All Cowed Up

[trophyhill]

For me, the most difficult thing to do is kill a herd bull. I'm getting into them now every year, but pulling them away from the cows has proved difficult. Although when I have done it by being aggressive, I didn't have a shot. I've blown some great opportunities and for one reason or another, watched them flee when I was sure I was gonna kill my first herd bull. I'ma glutton for punishment cuz I'm going back for more. I should preface and tell you I hunt archery solo.

 

[Beendare]

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.

 

[CX5Ranch]

Let's try a double team I'll go with ya

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[cnelk]

A lot of guys are gonna find out what 'cowed up' means this year with everyone going late.

 

[Kerrbow]

A lot of guys are gonna find out what 'cowed up' means this year with everyone going late.

Six of us going this year to base camp. Hoping we get to use the term "cowed down".

 

[FYT]

A lot of guys are gonna find out what 'cowed up' means this year with everyone going late.

Just curious- can you expand on "everything going late"?

Does "cowed up" just mean grouped with cows (and all the extra sets of eyes that comes with that)?

 

[5MilesBack]

I've seen herd bulls cowed up opening week every year I've been up there that first week.

 

[cnelk]

I've seen herd bulls cowed up opening week every year I've been up there that first week.

Yeah but where you like to go is different than OTC areas

 

[cnelk]

Just curious- can you expand on "everything going late"?

Does "cowed up" just mean grouped with cows (and all the extra sets of eyes that comes with that)?

‘Everyone’ seems to scheduling their hunt the last part of the season.

Cowed up not only means all the extra eyes/ears but the bulls can be more difficult to draw away from the herd.

Sure, the experts on here are gonna say they do it all the time but you better bring your ‘A’ game to trick em.

 

[JLeMieux]

I'm hoping that barely legal satellite bull gets curious and is tired of getting pushed around by the herd bull.

 

[trophyhill]

Yes Bruce and been busted by another elk I hadn't seen while sneaking in a few times. I'm very good at screwing up a great situation! And I am a great fan of calling since I've learned how and when (for the most part)

 

[trophyhill]

Let's try a double team I'll go with ya

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Funny you say that. I've called a couple in for friends during their hunts when I have nothing to lose by pulling out all the stops if necessary, and watched them blow it on herd bulls that were in their laps, but I call and hunt differently by myself and have been oh so close to pulling it off I can almost taste it

 

[elkocd]

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.

 

[CX5Ranch]

Lol. Call me one in I can sling a stick over their back with the best of em

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[5MilesBack]

Yeah but where you like to go is different than OTC areas

I've seen big 6x6's cowed up in my OTC spots opening weekend as well. It's a whole different ballgame in August versus mid/late September, but some of them are cowed up.

And actually, where I really like to hunt, the big bulls let the smaller bulls round up the cows, and then move in the middle of September and kick them out.

Last year I was on a herd with a big bull on the morning of the 10th of September. He was screaming, and I was doing my thing.......and he was coming. I had cows to my left, cows in front of me, and cows to my right. I went to full draw and he was at 30 yards coming right at me, when I leaned back to get a better view and angle through the timber and brushed one of the beetle kill pines. A large chunk of bark fell off and hit the ground. That was that. I chased that bull for two weeks during the rest of the season, and had several encounters with him, chess games, cat & mouse, etc.......passed up three other bulls, and at the end of the season I thanked God for those encounters and I tipped my hat to that herd bull, and said "well played......until next time".

Everything has to go right with these encounters. But these encounters with herds and herd bulls are what makes it all worthwhile, and keeps me coming back. Wouldn't trade them for all the easy encounters in the world. I don't need an elk in the freezer every year, but I do need these encounters every year to make my season a success. A kill without those wouldn't be the same. And the last OTC bull I killed was a 308" herd bull and one of these encounters.

 

[Beendare]

Yes Bruce and been busted by another elk I hadn't seen while sneaking in a few times. I'm very good at screwing up a great situation! And I am a great fan of calling since I've learned how and when (for the most part)

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.

....

 

[5MilesBack]

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.

That's the key......whatever works for you. A few years ago I tried to play it safe i.e patient (over my normal aggressive actions) on a herd bull with about 50 cows. I spent two hours within 100 yards of this herd trying to get into a position for a shot. I was belly crawling through the tall grass at one point and had a spike almost step on me as he came running out of a small patch of timber. Ended up without a shot opportunity on the herd bull, but could have shot 1/2 his cows and that spike several times over. I always wonder how it would have turned out if I'd played it my way.

 

[chasewild]

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?

This.

 

[cnelk]

^^^^ yep

 

[Beendare]

That's the key......whatever works for you. A few years ago I tried to play it safe i.e patient (over my normal aggressive actions) on a herd bull with about 50 cows. I spent two hours within 100 yards of this herd trying to get into a position for a shot. I was belly crawling through the tall grass at one point and had a spike almost step on me as he came running out of a small patch of timber. Ended up without a shot opportunity on the herd bull, but could have shot 1/2 his cows and that spike several times over. I always wonder how it would have turned out if I'd played it my way.

Yeah, ^good example. I've had similar cases- its hunting. Typically if you are inside of 50 yds you don't have all the time in the world with fickle mountain winds being what they are. I've had those winds switch...and the jig is up. Lots of eyes...so sneaking in is a whole science in itself...thats where hunting skills come in. I use my binos a lot in these situations.

I've also had them slowly working in a predictable direction...and circled in front...had them right in my lap 15 minutes later and wishing I had my stick bow for that layup shot.

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. I've shot...and seen other bulls shot like this and its a fantastic experience. The cows typically hear the bow...and stop and look around. The arrow goes through the bull so fast [with a COC head] he has no idea what happened and goes back to his rutting around....then falls over 10 seconds later. Some of the cows are confused and won't leave. The satellites get ballsy and start moving in closer...its cool.

In one of those cases we held tight and my buddy shot a satellite about 5 minutes later.

Just different strategies is all....with everyone so adamant about calling...it might be worth using a different strategy every now and then.

...