Elkn with one man

[mjtbackcountry]

Was wondering if anyone had tips on hunting by your lonesome? I know getting set up for elk is better with two people with the caller behind the shooter, but how can u get elk in close while calling and being the shooter? Any advice on when to stop calling making the right calls?

[WAPITIHUNTER]

Here we go again. The last two big bulls I killed and another one I bounced an arrow off his shoulder bone, were all called right to myself within 30 yards to 35 yards. I really is about what you call and when. I will tell about all three scenarios so all can hear what my personal tactics are.

5x5 bull - This bull was with a good size herd of cows and the rut was in full swing. I heard the herd-no pun intended-before I saw them. My plan on working this herd was to watch and listen and hope for an opening in the thick brush for a shot to open up. The herd was dead silent, they were not making a peep. I feel the reason for this is the Bull that is tending those cows will ram the cows with his antlers if they call. He does not want any other bulls to hear them. There was a warm breeze blowing uphill that morning so I was safe on that side. I could never find an opening so I finally decided to move up ahead ud the herd and cut down the hill to intercept as they fed along. I had just started down the hill when I heard the elk almost on top of me again. Crap, that didn't work. As I am sitting there contemplating what to do a cow finally let out 1 single call almost as if to say we are all over here if you got to far away come back. I then hit a single cow call and sure enough the bull chimed in you are to far away get back here. That dictated my next move. I pulled out my bugle and blew a nice clean high pitched bugle. The bull exploded, he was tearing his way up the hill pulling dirt like a back hoe digging a ditch. It was a very steep hill. He couldn't get there fast enough. He looked right at me and I had not drawn back it had happened so fast. Now or never. I drew and fired and as I said I got dead center on the leg bone. It bent the tip right over and popped the nock off. He rounded up his cows and pushed the way down and around the Butte. That was the first scenario I was all by myself.

[WAPITIHUNTER]

5x7 bull- 2 man butt I was working the scene with us together.

We had some bulls calling real good heading down toward the field we were sitting in. After substantial comotion in the field we heard the elk turn and I knew he was heading away from the field. We were runnung out of light so it was now or never. This situation called for extremely aggresive tactics. I practically had to drag my buddy with me. If we were going to get this bull we had to hustle and beat the fading light. As we crested the hill in the clearcut up behind the field there he was with his head down slowly picking his way toward the dark timber. I tried some cow calls and some high pitched bugles but he would not turn or call. He knew something was up and he wanted no part of it. I was thinking to myself what in the world was it going to take to turn this bull around. He finally let out a very short growly bugle. That was my key. I grabbed my bugle and imitated it perfectly. Without missing a beat that bull turned on a dime and was on a mission. He never stopped or even looked up until he was 35 yards broadside to me. He almost ran past me. This time I drew back as he was trotting in. I guessed the yardage right on and drilled a goldtip biggame and a Wasp Bullet right threw him. Another bull came running right up and my buddy got a shot off but missed. That was calling them right into yourself. If I did not know how to growl through that tube I would have never killed that bull.

[WAPITIHUNTER]

5x5 bull-This scenario I belive was like the pre rut. This bull was by himself and I got him chuckling and coming in the first evening but I ran out of light. So the next evening I went right back to the same spot but a little earlier and stated the same way. A couple cow calls and a chuckle. Sure enough I heard him let out a single chuckle. So I hit a sigle chuckle and a couple more cow call facing away from him. He lets out a couple chuckles so I let out a couple chuckles. He is closer. I see his antler tips and I can tell that he has stopped about 60 yards out and is looking but I am hidden in a thick clump of brush. So I hit some cow calls and a light bugle and then it is on. He fires up with a full blown 4 chuckle with a long bugle then followed by 4 or 5 more chuckle. I immitate this back at him and he then fires up he has dropped his head and his coming I draw back just as he comes through my shooting lane and the rest is history or taxidermied if you prefer. This was a solo hunt. The year before this bull and 5 days before I killed the 5x7 I called a 6x6 to 35 yards head on. It was almost the exact same scenario. He was pissed off that someone else had found some hot cows and he was coming in to take them by any means necessary. This bull was so mad he was thrashing his antler and trampling and was letting out the really deep gutteral raspy bugles almost as if he was spitting teeth.
I chose not to shoot him in the chest. And I was rewarded With the 5x7 4 days later. These are a few scenarios that I have done Solo. Hope that helps.

[blacktail luv]

The only way you are really going to learn how to hunt by yourself is to go out and mess up a few times.  Lucky for my I grew up with my dad archery hunting elk so he would tell me about all his screw ups which allowed me to learn without having to do the same things.  I think the most important thing is your set up.  You have to anticipate what the elk is going to do.  He is going to take the easiest route to you so once you have his attention set up with good shooting lanes.  It is real easy to panic and want to hide when they are coming, I always try to think about where i would set up before i call just in case you are right on top of one.  I don't feel like telling all my stories but if you have any questions p.m. me and i can give you some examples of things that have happened to me.

[MIKEXRAY]

The best advice is to call & move. Even move 20 yards is better than staying at calling site. The elk know exactly where you called from & will come in looking.  If they can see where they know the call came from and don't see an elk, then they get nervous & head out. Also plan your set up, if you call from a draw with good visibility, the elk will look over the ridge down into the draw and expect to see a bull / elk. Learn how to use the terrain. I was by myself last season & it definitely takes the right setup. I also bought a Montana Elk decoy but action was so quick & always moving that I never had it set up in time / right place. Didn't connect last year but sure was fun. Mike

[mjtbackcountry]

Thanks for your time and input

[WAPITIHUNTER]

The real key is assesing each situation as it unfolds. Sometimes your best laid out plans will fall apart real fast then it is necessary to be able to make those split second decisions that will make or break a hunt.

The reason I like hunting by myself is I have a tendency to be very distractable. If my buddies suggest doing something it throws all my thoughts and instincts into confusion. By being by myself I am free to follow my instincts when they are speaking to me. Just like the 5x7. If I let my buddy have his say he would have ran us out of light and we would have never seen that bull. Listen to yourself.

Follow your instincts and be aggressive when you need to be and passive when necessary. I think aggressive is a little more important. A recent article in RMEF by Mr. Adams he suggested that being aggressive is extremely important. If you want something to happen hunting Elk most of the time we have to make it happen. Don't site on your laurals and let the elk wander off. Get up and run, if neccessary and cut the herd off.

I you see a bull and he will not respond to any calls  then by all means don't get frustrated, Go get him! Put your stalking skills to good use. If you want that Elk make it happen. Find A Way.

Have agreat season and go get that Bull!

[Mike_D]

Use a little caution... first year hunting Elk (5 years ago) I called in a cougar and two hunters... not quite the action I was looking for... Although I did connect with a 5x5 on the last day for the hunt on the west side... (I think the elk was lost...)

[norsepeak]

you just have to find out what any particular bull is interested in.  Either cows or fighting and work from there.  I called in a huge 6x6 a few years ago by myself.  I heard him bugle up on the bench, so I snuck up there so I was within about 80 yards of him and let out a few very sexy cow calls facing away from him and then got ready to shoot.  About 10 seconds later I see tips headed my way.  He walked up to 22 yards and stopped.  But then, of course, he took one more step and turned toward me giving me a terrible angle for a shot.  After sitting there at full draw for way too long, he caught my shaking and bolted, but he walked right in looking for love. 

We killed a nice 5x5 three years ago that would only respond to the loudest, meanest, nastiest bugle I could throw at him.  He just wanted to fight.  Each bull is different, you just have to try different things till you find what turns him on.