| The art of elk calling is one that can be the | | | | other often - this is also a survival instinct, allowing |
| quintessential turning point for a hunter's success | | | | them to stay together and converse. |
| rate with elk. There are many different | | | | You will most often get a response from an |
| techniques styles and methods of making elk | | | | active bull in the early morning and late afternoon |
| calling an essential part of your tool kit while | | | | hours right up until the sun sets and when the |
| hunting. It starts with some of these basics. | | | | weather is cool, the bugling might last all day long. |
| Bugling Techniques | | | | The bugle itself can mean any number of things |
| Of the many different calling techniques, most | | | | beyond a basic hello though - from an aggressive |
| hunters start with bugling. As an elk hunter - | | | | call to fellow bulls to a mating call or a simple |
| either new or old - you should have a bugle. | | | | warning to move on. |
| However, do you know how to use it properly? | | | | Your call will usually bring a bull out because they |
| It used to be that bugling was the ideal way to | | | | are curious to find what has come to them. |
| bring elk close to you. A bugle would indicate to a | | | | Ultimately, do not be too aggressive - just make |
| bull that another bull was coming into the herd and | | | | sure the herd knows you are there. If you find a |
| would thus go to encounter the other bull and | | | | herd where a bull has been fighting or pushing |
| fight off the intruder, opening itself up to a shot | | | | around all day, he will likely not respond, but will |
| by the hunter. | | | | simply push around in his own herd. |
| Because every hunter under the sun owns a | | | | If you see a bull is looking for your call though, |
| bugle now, the bulls have grown used to the | | | | continue sounding it until it seeks you out. This is |
| sound and have started to ignore it more often, | | | | the bull you will want to continue watching and |
| especially when the air is thick with bugle and cow | | | | seek out. He has probably recently lost his cows |
| calling in August and September when archery | | | | and is looking for a fight. |
| season opens up. | | | | Afterward, you might need a cow call to slow or |
| After the second week of September though, | | | | stop the bull to take your shot. This is rare, but |
| when other bulls start to actively bugle | | | | will occasionally happen. If he is large and looks |
| themselves, your bugle calls will be much more | | | | angry, tone back your call a slight bit so that the |
| effective. After dark is a particularly good time to | | | | bull thinks he can easily defeat you and will |
| seek spreading herds and use your bugle call to | | | | continue coming. Use the cow call softly to make |
| draw out the bulls. | | | | the bull think you have something to come and |
| Using the Bugle | | | | take and he will get that much closer, opening up |
| First, find a good point, high above the herd with | | | | a good shot many times. |
| plenty of viewing space. Here, you will be able to | | | | When you learn to use your elk bugle properly, |
| use your bugle to make a series of long and high | | | | you set yourself up to be much more successful |
| pitched tones that simulate the call of a bull bugling | | | | in your hunts. It allows you to better understand |
| to a herd of fellow elk. | | | | how the bull thinks and what you can do to |
| Most often, this sound means nothing more than | | | | manipulate those thoughts. Use your bugle, watch |
| a casual hello from the bull to the herd. They are | | | | your herd, and make the necessary adjustments |
| very social animals and communicate with each | | | | to master your new skill. |