Can a first timer from the East learn to call elk?

[trophyhill]

Yes! Absolutely! I started with Elknut1 Playbook and DVD's. And haven't looked back. Cut my learning curve off and immediately started killing elk!

However you have to be motivated and a self starter. And practice. Practice when you are tired of practicing. Some of the stuff Paul talks about will be foreign to you, but once you start having encounters, you'll get the gist. I'd start by learning the cold calling in likely elk locations and move up the ladder from there. The biggest thing is having the encounters and understanding what's happening, and why. I'd read and watch as much as I can from as many as you can as well. There is something to be learned from everyone. Good luck!

 

[MtnOyster]

Yep.....you have a good chance but calling is just part of the puzzle, as an easterner myself I can tell you.....there’s a lot more work to do and prep other than calling First.

homework, homework and more homework, finding a good area and then finding elk is gonna be one of your biggest humps to get over, then as Beendare said if you can get a response then what are you gonna do?

I like cnelk’s response, “sometimes less is better”

ive been in 3 different areas in 5 hunts, I’ve found em, I’ve killed one but I’ve also had em right in my face and couldn’t get a good shot several times now not to mention missed one to.

above all quit watching the hunting channel, it’s hardly ever gonna work out the way you see it on there, not in an otc unit anyway!!.....good luck!

 

[elkstabber]

I'm an eastern guy who has learned most things the hard way. Calling elk should be ranked between 5 and 10 on your priority list. Most important is being in shape, this is where most guys fail. Getting boots that truly fit your feet is second most important. Having a pack that fits you and isn't too big or too small would be third. Clothing, camp equipment, and such would be next. Also important is to learn as much as you can about elk behavior. It varies in different areas. Do not watch the Primos videos because what you learn there will hurt your understanding of elk because elk don't act like that where 99.9% of us hunt.

There is a reason why being in shape and having good boots are the highest priority for a new hunter. It's because you'll make mistakes and need to cover lots of country to learn.

It is really exciting to call and get responses from bulls. But, it isn't usually the most effective way to kill one.

 

[Daniel0307]

Watch all you can plenty of videos out there, YouTube, and the ElkNut app is a great resource..
Knowing when to call, right tone, learning how elk communicate all plays into strategy while hunting...
It’s a fun game and yes it’s possible good luck to you this fall!

 

[Elk97]

Most people can learn to bugle with either a mouth reed or an external reed fairly easily and if there's a bull in your area he'll probably answer you. That's when it starts getting interesting. Like others have said it's even more important to understand elk behavior and know what response that bull expects to hear from you next and how to play the game from their on. The elknut app is the best training tool for learning the different calls and when to use them (and his CDs and book). It's a learning process, and a fun one. Good luck.

 

[Kilboars]

ElkNut. Check out his podcast, books, DVD's etc

Learn how to call and what your trying to say.

 

[PhlyanPan]

I'm an eastern guy who has learned most things the hard way. Calling elk should be ranked between 5 and 10 on your priority list. Most important is being in shape, this is where most guys fail. Getting boots that truly fit your feet is second most important. Having a pack that fits you and isn't too big or too small would be third. Clothing, camp equipment, and such would be next. Also important is to learn as much as you can about elk behavior. It varies in different areas. Do not watch the Primos videos because what you learn there will hurt your understanding of elk because elk don't act like that where 99.9% of us hunt.

There is a reason why being in shape and having good boots are the highest priority for a new hunter. It's because you'll make mistakes and need to cover lots of country to learn.

It is really exciting to call and get responses from bulls. But, it isn't usually the most effective way to kill one.

Totally understand and certainly calling is not the highest on my list. Those other items you mentioned are stuff I'm looking at too. I just didn't know if calling is something I should just write off for now or if it's feasible. It certainly would make it more fun for me.

I think I'd rather have a lengthy calling interaction with a big bull and have him get away than have some smaller bull silently walk up and get him.

 

[joel_sledz]

Basically turkey hunting on steroids! Most eastern hunters know about turkey hunting. So just picture an 800 lb turkey screaming back at you! Haha.. good luck!

 

[cnelk]

I think I'd rather have a lengthy calling interaction with a big bull and have him get away than have some smaller bull silently walk up and get him.

Obviously you havent been elk hunting.

 

[PhlyanPan]

Obviously you havent been elk hunting.

Guilty. But I stand by it for now.

 

[elkstabber]

Totally understand and certainly calling is not the highest on my list. Those other items you mentioned are stuff I'm looking at too. I just didn't know if calling is something I should just write off for now or if it's feasible. It certainly would make it more fun for me.

I think I'd rather have a lengthy calling interaction with a big bull and have him get away than have some smaller bull silently walk up and get him.

My experience has been that if I'm having a lengthy calling session with a bull I won't be able to kill him. You will kill bulls that come in quickly. You kill bulls that come in silent. But you don't kill bulls that you've had a lengthy conversation with.

 

[cnelk]

This bull never made a sound.... I killed him.

Be cautious of what is perceived and real.

 

[PhlyanPan]

I'm not trying to disagree with you. I'm just trying to say that in my head, when I think about what I want to experience in my first elk hunt, the bugling and the thrashing brush and just being around the elk doing their thing ranks higher on my list than the actual killing does.

 

[cnelk]

^^^^ There's nothing wrong with that.

So here is what you do:
Come out to Colorado in September. First stop, swing by Estes Park/RMNP.
Drive a short distance into RMNP to Moraine Park.
Stop your vehicle along the road, grab your camera and watch all the elk bugling, thrashing trees and elk doing their thing.
Stay the day.

Then get back in your vehicle, drive to your hunting area and go hunt!

You'll get the best of both worlds

 

[coloyooper]

I'm not trying to disagree with you. I'm just trying to say that in my head, when I think about what I want to experience in my first elk hunt, the bugling and the thrashing brush and just being around the elk doing their thing ranks higher on my list than the actual killing does.

Bud that's what I had in my head the first two years I elk hunted. It was going to be perfect. The morning mist would be dissipating when I'd hear the first bugle of the morning just up the ridge. I'd mew a few times and let out a bugle back... just to let him know there's competition in the area. Next thing I knew the bull was thrashing and screaming something fierce! 150 yards... now 100. Coming in on a string as the sun started to peak out over the quakies. 65 yards now and he stops. I had him now. Just 20 yards is all I needed and he's mine..

Then reality hits and I realize there are hunters all over in CO and getting them to be vocal is a real pain in the ass. I rely on my ears more than my calls now.

 

[Brendan]

I said this in my post above - but I'll say it a little more point blank here. Being able to make the right sounds and make them sound good does not mean you know how to call.

Making them sound decent isn't hard. But if you come in and make the "Wrong" sound, you'll have Elk running the other way even if it sounded "good".

RHR has some great discussion on this, although Chris does like to hear himself talk....

Elk Hunting Instructional Videos

 

[PhlyanPan]

^^^^ There's nothing wrong with that.

So here is what you do:
Come out to Colorado in September. First stop, swing by Estes Park/RMNP.
Drive a short distance into RMNP to Moraine Park.
Stop your vehicle along the road, grab your camera and watch all the elk bugling, thrashing trees and elk doing their thing.
Stay the day.

Then get back in your vehicle, drive to your hunting area and go hunt!

You'll get the best of both worlds

That’s certainly not a bad idea right there.

 

[Ross]

Many ways to get it done and with todays calls and knowledge resources any greenhorn on any given day can get it done with or without calls but there is nothing better than in your face rutting action

 

[Jacobo2012]

If they’re Rutting its Pretty easy to call them in I’d definitely invest in elk nut app


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[gwerner]

Yes, it’s not hard. Closing the deal is a bit more difficult. Go on YouTube and born and raised outdoors videos, they lay out how to do it.


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