Uh oh...

[ctwiggs1]

Guys, I've been within range of hearing the snorts!  Why the heck can't I close it on these things??  I'm hunting 454, any elk.  Seen quite a few but I just cant seem to ever get that angle when stalking.  Should I be bugling??  Only two solid days left!

Thanks,

Curtis

[bullchaser]

Tell me exactly where they are at so i can answer your question better  (try a hochie mamma don't practice bugling during the season)

[Buckmark]

Could be getting winded?, Try squeaking on the back of your hand, im not a big fan of the hoochie mama if elk are close, very overused and misused call in my opinion.
works ok if your walking/hiking and trying to blend in, but real close the elk can tell the difference and all the hoochie mamas really sound the same.. Just my , dont flame me..

[CoryTDF]

Buy a reed and learn how to use it. I myself suck ass with them but i have heard people from my camp make some great noises with them. The best part is you are in total control of how load it is. From all the elk i have ever been really close to involved a reed.

[Hornseeker]

If you are getting in close...just try and keep the wind good and be PATIENT... that is my biggest vice...trying to force opportunities and blowing them out...

[boneaddict]

Patience is the best advice.

[yousowise]

I have no idea.  I just got back from cow/spike hunting in the Blues.  I was pretty dang close to some screaming bulls multiple times, heard one "glunking" to his cows and with that one even had the cows chirping back at me, but nothing would come in.  Patience is probably the best advice, but hard to do.  In all those situations after not hearing or seeing anything for a while I eventually made a move closer and I am sure I got busted, because by the time I got to where they should have been there was nothing, they just disappeared.
A friend gets 50 yards off the road hits the hoochie mama and has a bull and a cow run right by him, he wasn't ready, so he sets up hits the hoochie again and the cow runs right to him for a nice 30 yard shot. 
Guess I need to work on some tactics for the late hunt.

[Crunchy]

Patience is probably best advice.  Winds swirl very often.  If a good strong wind is in ur face then I would move up.  These days with the warm weather and no wind the elk can hear a gnat fart.

[heavy hauler]

timing, sometimes you should : run, freeze,crawl,tiptoe.  just hard to know which and when.dont call at all if you know where they are.what is the benefit of a elk walking strait at you?dont give your position away.good luck

[WonkyWapiti]

Have you been cow calling or doing anything else to give away your position when you are close to the elk?