Elk Tactics 101 - Episode #4

[WapitiTalk1]

Date/Time: 10 SEPT/8:40 AM
Location: Somewhere in the elk woods (you’re on a backcountry hunt)
Hunt Pressure Status: Minimal but you have ran into one other team of two in this remote area; they said they would probably not be back in there again till much later in the month            
Terrain: Rolling hills in a large basin; a few large aspen stands, some large fir stands, and some natural meadow systems 
Tag: Archery season; branched bull only

With the elk being so quiet for your first four days of your seven day hunt, you’ve decided to set up with your partner and do an advertising sequence to see if you can create some interest.  You (the caller) are set up back in the direction of the yellow arrow about 45 yards; your partner (shooter) is set up down from the red arrow about 25 yards; and the wind at this moment in time is breezing in the direction of the blue arrow.  Your raking/bugling/stomping is met with silence for ten minutes… until, you detect movement back to your right and within seconds, this fine fellow stops where he stands now and looks back at your partner who is at full draw.  Although your team has the wind, and, the shooter is blending in well with the vegetation he is kneeling in front of, there is no clean shot.  After a few seconds, the bull quarters bit to his right and walks directly away from the shooter at the same time the shooter let’s off of his draw.   

What do you do here to turn this situation around and potentially get a shot at this bull?   

   

[buglebrush]

If I have adequate cover I get all bitchy on the cow call as I crash loudly off, and add in some pants glunks and chuckles.  ( I have a mouth reed in and can do all this simultaneously ).  When the bull hears me crashing off with a lady He will turn and at least have another look giving my buddy a shot.   

[coachcw]

REdraw if the bull starts to walk you try and stop him ...if he bolts tell your buddy he is a whimp for letting down !

[kentrek]

Lay down and point the bugle away from the bull and let out a very quiet half bugle, not something aggressive but just an innocent juvenile remark...depending on the cover it would be nice to wiggle a tree

Let your buddy do the shooting

[buglebrush]

This situation brings up a pet peeve of mine.  If you are the caller you don't need to see the shot.  Your job is to pull the elk in to your buddy so he can shoot it.  I can't tell you how many elk are lost, because the caller feels the need to stay close enough to see what is going on.    

Sorry if this is a thread jack, but thought it may help someone. 

[Karl Blanchard]

If that bulls butt is facing my buddy then that means this bull is now giving me a 45 yard quartering away shot.  Sorry pal but you let your bow down.  I'm coming to full draw if given the opportunity and I'm letting one run!

[kentrek]

If that bulls butt is facing my buddy then that means this bull is now giving me a 45 yard quartering away shot.  Sorry pal but you let your bow down.  I'm coming to full draw if given the opportunity and I'm letting one run!

I read that wrong, I was thinking the bulls butt was facing me and it was quartering away for my buddy, I'd still probably let him have the shot...esp since I have a few more weeks of elk hunting after this trip 

[coachcw]

See you don't let down if Karl is around !

[Karl Blanchard]

See you don't let down if Karl is around !

  I'm no a fan of elk walking off Grip it rip it 

[family hunter]

shooter cow call at full draw

[elkboy]

I guess if I were the caller, I would try moving away and cow calling.  Throwing a little whiny juvenile bugle in there might also convince him to move back in the shooter's direction.  Hopefully the shooter would stay ready to draw again if the bull moves back towards the setup. 

These are great!  Keep them coming! 

[MR5x5]

That bull knows you are there, he's probably going to move left to catch your wind.  When he clears the branch that will be your best and probably last chance to let on loose. 

[Whitpirate]

See you don't let down if Karl is around !

Let's just say if you are in the woods with Coach or Karl.... you better have your game face on and send it if you have it.  They won't wait.  I joke about having a re-occuring nightmare where I finally draw Coach and I draw our moose tag and I miss my first show at a bull and hear "DUCK."  Thwack dead.  I'm probably raking this hell out of a tree and trying to get that bull to come back around for Coach or Karl or Kurt to seal the deal.

[BUTTER]

*censored* happens call him in again if you can or find another bull

[Tbob]

As the caller I would have had my cow elk butt decoy out and we wouldn't even be in this situation... But given the scenario here, I as the caller would start moving away while cow calling/maybe even some estrus calling with a little screecher bugle. As the shooter, Id be re-drawing and cow calling trying to get him to turn for a shot.