LAST EDITED ON May-20-06 AT 09:07AM (MST)[p]http:
www.elknut.com
As you mentioned in your post, your hunt will take place in early Sept. Cows "carrying" at this time will be of no concern to you. But your methods are different at this time as oppossed to a Janurary hunt! The DVDs will give you many thoughts, ideas & sounds to use that will defenitely attract cows & ways to find them!
At this time of Sept. Bugling is a very effective way to locate cows. Use a high pitch note with a light to no growl at the end, no chuckles at all should follow this sound. This is the sound a bull will use when looking for cows, many times you will have cows respond to this call, when you do, they are inviting you over to join them. If terrain allows, do just that, once closer, give one or two quick mews followed by a very short high pitch bugle, about a 1/2 sec. in length. A bull will make these sounds once close where he feels the cows should be, he will also use 3-4 pants or huffs to try & call the cows to him. Yes, bulls mew!
If just using this selective bugle looking for cows, be persistent, bugle 5-6 times a minute for 2-3 minutes from one spot, don't move around, do this in the same spot for 30 min. Make sure you're setup in such a spot that the cows must come within your range before they can see the area the sounds are coming from!
A method like this works well in semi to low visibility hunting country! Too, this not only brings cows in close, it's an exciting way to fill your tag.
Things to be careful of! Don't call cows standing just out of range with any cow call where they can look in your direction & see nothing. If you spot elk 150-200 yds out or so move from your position where you can't be seen & you can't see them. (unless there's 2 of you) Then use my favorite call of all, the "Lost Cow" sound! When using this sound stay put for 20-30 min. do not go to the elk while calling! Rarely will cows answer this sound, they just show-up! Be ready & be patient, they'll come!
Too, when looking for cows to come to you with the use of calls in Sept. use cow calling & calf calling, mix it up! Rustle brush, stmp around, break branches tenderly, create the illussion that there's elk milling around along with your calls. This can be done between feeding & bedding areas ealy or late, this is when you can catch them on the move, get in thier way so to speak. Glassing from a distance is a great way to locate bedding areas so you have an aprox. idea where the elk will be coming out of!
Too, waterholes are another hotspot to setup & create a little excitement with your calling. In any event when cow calling as mentioned, don't add any bull sounds of any sort to your cow-calf calling, this will only incite bulls of all sorts to show first, & that can ruin it for you if you're only hunting cows! The videos will aid you further!
Good Luck! ElkNut