Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: spitfire on September 06, 2012, 10:54:21 PM
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This is my first year for archery and just my second year hunting. I have yet to fill a tag, but tonight I managed to bugle in my first bull! He didn't give me a shot but we were talking back and forth with cow calls, bugles and chuckles for 30 or 40 minutes. I had him! I just ran out of time (and light). I was using a mouth reed call and my cupped hand (I don't have a hose) but surprisingly it worked great. I used one of those Primos mouth reed calls - I learned how to use it from the CD it came with, but most helpful was the videos put out by the guys at Primetime Outdoors, watching how they use calls. (I bought their 2010 video but there's a bunch of videos from 2011 posted on youtube that are worth watching)
I was surprised at how easy it was to keep him coming in even after it seemed like he'd busted me. We were screaming at each other and he was thrashing around like crazy while he circled all around me at 50 or 60 yards away. It was really hard trying to get yardage on the trees in his path while holding my bow, but with the reed in my mouth, I kept him coming. I drew once, but he only showed me his head and neck. Oh well. Amazing time even though I didn't get him.
Would I have any luck going back and doing it again in the same spot - or maybe I stunk it up too bad?
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Wow Chall-, you're way ahead of where I was my second season. I hope the season and story ends with a bull down!
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Thanks for the encouragement, Bean Counter. Busting my rear this week was getting a little old, but yesterday sure fueled up my gas tank!
Should I go back to the same place in a couple of days or will he be gone? I scared some cows pretty good on my way out even though I was trying not to mess up the place too much.
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Did you use good scent control? So long as you didn't educate the heck out of him I'd guess he'd still be chasing the cows in the same area. I'd go back there if it were me. You can always move on if he did.
Ways to educate an elk:
- Wear lots of cologne
- smoke
- Stand up and blow your Hoochie Mama after he's spooked and is running
- Use only one call and make it sound the same each time
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I'd go right back in after him. Couple years ago I had the same kind of action and the next day went right back in there and got on a satellite bull with the big boy and my buddy got a shot at a nice 5x5 that clipped a limb and missed 6 inches high. Go get em! :tup:
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Yeah I did the special soap and deodorant and sprayed myself before I went in, but after a few hours of steeplechase uphill over blowdowns, I get pretty sweaty. I might have overdone it with the calls (overzealous beginner) but I'll go back and give it another try on Saturday. Thanks for the good advice guys!
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Hey Chall, I'd go back in after him. I used to hunt North Bend but have been going elsewhere the last couple years. If you need someone to help call I'd be willing to lend you a hand this weekend. I won't be taking off for my elk hunt til Monday. It really helps having a caller back behind you so the elk doesn't fixate on your position. If you're interested send me a PM. I'll be up there tonight just to see some elk.
