Finally got action, what did I do wrong?

[grfox92]

Unfortunately Born and Raised and Corey Jacobson have convinced everyone that a bull who bugels can be called in. Doesn't really work like that. Not all bulls can be called in. Your odds are better if you have the years of experience those guys do.

I don't think you did anything wrong. The stars just weren't aligned for that bull.

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[roosiebull]

So 18 more encounters like that and I may be in business

It’s a game of encounters and paying attention, getting a bull to bugle back and forth is usually a LONG way from killing a bull, it won’t work very often… I’m a firm believer that there is almost always a way to kill a bull once located, but you will only get good at calling them in with experience… just making elk sounds usually doesn’t cut it… some times wrecking ball status works really good, some times patience works good, sometimes shutting up and changing strategy works, some times backing out and coming back later and ambushing him works… it really comes down to experience, we learn from every encounter, so get creative, don’t be reckless, but you will need to risk failure at times to succeed… that’s true elk hunting.

I don’t try to call in bulls that aren’t in a good spot to kill by calling, I call to locate, I call to keep tabs on a bull, and I call to kill them, but only when it’s a favorable scenario for me…. If calling isn’t the best option for the scenario in front of me, I will change tactics to something more practical.

I would say, the biggest downfall for most people calling elk where I hunt them is being content bugling back and forth with a bull, I won’t do that, because I learned long ago, it’s too much exposure at too close of range to count on the wind staying good, and it rarely works, once they hang up, it’s usually over, so sometimes you have to take risks and aggressively close the gap to trap him into a spot he won’t hang up out of range.

Elk hunting is always very dynamic improvise, ignore the reality of primos videos, it’s not real life on public land, you have to be more convincing and set your calling setup up for getting the bull close, not bugling back and forth at 70-80yds.

Experience teaches you what you can and cannot get away with, I always ride the line of aggression, I try to get the ball rolling fast, and want the time to be short between his first bugle and having him close, the more drawn out it gets, the lower the chances go of killing him.

It’s hard to say what you did wrong without being there, maybe you did nothing wrong, it was just a very unlikely scenario to call that bull in

 

[Randle]

Possibly nothing as i say
"Sometimes they play, sometimes they walk away"

 

[BDRam16]

As many others have mentioned, I would have moved up once you had a response. If he was a couple hundred out I would have ditched the pack and gone up at least 100 yards as fast/quiet as possible if the wind was in your favor.

 

[def90]

I love the guys on youtube that run in to a new area and immediately start blowing challenge bugles and chuckles..

I would concur with those that have said close the distance. They are able to pinpoint where the bugle comes from, if they come in and determine that they don't see another elk they will move off. Bugle, move towards them and then stay quiet, with any luck they will walk in to you.

Otherwise it's elk hunting.. anything can happen.

 

[IDspud]

Unfortunately Born and Raised and Corey Jacobson have convinced everyone that a bull who bugels can be called in. Doesn't really work like that. Not all bulls can be called in. Your odds are better if you have the years of experience those guys do.

I don't think you did anything wrong. The stars just weren't aligned for that bull.

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I’d never even heard of that guy until a few days ago when I met someone who said he was hunting with this Cory guy very close to my camp when he just killed a six point bull last week. He knew which wall tent I was… Whether that’s true or not I have no idea but I guess I’ll stay nearby.

ETA: Just saw a picture of him and I’m pretty sure I talked to him out here. Guess I just really suck at hunting

 

[IDspud]

I went back in that evening. He would not respond, was on a different part of the drainage, and eventually busted me.


What kind of movement are you guys making towards them? Full on run not caring about noise at all, or somewhat quiet stalkimg?

 

[def90]

I went back in that evening. He would not respond, was on a different part of the drainage, and eventually busted me.


What kind of movement are you guys making towards them? Full on run not caring about noise at all, or somewhat quiet stalkimg?

Just any movement at all in that direction. An easy walk? The elk knows exactly where the last bugle came from, just don't be where they are going to look. Keep in mind many times they will come in silent down wind from you. Move in the direction that makes sense if they try to wind your location.

This is where multiple hunters have an advantage over solo hunters. You can hang a guy back 50-60 yds cow calling or bugling while the shooter moves forward.

 

[IDspud]

Just any movement at all in that direction. An easy walk? The elk knows exactly where the last bugle came from, just don't be where they are going to look. Keep in mind many times they will come in silent down wind from you. Move in the direction that makes sense if they try to wind your location.

This is where multiple hunters have an advantage over solo hunters. You can hang a guy back 50-60 yds cow calling or bugling while the shooter moves forward.

So when you’re trying to close the gap you don’t worry about stepping on branches and making noise?

Them being quiet is what worries me. Not knowing how fast they are running in and if they are going to see me before I stop.

That sounds like a lot more fun than waiting and hoping I guess

 

[MT_Nate]

First, consider yourself lucky that continues to bugle at you broadcasting his position. Congrats.

My take? Close the gap silently when you can as many have said before, but if you feel things going stale, instead of bugling as you had already been doing, go and find a big stick and rake and beat the crap out of a tree if you're close enough...old school method but it still works great. If he doesn't come in, nervous grunt real loud a few times, stop calling and nock an arrow (if you already haven't). I have had a couple bulls come right in (silently) using this method for at least 8 of the past 10 years straight. Unfortunately, if you're a solo hunter, you will be pegged unless you quietly change positions after the raking/nervous grunts.

 

[Elkoholic87]

The bull I killed last year and this year was done by calling zero times.


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[DiabeticKripple]

The bull I killed last year and this year was done by calling zero times.


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super helpful

 

[roosiebull]

What kind of movement are you guys making towards them? Full on run not caring about noise at all, or somewhat quiet stalkimg?

Completely depends on what you have to work with… if I have decent wind and cover, I want the bull to know I’m on my way… a vocal interaction followed by the caller moving in loud and deliberate is my favorite scenario… doesn’t work without cover, but if I have good cover, I’m marching him down, being loud and deliberate, and also moving in on him angling to get the wind as good as I can (circling his wind) often times, you will not have to call again, just hearing you close the distance will seal the deal, sometimes one more bugle or chuckle… depends on the scenario and the bull.

Time of day matters too, I don’t like trying to call bulls first thing in the morning, if I do, I will try to stay back, not pressure, and just keep tabs on him until they are in the timber closer to bed

Every bull is different, every scenario is different, and a generic strategy will leave you scratching your head a lot. After some time, you will get a feel for when to move in and get aggressive, and when to stay back and not pressure the bull.

I also think everyone is better off developing their own style rather than copying a successful hunter, we are all wired a little different, and there are many ways to skin a cat, that goes for any technique

I can’t think of one person I know that does well consistently that copies someone else, they all have their own style

 

[Deadfall]

I went back in that evening. He would not respond, was on a different part of the drainage, and eventually busted me.


What kind of movement are you guys making towards them? Full on run not caring about noise at all, or somewhat quiet stalkimg?

After a swing and miss. Leave him alone for a day

 

[grfox92]

I’d never even heard of that guy until a few days ago when I met someone who said he was hunting with this Cory guy very close to my camp when he just killed a six point bull last week. He knew which wall tent I was… Whether that’s true or not I have no idea but I guess I’ll stay nearby.

ETA: Just saw a picture of him and I’m pretty sure I talked to him out here. Guess I just really suck at hunting

That's pretty awesome.

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[Deadfall]

If you want to harvest bulls consistently. Stop calling at the target.

Instead start acting like a little band of cows. Maybe throw in a few light squeals...lots of racking. Some light chuckles some grunting without a reed.

Just pretend you are a little vand of elk doing elk things.

All your bull sounds should be directed at the cows you trying to be.

Curiosity will bring bulls into your lap.

There is definitely a order of operations for how that works.

Sometimes it takes several hours. Sometimes only several minutes.

Every year I have bulls come from way further away then people think is possible.

Start setting it up at crack of daylight.

 

[Deadfall]

Here's a scenario for ya to contemplate.

You find a bull that has cows. Odds are good his group doesn't have a cow ready for kinky time. So he's just running around displaying (flirting) for when the time comes.

If you bugle at that bull he's gonna take those cows and split. Say it's 11 or 1 in afternoon.

If there are very many cows odds are good you get busted before getting in tight enough to challenge him.

However, if you've been setting up your encounter since crack of daylight. Those elk know there's a little band of cows that's been moving up, from feeding to bedding. (Doing what elk do) Probably the bull hadn't been responsive to you all morning. Does not matter.

Once you in general bedding type area, if you've been, more moving cow oriented then aggressive bull oriented the bull with cows will be paying attention even if not engaged.

Somewhere around 11 or 12. Start introducing a bull to your cows. Only speak to your cows. That's alot of raking. Some little squealy bull sounds. Lots of moving around.

Grunting without a Reed. Cow call through tube.

Mess around for 5 or 10 minutes then wait a bit.

Make the real bull think you are a bull with a horned up cow or 2. He will leave his cows to come take your girlfriends.

Sometimes it takes literally all day and the shot don't happen until last light. Sometimes it happens after first set at daylight.

Anytime you call, make sure you know where you going to set ahead of time.

If you patient you'll be surprised how far a bull will travel for a little Porno time.
Which is 20 times further then he will travel for a horn in his butt

 

[Deadfall]

If you watch the YouTube marauders, they be finding bulls with a bugle. They kill em with cow sounds.

They like to show how many bulls they harvest with the raging bugle stuff. There's some information being left out.

For instance. Different areas have different times for hot part of rut.

The rut moves from south to north. So...like Colorado will have more intense rut action earlier in season then montana.

So those guys are starting in Southern end and moving north.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Never called one in, but all this commentary makes elk calling sound more and more like turkey hunting in that once you locate that gobbler, you don't want to just keep calling to get a gobble. Very informative so far and thank you for the insights.

 

[Deadfall]

Never called one in, but all this commentary makes elk calling sound more and more like turkey hunting in that once you locate that gobbler, you don't want to just keep calling to get a gobble. Very informative so far and thank you for the insights.

It's exactly the same as turkey hunting!!!!!!