spooked elk now what?

[texasbuckmaster]

finally got a bull talkin this morning down in a bog, i guess i was being to aggressive with my calling cause at one time he was around 60 yards and then just kept getting farther away . my question is how long should i wait to hit that spot again go back in the morning or let it rest for a day or two?

[buglebrush]

Did he smell you?

[texasbuckmaster]

no i dont think he did the wind was in my face i think i pushed him to much with my bugling.

[buglebrush]

If you are sure he never smelled or saw you it may not hurt to hit it again soon, but if you have other areas I would give it a day or so.  Also, try using less calls.  a short chuckle and cow calls.  Let the elk tell you how agressive to be. I have found that if you get them heading in I would stop calling altogether as long as he keeps coming.     Good Luck!

[Pathfinder101]

Were you cow calling, or bugling?

[boonerboy]

bugle to locate then stick to the cow calls, using lightly as long as he is coming. The more aggressive the bull, the more aggressive you can get away with being.

[highside74]

If you know there is a responsive elk that is willing to talk back, I wouldn't bugle anymore and switch right to cow calls. I might not bugle at all. I generally cow call for at least the first 15 minutes of my set. (not 15 straight minutes). Remember a bull is looking for love and not a fight. If he already has his cow's the only thing a bugle means is he could get his butt stomped and loose all his cow's. On the other hand more cow's mean's more love. He would rather lead his cow's away from the other bull 9 times out of 10. I would go back and leave the bugle in the truck. Also don't be to quite when calling. A heard of cow's brakes twig's and bump's rock's so try to sound like a few elk. Snap some twig's and such every once and a while to make it sound like some elk moving around. You might pick up a satelite bull this way trying to sneak some trim from the heard bull.

[Pathfinder101]

bugle to locate then stick to the cow calls, using lightly as long as he is coming. The more aggressive the bull, the more aggressive you can get away with being.

Exactly where I was going with my question.  As soon as you get an answer with your bugle, put it away, put your cow call in your mouth, check the wind and make a beeline for the elk.  When you get to within 100 yards (depending on cover and terrain), set up and cow call softly.  If he starts to circle you, he is trying to get downwind to smell you.  Try to cut him off.  Don't worry about being quiet, if you were a cow elk you would be making noise too.  Just don't let him see or smell you.