Hung up bull thick brush solo calling?

[timber_ghost]

Looking to hear some more strategies for when a bull is within 50 yards in really thick brush and you’re solo calling. I’ve had a few scenarios in the last few days where I’ve had bulls really close but haven’t been able to seal the deal. I never got fully busted, but I just couldn’t get them to come all the way in. It’s the kind of scrub oak where if you get a shot it’s going to be sub-15 yards, shooting through tiny windows in between the branches.The bulls in question haven’t been very aggressive. They’ve been interested in soft cow and calf sounds, but bugling and raking have scared them. They will bugle at the cow sounds but not really come in, so I’ve had to push them. Pretty certain they were all solo bulls except for one that had a few cows

Should I be going silent once I’m within 50 yards? I tried that once and the bull kept moving to his bedding area. Another time the bull came into 20 yards, listened, and then as I tried to move for a shot he slowly backed out. Sometime it has slowed down to a game of chess where I’ll break a branch and move a tiny bit then I’ll hear him move a tiny bit. None of them have tried to circle me and none have winded me. Usually for solo calling I’ll try to make my last sound once I know I’m within 100 yards, then quietly move to the side or forward. The problem in this brush is that it’s almost always impossible to move silently.

Any thoughts on what I should be doing differently when dealing with timid but vocal bulls that are hanging up in super thick brush?

 

[Moneyball]

If it’s that tight, my advice would be to cow call your way to him rapidly. Then once you get within that 20-25 yard range, give him a “show me” bark.


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[Beendare]

It's worth considering;

once you call, they know exactly where you are and it limits your strategies going forward.

 

[TradLife406]

Predator decoy on the front of the bow.

Obviously the goal is to setup close to the doorway. But sometimes that doesn't work out.


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[timber_ghost]

If it’s that tight, my advice would be to cow call your way to him rapidly. Then once you get within that 20-25 yard range, give him a “show me” bark.


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I like that idea. They definitely seemed the most interested in a lost calf call once I pushed in close to them. Been a pretty slow season as far as rut activity where I’m hunting so hoping they start to get more aggressive in the next few days

 

[Moneyball]

I like that idea. They definitely seemed the most interested in a lost calf call once I pushed in close to them. Been a pretty slow season as far as rut activity where I’m hunting so hoping they start to get more aggressive in the next few days

The odds go up exponentially in your favor if you can get him to be the one to make the last move vs you being the one that is doing the moving.