Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: crowinghen on September 12, 2018, 09:33:25 PM
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We called in a couple bulls to 35 yards tonight ( they came into bugling and cow talk from about 100 yards away They weren't raking or really fired up , but they did come in fairly quickly.), but didn't get a shot opportunity. They didn't really bust us or wind us, just eventually they got bored and left. ( after 15 minutes of us cow calling) they decided something didn't look right and they left ,not in a hurry but a little nervous,.
When would it be appropriate to go back in and call them ? Would it be wrong to go in tomorrow morning? Or should I give them a little more time?
Thanks in advance!
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I would try a decoy
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Are you with 2 or more people? Someone needs to be further back calling so the bull will have to come closer or walk past the shooter to find the cow he is hearing. If they didn't blow out I would go back tomorrow. If you are within 35 yards I wouldn't be calling at all I don't think unless it is to stop him.
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The trick is to have someone between the caller and elk when you start to call. That shooter should be able to getnoff a shot if in the right spot. They almost always hang up when they think they should be able to see the elk that has been calling. Decoy might work but pain the the butt if you hunt thick timber.
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We didn't have the opportunity to get set up with caller in back.. but one step by either bull and we'd have been packing out meat right now.
Thanks! we will try again tomorrow with a better set up
Appreciate the replies!
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The initial set up would have worked if it wasn't for one misfortune. We spotted the heard on our approach, they were below us in a small bowl with a finger ridge leading to right above them. I knew I needed to get below them, we had down ward winds. Crowinghen is unbelievable in what she will go through but we know moving fast through some thick difficult terrain is not her strong point so we made the decision I would go alone. I ran down and made my approach on the down wind side of the finger ridge. When I figured I was about 100 yards out I cracked off a bugle and then moved forward making soft cow mews. At some point I saw antlers coming towards me. I stopped, ranged a stump that I felt they were going to get to and waited for a shot. They both stopped at about 35 yards. I needed either one to make a step and I had a shot. The big bull started to take the step I needed and I began to draw, I hear plastic slap plastic, some were in the draw process something hooked the read on one of my calls hanging around my neck. The big bull stopped and started to turn. This is when I started cow calling, I got his attention and he stopped, but he had pegged me, he didn't know what I was but he knew exactly were I was at. This being the first time I've ever called elk into my lap during a hunt, cow calling was the first thing I thought of. I kept soft mewing not to keep him in the game but my hope was that the smaller bull would move into position for a shot. First time calling lessons, next time Crowinghen will make the run with me and have my back, she's gotten quite good with a diaphragm making cow mews, and I will no longer be wearing open reed calls around my neck. During this set I never used it once, only the diaphragm. Thanks for the help , we did head back out there this morning but the rain was dread full, I doubt they could hear a bugle from 50 yards.
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I would have gone back after them after they left, an hour or two later. If they came in once, I would think you have a good chance at doing it again. I certainly wouldn't wait a day or two, give it a shot and then move on if they are no longer playing.
