Mid-day Lazy Bugling Bulls

[insanelupus]

Elk densities in my neck of the woods are not as high as other parts of the state. Bulls aren't easy to come by and I don't typically hear a lot of bugles during the season. Several times over the last few years, I'll have bulls sound off late morning/noonish, usually with just one lazy, flutey, type bugle. Rarely, they will give a second bugle, but not often.

I've tried closing the gap and cow calling, no response or reaction. I've tried bugling (locate), no response. I'll even try some excited cow talk, grunting, and lip bawls. No response.

The wind is tough and perhaps it burns me, but I don't think so. I'll move through the area, trying to locate the bull. I typically don't see them or hear them, either bedded or leaving. In the past, I'll just move along after a few hours, which drives me crazy, why leave elk?

I'm starting to wonder if there are better strategies than what I'm trying. What strategies are y'all employing that are not only successful but often work in these situations?

 

[Ross]

Through the decades I’ve called many bulls in by aggressive raking and throwing in a mixture of elk sounds you will want to stay put for 45 minutes to see if one comes investigating over a wallow right now can be very good but takes a lot of patience good luck

 

[sharpshooter269]

We Hunt in very similar conditions to what you’re talking about.
2 years ago had a very similar encounter. Heard a very faint moan down in a draw after we did a locator bugle. Thought we had a location on him so my BIL stayed back, I moved into 150 yds and he started a breeding sequence, light cow calls, raking, stomping flunking, Small bugles. We heard nothing but we knew something was there was I slowly started working myself in. Then I noticed a small 20’ tree getting whipped around, all he was doing was raking no sounds. I closed the gap quick! By this time, my BIL lost interest and started doing these stupid sounding bugles (later found out he was messing with a squirrel, lol). Bull got nervous and started circling closer and closer but I got busted by him in the middle of no where. This whole ordeal lasted maybe 30 minutes, couple more minutes and I would have shot that bull.
Had the same thing happen 4 hours later but I was the one that gave up too early on my BIL. Same thing, both bulls had “slow played” silently into the calling sequence and we gave up too early. After that we decided the shooter always decides when to call it quits.
I guess my point is, don’t give up. Bulls are few and far between, your gut tells you something is there be patient, cause the elk have all day and night.
Listen to the Elk Nuts podcast about the midday slow play. I’m definitely looking more forward to that midday lazy bugle after listening to it.
Getting any elk in an area like we hunt is harder than most but also very rewarding cause we know we earned it. Good luck!


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[Baerman]

I've had similar scenarios and if I can't get a reaction by going through a bull stealing cow sequence then I'll wait it out and call every hour or two. Seems that calling as they are trying to rest will work them up and when they do finally get to moving around again, they will come right in. Takes a lot of patience but I've had good luck with this method, hunting solo.