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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