Calling in a cow

[rotty33]

I just bought a primos hoochie mamma and tried it out on some cow elk that are fenced in (domesticated I guess). I put it on the setting of lost cow and it worked pretty dang good. They came over the hill mewing right to me.  In the real world though, what is a good tactic to use? Do you call once then wait a while, or call quite a few times?   I am a rookie when it comes to cow calls. BTW I will be going after cow elk this fall, possibly a spike.
Any info would be appreciated!

[colockumelk]

I have found that cow elk can be called in.  THey are ALOT.... harder to call in than a bull though.  Cows will ALWAYS stop and look at where the call is coming from.  My experience has been they will call back at you and expect you to come to them the last 50yds or so.  Calling in a cow with a hoochie mamma will probably not happen.  If I was you I would buy a reed style call from JPHELPS on this site or Rocky Jacobson and learn how to call with that.  You will have WAY WAY more luck with their calls than a hoochie mamma.  Also if I was you I would buy all of ELKNUTS CD's and listen to them over and over again.  He has a CD specifically for calling in cows.  Go here and buy all 4 CD's for $35.00  You will gain about 10 years of experience if you listen and practise these techniques.  I promise you. 

http://stores.elknut.com/Detail.bok?no=48

[buglebrush]

go to elknut's site and order his dvd's and/or play book.  ( elknut.com ??)

[NWWABOWHNTR]

Not a fan of the hoochie mama... too many people running through the woods "squawking" on it every 5 seconds.... elk get educated, let alone it sonds terrible.  Get a reed call like suggested above, and the CD's and practice.  Do not overcall!

[slim9300]

I have found that cow elk can be called in.  THey are ALOT.... harder to call in than a bull though.  Cows will ALWAYS stop and look at where the call is coming from.  My experience has been they will call back at you and expect you to come to them the last 50yds or so.  Calling in a cow with a hoochie mamma will probably not happen.  If I was you I would buy a reed style call from JPHELPS on this site or Rocky Jacobson and learn how to call with that.  You will have WAY WAY more luck with their calls than a hoochie mamma.  Also if I was you I would buy all of ELKNUTS CD's and listen to them over and over again.  He has a CD specifically for calling in cows.  Go here and buy all 4 CD's for $35.00  You will gain about 10 years of experience if you listen and practise these techniques.  I promise you. 

http://stores.elknut.com/Detail.bok?no=48

Wow. Everyone knows about Paul now. Pretty sweet, other then all those dead elk. Jk. Lol

I almost thought I was on another forum that I frequent for a sec. =)

[Instinct]

I use a hoochie, triple reed diaphram, and cow girl use all 3 at once doing mews, estrus, calf. But i set up on a used trail but semi thick but to where i can get a shot off. Ive called em in to 15 yrds to 35. SStart calling, stop for a while, then a chirp or two, stop then pick it back up again, then stop.

[wildmanoutdoors]

Get a mellow yellow call from Rocky's thru Elknut and don't look back...

[rotty33]

Thanks for all of the info. Sounds like I am way off track! I will look into those dvd's.

[hillbilli]

i've see a hoochie momma bring in a young bull, but that was down south, not here..so dont know ho relevant it is..

[HOYT6.0]

 We tend to use the mouth reeds.  Never really liked the easy to use calls.  They always sound cheap and scare the elk.  Plus a mouth reed is so convient.  If you have a bugle,  do a little buggle.  Then a cow call if someone answers.  Usually works for me...

Just remember.  Practice...Practice and Practice again....

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

Mellow yellow is a good one.  I use hoochie to sound like a herd of elk as well.  The hyper lip is a dandy!

[salmonfifty]

almost every hunter I have met tell me they call elk in. You do call elk in but the only elk you will call in is a bull. Cows are pushed by bulls when they are in the rut. you might be one of those lucky hunters and able to call a cow in when she is hot and bothered lookin to get "nocked up"! I would deffinately stay away from the hoochie mama and do a diaphram call and do alot of practicing. I practice in my truck on my way to work and whenever I am driving. Watching DVD's helps alot too cuz those guys are on elk and you can listen and learn on how those elk are "talkin" and understand what you should do. takes alot of hours in the woods to learn what to do when calling elk. practice with your calls and spend time in the woods is my suggestion!

[JPhelps]

I very rarely try to target cows, but when trying to call in a cow I would use assembly mews, lost mews, and lost calf mews.

I will try to describe the situations that I have found these sounds to be most effective.

assembly mews:  When you know you are in tight with the herd (around 100-125 yards or closer), start off with directing the call torwards the herd and slowly turn the call 180* in the direction you want the elk to come (simulating the cow leaving).  Make other normal cow talk to go along with the assembly mews.

lost cow/calf mews: When blind calling in areas known to hold elk.  Can be utilized as a single caller or with a partner (about 100 yards apart).

As far as brand and style of call, use whatever you feel comfortable with.  I always have a mouth reed and external reed ready to go.  I don't use a hoochie mama but feel it can be used effectively in the right situations.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I still swear by my Sceery Ace, been with me for years. 
Use diaphragm, and a couple "reed" type (bite and blow or open reed) sound like a couple different Elk, try different sounds.
I keep mine at low volume usually, figure I want to be heard, yet not sound phony.
Think about sounding like a couple of different Elk, such as a cow and calf.
They are not yelling at each other, merely talking to each other, so low, calm, contented calls.
They are not very far apart, so they really are not being very loud.
(I want to point out here that Elk hear a lot better than we can, so IMO if I can hear it, they hear it better)
when you get into a lot of sign.......,
or smell them..........Then a couple calls on the reed type calls, maybe a small squeal ( remember these animals are talking to each other)

This is where I always screw up, and jump behind a bush, or something to hide behind

Wait a little bit a see what happens,
listen...........
get comfortable, and listen..., maybe a chirp, or 2, just to "keep it real"
After a while, sometimes an hour or so, move on until you get into another spot where you see a lot of sign
Or smell them
Keep doing this until either an elk shows up, or you get a response, (vocal)
Now its a whole different game !!
And remember to hide IN FRONT OF COVER, NOT BEHIND IT ! 
 

[Recurve-Elk]

We tend to use the mouth reeds.  Never really liked the easy to use calls.  They always sound cheap and scare the elk.  Plus a mouth reed is so convient.  If you have a bugle,  do a little buggle.  Then a cow call if someone answers.  Usually works for me...

Just remember.  Practice...Practice and Practice again....

Same here, I have had much more success ever since I switched to a single reed diaphram call.  I carry a little plastic tube around too so I can let out spike/cow bugles also.  Which I have found almost more effective than cow calling for getting spikes and cows in.  Learned this tactic from elknut.  Cow calls in combo with spike/cow bugles to sound like a small pocket of animals has proven to be successful.  Sparse intermittent calling seems the best.