Archery Elk mt

[elkhunt2434]

As a general rule can you judge an elk for age off of a bugle

 

[bighornbor]

Well if he's screaming his head off choking on his own bugles it's probably not a spike and worth a closer look

 

[Laramie]

As a general rule can you judge an elk for age off of a bugle

Generally you can tell 1st and 2nd year bulls from older bulls but it doesn't always hold true. I have heard spikes bugle that sound old and raspy and a 350 class bull that was a squeaker.

 

[Ross]

Kind of, sorta, maybe, occasionally…..IF they are Lip Bawling there is a high % chance he is Big.

 

[Golt199]

No. Absolutely not. If you pull up on a bugling bull and try to judge his age by the sound coming out of his mouth, you are going to make a very expensive mistake.

 

[WoodDuck]

The better question: has anyone not chased a bugle because it sounded small? I know I haven’t…

 

[Indian Summer]

I certainly head toward the deeper raspier bugles over the squealy ones. But I have seen big bulls that squealed like a raghorn for sure so you can never be certain.

 

[Laramie]

I certainly head toward the deeper raspier bugles over the squealy ones. But I have seen big bulls that squealed like a raghorn for sure so you can never be certain.

The Mike Tyson of elk are out there for sure... lol

 

[SleepyJones]

Generally, a big one can sound small, but it's rare to find a small one that sounds big. I'm equating size to age.

 

[bz_711]

In general it can hold true once you've heard enough...but I've also been very surprised once I laid eyes on a bull. Luckily any bugle is good enough for me to chase

 

[mt terry d]

It's easier to differentiate between a real bull and a human bugler.

Not to say you need to sound like a real bull. They aren't fussy.

 

[Beendare]

Generally, a big one can sound small, but it's rare to find a small one that sounds big. I'm equating size to age.

Agreed.

 

[elkliver]

Had a bull start bugling on the ridge across the canyon. We were sure that it was a person because it sounded like blowing on a Pepsi bottle. I occasionally answered and he kept bugling.. he was covering enough ground that I decide it was an elk and went after it
Ended up being a decent 5 point.

 

[Arrowbuck]

In my experience, what SleepyJones said nails it. I would add that sometimes you'll hear a bugle that is so bad, you just know it is a first timer from Florida with a Primos "blue reed" bugle, that arrived at his door from Amazon the day before he left for his hunt. Then it turns out to be an absolute toad of a bull that you wish you had slipped up on more quietly (been there, done that!)

 

[Arrowbuck]

However, the reverse is also true, been a couple of times I've been "called in" by a hunter who sounded like a monster bull. Wish I could bugle like that!

 

[dirtknap]

Take it easy on the blue reed primos call....i called in two guys on a string a couple years ago. Sure fooled those guys. Its a good locator bugle. Easy to use, good tone changes. Sounds like an immature bull, sound carries well. Everybody's blowing reeds now, ive got some too. That primos pack bugle folds up and fits in my cargo pocket on my pants...no large tube. Its got its place in my kit. Many bulls called in and a few hunters.
But the good ol cow Call is why I have reeds, called in plenty! Not going to lie, I pass on pipsqueek bugles fairly often. Ive been bowhunting elk almost 20 years. You can tell. Very rare to have a giant sound young/small. Years of blowing out their vocal cords produces a worn sound. Only once did we get fooled by a youngish 6x6 that had a raspy bugle...my buddy shot that bugger anyway! I'm not a bull snob, just looking for a mature 6x6 every year. I called in a ragger one time, blowing on that primos bugle like a trumpet, after blowing on it with a beat, just messing around....looked up, ragger in bow range! Mid day bored, didn't know he was bedded below us.

 

[TheSillyGoose]

Generally you can tell 1st and 2nd year bulls from older bulls but it doesn't always hold true. I have heard spikes bugle that sound old and raspy and a 350 class bull that was a squeaker.

Happened to me this year. Was laughing at a squeaker coming towards us through some brush when a nice 6pt stepped out and caught us unprepared. Safe to say I'll always be ready from now on

 

[Arrowbuck]

Take it easy on the blue reed primos call....i called in two guys on a string a couple years ago. Sure fooled those guys. Its a good locator bugle. Easy to use, good tone changes. Sounds like an immature bull, sound carries well. Everybody's blowing reeds now, ive got some too. That primos pack bugle folds up and fits in my cargo pocket on my pants...no large tube. Its got its place in my kit. Many bulls called in and a few hunters.
But the good ol cow Call is why I have reeds, called in plenty! Not going to lie, I pass on pipsqueek bugles fairly often. Ive been bowhunting elk almost 20 years. You can tell. Very rare to have a giant sound young/small. Years of blowing out their vocal cords produces a worn sound. Only once did we get fooled by a youngish 6x6 that had a raspy bugle...my buddy shot that bugger anyway! I'm not a bull snob, just looking for a mature 6x6 every year. I called in a ragger one time, blowing on that primos bugle like a trumpet, after blowing on it with a beat, just messing around....looked up, ragger in bow range! Mid day bored, didn't know he was bedded below us.

Full disclosure, I always carry one in my pack as a locator bugle, and they work great ( if you are trying to sound like a wimpy little bull). And I was the guy from Florida at one time. First time I ever went hunting out of state I lived in Florda.