Calling in Roosevelt elk

[PA BEN]

I have tons of experience w/Rockey mountain elk. I've called in some big bulls over the years bow hunting, but couldn't draw a tag. Now I have a rifle tag for Roosevelt elk. (Sept. 20th to the 24th), out of Forks WA. I've never hunted them in the rut. I only want to hear from those who have experience calling in Roosevelt Bulls. Thanks.

[willipa]

I've had luck keeping my calling quite.  using both soft cow calls and soft bugles.  I hunt a way diffrent area so it could be a little diffrent. 

[JPhelps]

I have called in a lot of roosevelts in the past 10 years.  I do nothing different than when I am calling in Rocky Mountain Elk.

Get the wind right, get in tight and give the herd bull no choice but to defend his harem. 

When in tight (<100 yds) I usually lead off with an estrus whine followed by a challenge bugle.  This works 95% of the time.

I am working on an elk calling article that I will post within the next week. 

Jason Phelps
Phelps Game Calls

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I have had a different experience....
Unlike the Rockies I have called in, Roosevelt seem to walk in a lot slower.
Just when you think it is time to move to a new spot, wait 5 more minutes....

[carpsniperg2]

man, i wish i had that type of luck.

When in tight (<100 yds) I usually lead off with an estrus whine followed by a challenge bugle.

anytime i have been around elk and bugle they pin point you gather there cows and head the other way but the area i hunt has very few elk and the bull do not want a fight to keep there cows. they just turn and leave. the only thing we have had any luck with is a spike squeal

[JPhelps]

I am very aggressive in my calling.  When I say inside 100 yards I mean as close as you can get.  I have blown a few setups trying to get too close.  Many times these are due to being seen or heard which is alot better then being winded.

The main difference between Roosevelt and Rockies is the ability to call in satelite bulls.  I have found that when dealing with roosevelts it is easier to call in the herd bull than it is to call in satelite bulls.

Carpsniperg2 - Most of the time I am closer to the bull than some of his cows are.  This gives him the option of leaving without some of his cows or coming to get his cow which is in estrus from this new bull.

[carpsniperg2]

that makes a little more sense if you are in the kill zone.

[NWbowhunter]

I'm a long time Archery Elk Hunter and I would love to have your Tag... I have called Bulls in Montana, Eastern WA and the wet side, I don't change anything. ... Use the Skills you have and have a great Hunt.. Good Luck. 

[PA BEN]

One trick I've learned is when there within a 100yds,(rocky Mt. elk) is to throw your bugle behind you w/your grunt tub. They will walk right by you looking past you, lines them for the shot. Had a big 7x7 up in the William O. Wilderness 30yds broad side to my side bugling and looking past me. But no tag. Could have killed him 10 times. Got some good pictures though.

[AKBowman]

I think it really depends on how fired up the elk are in your particular area on that particular day. If you get a hot cow you can sometimes pull in a bull from over 100yds out. The advice givin has been great. Last year i was able to spot a heard on the edge of a cut and work my way into them with the wind in my favor and ducking stumps. When I got within hearing range I could hear the whole heard calling it was just really soft, I think that may be a huge difference between what you have done and what you will be doing going after roosies...like others have said it is not that way all of the time but if you lip bawl scream at a herd bull and he has the option to gather and leave he will gather and leave.

Another example...just last year I was doing a cold call setup cow/calf call sequence. After calling I waited about 15 minutes then worked my way up the drainage. I was up the drainage nbo more than 45 minutesd to an hour and came back through where I made the calling sequence and found a tree absolutely torn up, ground torn up, hook marks in the ground etc...the tree was literally three feet from where I was calling.

STIKSTRING has had good results calling very quietly and like I said I have heard mostly quiet calling coming from the animals.

I think a lot of times the best thing you can do is work your way into an area that is a little harder to get to and try to pattern a herd. IF they arent pressured they will most likely come out to feed in the same general areas. With a rifle you should be able to be pretty successfule without having to call at all.

[Huntbear]

I have never hunted the rut, but have called in Rosies for pictures, etc.. during the rut.  The best thing to use is a good cow call, and sit and watch.  They rarely come running.  They seem to like to sneak in, and see what is going on first.

[Webfoot]

In the Forks area you will do best by limiting your calling to a very few soft cow calls in heavy cover and be patient.
Such as one call and wait 15 minutes. The elk in this area are very call shy. If you hear a bull bugle he is more than likely rounding up his cows and headung out.

Good luck.

John

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

Im with Bowman it depends on the mood of the elk.  Ive had bulls that I could not get away from his cows for nothin.  Had the same situation another time and the bull came in running.  I think it depends on the bull and the area.  Alot of times the bulls wont be rutting real good in one area and they are hott in another.

[blackveltbowhunter]

The majority of my experience is with Roosevelts further south. So I'm sure others will have more info on the habits and terrain features of the bulls in the "Penn". There are obviously a ton of variables with regard to calling, what size bull are you after, will the bulls in the area be under pressure before or during your season. The 20th - the 24th should be hot, and hunting with a gun changes alot of the dynamic since it is not so much a game of making a bull come to you, but more locating and getting in postition for a shot.
    My experience has been that nearly all bulls will respond to calling at some stage and on varying levels, complete indifference only lasts so long. he may respond by silently rounding up his cows and getting out of there, he may respond by communicating to round up his cows and get out of there, ( potentially good for you as a gun hunter since it could cue you in to his location). He may bugle but not come in, or he may come charging in silent.
    Nearly every bull I have been fortunate enough to take responded initially to a bugle, by bugling. That doesnt mean they came charging in but that was there initial reaction. In addition I have located LOTS of bulls by bugle that never came in, bulls that could have easily been killed with a rifle. So to me if I had a gun in my hand I would bugle often, with cow calls thrown in for good measure. In thick cover if I need a bull to respond and I have got in close, my go to is an estrus cow call. At that point its anybodys game as every bull is different and their attitude can change at anytime so reading THAT bull correctly is key. Good Luck it sounds like a blast!

[WSU]

In my experience, getting close to the bull is the only way to get him to come to you.  If you bugle from a few hundred yards away, there is no reason for him to leave his cows.  If you are in tight enough that he thinks you are stealing his cows, he has plenty of reason to come run you off.