For all you elk hunters... Hunting the Rut... With a Camera?

[HUNT]

What do you think about bugling bulls in during the rut even if the only tag you have is with a camera?  Does it take opportunity away from those that are actually out there hunting with a tag?  Do any of you do this?

[stumprat]

They're your elk too.

[6x6in6]

As a teen and into my early 20's I used too.  Simply for the practice and a bit of the thrill of it too.  
As I got older I better understood what a terribly strenuous time that is for a bull.  If I stopped then I might just play a small part in his continued survival and continuance of his gene pool.
I just go listen and watch from a distance now days.  To me, it's just as much fun.

[elkaholic]

6x6 that is a pretty good.

[HUNT]

I don't really want to screw up someone's hunt for them, especially here where they are limited draw hunts for the most part on the east side.  But it would be pretty neat for my kids to see this as we are scouting around this fall. 

pluses and minuses. 

[6x6in6]

With the kids factor, that's a bit different.  By all means, for there experience, sure why not.  Get him to come close once and call it a day.  If it's an easy call in, bonus.  Less stress.  A tough call, leave him alone and go find the dumb one. 
If you suspect the presence of a someone on the hunt then back away.

[rasbo]

go for it

[WAPITIHUNTER]

I suppose everybody that is all for it has never had the hunt of there liked f'ed over by some nimwit out playing with the elk during an active hunting season.

Also you have a good chance at bugling in a hunter and getting and arrow or 500 grain lead musket slug through your belly.

I would not feel all that sorry for the person. It is pretty freaking stupid if you ask me. Why not go bugle them in the National Parks etc. where hunting is not allowed.

Scenario. An avid bow hunter hears all the elk calling and sneaks in down wind undetected. He see's the giant bull that you just called in to 10 yards. You are obscured from his vision in a nasty clump of brush.

He draws back on the bull from 45 yards out. You are starting to get a little worried this bull is going to step on you so you stand up and step out of the brush so the bull will see you. Granted you have been so into taking all these pictures that you are oblivious to what is going on behind you.

As you stand up and step over the hunter releases his arrow. You have just intercepted a very deadly sharp object somewhere into your body. Maybe it just grazes your arm but you still end up bleeding to death because you are so far from help. Hmmmm. Not possible you say.

Stranger things have and will happen every hunting season.

[jackelope]

i'd be more concerned with educating bulls to the calls and associating them to people.
spot and stalk with your camera...i see no problem with it...but lay off the calls.
 

[Kain]

National parks is a great idea.  Being an archery elk hunter on the west side I would prefer you not do it but I dont own the animals or the woods.  Any chance you could tag along and take picture with a hunter?  He might need a good caller.   

[Pathfinder101]

My son comes up to archery elk camp with me every year (on weekends) and calls in bulls.  We never have managed to call in a herd bull (bringing his cows so I can actually shoot one), but he pulls in several satallite bulls every year.  He's been doing it sice he was 6 (he's 10 this year).  Good practice and education for him, cool experience, something to talk about the rest of the year.  This year we will take pictures too.  One of these days one of us will draw a $@!ing tag

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Also you might want to consider the legal aspects, hunting without a tag for instance....according to the definition: ANY effort to kill,capture,injure,or HARASS a wild animal or wild bird Not just other hunters might have a problem....

[TheHunt]

I do not mind you do this only if you do this in an area that has low draw tag numbers.  Going out in the public unit that is open to hunt will only cause people to get pissed off at you.  Some react differently then others.  I would suggest you go on the east side like the wenaha unit and have at it.  I am pretty sure you will not screw up anyone with an archery bull tag.

I hated the people who were in Arizona prime units calling bulls in to video clip.  They have that right but the Game and Fish people would make them show all sorts of crap empty their bags all sorts of crap to make it painful to do that during the rut.  I think they did not care when hunters were not in the field but gave greif when archery hunters were in the field.

Just my opinion...

[jackelope]

National parks is a great idea.  Being an archery elk hunter on the west side I would prefer you not do it but I dont own the animals or the woods.  Any chance you could tag along and take picture with a hunter?  He might need a good caller.   

in yellowstone it's illegal to call animals...no calling elk, no howling wolves, etc. not sure if this holds true for all national parks but...

Also you might want to consider the legal aspects, hunting without a tag for instance....according to the definition: ANY effort to kill,capture,injure,or HARASS a wild animal or wild bird Not just other hunters might have a problem....

are you trying to say calling an animal in for photography purposes is harassing wildlife? i guess then so would be calling in an animal and not shooting it....as in passing...hmmm not sure about your thinking there.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

 If you are respectful an officer (probably) will not have a problem, but if somebody want to complain.....You are better off buying a tag no matter whether you want to harvest an animal or not. Then you are within your rights as a legal sportsman no matter what you are using and nobody should have a problem with you,  unless you screw up their hunt.