Is it worth it to carry calls in October seasons?

[gvsugod]

I am a complete elk noob, planning my first hunt for this october. I know the rut is long over by then, so is there any value in carrying calls during these seasons? Particularly a bugle. Diaphragm and a cow call are light and packable. But a bugle?

Do elk still bugle at night? I was listening to Phelps on MeatEater podcast and he said a great way to find elk is to go and touch of a bugle, or just listen between 10pm and midnight. Just looking for more information. I will be signing up for Elk101 in the near future so maybe the answers I am looking for is there.

 

[MidGAHunter]

I'm interested in opinions on this as well. I hunted second rifle last year in Colorado and heard 1 bugle all week and that was on day 2. Didnt have calls with me but reconsidering (at least a cow call) for this year.

 

[ElkNut1]

Yes, 100% carry a bugle that you can get a very high far reaching tone with. You are trying to locate bulls not call them in. Find them & stalk to your effective range! I'd have a bugle with me before I'd have a cow call. Both sounds can be done with a single reed. Practice both before heading out on your elk hunts!

ElkNut/Paul

 

[rustneversleeps]

yes

 

[gvsugod]

Yes, 100% carry a bugle that you can get a very high far reaching tone with. You are trying to locate bulls not call them in. Find them & stalk to your effective range! I'd have a bugle with me before I'd have a cow call. Both sounds can be done with a single reed. Practice both before heading out on your elk hunts!

ElkNut/Paul

Good to know thank you. When you get a bugle out of one this time of year is it like shock gobbling a turkey in the roost? Like its almost instinctive for them to respond even if they have no intentions of moving towards or otherwise interacting with the bugle?

What bugle and diaphragm would yall recommend? I was looking at the Phelps unrivaled tube since its a bit smaller without seemingly losing much oompf. diaphragm and cow call no idea.

 

[bohntr]

I had elk rutting in my field through mid-October last year.

 

[bsnedeker]

I take my calls with me all year round. Cows make noise all year round.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[ElkNut1]

Yes, the smaller bugle will work, it's not as loud as his larger model but with practice you can cast a loud shrill note quite a distance. You could say it's like shock gobbling a turkey at times but mainly bulls will respond towards another bull within earshot of his present area. You are more focused on calling into areas in dark timber where glassing isn't too productive! Being prepared for glassing & calling covers your bases well.

Be careful when doing so during rifle hunts, be aware of your surrounding & if other hunters are around, you want to be safe! Good Luck!

ElkNut/Paul

 

[Austink47]

Yes. We have had Norther NM October muzzle loader hunts that have been a full on bugle fest.

 

[prm]

I always have a cow call. Some chirps as I’m working through the timber gives some plausibility to the sounds I’m making. Bulls will often respond as well.

I’ve not carried a bugle during CO 1st rifle, but mainly because I don’t trust my own calling. I need to fix that this off season. Paul (Elknut) I have your playbook and will study! (I think I even have some of your old CDs!) perhaps I’ve missed it, but do you recommend a particular bugle call?

 

[Fullfan]

Oh with out a doubt, I have killed bulls after 10/15 that had been bugling. I would rely more on cow calling, you start throwing out bugles in Oct gun season. Other hunters will be coming to you..

 

[kicker338]

Yes, yes, yes, why ?? Was out gun hunting at the end of Oct. just after daylight when a bull started screaming it's head off, left my bugle home and only had a cow call, every time I cow called he would scream back at me. Never got a shot at him because there was way too much brush and timber between us to see him. Would having my bugle have got the bull out in the open, don't know but from that time on I've always brought it with me.

 

[ChrisAU]

Oh with out a doubt, I have killed bulls after 10/15 that had been bugling. I would rely more on cow calling, you start throwing out bugles in Oct gun season. Other hunters will be coming to you..

That is my biggest worry with it.

 

[cnelk]

Ive occasionally called in cow elk in mid/late Oct, and a cow call is useful to maybe stop some elk for a shot, but I aint carrying a bugle tube then.

There are more important items to lug around those seasons

 

[elkguide]

The bull I shot on October 16th last fall was bugling.

 

[hobbes]

Montana's archery season runs until mid-October. I've been on bugling bulls with cows into the last weekend (unfortunately). I've heard bulls bugling the last two years on the rifle season opening weekend (a week after archery ends) while hunting cows with my son. Last year one of the bulls was pushing a herd of 20 or so cows around. The rifle area we've been in is a very limited bull permit, so not quite the same as OTC or General unit.

I probably wouldn't bugle in a general or OTC rifle season because of the orange army that may come running. I would, however, have a cow call on hand to stop a bull or get him to stand up.

 

[TCUHunter34]

Corey Jacobson has a good video of this on a hunt with his son. Pretty cool video

 

[Jbehredt]

Corey Jacobson has a good video of this on a hunt with his son. Pretty cool video

Luckiest elk hunter I’ve ever seen!

 

[TCUHunter34]

Luckiest elk hunter I’ve ever seen!

No doubt!

 

[Back Country Hunter 2]

As has been stated previously elk can rut in October. I typically bring my bugle tube along the first few days to get a feel for the elk in the area. Then make a decision based on what the elk are doing. Always have cow calls on me or in my mouth. During rifle season I’m more of a spot and stalk kind of guy, so haven’t done much bugling.