What are you supposed to do?

[BaseballStud20]

Ok...so I went to the coast today and ran into some elk. I was moving through the bush and heard the elk walking and cow calling. Its so thick where I was at that trying to stalk close was not an option...so I began cow calling in hopes a bull would answer. The cows chirped back a little and then I heard a few quiet bugles a ways off. I kept calling but never heard a reply after that. I tried stalking close to the bull and ended up getting about 70 yards away while still cow calling...the bull never answered. Im just wondering what should I have done? If the bull will not answer should I keep calling...it seemed to me that he was call shy...maybe from the other hunters in the area calling? When that happens is it best to not call anymore...or try switching calls to something different sounding?

[ICEMAN]

Welcome to Western Washington Elk Hunting. For years, we had an area in Winston thick like you mentioned. Every year, we would chase a couple of herd around thru the same thick brush every single day. Then I finally said BS. I spent two weekends with a pruner and limb saw, in early spring, and pruned the bajeezus out of a few areas in this stuff. I opened up a couple of cooridors in the middle that no one else would be aware of. Then come fall, when the herds were milling around in the spot, we could sneak into the area, and push the herd by a shooter in the brush. Worked great, saw lots of cows! And that is no Bull. (No bull to shoot either...)

[Little Fish]

Did you try an estrus whine?

[ICEMAN]

Actually I prefer beer and hard liquor to whine.

No we didn't try that, I always thought I would goof it and scare game away... I most always have hunted elk silently, maybe a cow/calf call to locate animals after I scatter them...

[BaseballStud20]

Trust me...I was doing every kind of cow calling possible to try and bring him in. He must have been coming in silently but there is no way I could see him to get a shot. The only thing I did not try was bugling or raking a tree or something. I just want to know if its bad to keep calling all excited like that if they wont answer back or come in?

[jackelope]

i believe you definitely could call too much...sometimes less is more...actually mostly less is more in that situation. if you had somebody else with you to call...you could set them up a ways behind you and have him try and draw the bull past you, but less calling the better IMO, especially if they've been called to muc  in the last couple weeks...i'm certainly no pro though...