Calling During Rifle Season

[OregonSteeler]

I have an upcoming late elk rifle season coming up in November. I haven't hunted elk much with a rifle as I've focused mainly on archery the past couple of years. Having that archery background, I've become pretty proficient with my elk calls, both bugling and cow calls.

My question is who uses elk calls during their rifle hunts? I honestly don't plan to even bring the bugle tube but do plan on cow calling a bit. Though my reservations are: 1. safety regarding sounding like an elk with other rifle hunters around. 2. Are the elk so skittish after a month long of archery and another rifle season previous to mine, that any sound coming from somewhere other than their herd will make them head for the hills.

Would love to hear if anyone else uses elk calls during their rifle hunts and if you've found it helpful, hurtful, or hadn't made a difference?

 

[intunegp]

Late October/early November I typically cow call a little bit but after 13 years of doing it I'm not sure it makes any difference. I'm talking about blind calling just putting out "hey I'm an elk and I'm over here" into the world. It is mostly when I'm bored and not seeing much or any movement. I'm sure it could be effective in stopping a walking elk but I've never been in a situation that it was needed.

A guy I used to hunt with bugled at a group of cows that were several hundred yards away and they turned and walked the other direction. A bull I killed on Halloween 2020 bugled as he was walking solo right as it got light enough to see...he seemed like he was returning to bed after grazing/watering and just let out a wimpy/half-assed bugle that I thought was another hunter until I saw him.

Elk are out there year round communicating with each other, I figure a couple cow calls here and there can't hurt.

 

[Ross]

You can have some great results in the 2nd and 3rd estrus. Fewer cows into estrus can create a short intense window. Most of my October bulls either were call ins or bugling took me that direction. November I have had them bugle a few times, but is not something I’m actively using for a response.