All Cowed Up

[cnelk]

The last 5 elk Ive killed with a bow I never even had a bugle tube with me

 

[HookUp]

The elk hunting industry pushes calling. These guys are doing 10-14 miles day week after week for that one bull who wil come in and play. Older age class herd bulls are big for a reason and rarely will be called in. Like said above, lose the call slip in silently and wait for a shot.

 

[wapitibob]

lost cow mew
he bugles a response
assembly mew
he comes in on a string


your welcome

 

[trophyhill]

You'll kill a lot more herd bulls when you realize calling is only one of MANY tools in your bag. Usually not the best one when you're after the biggest bulls. With that said, bugling will work more often than cow call in your situation. But in order for that to work you have to be WAY inside his comfort zone first. IMHO if you want to consistently kill herd bulls, you have to get into bow range before you do anything else. Once you're inside that zone then you figure out your best option to get the shot. If you go in calling, you're likely going to keep having the same results you've had.

Just trying to help....sorry it isn't what you wanted to hear.

Called in a great herd bull that was already moving out with his cows a few years back with an out of the box strategy I don't see from the many guys selling the calls/calling programs....but Hey, whatever works for ya.

....

I'm open to all advice. So in essence, that is what I wanted to hear 2 years ago in CO I tried something totally out of the box. Called in 6 bulls doing it. All but 1 were satellites. The 1 herd bull I called in initially with a cow sound and he hung up at 30 yards with no shot and went back to his cows. He came in screaming. This was opening day in the August heat. This was when I tried something totally out of the box and called my way in to 20 yards of him. I couldn't see his eyes so I figured he couldn't see me as I started to draw. I was wrong. He jumped, turned and was outta there before I was able to draw and aim unfortunately.

 

[cnelk]

I’m hunting really high country this year for one of my hunts.

A tactic I will use is to watch elk move down from above timberline and get into the trees from a distance, then circle around when the thermals switch and drop in on them from above.

Like WapitiBob said...

“You’re welcome”

 

[5MilesBack]

If you can get in close, most times you will get a whack at the bull circling around his herd every 5 minutes checking cows....and they have no idea you are there.

This is what I was counting on, but never happened. Hindsight......I would have played it differently now. One of the reasons I play things out quickly is because of those pesky winds that will ruin a setup before you can even start it at times.......especially when you've got cows all around you. It doesn't take much of a wind swirl to send a cow running.

That happened in 2013 on a big herd, and that bull was making the rounds. Had cows to my right and in front of me with the wind pushing to my left. While I was waiting for the bull to swing through these close cows, some of the cows fed off over to my left, and then the wind shifted that way. The bull had no idea what happened but still started running off with them a bit. I was able to get his attention and he came back, but off to my right at a higher elevation with a 60 yard opening between us while he stayed in the dark in the trees.

 

[5MilesBack]

The last 5 elk Ive killed with a bow I never even had a bugle tube with me

If "just killing an elk with the bow" was the objective, this stuff would be easy.

 

[kiddogy]

Well I know you are a calling fan....but have you tried other tactics....like sneaking in on them without telling them you are there by calling?

Calling is exciting and it makes one feel like they are 'doing something'....but many times in heavily called areas you are driving the elk away. Sometimes the herd bull...or even more important....the lead cow...just doesn't want to deal with another bull...so they move off. It happens.

when they do . dog em. stay on them and that lead bull will eventually get pissed enough to fight

 

[cnelk]

If "just killing an elk with the bow" was the objective, this stuff would be easy.

^^ Cute. The thing is, most everyone on here wouldve wanted to kill the same 5 elk I did

 

[ElkNut1]

Trophyhill, the time frame with bulls 'Cowed Up' is by far my favorite time to hunt & call in herd bulls. It may be your biggest hurdle is the country you are hunting. More open country elk need to be caught in the cover for successful calling just like you can catch them in the timber then work them!

You also need to recognize the Emotion/Attitude of the bull you've targeted, just because he has cows does not mean you can Challenge him or just Cow Talk him over, no sir, choosing the right tactic is important for consistent success that is tailored for each individual bull.

For instance, take a herd bull that has a cow entering estrus in his presence. He is not a good candidate to cow call over no matter your cow chatter, instead that bull will attempt to call you to the group, he does not want to leave this hot cow to gather one more. Bottom line is your odds are not good to tag him if you do not get creative!

The same can apply to a bull with no hot cow in his presence, he's tougher to Challenge & get him to come over to you since he's not in a defensive mood. You can get him there but your initial encounter with him must be handled carefully to eventually put him on full tilt!

I know you have the Mobile App, look at the New Slow Play Sequence, it's pure gold, you'll love it & it's a game changer!

ElkNut/Paul

 

[Beendare]

Love this thread.....

David....of course we all have the perfect answer to this! /grin......but truthfully we have all had our best strategy NOT work...thats hunting.

You also need to recognize the Emotion/Attitude of the bull you've targeted, just because he has cows does not mean you can Challenge him or just Cow Talk him over, no sir, choosing the right tactic is important for consistent success that is tailored for each individual bull. ElkNut/Paul

Paul ^ sums it up well. Even then, you take your best guess....and let the cards fall where they may.

Its great when you have a herd bull screaming every 30 seconds dashing around....many of the strategies above in this thread work. A bull that is worn out from all night rutting activity is a whole different scenario.

Then add a smart lead cow in the herd. I've seen those cows do some amazing things....picking an escape route away from us....and as it happens Tom Miranda and his guide were hunting the same 380-ish bull. Some of those cows have seen 5-10 hunting seasons...they are pretty savvy.

But then all of these animals can be tricked....or belly crawled in on in the right scenario....it reminds me of the ending in that Indiana Jones movie with the King Arthur Knight guarding the Challis points to the skeleton, "He chose poorly"

....

 

[Brendan]

lost cow mew
he bugles a response
assembly mew
he comes in on a string


your welcome

I'm far from the most experienced, I'm in the same bucket as the OP pulling the trigger on a herd bull, but I've had multiple bulls almost run me over with this one... Including leaving a herd of cows to come get some. Pretty low impact calling too.


This year I'll be hunting WY on 9/1, probably not worried about them being cowed up, but am definitely bringing better optics and thinking about Paul's slow play and more early season cold call sequences if they're not fired up...

 

[spike camp]

I’m hunting really high country this year for one of my hunts.

A tactic I will use is to watch elk move down from above timberline and get into the trees from a distance, then circle around when the thermals switch and drop in on them from above.

Like WapitiBob said...

“You’re welcome”

Thats my go to move, except I usually come in parallel.

 

[trophyhill]

I have just the

I’m hunting really high country this year for one of my hunts.

A tactic I will use is to watch elk move down from above timberline and get into the trees from a distance, then circle around when the thermals switch and drop in on them from above.

Like WapitiBob said...

“You’re welcome”

I have just the spot for that on opening morning. I'll be camped above 10k and hike up to tree line above 11k. If that doesn't pan out, I'll hunt my way back down thru a great drainage and back to camp around dark.

 

[5MilesBack]

^^ Cute. The thing is, most everyone on here wouldve wanted to kill the same 5 elk I did

Yes, you're probably correct on that. But it's not just about the kill for some folks, including me. Methods, strategy, and selectiveness are higher priorities to me these days.

 

[Beendare]

Yes, you're probably correct on that. But it's not just about the kill for some folks, including me. Methods, strategy, and selectiveness are higher priorities to me these days.

Yeah....and that selectivity hurt my opportunities last year. 2 bulls, one decent that came in silent would have been dead with my compound.... I had to pass with my stick bow....but I'm a glutton for punishment.

...

 

[ElkNut1]

Cow calling sets the stage, it's Bugling, Raking & Rattling that fills the tags! Use cow calling sparingly! The Bugle is king on OTC public land bulls. Most hunters shy away from bugling because they refuse to learn how to use Bull Sounds effectively! Know where to call & where not to call & your odds for success will soar!

Guys, learn how to use Bugling & behavior sounds, it flat kicks an elks butt. Good luck & have a great elk season!

ElkNut/Paul

 

[5MilesBack]

Yeah....and that selectivity hurt my opportunities last year. 2 bulls, one decent that came in silent would have been dead with my compound.... I had to pass with my stick bow....but I'm a glutton for punishment.

Ya, but you knew that going in and were willing to accept those outcomes. That's the key......playing it our own way, and accepting whatever the outcome is. I'm OK with that. Frank Sinatra elk hunting......."doing it my way......". And "doing it my way" wouldn't leave the truck without my bugle tube.

 

[ElkNut1]

Love the Sinatra analogy, cool!

ElkNut/Paul

 

[Beendare]

I'm thinking of some of the all cowed up herds I've been on. I've successfully called in a few....2 with a decoy....it works in the right situation.

I had one herd I literally walked right into in OTC Co one year while they were spread out feeding. The bull wasn't bugling...but there was some pressure from muzzle guys around. I was 60 yds from the rag horn 6 point in a fairly open patch of a few trees and I screamed a challenge bugle right at him. He lifted his head to look...and then went back to feeding. Wow was that disappointing.

I had another in Utah where I snuck in about 40 yds from the closest cow. There was apps 18 cows and one good 6 point bull about 320". He was wandering around his herd like they do ...but on the far side from me apex 70 yds away. He was bugling, excited. I got impatient and screamed at his cows. The one cow threw her head up and ran off taking all of the elk with her.

I've had a bunch of similar incidents like those above....so now I'm more patient /grin

Now to be fair, on that same Utah hunt I had two bulls screaming at each other and my screaming at them drew the one Big bull in. This bull was at least 800# on the hoof- biggest bodied bull I've ever seen [and I've seen multiple 380 bulls on 4 hunts in Arizona] bigger than our horses...and it appears he was just wandering around being a bully and taking the other herd bulls cows. When you find a really aggressive bull like this...its a callers dream.

Personally I think that aggression is key to whether you can call a herd bull or not and should determine your strategy.

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