Cow elk

[Wingshooter]

I drew my second choice in Colorado and have a cow tag on the way with a muzzle loader. I have never specifically hunted for a cow. should I still plan on bugling or should I just stick to cow calls and spot/stalk hunting. We will be hunting the Gunnison region. I'm a little disappointed that I didn't draw my bull tag but I'm looking at as a great opportunity to learn the unit as I will have 5 PP next year which should be an easy draw.

 

[ElkNut1]

In the more open to semi open terrain I would get elevation & rely on glassing for location then stalk them! In more Dark Timber country I would rely heavily on calling if in Sept or Oct. Bugling is a great way to hunt elkwoods you cannot see into, once a bull responds you know other elk are generally nearby. Use your bugling for locating purposes & you will be aided in their location. With a MZ you don't really need to call cows too close, find them & hunt them! Won't hurt to have a cow call if needed but the bugle is further reaching!

ElkNut1

 

[cnelk]

My experience is anyone with a cow should hunt with someone with a bull tag - thats because it always seems you see bulls when you have a cow tag

Seriously, cows can sometimes be harder to kill during the rut than bulls, but they can be called in.
If you set up and do a whiny calling session with 2-3 different sounding cow calls, that seems to peak their interest and will come to check out the 'party'

Like this


Calling elk tree stand - YouTube

 

[5MilesBack]

I'm pretty much a bugler only and could shoot dozens of cows every season if I was hunting cows. You've got to wade through dozens of cows just to get to one herd bull.

 

[Bar]

Try a lost calf call. You'll have cows coming out your ears in that area.

 

[Soilworker]

Try a lost calf call. You'll have cows coming out your ears in that area.

I like this idea. I'm new to calling and I was wondering if there any special calls needed to do a lost calf call? Any suggestions or resources on what to use and how to make this type of call are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Bar]

I like this idea. I'm new to calling and I was wondering if there any special calls needed to do a lost calf call? Any suggestions or resources on what to use and how to make this type of call are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I use two different calf calls. A call made by Dillion called The Rookie. It's an open reed call and very easy to use. The other one is the Baby Hoochie Mama. It's a push bulb call. It's a no brainer to use.

I need to say i'm no caller and in my style of hunting for elk I don't call at all. I use the above calls to call in bears, but I call in way more cow elk than bears. So, even though experienced callers will sneer at the above calls. They do bring in a lot of cows.

 

[ElkNut1]

If into calling for cows in addition to glassing larger openings you may want to consider this DVD? It's called Calling All Cows! It has the lost/separated cow/calf sounds in it to imitate along with many other methods & techniques we've used with bringing cows in over the years! Here's a link to it here!
Calling All Cows Video, Bugling Bulls & Beyond Vol 3

ElkNut1

 

[Soilworker]

If into calling for cows in addition to glassing larger openings you may want to consider this DVD? It's called Calling All Cows! It has the lost/separated cow/calf sounds in it to imitate along with many other methods & techniques we've used with bringing cows in over the years! Here's a link to it here!
Calling All Cows Video, Bugling Bulls & Beyond Vol 3

ElkNut1

Sweet, thanks. I'll probably pick that up.