A Different Kind of Elk Season

[WapitiTalk1]

Sweet, thank you for chiming in Elknut.  The breeding sequence is certainly in my tool kit and "will" be deployed as the peak of the rut approaches in the Evergreen State (it's worked well for me in Idaho and Montana in the past).  As the season starts on the 12th this year in WA, I'm gonna also do a bit of advertising if the area I hunt in the WA elkwoods seem a bit quiet in the earlier part of the season.  Nothing like creating some interest and peaking some curiosity from the resident bulls  . 

[huntingbaldguy]

huntingbaldguy, once response is received from a bull with your locator bugle/bugles even if you were cow calling at the same time lose the locator bugle, you've made contact so no need to continue asking where are they! You already know. (grin) Too, as a satellite expresses interest no need to all of a sudden challenge him telling him to stay back or else! Consider this?

  A very good satellite bull killer method is to go into a Breeding Sequence, this is what brought the Satellites over there in the first place. Get 150 yards away or closer if possible but don't get caught being seen or winded. You need a mobile type setup here, now imitate a bull talking/scolding the hot cow in his small group of 2 or 3 with raking a tree/brush. If other bull bugles do not bugle back at him, instead cow call to him 1-2 times with a bit of excitement, let him know you are interested in him. As you cow call go towards him now that you have him pinpointed, cow call again with some excitement but not urgently, call at him in return everytime he bugles you as you close the distance, this shows you are choosing him over the bull you were with & you are leaving that bull & heading his way. This will really have that satellite pick up the pace heading towards his new found treasure without any challenging involved. -- As a lone hunter I like making my last cow sounds excepting his invite then moving up 30-40 yards making this oncoming bull think I'm still where he heard me last.

  If I need to call again to give last second coaxing, I will turn & cast my call behind me through my bugle making it seem I'm further back there still, this bull will come in search mode to seek you out!

  ElkNut1

Great tips, thank you.  I'm still learning how to call, i don't even know how to add excitement with the tones and stuff yet, but i have mews down pretty good.  I try to imitate my hoochie momma call from Primos for estrous calls.  The bugling is where i need work as i don't do it a ton.  I don't want to go out to our location we are hunting and start cluing them in either, so i'm trying to find a place to practice.  I think i have the challenge and locator down ok, but again i haven't gotten your bugle yet (maybe today in the mail). 

Maybe i'll try to record what i can do and post it for some constructive criticism.  Thanks again and looking forward to getting your Chuckler!

[Elknut1]

I should make one point clear bud, it's not that the method above you mentioned doesn't work because it can! I just hate seeing guys get so hung up a single method assuming that it will work on every bull, I wish it were that easy! (grin) So many times the elk haven't read our script so we must adjust & adapt our thinking to their interests for that day & timing of the rut. You will find that there will be bulls that are responding to your every bugle but stay completely silent to a cow sound, then there will be bulls that bugle every cow sound but not respond to your bugle! -- Be willing to switch gears & adjust your calling plan to fit their interests.

  Then there are those bulls that bugle one time in the morning & you don't hear them again for the rest of the day, you need a plan for them too! Being flexible in your thinking as well as creative is what makes a well rounded elk hunter.  I agree in keeping things simple but be prepared to know & understand some of the most common situations that can arise & how to handle them. If you don't you'll be kicking yourself after the season because of the encounters you came across but had no idea how to handle them.

  Again, the cow calls & challenge bugle can work, it just needs to be on the right bull & situation. Hope this makes sense! (grin)

  ElkNut1

[huntingbaldguy]

Oh no, i didn't take it that way, i know you have to have a big bag of trick sometimes and i welcome the constructive comments! 

[Netminder01]

tag

[TommyH]

I've dreamed of bugling bulls nearly every night the last few weeks!!! My neck is starting to swell up abit also!! I'm getting excited about this year!!

[dreamingbig]

That's awesome this year the season is extended for you folks! We are spoiled here in Idaho with full month Sept elk hunts! I love it though! (grin) Good luck to you folks & enjoy!

  ElkNut1

Not extended just shifted.  Still only 13 days. 😞


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk