is responding but not showing himself 

[Fullabull]

I think the Muzzy season is prime this year. You should be able to locate and even call in some bulls. I would go with locating them first, then get into range quietly so they don't run off with their cows. Would love to try Muzzy but I love my archery...

[brianmtsinc]

So let's say we locate them with either a locator bugle or a couple of Cow calls.  We sneak within 150 yards. what do you guys do at that point?  Do you scream a bugle in his face or do you try the soft Cow calls hoping he will come looking or maybe Some estrus calls?   

We have a few bulls already located.  Our first target seems to have a herd of 8 to 10 cows with him already.  If he doesn't move far from where he's been for the last week we should be able to easily get within 100 to 150 yards of him at first light opening morning.  What would your play be ?

[huntnnw]

Really depends on what your after and what type of bull your calling. Screaming at a bull is only going to bring you a older bull, other than that you will scare off the spikes and sattelites. Lotta times even bugling close to herd bulls wil make them move.

[brianmtsinc]

He is a herd bull.  My thought is if we can locate him in the dark get within 100 yards and maybe blow a bugle at him he might think we're too close and come to fight?  Either that or getting close and blowing estrus call and see if he's interested for a little love

[huntnnw]

my history on bugling bulls in is low...it seems more than likely they move. I have had my best success bugling getting in super close under 70 yards.

[coachcw]

He is a herd bull.  My thought is if we can locate him in the dark get within 100 yards and maybe blow a bugle at him he might think we're too close and come to fight?  Either that or getting close and blowing estrus call and see if he's interested for a little love

that's a good plan but i'd try and tickle him with a cow call before you bugle at him , recently iv'e seen more herd bulls just push there cows , I imagine estus cycle play a huge part of that .