Need an elk with in 20 yards. Help

[Recurve-Elk]

What are your tactics for getting elk with in really close on Eastside?  I switched to recurve last season from compound, and am sticking with it again this year.  I am only really comfortable shooting at an animal out to 20 yards max right now and am not ashamed to say this, it is my lethal boundary.  So what would you recommend for getting them in real close?  My plan is to basically put myself in terrain that only allows 20 yard shots, no further.  So lots of deadfall, north facing slopes where the trees are a tangled mess.  My partner and I both call, but I am the one who does any spike/cow/bull bugling, my partner is limited to your classic plastic cow/calf call. (he can't use a diaphram.)  We usually set up 50 yards or so apart and take turns calling, spend around 1-1.5 hours in one spot and then move to a new one if there was no activity. 

I am not afraid to get aggressive with elk, last year when I had my special permit, I bugled in a 5x5 and he hung up around 100 yards so I started copying his actions. (racking trees, chuckling, pawing at a stump.) then I literally ran at him with a tree blocking him from seeing me.  I was able to close to about 60 yards, but ran out of shooting light and had to say goodbye to my opportunity at harvesting my first elk..

I know a lot of the tricks but, I'm always looking for more! 

[WAcoyotehunter]

you have a pretty good plan.  I would tell your partner to learn to call...I told my partner yesterday that he needed to practice his bugle all week until he could nail it on the first try, every time.  It's not fair to you to be the "lead caller".

Hunting the thick stuff is a good plan.  Try seperating by a little more (100 yds) and have your partner break limbs and rake (and hopefully grunt, squeal, bugle...) to get the bull going.  If you hear the bull raking- you can close some distance pretty safely.

We like to have one guy keep him talking while the other ghosts in for a shot.

Good luck!!!  We expect to see some pictures after season---  with or without an elk!!!

[BOWHUNTER45]

I have gotten within elk many times within 20 yrds ... but I have always been a stalker kinda hunter ...yeah I use a cow call and a bugle but my most successful way of killin elk has to always keep the wind in my face and follow well used elk trails ... I have walked in on the bedding areas many times and had them all around me ....Another way I have done well is to get in between them and the bedding area and wait maybe use a few soft cow calls ....plus you need to rely on your nose just like they do ... elk stink and when I am getting close I always smell them and slow way down on my pursuit ... slowly slippin in for the kill !!

[cld40]

add a decoy to your arsenal.....

[D-Rock425]

Find a nice wallow and put up a treestand. 

[Instinct]

add a decoy to your arsenal.....

[bloodhound]

add a decoy to your arsenal.....

[WSU]

Where are you hunting?  A lot of places (if you hunt somewhere dry enough) have water holes that are used nearly every day...

[high country]

be 100% bang on on the wind and be ready. rare will they hang that close for long. have someone try to call the elk "through" you.