Herd Bull or Satellite?

[WapitiTalk1]

Something to spark elky discussion...... 

Without a visual, how do you determine if that answer you receive (or heard unsolicited) is a herd bull or a satellite? Your tactics and calling may very well be different, even starting from a distance, for a herd bull versus a satellite bull. What are you thoughts on how to determine, from a distance, by perhaps sound or actions alone whether a bull is a dominant herd bull or a lone, herd harassing satellite bull?

[Dhoey07]

Maybe it's part of my problem but........

If I hear a bull, unsolicited or not, I'm planning on closing the distance between me and him in the best way possible. 

[kentrek]

Herd bulls don't bugle....they roar

They also have the power with one roar to completely shut up a drainage.....they always win the vocals

I prefer to challenge herd bulls

[TheHunt]

It depends on where you are hunting.  In an area that is hunted hard the bulls do not survive longer than 4 years old with the majority being 3 years old the pitch will be higher.  So tone is very much a hit or miss.  But if the bull is moving toward you with cow calls it typically is a satellite.  But if the bull is staying put it is typically the herd bull.  Unless it is laying in his bed and not interested in getting up. 

In Washington on an open unit in Western Washington that the unit is hunted hard any branch antlered bull without hoof rot is a good bull.  Getting a herd bull is a little different. 

Here is a satellite that came running in and it traveled about 600 yards to get to me. 


Here is a herd bull that stayed with his cows.


Here is another that stayed with his cows.

[CP]

It usually turns out to be another hunter.

[TheHunt]

It usually turns out to be another hunter.

Very true...

[piledup]

A husky lower tone is how I tell it is an older bull. Being older doesn't mean it is the herd bull but I like to think it is bigger than the rest   

I mostly determine a herd bull to be one that is not coming in to my calls (not another hunter cause I hunt remote areas)
or when I get close enough to hear/see the cows 
or when I bump the herd   

[pd]

Those 3 pictures from TheHunt made me bite my tongue.  I guess he is a herd bull, and I am just a satellite.   

[krout81]

Herd bulls don't bugle....they roar

They also have the power with one roar to completely shut up a drainage.....they always win the vocals

[deerhunter_98520]

Herd bulls don't bugle....they roar

They also have the power with one roar to completely shut up a drainage.....they always win the vocals

I've experienced this one time and it was amazing...I had 5 bulls bugling all around me with 2 small bands if cows and this herd bull which I'm assuming was the king of the mountain came running in about 200yds away and let out this huge loud deep bugle and every other bull shut up and never bugled again....it was like your dad coming out and yelling at the kids to be quiet and you know he's serious

[Toad]

Maybe it's part of my problem but........

If I hear a bull, unsolicited or not, I'm planning on closing the distance between me and him in the best way possible.
 

[Dan-o]

I guess I don't think you can really tell a herd bull from his bugle.

Think squeaky Mike Tyson.

Think skinny/scrawny bass singer in The Oak Ridge Boys.

[coachcw]

really best answer is you just don't know till you see or hear his cows . I've seen a whimpy looking five point run a herd with a 8x9 just laying off .  close the distance and replicate the bull .

[kentrek]

Just cuz a bull is with some cows doesn't really mean he's the "herd bull"....he could have just got lucky and stole them or the "herd bull" just doesn't care atm...

Ive had alot of people show me "herd bulls" that they shot...."well they had cows" !!!

When I think herd bull I think the absolute most dominant bull in the area

[shootnrun]

I don't know if this is the case everywhere, but lately we have noticed the big boys in our unit stay up on the hill early in the season and let the smaller bulls round up the cows for them. See a decent 5-6pt with the herd. Then, once it starts getting later and the cows are starting to estrus, they will come down and run the smaller bulls off. The best way to know is to get in close and look for cows. A cow call can still elicit a bugle from a herd bull if they are hot and want you to join his harem. Too many variables to say you know 100% every time. 

[White Pass Outfitters]

Bugles are a hard way to judge the size of the animal. Most heard bulls once they have there cows wont come into your bugle until you get in his bubble. They will just move off with there cows.
So I say close the distance and mimic him, I have found out once your in his bubble and mimicking  him he just cant take it and will come in looking for a fight or wanting to get his cows back. Don't let the size of the bugle fool you and get in there bubble and be careful of  him to coming in silent.
Good luck on all your hunting adventures
White Pass Outfitters

really best answer is you just don't know till you see or hear his cows . I've seen a whimpy looking five point run a herd with a 8x9 just laying off .  close the distance and replicate the bull .

   

[krout81]

Maybe it's part of my problem but........

If I hear a bull, unsolicited or not, I'm planning on closing the distance between me and him in the best way possible.
 

I sneak in and shoot the first elk I see as long as its legal so most of time I am just glad something bugles so I know where to sneak to:-)