Bull Elk Barking????

Kentuck

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Saw a question on another website where the hunter called in a bull from a tree stand. The bull wouldn't get close so he got down and stalked in. The bull then started barking. What does this mean when a bull barks? He said the bull didn't spook, just barked.
 
It means you've been busted. It's a "I know something is not right here--show yourself" type of call. It alerts the whole area to watch out, and in most cases, get out of dodge.
 
Yep, it means your totally busted!
He probably didn't run because he only smelled the hunter and couldn't pinpoint what or where it was coming from so he barked to alert the rest of the heard.
In a nutshell, it means "heads up troops".

Muley's will stomp a foot, and or snort....elk bark.
 
Same thing a whitetail does when they blow at you when spooked. An Elk Bark is much louder and can scare the S--t out of you if you don't know they are around.
 
So will a whitey buck too antelope also make a weird sound when your busted i cant explain what it sounds like.
 
http:www.elknut.com

Kentuck, all elk can & do bark, from calves of both genders to cows & bulls of all size & age. Their bark can vary from gender & age. Your question on the encounter that took place however was not a warning or alarm bark by this Bull. He used what I refer to as a Popping/Nervous Grunt, it's in single note form as you mentioned. It can be given in a variety of situations by all elk. It's noticed by hunters from bulls mostly as that's what it seems most of us hunt.

This grunt is in essence asking another elk to step out & show itself, they want to make sure you're not a threat to them in some cases but not all. You will hear this grunt under situations where you may be bugling a bull or cow calling a bull & he hangs-up, he refuses to come any closer without a visual. So he asks for an identification. This can also be heard if you're tromping through the woods & you alert elk to your presence by sound or movement but they can't see you clearly, they will hit you with this Popping/Nervous Grunt. This grunt is also used under excitement situations or an invite to other elk. As hunters we can use this sound against the elk in the right situation such as hung-up bulls.

The difference between a Bark & Nervous grunt is easily identified. An Alarm Bark is a mountain side clearing event, no ifs & or butts! Too, barks are given in a more rapid order & each one gets further away as elk exit the area, generally 5-10 sec apart. Nervous Grunts however when given by elk are spaced apart generally 30sec or so & the elk don't rush off, they stay right there expecting a showing or safe response to their request. There's a big difference between the two when understood, it's far from Game Over!!

ElkNut1
 
Thanks Elknut1. This sounds more like what the guy was hearing because the bull didn't vacate the area. It would stop when he cow called but would go back to doing it again. Learn more and more everyday.
 
So Paul,

What is the answer, or is there one to get this bull to come to you. I have had this happen on many occasions. I have even had a cow follow me down the mountain barking. Last weekend I had a bull do this "nervous grunt". My son was hunting and I tried moving away and cow calling as I went, but it seemed the bull wouldn't come across the small opening toward my son. I have always felt that this type of bark or grunt was done when an elk was alerted to the hunter's presence but did not wind him--possibly may have even caught a glimpse of the hunter but couldn't identify him. Can you share more?

Mike
 
After studying all of Elknuts videos this past summer I went to the woods last weekend with this knowledge. Found myself busted by at least 4 cows as I attempted a stalk into the heard to fill my cow tag. I eased out from behind a tree watching the lead cow only to see four sets of eyes staring in my direction and knew the jig was up soon, so I eased my mouth to my bugle tube and gave a popping grunt call. Amazingly, all of the elk immediatly went at ease and even started laying down. The whole herd eventually layed down with the exception of ole Alpha cow who paced constantly and would have even had I not been there. I got inside of 35 yards of 3 of the cows over the next hour and a half and could never get a shot because of one pine bough or another. Was an awsome and intense stalk that would have never happened had I not learned that popping grunt sound from Elknut. I never even imagined using it in that scenario but figured I had nothing to lose and it worked.
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-05-07 AT 07:43AM (MST)[p]http:www.elknut.com

SanJuanSlim--As in all Elk Hunting there's no 100% sure fire method per encounter! (grin) But we have taken several bulls that have fired a Popping/Nervous Grunt at us first. One in particular that comes to mind is where my son & I were heading sidehill across a steep slope about 10am we were a bit noisy as we were leaving the area. Out of no where a bull hits us with a nervous grunt at about 40-50yds away. It's very thick & he heard us but couldn't see us. I quickly setup my 15yr old son, I then turned around & gave a single low mew. I'm sure the bull heard it. I then moved away slowly intentionally rustling brush & popping a stick or two with my shoes, when I reached about 30-40yds away from my son I gave another single louder mew & a calf chirp, within seconds I heard the release of an arrow & the ground pounding bolt of a what I hoped was a hit bull. (grin) It was, the bull went aprox 100yds. I'll try post a photo of it?

On another occasion I had a different hunter with me & was in a similar situation, only this bull gave this same single note nervous grunt when he hung up, he wanted to see us. I hit him back with this same single grunt. I've done this before & most elk will go back & forth with you several times over a course of a few minutes, knowing this I kept this bulls attention with these well spaced grunts, I sent the shooter around the bull where he was on the same level as the bull then he went right at him, the bulls attention was fortunately on me & the hunter snuck in to 40 yds & drilled him.

These are a couple of success ones, I also have a few that turned out the other way, but that's hunting!! Just don't give up too easy when you hear this sound!!!

46deb2295ab76de4.jpg


ElkNut1
 
Thanks Paul,

Your first solution was what I tried in the situation I mentioned. I had hoped he would follow my cow calls as I moved away, but that meant he would have had to cross a 50 yard wide meadow. I maybe should have sent my son to a different part of the narrow park we were in and tried your second option by sending him across to find the bull while I continued communicating with with the elk. In my years of hunting elk during the rut, I have probably had the most trouble with this situation, not really knowing what to do. BTW, I do ave one of your DVD's and an audio CD. Thanks for the advice.

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Here's a picture of my son who just turned 16 a few weeks ago.

Mike
 
When I first got into elk hunting I got barked at so often, that my handle became my montra that I whispered to myself anytime I was puttin' on a sneak.....Ha. It's better now.
 
http:www.elknut.com

Mike, you're welcome! That's a great photo there of your son & longbow. My son now shoots a recurve & I shoot a longbow. What kind of longbow is it that your son is carrying in the photo? It looks a lot like mine. (grin)

ElkNut
 

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