Calling elk alone

[jstone]

What’s your process for calling elk when you are all by yourself? What is a good video. Heading to Montana in a month. My brother will be there and maybe my son. Sometimes by myself. What’s your alone calling method.

[brew]

@WapitiTalk1

[ducks4days]

I'll chime in as an amateur who has called in exactly one elk while solo hunting.

Try to sound like a herd of cows. Pack multiple calls, squeeze calls in both hands, diaphragm, etc. If you have 3-4 calls that go at different pitches and you hit them back and forth while walking around, you will sound like a small herd of cows.

Cut off bulls, if you hear them bugle, bugle on top of them to piss them off. If they think they arent being heard in the middle of the rut, they can get louder and dumber.

Throw rocks around and scrape branches. Elk make elky sounds other than vocalizations.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Same as if I am with someone, except when I get a response I move downwind of my last call.
They know exactly where the sound came from.
.
Do not call unless they are forced to be in range of where you called from to see you.
They don't like it when they cannot see another elk.
.
Don't worry about making noise when calling.
It makes them nervous when you try to sneak and they expect you to be acting normal.
The old rule before I learned to call was "they will hear you 3 times, see you twice, but only smell you once"
.

[MADMAX]

Cow talk

[High Climber]

Same as if I am with someone, except when I get a response I move downwind of my last call.
They know exactly where the sound came from.
.
Do not call unless they are forced to be in range of where you called from to see you.
They don't like it when they cannot see another elk.
.
Don't worry about making noise when calling.
It makes them nervous when you try to sneak and they expect you to be acting normal.
The old rule before I learned to call was "they will hear you 3 times, see you twice, but only smell you once"
.

I used to have lots of bulls hang up around 80 yards or so until I figured out how to adjust my setups so a bull is in range when he can see where my elk noises are coming from. “Run and gun” covering ground using mostly bugles sometimes cow calls to locate bulls and then move in to setup based on wind and terrain is my M.O.
Check out the Elknut app, Paul covers all this stuff and goes in depth on setups and calling methods. Good luck this year 

[String Bender]

I let the elk set the tone. If they aren't talking , I may do a bugle or random cow call occasionally. If they are bugling I have called them in with cow calls and get them to respond back with soft bugles but it all depends on what they are doing. If you are calling by yourself, as mentioned above, they like to hang up around the 100 to 80 yard mark to try to identify where the calls came from make sure you can do some moving.

[zwickeyman]

Like others have said, move after the last call. They know the exact spot that last call came from. I have only killed 1 bull that was called in for me, all the rest solo. Not all by calling though. Spot and stalk, still hunting or sneaking in on bulls that are bugling with me never calling at all

Some times its really hard to do, some times its impossible.
Reasons:

He comes in faster than expected and catches you moving up
The terrain just doesnt allow it
Lead cow is in front and catches you

When Im calling, what ever is working whether I challenge or Im only cow calling or both. If he is for sure coming and he is pretty close. I will move towards him and down wind 40 yards if possible. My hope is when he hangs up at 60 to 70 yards I will still get a shot.

60% of the time it works every time

[A-Dawg-Archer]

I suggest the ElkNut app. Great free app with lots of videos, easy to watch and read when you have a few spare moments. the ElkNut guy also puts out some good youtube videos.

Best of luck. I am in the same boat and I will be following closely to get these other guys tactics!

[jstone]

I have been watching lots of videos. And just trying to get other ideas .!!

[WapitiTalk1]

As with any elk calling scenario, it depends on the situation you find yourself involved with on that particular day, at that particular time of day, in that particular terrain.  Lots and lots of variables and you’ve gotta interpret and react/act and vocalize or not vocalize effectively to maximize your odds. Clear as mud, right. 

[blackveltbowhunter]

I'm probably in the minority and have a much easier time  and way more successful calling for myself than calling for a buddy.

Once I have one located, I try and determine whether I'm dealing with a solo bull or a bull with a herd either visually or by his responses. If its a solo bull I tend to stick to calf and light cow noises, branches, rolling rocks etc. I Try and paint a picture of a couple elk waiting to get swooped up. Not a full on herd with a bull. If the bull is solo and bugling, this scenario is close to 100 percent effective for me. As far as set up, I try and close quickly once I ascertain he is moving my way, if he is I will be pretty aggressive with the wind,  and movement. IME this is a younger bull, and if he thinks his targets are moving his way, he will move to intercept rather than circle. He will also be less cautious if he is not concerned about another bull. If possible to move quietly 20 to 40 yards closer to him after last call even better. If he does hang up, I have had good luck "throwing" a soft cow call behind me.

If it's a bull with a herd. I settle in for the long haul. Wind must be steady and unless some wild stroke of luck he will not move toward my calls until his herd is threatened. In this case, I'm trying to get in between him and his cows by shadowing or sneaking on bedded or in bedding areas. If I can get into this position I will start with raking, some glunking and a high to low bugle. A solo bull that has stumbled into his herd and is showing off to his closest ladies trying to take one.

I prefer to let the situation and setup be right and pounce rather than try and force it via " raising" his temperature.  If i absolutely have force it, i am going to try and do it be thick or sporadic timber with thick pockets, or topography that he has to move over or around to see. If he can circle you or doesn't feel threatened the ball is in his court and who knows what will happen. But my experience is generally it's not good for me. But there have been a couple exceptions. 

Finally, be prepared for frontal and quartered shots. Keep shots close, know your limits, keep equipment appropriate, and possibly most important know anatomy of the animal at different angles. It's the most exciting way to kill elk IMO. Have fun!

[2MANY]

Sums it up.