Cow elk tips

[EchoLimaKilo]

New to elk hunting and just wondering what some of your guys' tips/techniques are for getting close to/calling cows. There's a ton of literature out there on hunting Bulls but not so much in the cow dept. Hunted Teanaway last year for early season archery and had more close bull encounters than cow encounters (terrible problem I know). Amazing to see them going crazy in the rut but can't shoot them there without the special draw. Any suggestions? Really want my first elk this year and a cow will do just fine.

[CP]

Tagging this thread –

I have nothing to offer you – cows are harder to get close to than bulls IMO.  Seems like I always need to get past the bull to get a shot at a cow; the bulls just stand around and act tough while the cows do all the lookout work.

[724wd]

ambush.  sneak.

[hughjorgan]

ambush.  sneak.

  do your home work ahead of the season and you should be in good shape to set your self up for an ambush.

[steeliedrew]

Maybe try some lost calf sounds and see what comes in.  Be prepared for a bear though too.

[buglebuster]

Best advice I can give you is hunt just like you are hunting for a bull. Locator bugles untill you get an answer, then sneak in where you think he is. When you get there, instead of challenging him with another bugle, keep on sneaking in very slowly and play the wind. Alot of the times the bulls will have cows with them.

[gonehuntin68]

Lost calf sounds. They call alot and high pitched. Yep look for bears too.

[xXLojackXx]

I call cows in with calf distress sounds and mature cow urgent mews. Two things I know about cows are they don't let their calves get too far away, and they are followers of the lead cow. Fool them in either way and they come in on a string. Other than that, hunt them the same geographically. Find bedding areas, well used transition trails, water sources, feed, etc.

[bowkid]

Fighting cows call will work as well, gets their interest up of what's going on.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Prescout extensively, find the most heavily used trails, and then find your best downwind spots within range. 

[EchoLimaKilo]

Thanks for the advice guys. Much appreciated