spike and cow only tactics early archery

[jay33ice]

Was interested in ideas on tactics used when hunting in an area where you can only shoot a spike or a cow in the early archery season?  Do you call just like you would if after a branch bull?   Don't see many videos or guys talking about this and i suspect it's what many guys will be after come Sept.  Thanks

[colockumelk]

I have given up on trying to shoot a cow.  They are WAY too smart for me.  I prefer bulls with one thing on their mind   That being said I'll tell you what I have done and tried.  I've tried calling in bulls with cow calls hoping to one will drag a cow by me.  So far it hasn't worked.  I've called lots of bulls in but none brought a cow with them.  I've tried sitting trails between the bedding and feeding areas.  With a bow you have sit on THE exact trail or it doesn't work.  Last year it seemed that I had cows run by me every day but on a different trail.  So I'd go sit that trail the next day.  Sure enough the cows would run down the trail I'd sat the day before.  

I know there's guys on here that get a cow every year.  Not sure how they do it.  My hats off to them.  I think they might use game cameras and tree stands.  I know one group that does that and they fill their freezer every year.   

[Skyvalhunter]

You have to wait until the indians come in and are road hunting and chase them to the trail you are on.

[PA BEN]

I've called in spikes and cows w/bugles and cow calls.

[MIKEXRAY]

I've had the same experiences as Colockumelk, wrong trail & the wrong time. It is very frustrating and does seem like blind luck picking which trail.   I am actually considering picking which trail a spike will take !  That seems really hard to figure, it would have to be a perfect setup. Spike, in range, shot there, seems far fetched but I will try I think to get away from the crowds. I also have bugled in cows & spikes but to rarely to call it a viable tactic. Good luck this season to all. Mike

[dreamingbig]

Right there with you Mike.  This season is going to be interesting.

[D-Rock425]

Tree stands work great if you get a spot that elk are moving through.  I have shot 3 elk from the same tree stand.

[colockumelk]

I've called in spikes and cows w/bugles and cow calls.

I hate cows with all my heart.  I've tried calling them in and all I ever get are love sick bulls.  I've seen cows and all that comes in are the satellite bulls.

In 2008 in the Colockum I saw a nice 6x6 with about 15 cows.  On the fringe was a spike.  I thought awsome lonely spike this should work out great.  So I start up some nice soft cow calls.  The spike fell for it and was coming on a string.  I thought "oh boy here's the end to my season"  and then BAM......  That stupid 6x6 chased him off and then had the audacity to jack up a sapling like 20yds from me broad side.  How retarded is it that I was pissed that a big 6x6 chased off a little ole spike.   Oh well that's Washington for you right.   

In any case I'm cursed when it comes to cows and spikes.  That little story about tells every calling scenario I've ever tried. 

[jay33ice]

  Thanks guys.  Maybe if i can find a herd and determine the general direction they are moving and then try to ambush them?  I'll be spending a week in the wilderness this year and i'm sure i'll gain some education as frustraiting as it might be.  Cheers.  Jay

[Stalker]

I've had good luck with a bugle call.  Used it several times to locate them and determine a direction of travel.  Once that was determined I ran my @ss off to get ahead of them and set up an ambush.  Other than that it has been try to figure out bedding and feeding area and hope you pick the right area to set for awhile.  Good luck.

[h2ofowlr]

I have good luck finding them.  Getting a shot is another story.  I usually find them, they bark at me and I see bodies flying by.  Perfect if I was shooting a shotgun with buck shot.  Not good with the bow.

[Stalker]

I have good luck finding them.  Getting a shot is another story.  I usually find them, they bark at me and I see bodies flying by.  Perfect if I was shooting a shotgun with buck shot.  Not good with the bow.

Been there done that.  Obviously the haul @ss thing works if U get far enough ahead.  Been busted in a varity of ways and situations but I guess thats part of hunting.  If you are getting into them then that is half the solution; the other half will be a combination of what the folks here are telling you.  As far as I know there are no 100%.  All the best and look forward to seeing photos from your success.   

[Recurve-Elk]

Last year I called in a couple spikes to 15 yards.  I got in place an hour before light.  Started calling 30 min before sunrise.  And called for an hour and a half after sunrise.  They came in just as I was about to leave.  I didn't do any bugles, just cow mews, and a few lost cow mews.  They B lined strait at me, and weren't even cautious in the slightest.

[dreamingbig]

Last year I called in a couple spikes to 15 yards.  I got in place an hour before light.  Started calling 30 min before sunrise.  And called for an hour and a half after sunrise.  They came in just as I was about to leave.  I didn't do any bugles, just cow mews, and a few lost cow mews.  They B lined strait at me, and weren't even cautious in the slightest.

What was your plan if they came in before it was light enough to shoot?

[WSU]

I don't see why you would try to call in a bull and expect a cow to show up, or why it is weird a 6X6 didn't want to share his cows with a spike?  Try to think about what the elk are doing and it becomes understandable.  Bulls aren't going to share cows with lesser bulls.  Cows aren't going to want to insert themselves into the middle of a fight between two bulls.  

If it were me, I'd go with spot and stalk, calling that will draw in cows (lost cow, regrouping, excited cow, etc.), sitting in funnel areas where multiple trails converge, etc.  Maybe bugle to locate a herd, but I wouldn't depend on bugling to bring in the cows/spikes.

[Recurve-Elk]

Last year I called in a couple spikes to 15 yards.  I got in place an hour before light.  Started calling 30 min before sunrise.  And called for an hour and a half after sunrise.  They came in just as I was about to leave.  I didn't do any bugles, just cow mews, and a few lost cow mews.  They B lined strait at me, and weren't even cautious in the slightest.

What was your plan if they came in before it was light enough to shoot?

Hope they would hang around until I could.  But I figured, if they heard me calling before light then they may be more likely to come in at light. 

[colockumelk]

I don't see why you would try to call in a bull and expect a cow to show up, or why it is weird a 6X6 didn't want to share his cows with a spike?  Try to think about what the elk are doing and it becomes understandable.  Bulls aren't going to share cows with lesser bulls.  Cows aren't going to want to insert themselves into the middle of a fight between two bulls.  

If it were me, I'd go with spot and stalk, calling that will draw in cows (lost cow, regrouping, excited cow, etc.), sitting in funnel areas where multiple trails converge, etc.  Maybe bugle to locate a herd, but I wouldn't depend on bugling to bring in the cows/spikes.

I use a locator call to find the bull.  Then I use cow calls to get him in hoping he has a few cows with him.  I never said anything about using an aggressive bull call.  As far as the 6x6 and spike thing...  I couldn't stalk up on them because there were too many eyes.  I was hoping that since the 6x6 had 15-20 cows with him he wouldn't want to leave his cows for one single cow (never blew an estrus call)  and risk losing them to that spike.  I figured he'd do what he did which was call to me and try to coax me over to him.  But when he saw the spike head over he moved into position to block him.  It was a 50/50 proposition and I failed.  I never said I was surprised that the 6x6 ran off the spike I said I was frustrated.  More with the fact that I couldn't shoot the big bull because I lived in a a state that can't properly manage its herds.  I knew exactly what two ways that calling scenario was gonna go.  Unfortunately my gamble didn't work.  That's kind of what huntingis all about.   

[WSU]

I don't see why you would try to call in a bull and expect a cow to show up, or why it is weird a 6X6 didn't want to share his cows with a spike?  Try to think about what the elk are doing and it becomes understandable.  Bulls aren't going to share cows with lesser bulls.  Cows aren't going to want to insert themselves into the middle of a fight between two bulls.  

If it were me, I'd go with spot and stalk, calling that will draw in cows (lost cow, regrouping, excited cow, etc.), sitting in funnel areas where multiple trails converge, etc.  Maybe bugle to locate a herd, but I wouldn't depend on bugling to bring in the cows/spikes.

I use a locator call to find the bull.  Then I use cow calls to get him in hoping he has a few cows with him.  I never said anything about using an aggressive bull call.  As far as the 6x6 and spike thing...  I couldn't stalk up on them because there were too many eyes.  I was hoping that since the 6x6 had 15-20 cows with him he wouldn't want to leave his cows for one single cow (never blew an estrus call)  and risk losing them to that spike.  I figured he'd do what he did which was call to me and try to coax me over to him.  But when he saw the spike head over he moved into position to block him.  It was a 50/50 proposition and I failed.  I never said I was surprised that the 6x6 ran off the spike I said I was frustrated.  More with the fact that I couldn't shoot the big bull because I lived in a a state that can't properly manage its herds.  I knew exactly what two ways that calling scenario was gonna go.  Unfortunately my gamble didn't work.  That's kind of what huntingis all about.   

I wasn't saying that you did anything wrong (although it sort of sounded that way).  Often things just don't work out.  I was simply saying that attempting to call in bulls (such as cow calling in an attempt to draw the bull to you) is not likely to result in cows coming in.  If you are calling in tons of branch bulls and no cows, and that "about tells every calling scenario" you ever tried, perhaps a change in strategy is warranted (or, as you point out, move to a state where you can shoot those branch bulls, or even the west side of WA).  Maybe you should come hunt the west side with me and we can kill all those branch bulls you call in!

[colockumelk]

Hey no problem WSU.  I realized after reading my first post I was pretty vague.  If I came off offended I wasn't.  So sorry bout that.  My last post I was just trying to explain what my thinkin was.  And you are right with most of the stuff you said.  I really get bored sitting and doing nothing so alot of times I go off and call because its a hell of alot more fun and exciting than sitting and waiting.  Even if I can't shoot a branch bull it sure is fun to get them all worked up or to call them in.  Plus maybe they might have some cows with them.  I base my calling strategy on if I think they have cows or not.  If they have cows I work them with cow calls and try to "coax" them in.  My favorite though is if I think they are all alone then I use the bugle which gets em all worked up and that's when it gets exciting.

Case in point.  Last season in the Manastash my brother called in a small 4pt bull.  (I was the shooter) and cow calls would not work.  He only responded to the aggressive lets fight talk.  And boy did he put on a show in front of me.  That little guy talked all sorts of smack and tore stuff up and man did he think he was big and tough.  I would have loved to have been a bird and followed him around when he tried that stuff out with a real herd bull and see him get his ego knocked down a peg or two. 

As far as WA goes.  I can't hunt elk until probably 2013 at which point I'll have 8 points saved up.  So I'll hunt E. WA until I get drawn.  After that I am going to the West Side to hunt.  That is unless I get stationed In CO at which point I'll never hunt in WA again.    And FYI I would love to come to the West Side and call in bulls with you.  That's basically my favorite thing to do.  Scary as hell but fun and exciting. 

[WSU]

For sure.  I quit hunting the east side for that very reason.  I have way more fun calling in bulls in the jungle and not getting a shot then I do killing elk with a gun, east or west.  The calling, to me, is more fun than the killing.

[coachcw]

I always elk talk as i'm sliping through the wood and never try to sound like a stud . I've had ggod luck bringing spikes in to a cow talk , estis then small bugle , this works on any bull. 22 archery elk and counting at 40 years old , one thing i've always done is stay fairly agressive on both spot and stalks and calling . if you get busted cover ground and find a fresh bunch. never put all your eggs in one stand , have a back up plan .

[saylean]

The unit I hunt, I can only shoot spikes..so no luck with cows.

However, what I use (even though I am not 100% successful) is set up a blind along some trails. Ambush seems to work great if you know a busy trail and you have the patience.

I do have a tree stand this year...I am really considering it for this one spot. I could really use an edge there. Every year (for the last three), I dont have to sit more than an hour it seems and elk come strolling by. I just have problems connecting.

Good luck! Keep at it and find what works for you.