Disclaimer: I’ll try to be a descriptive as possible with the scenarios but please understand I can’t cover all the variables potentially encountered in each of the presented situations. For these threads, let’s assume everybody knows what the different elk noises sound like (cow chatter, locater bugle, screams, chuckles, grunts, alarm barks, nervous barks, etc.). Remember, it’s all about sharing knowledge from experience, asking questions, and perhaps, learning a thing or two. Let’s start this first one.
Scenario: It’s early September and you’ve set up in mid to late afternoon on a well-used wallow you scouted over the summer and confirmed was active a few days ago. This is the first time you’ve hunted it. At this time of the day, the thermals have switched and are gently rising uphill. You’ve set up with some good cover to your back (brush and large downed tree trunk that precludes anything from walking in from behind you). You’re sitting above one side of the wallow that allows you some great shooting lanes that range out to about 40 yards. Right about the time you’re seriously considering launching a broad head at an annoying pine squirrel that seems to think he works for ADT, you hear a distant bugle. A few minutes later, you hear the bugle again. The bull seems to be coming your way. Again closing the gap, about 150 yards down and across the basin, a clear locater bugle rings through the trees. This dude seems to be on his way to the wallow you’re sitting on! What is this elk communicating and what action, if any, should you take to potentially get a shot? Are you hollering back in an attempt to ensure the bull comes your way (if so, what verbal or non-verbal elk sounds are you using)?
