Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: WapitiTalk1 on April 14, 2014, 03:39:02 PM

Title: Elk. Do you speak it?
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on April 14, 2014, 03:39:02 PM: Do you speak elk? What would you say your current level is for both interpreting what elk are saying/asking for, and, your ability to throw out realistic sounds to evoke a response for most elk woods situational scenarios is?

A. I pretty much get it completely.... and, can understand what elk are saying/asking for (needing) and speak (when necessary) to the elk appropriately for the given situation, maximizing my potential for success in harvesting a wapiti in almost all situations.

B. Not too shabby. I know the difference between advertising sounds, challenging sounds, chuckles, grunts, nervous/popping grunts, normal herd sounds, alarm barks, glugs, etc., and in most cases, respond accordingly with my own sounds fitting for the situation.

C. I understand the basics but need to work on a better understanding of what elk are saying and/or how to respond with sounds fitting for the situation.

D. Need quite a bit of work on both the comprehension of elk language interpretation, and, my own elk sounds .

E. The only thing I need to know is that I heard an elk and the direction it came from. My style of hunting does not require sound interpretation, or, calling.

F. Other.
Title: Re: Elk. Do you speak it?
Post by: vandeman17 on April 14, 2014, 03:46:29 PM: I am a mixture of B and C. I am still working on recreating some of the different calls but I can distinguish them when I hear them.
Title: Re: Elk. Do you speak it?
Post by: Fullabull on April 14, 2014, 03:47:38 PM: I would say B...

I can tell what sounds are being made from what you listed above also including a bull rounding up his ladies to move them away to safety, or when a bull is trying to call you to him. My biggest set back is I tend to not be aggressive enough once I have located elk, but I'm learning :tup:
Title: Re: Elk. Do you speak it?
Post by: DIYARCHERYJUNKIE on April 14, 2014, 03:53:01 PM: A and F. Between some phelps instruction and calls and elk nut DVD. I learned most everything I need to know in a few seasons. I have been trying new things year to year and learning too, but for the most part keep it simple. Calling elk is a lot easier than killing elk. But one compliments the other.
Title: Re: Elk. Do you speak it?
Post by: DIYARCHERYJUNKIE on April 14, 2014, 03:58:03 PM: Quote from: Fullabull on April 14, 2014, 03:47:38 PM
I would say B...

I can tell what sounds are being made from what you listed above also including a bull rounding up his ladies to move them away to safety, or when a bull is trying to call you to him. My biggest set back is I tend to not be aggressive enough once I have located elk, but I'm learning :tup:

Aggression is clutch.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,101268.0.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,101268.0.html)
Title: Re: Elk. Do you speak it?
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on April 14, 2014, 04:38:44 PM: After 34+ years, I learn something new every year.
Kind of like my kids... I thought I said this.. but they heard that...
I just try to match my sounds to what I hear, and respond with what I think I am supposed to say.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not.
I also have found out that calling elk is kind of like calling my dog, sometimes they come when I call, sometimes they take their own sweet time...
I have to reccommend Elknut, his DVDs put together a lot of the peices of the missing puzzle.
I went from 1-2 close encounters in a week, to 5-6, but still the biggest problem was silent animals sneaking in to look.
Getting caught after waiting for what I thought was a reasonable time has been my biggest problem, or too much brush in the way.
But I feel that I am in the small percentage of hunters that actually get to talk to them every year, no matter what season.
I say "F" because the more I learn, the less I think I know.
If it was easy, everyone would do it.
Title: Re: Elk. Do you speak it?
Post by: pd on April 14, 2014, 06:23:41 PM: E. That's why we are hosting Jason Phelps on May 17th, on Bainbridge Island, to learn a bit more about elk calling.

For anybody who answers B to F, come and learn. For those who
answered A, come and teach!

(Thanks for the free PR, Phantom!)
Title: Re: Elk. Do you speak it?
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on April 14, 2014, 06:28:56 PM: No problem pd. I'm gonna do my best to make it up thata way for this event ;)
Title: Re: Elk. Do you speak it?
Post by: JPhelps on April 14, 2014, 06:40:15 PM: E

I will usually have a good idea of what is going on but my elk calling and hunting is 95% prescriptive and 5% reactive :twocents:
Title: Re: Elk. Do you speak it?
Post by: deerhunter_98520 on April 14, 2014, 06:41:40 PM: In between B & C..getting a lot better after getting elknut's CDs....although I have got very good at calling in other hunters so I must be doing something right...well I hope so anyways most of them had hoochie mommas and really knew how to squeeze them when I bugled at them :chuckle:
Title: Re: Elk. Do you speak it?
Post by: huntnnw on April 14, 2014, 09:19:43 PM: herd bull isnt running the herd. the lead cow is running the herd. The bull is always bringing up the rear cause hes following the lead of the lead cow
Title: Re: Elk. Do you speak it?
Post by: jason stevens on April 14, 2014, 09:45:40 PM: I'm a b graduated to a after new calls (thanks jason phelps) biggest problem is I can't draw a bull tag. Someday maybe.and I hate the westside.
Title: Re: Elk. Do you speak it?
Post by: usmc74 on April 15, 2014, 01:30:15 PM: I'm about a B.

Not sure what I said to the bull in my avatar, but it was self defence when he came at me.
Title: Re: Elk. Do you speak it?
Post by: Tbar on April 15, 2014, 01:47:17 PM: I don't know where I fit in there. I do know I'm a work in progress and every time I "know" some situation and how it's going to play out the elk humble me. I learn a little more every time I'm in the woods though.
Title: Re: Elk. Do you speak it?
Post by: jackmaster on April 15, 2014, 02:01:31 PM: I am at the expert level, when a bull bugles he is simply saying, Damn one of you chicks have to be in the mood.... when a cow mews she is simply saying over here ya big stud. See pretty simple :dunno: :chuckle: :tup:
Title: Re: Elk. Do you speak it?
Post by: jasnt on April 15, 2014, 02:10:39 PM: D. I haven't been hunting elk very long and have always hunted them solo.
Title: Re: Elk. Do you speak it?
Post by: D-Rock425 on April 15, 2014, 02:52:51 PM: Quote from: JPhelps on April 14, 2014, 06:40:15 PM
E

I will usually have a good idea of what is going on but my elk calling and hunting is 95% prescriptive and 5% reactive :twocents:
:yike:
Title: Re: Elk. Do you speak it?
Post by: JPhelps on April 15, 2014, 03:35:26 PM: Quote from: D-Rock425 on April 15, 2014, 02:52:51 PM
Quote from: JPhelps on April 14, 2014, 06:40:15 PM
E

I will usually have a good idea of what is going on but my elk calling and hunting is 95% prescriptive and 5% reactive :twocents:
:yike:

I use E with calling. I didn't realize it said no calling. But everything else is right on.