Elk Bugling

[KMD]

Gents, been reading along here & trying to learn as much as I can about bowhunting elk. Last year was my first trip, and we heard precious little in the way of bugling. So, I just wanted to ask you experienced hunters, when you hear a bugling bull, just how often is it that they are bugling? Every 2-3 minutes, every 30 minutes?? I realize how situationally dependant the answers can be, just curious as to how often is "normal" of the bulls you try to get in close to?
Thanks!

 

[justin davis]

It really depends on the situation. Depends on how fired up they are and what's going on. Could be a bull sounding off every hour or it could be every couple mins. Or in some cases bulls not bulking much at all.

 

[Ross]

As Justin noted it all depends on timing, the estrus, competition, humans and other variables. When it is good they can be bugling every 15seconds and when it is slow it can be 2 times over a few hours.....

 

[Jager]

KMD, while I have no experience hunting Elk, I do have a fair amount with Red deer, they both share the latin name cervus elaphus, and will interbreed quiet readily.

In my quest to continually learn about my quarry, I am constantly reviewing my methods and changing tactics as I see fit, an open book if you like.

Rather than bugle, Red stags roar, and I mean ROAR, they make a Brahman bull sound like a fawn. Reds are very aggressive and I know of areas in NZ where Reds begin to out breed Elk simply because the Red stag will dominate the battle, even though he is a much smaller animal. My concept here is, that I am going to give bugling a try and see if it will fire up the Red stags, it may work better than Roaring. Here's link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97ORGksHhKw

Anyway, where is all this going, well I have started to read up on bugling tactics used by US based hunters, and there is a wealth of info out there.

A book I am reading at the moment is 'Elk Talk' and it will probably answer a lot of your questions.

 

[Shrek]

Jager ,while we are talking vocalizations I want to ask you about sambar deer. Can they be called during their rut ? I put in for St Vicents Island sambar hunt again this year and if by chance I get drawn I'm thinking of tactics.

 

[Jager]

Daveinjax, they will vocalise, but to be of any use as a hunting tactic, I would have to say no. They just won't carry on like Elk or Reds.

The only vocalisation that could be useful to you, would be hind calls, and this at best, only after you have located a stag and were trying to get him to stand up or the like.

Good luck on drawing, they are definitely a difficult animal to hunt.

 

[Shrek]

Thank Jager , I'm not counting on drawing but I was wondering.

 

[Jager]

You have to be in it to win it mate.

 

[Dinkshooter]

When it is good it is as good as it gets. Better than Supermodel sex (don’t know for sure but I’m guessing).

When it is bad, well, It is as bad as watching a bum walk up to you r car to ask for change.

There is hardly any knowing how the day is going to be, only the elk know and you can rarely trick them.

I’ve been in a place and time where I clocked it, and there was not a second of silence in 50 minutes. I’ve also been places where you are sure the elk have been exterminated for 20 years.

Timing, how many cows are in heat, how many bulls are around, the weather, the pressure, they all make a difference. You just keep trucking on until you hit that moment.

 

[trophyhill]

in my case you just never know what you are gonna hear. it could be silent for days, or a few short lazy bugles hear and there or the mountains come alive and makes you feel like you were in Estes Park during the 3rd week of Sept. you just never know. gotta love it!

 

[KMD]

Thanks gents.
If you have more than one vocal bull, does location factor most heavily when determining which one to go after?

 

[flystrait]

Thanks gents.
If you have more than one vocal bull, does location factor most heavily when determining which one to go after?

It depends on what the bulls are saying. Typically we will go after the one that is the most aggressive, by what he is saying. Sneek in as close as possible and as quikly as possible and use the right call to draw him in with. I know this is vague, but without knowing what they are saying it's tough to awnser with specifics.

 

[trophyhill]

2 bulls bugling back and forth is an invite to a kill site.