Can elk blow at you?

[badgerboy]

Most of my hunting experience comes from chasing whitetail and many a time have I been busted by their nose. Usually when a doe busts you she will blow that loud whooshing noise. I'm curious if elk can make this noise and if anyone has any experience with it? I haven't seen anything on YouTube when bulls bust out of a setup if they catch someone's scent but then again, bucks usually won't either.

In my experience with whitetails, it's game over.

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[cnelk]

Google 'Elk Bark'

That usually means game over

 

[badgerboy]

Google 'Elk Bark'

That usually means game over

Thanks! I'm glad I learned that from the comfort of my couch or my mind would have ran with imagination if I heard that in the mountains. Haha.

Is a bull just as likely to bark as a cow or more reluctant?


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[Bl704]

Thanks! I'm glad I learned that from the comfort of my couch or my mind would have ran with imagination if I heard that in the mountains. Haha.

Is a bull just as likely to bark as a cow or more reluctant?


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Both will bark. But sometimes they don't run immediately... the bark is more of a demand to show yourself (as you may be an elk).

I think Dirk Durham or elk101 vids have some success (to avoid a total bust) when responding accordingly.

 

[CX5Ranch]

They can stand at the top of a ridge and bark very loudly for over 30 minutes. Believe me

 

[P Carter]

I had two elk blow at me this year. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it both times. Once, a bull came in silent to calling. It walked dry slowly downwind. Once it entered my scent cone it blew just like a whitetail and slowly turned and walked away. (All at 30 yards...it was so thick I could only see legs and antlers.) the second time the elk were walking a private fenceline, saw me, and blew but didn’t spook.

 

[ElkNut1]

Yes, elk can blow or wheeze, it can be situational for the reasons they do it. It's rarely heard so it's not a sound they use by first choice!

As mentioned the Nervous Grunt slash Nervous Bark is more commonly heard which is comparable to a Whitetail's Blowing. Because you hear this Grunt/Bark it doesn't mean game over, it means you need to know what to do next!

In the ElkNut APP we discuss the sounds Bulls & Cows use on a daily basis, this Grunt/Bark is one of them & when we as hunters can use them to our benefit as well as understanding the message being sent by a Cow Or Bull. All is not over when this sound is heard! Here are some ideas from the APP! There's more there but this gives some food for thought!



What Does It Mean When I Hear It?

It sounds similar to a bark but instead is a nervous reaction or grunt to a seeming threat. The elk giving this sound will do it with a single grunt or bark, it's not done repeatedly like a warning bark. The elk will generally hang in that same area and can repeat this Grunt for up to a few minutes. This sound is asking for a visual or a believable elk sound to convince them you are another elk and not a threat. Bulls and cows alike make Nervous Grunts.


What Should I Do If I Hear It?

If the Nervous Grunt is given 2 or 3 times within 90 seconds but remains unanswered elk will most likely vacate the area. If you've accidentally bumped unseen elk and hear this sound give 1 or 2 cow calls immediately to settle them down, 4-5 soft chuckles can also be comforting to them. If the wind is in your favor along with good cover continue with soft mews while heading towards the elk this will anchor them thinking you are another elk joining them. If this isn't possible because of terrain or wind the elk will most likely move away if something isn't done.

There are more suggestions in response to this sound which can aid us in handling nearly any encounter instead of not knowing what to do!

ElkNut/Paul

 

[badgerboy]

Yes, elk can blow or wheeze, it can be situational for the reasons they do it. It's rarely heard so it's not a sound they use by first choice!

As mentioned the Nervous Grunt slash Nervous Bark is more commonly heard which is comparable to a Whitetail's Blowing. Because you hear this Grunt/Bark it doesn't mean game over, it means you need to know what to do next!

In the ElkNut APP we discuss the sounds Bulls & Cows use on a daily basis, this Grunt/Bark is one of them & when we as hunters can use them to our benefit as well as understanding the message being sent by a Cow Or Bull. All is not over when this sound is heard! Here are some ideas from the APP! There's more there but this gives some food for thought!



What Does It Mean When I Hear It?

It sounds similar to a bark but instead is a nervous reaction or grunt to a seeming threat. The elk giving this sound will do it with a single grunt or bark, it's not done repeatedly like a warning bark. The elk will generally hang in that same area and can repeat this Grunt for up to a few minutes. This sound is asking for a visual or a believable elk sound to convince them you are another elk and not a threat. Bulls and cows alike make Nervous Grunts.


What Should I Do If I Hear It?

If the Nervous Grunt is given 2 or 3 times within 90 seconds but remains unanswered elk will most likely vacate the area. If you've accidentally bumped unseen elk and hear this sound give 1 or 2 cow calls immediately to settle them down, 4-5 soft chuckles can also be comforting to them. If the wind is in your favor along with good cover continue with soft mews while heading towards the elk this will anchor them thinking you are another elk joining them. If this isn't possible because of terrain or wind the elk will most likely move away if something isn't done.

There are more suggestions in response to this sound which can aid us in handling nearly any encounter instead of not knowing what to do!

ElkNut/Paul

Thanks for the great info! Good to know all is not lost if they start sounding off.

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[GregB]

Yes had it happen this year. Elk came in silent and downwind, stopped about 10 yards made a huff sound and took off.

 

[MNDroptine26]

Happened to me today, I jumped a small herd, never saw them just heard the " hoof thud", I quickly cow called and they stood there I thought. I continued to call and after 15 minutes, I took 2 steps to get a better footing and "bark", sounded like aa snort wheeze, unfortunately never saw them to let an arrow fly, great encounter nonetheless