New hunter intimated to call elk.

[Jethro]

goodness, he is not blowing up 66 by asking bugling advice any more than @5MilesBack is blowing up 61 saying he gets to help a buddy there.

When you read my next post you'll see I was going to offer something about the unit, but won't with the unit number in the post.

 

[mt terry d]

If I could only have one call it'd be a cow call.

 

[khunter]

When you read my next post you'll see I was going to offer something about the unit, but won't with the unit number in the post.

That sort of help is what DMs are for.

 

[Elk97]

I don't care how bad a caller you are, always have an arrow nocked before you bugle. Just sayin.

 

[Jaquomo]

As a guide, I have a bugle tube but use it 1% of the time, bugling is my last resort, or only at night to locate. Otherwise it’s cow calls only or ambush hunting. To many people in many units walk around blowing bugles like a tuba in the back of the band. My experience even though I’m in an OTC unit, guys bugle, bulls go
Silent gather cows and walk out.

Social media and influencers have ruined the dream of bugling bulls in the rut. Unit 66 may be different as it’s a draw tag and I know guys in that area that call several bulls a day. I will say in a less pressured area even bad bugles can bring elk, but I prefer techniques like rubbing, stomping, soft cow calls, over bugling. The RMEF bugle competition isn’t IMO how elk actually sound. It’s a competition to make the “perfect” bugle but like I said sometimes my worst bugle has brought in the biggest bulls. Elk all have different bugles, and honestly if you are going to bugle learn what every bugle means! There’s 15 sounds bulls make that all mean something different and throwing a challenge bugle out at the wrong time can ruin the hunt. If you don’t know what the bugles mean in each situation ur basically arguing with someone in a different language.


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CO OTC units are different animals. Totally different from when I started hunting them in 1974. Spot on with the bull behavior. I only send out an occasional benign locator bugle, then shut up when I get an answer.

 

[AgentP]

Is this an otc unit? I’m a new hunter as well and my buddy said he went to an archery unit with a friend a few years ago and all they really called in were other hunters lol

 

[WhiskeyCharlie]

In my opinion, when it takes 2 minutes for them to find their tube and respond it’s a person.

 

[LostArra]

I don't care how bad a caller you are, always have an arrow nocked before you bugle. Just sayin.

^^^^^^^Calling, eating lunch or taking a crap; have an arrow nocked and bow within arm's reach anytime you stop. Speaking from experience, peeling an orange can be an effective elk call. And don't think you will always hear him come in.

 

[onetreeman]

I don't care how bad a caller you are, always have an arrow nocked before you bugle. Just sayin.

Sage advice!
I have a long list of encounters (fails) that involve some form of Not having my bow ready.
For example:
-Tying shoelace, bow is not within reach, elk walks into shooting range, reach for bow, busted
-Pumping water through filter, head down, bow on the ground, look up, elk standing in range, knock arrow, busted
- Cow call at pinch point late in the day (let guard down), 10 seconds later bull races out into the open at 25yards, try to knock arrow in the most stealth way possible, busted.

It could happen anytime, just don't walk around with an arrow knocked, a good friend nearly stabbed himself when he slipped in the snow.

 

[Indian Summer]

Did the math…. Better move the decimal point two places to the right. More like 4 per square mile and if those 4 are in the best holes guess what…. it’s pressured!

 

[WoolyBugger]

@Waddi how did the hunt go?

 

[FGB]

if you're that worried about it just start out bugling at night/well before first light