Strategy help with a situation I got in last weekend

[ElkElkGoose]

Was elk hunting last weekend and had a bull in my drainage who would only vocalize 30min-1 hr before dark. The last night there he bugled off halfway up the other side of the bowl and he and about 12 cows filtered out of the timber to graze above tree line. There was about 40 minutes until pitch black. He stood smack in the middle of those cows far out into the open with no cover around.

I just left them alone figuring I couldn't call him in when he had all those cows and couldn't sneak up on him with all the cows and no cover. I figured it would be better to not disturb them so they would hopefully still be in that bowl this weekend.

Is there anything I could have done that night to go after them, or was I wise to wait for a better opportunity?

 

[zallen1]

I just listened to a podcast with elknut where he talked about the slow play. In essence you act like a bull that has a hot cow. The bull you were after will become interested because the cow is hot and none of his are. It might be worth listening too. You can find it on the hunt backcountry (Exo mountain) podcast - episode 138.

 

[5MilesBack]

Probably not enough time to make something happen with only 40 minutes until "pitch black". But you didn't say how far away they were. Three options IMO........get close to where they were bedding earlier in the day and work him, plan for an ambush, or call his cows away from him.

 

[buggy]

I think you were wise to leave them alone. I would try to locate them the next morning and plan a stalk/calling setup.

 

[sneaky]

A rifle, that fixes that nonsense lol. In all seriousness, if you aren't close enough to pose a threat, or sounding like you are about to breed a cow, he's not leaving where he is. Like the saying, don't leave elk to find elk, except if he thinks you have a hot cow and he doesn't, and you're close enough, he'll come try and steal her. Being across the basin will get you a few posturing bugles in response, but that's about it.

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[sharpshooter269]

Zallen is spot on!


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[ElkElkGoose]

I just listened to a podcast with elknut where he talked about the slow play. In essence you act like a bull that has a hot cow. The bull you were after will become interested because the cow is hot and none of his are. It might be worth listening too. You can find it on the hunt backcountry (Exo mountain) podcast - episode 138.

Thanks! I went back this weekend and they were long gone I think im learning to take my chances when they present themselves.

 

[Ross]

On thing I have learned through the decades if any time on that day go for it as too many variables may not provide an opportunity later

 

[Wrench]

Paralysis by analysis has to be weighed against the potential....if you were hunting an area that you busted half a day to get in to, and you weren't interested in returning.....I'd do everything in my power to get him thinking I had a hot cow in effort to draw him away. A bowl at night is a thermal nightmare so drawing him out is the only play.

If you had easier access to it....I'd have put them to bed and returned 2 hours before light and tried to locate them with a bugle and tried to set up based on that.