Calling in Elk

[Knockmdead]

I am planning my first ever Archery Elk hunt this year and was wondering a couple of things. I there a video out there that is the best at teaching you how to call. I know there is a lot of them out there but what is the best video?

Also is a video the best way to learn or is there a better way.

I have hunted lots during the rifle season but never during the rut when they are making a lot of noise and you can call them in. Any help would be great.

Thanks,


Jeff

 

[MikeLonsford]

I am in the same boat as you so far as always the rifle and 1st year of archery. Actually what I did was get interested in the calling and decided on the archery because of it. Dwight Schuh wrote a book called "Bugling for Elk". I thought it was good. Also read "Elk Talk", thought it was good also. Haven't found a "bugling" video. There are plenty of hunting videos with bugling on them but not that's not the main reason for the video so you don't see any long sequencing of bugles or calls. I've only seen videos by a couple people, I do like the Primos Truth videos to get the blood pumping. Don't think many of the bulls are on public land, but they are neat to look at and see how close a range they are called into. All their elk are called in usually by 1 or 2 guides sitting behind them. Hope this helps. I won't know how good the info is until I try it out this summer and fall. Depending on how many hunters are in your area, you might alter your calling plan of attack.

From what I can tell, practice at home or in the car or wherever and get confident in making the noises you want and get out there and try it out on them. Experience is going to be the best teacher.

Good Luck - I know I'll take some!!!
Mike

 

[elkslayer54]

Fellers I am by no means an expert and I will probally be bashed for this, But here it goes anyway. I use mainly cow calls, the bugles are mainly locater calls, Alot depends on the situation but normaly the cow calls are the ticket, I will use a bugle to push a bull but alot of the time they just run away with there cows, But like mentioned above the Primos are the best elk videos on the market today, I have them all, alot of others too but Primos for learning to call espiecally with a friend. Later Bill

FEAR NOT FOR I AM WITH YOU! Walk soft and carry a 300 RUM,

 

[SpotNStalk]

Cow calls are the way to go in my opinion. I don't own a bugle. I hunt away from the roads most of the time but have called a few big bulls in just off of logging roads. There will be guys driving those same roads all day long, stopping just long enough to shut off their engine, step outside the truck and bugle. Those guys almost never see elk (at least not bulls) and make cow calling priceless. Spotting bulls or locating them by their bugles and then getting close are key. Get close and start cow calling.

 

[elkslayer54]

I agree with you SpotNStalk, you have odviously been there and done that! We should hook up sometime and go kill a big bull (grin)




FEAR NOT FOR I AM WITH YOU! Walk soft and carry a 300 RUM,

 

[MikeLonsford]

SpotNStalk,
What part of Washington are you from? Do you hunt rifle or archery?

Mike

 

[elknut1]

http:www.elknut.com

I too agree that there's times when more cow calling is needed than bugling! But I'd never leave the bugle home, as it's my most powerful tool in the elkwoods. It's what you say not how loud you can blow it!! <grin>

Many times you will find that whether you find bulls close to the road or deep in the bush that they'll hang-up even to the most enticing cow call. The reasons can vary. You may be working a herd bull, and he doesn't want to leave his cows un-attended but for a few precious minutes so he'll only come so close & try to call this cow to him! Or it could simply be a bull that's heard that particular cow call before & a red flag is raised in his mind.

At any rate, close to the roads or deep in, one sound I use in addittion to the cow call when I know a bull is hanging-up is to use sounds that are low keyed and don't attract other hunters because of loud volume, yet works wonders on the real bull, loner or herd bull.

What I do is turn around and give pants, (sounds like a woman in labor) through my grunt tube, followed by very light rapid chuckles, (not grunts)I do this to make the real bull think I'm behind the cow coming her way. When the real bull here's these sounds he knows another bull is trying to intercept the cow he's been calling to him.

The key here is this is real to the bull you're working, and it's what sounds a real bull would use in calling a cow to him & sneaking off with her.

There's other sounds and methods that can be used to further this scenario but this is a quick & simple but effective one.

So if you get a bull hanging-up on your calls, especially those wary ones, give this a shot!!-----ElkNut1

 

[need2hunt]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-22-05 AT 07:58AM (MST)[p]I agree, as well, that cow calling is your main ticket in successfully calling elk. The bugle, as stated before, should mainly be used as a locator. I have also heard that once you have invaded the herd bulls space (after an aggressive and fast stalk after locating)that you can give the bugle a good mature sounding blast. The bull may then turn aggressive and go on the offense rushing in for your close range bow shot. I haven't personally tried this technique, but have heard of it being successfull for some. Like I said, I mainly use cow calls. I have successfully called in and harvested a 6x6 in November. After busting out a small herd of bulls in the thick stuff, while tracking, I rushed after them for a hundred yards or so then started cow calling. Low and behold, a bull bugled back and came trotting back towards me? It was probably more luck than anything....but hey, it worked.

 

[IdahoBugler]

There are lots of videos out there that will teach you how to call or talk to elk. All seem to have a little bit of good info in them and combining them all may just be the ticket. Here are a few of the one's that I can rememeber off the top of my head.

Elk Bugling 101 by I think Chad Shearer
Hot bulls 1 & 2 by Glen Berry (Mostly hunting but has a section on calling)
Mastering the Art of Calling elk by Will Primos

These are all good videos and you should be able to get enough information from them to be dangerous. Also I have a cd that I listen to in my truck from Steve Chappall (sp?). It has a whole bunch of sequences of real elk calls so you can match your calls to the real thing.

Hope this helps,

IB

 

[HullinPhx]

ElkNut hit it right on the head. Elknut.com is the best site and video's I have ever seen. Cow calls are the way to go.

 

[Knockmdead]

Thanks for the info. You guys are great. I will go and see what I can find to help me learn the art of talking. Keep the tips comming they are great.

Thanks


Jeff

 

[Knockmdead]

I tried that website (www.elknut.com) and it said that it no longer exists. Any ideas why?

Jeff

 

[kingfish]

Any Primos elk video..also Elk fever with Larry Jones and Dwight Shue...The best!!!

 

[SLIVER]

I like the Trail of the Sportsman video, Roar Of The Rockies.
15.00 bucks for the DVD. Can't beat it.

}}-SLIVER-->

 

[raceguy]

I clicked on your link, worked fine for me!?

 

[ironhead]

If you want to learn how to call and know what your saying when you call get Elknut1's dvd's or cd's there is more info there than you will know what to do with. These are very informational they aren't hunt scenes, they are Elk sounds and the meaning of those sounds and also how to apply them in the feild. Steve

 

[elkslayer54]

Thanks I will look into that! I love videos like that!

FEAR NOT FOR I AM WITH YOU! Walk soft and carry a 300 RUM,

 

[MuleyMadman79]

I will tell you what, the PRIMO's boys know how to do it up. I have the entire TRUTH series and reccomend watching these videos. Also, the Hoochie Mama call is the best on the market, this cow call sweet talks any rut crazed bull right to you. I have use it many times and will always use it.

The Primo's terminator bugle is a champ, I'd reccomend any product that these boys make.

Good Luck with the hunt.

MM79