Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: rotty33 on August 17, 2011, 03:04:30 PM

Title: Calling in a cow
Post by: rotty33 on August 17, 2011, 03:04:30 PM: 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!
Title: Re: Calling in a cow
Post by: colockumelk on August 17, 2011, 03:48:40 PM: 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 (http://stores.elknut.com/Detail.bok?no=48)
Title: Re: Calling in a cow
Post by: buglebrush on August 17, 2011, 03:50:03 PM: go to elknut's site and order his dvd's and/or play book. ( elknut.com ??)
Title: Re: Calling in a cow
Post by: NWWABOWHNTR on August 17, 2011, 03:54:18 PM: 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!
Title: Calling in a cow
Post by: slim9300 on August 17, 2011, 04:36:48 PM: Quote from: colockumelk on August 17, 2011, 03:48:40 PM
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 (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. =)
Title: Re: Calling in a cow
Post by: Instinct on August 17, 2011, 04:42:03 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Calling in a cow
Post by: wildmanoutdoors on August 17, 2011, 04:44:22 PM: Get a mellow yellow call from Rocky's thru Elknut and don't look back...
Title: Re: Calling in a cow
Post by: rotty33 on August 17, 2011, 05:01:48 PM: Thanks for all of the info. Sounds like I am way off track! I will look into those dvd's.
Title: Re: Calling in a cow
Post by: hillbilli on August 27, 2011, 07:25:33 PM: 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..
Title: Re: Calling in a cow
Post by: HOYT6.0 on August 27, 2011, 07:52:36 PM: 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... :twocents:

Just remember. Practice...Practice and Practice again....
Title: Re: Calling in a cow
Post by: TikkaT3-270Shortmag on August 27, 2011, 08:31:13 PM: Mellow yellow is a good one. I use hoochie to sound like a herd of elk as well. The hyper lip is a dandy!
Title: Re: Calling in a cow
Post by: salmonfifty on August 27, 2011, 09:08:42 PM: 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!
Title: Re: Calling in a cow
Post by: JPhelps on August 27, 2011, 09:14:33 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Calling in a cow
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on August 27, 2011, 09:16:40 PM: I still swear by my Sceery Ace, been with me for years. :twocents:
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)
Quote
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 ! :twocents:
Title: Re: Calling in a cow
Post by: Recurve-Elk on August 28, 2011, 07:47:35 AM: Quote from: HOYT6.0 on August 27, 2011, 07:52:36 PM
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... :twocents:

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.
Title: Re: Calling in a cow
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on August 28, 2011, 10:41:23 AM: Quote
You do call elk in but the only elk you will call in is a bull.
I have called in lone cows, or a cow and calf, on numerous occasions.
Quote
Cows are pushed by bulls when they are in the rut.
In my experience, the lead cow does just that, leads.
The bull keeps them together, and tries to get more, but usually is in the rear of herd, or circling.
:twocents:
I guess it just shows that anything can happen :dunno:
We all have different experiences.
Title: Re: Calling in a cow
Post by: cuzsis on August 28, 2011, 03:05:23 PM: Grab your girlfriend, wife, sister, small child ect... someone with a reasonably high pitched voice (higher than yours) and teach them to do it without an artificial call.

I started doing that (because I couldn't get to my regular call) and brought our resident bull out of the brush earlier this spring! :yike:

I think, if I'm remembering correctly, that my 7yr old son managed to fool someone when we were out and about one time. That was pretty funny! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Calling in a cow
Post by: HOYT6.0 on August 28, 2011, 03:31:44 PM: Quote from: Recurve-Elk on August 28, 2011, 07:47:35 AM
Quote from: HOYT6.0 on August 27, 2011, 07:52:36 PM
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... :twocents:

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.

:tup: Sounds like we are on the same page. I was amazed when I learned this...
Title: Re: Calling in a cow
Post by: DUCKDUDE on August 29, 2011, 09:49:39 AM: Try the bootie call from flex tone, it sounds good.