I've never seen an elk. My entire experience is reading bowsite elk forum for years.
So, what about calling? I understand that calling takes years to master. Where do I start? how do I start?
(As background, I am a decent goose, duck, and turkey caller. I also know a bit about moose and deer calling.)
Don't expect the normal hunting video of an elk hunt with a tiny bit of calling instruction thrown in. His videos tell you what the elk are saying and how to talk back. Very good info.
I recommend the 3 pack that includes volumes 1,2 and 4
Along with this, you could view elk videos (you tube has a ton), and try to mimick as many sounds as you can, especially if you are using a mouth diaphragm.
Ain't nuthin' like the "real thing" ;)
+++ yup I almost did!! Such an addicting rush!
Watch some primos videos. They have great footage of elk doing their thing. Just be aware you cannot reasonably expect the quality of hunting those videos depict. Unless you're dropping $10k plus to hunt a private ranch.
MikeC
MikeC..Just keep trying! you`ll get it
There are few things that equal a vocal, hormone pumped bull at close range on the side a of a mountain in September.
That said, it's much more important to know when to call than how to call, and experience is the best teacher. Get into the elk woods as much as you can. There's no better teacher than the real thing.
That's my advice. Calling does nothing but have them running unless you are on private land that no one hunts or there are only 5 tags. Even then leave them at home and chase bugles :)
Cheers, Pete
Not my experience, even with public land elk... but to each his own. You must be a flatlander whitetail hunter! ;)
+ 1 on learning to use a diaphragm.
Of the 14 bulls I called in, all came silently except one that let out a little whine when he was 70 yards out. Almost every one came in 25-35 minutes after I started my calling/stick-popping/ sequences.
Learning how to call, when to call, and when to NOT call will work on even the most pressured elk, if you do it right.
If you sit in one spot and rhythmically honk on a Hoochie Mama or a diaphragm, you'll likely only wear out your thumb or your tongue.
There is a real good podcast of Corey and his techniques on Jay Scotts podcasts.
That's what the guys selling calls and advice want you to believe. Pick up any tape, learn to make the sounds, then copy what you hear the elk do in the field. If you hear many elk, you'll find that many of them aren't very good at it, by competitive calling standards.
I have been on numerous hunts where I didn't hear a single bugle. And the area we hunt has lots of flowing streams. So you either learn to call, or stillhunt. And even stillhunting, you will make noise and calling makes the elk think you are just another elk. The difference on public with lots of hunters is that the bulls will come in silent most of the time.
I will say this, 95% of my successes have been with cow calls, not bugles. If they are bugling, bugle calls will help you get them located, THEN chase the bugles and cow call. The one exception is when you happen to get between a bull and his cows, then a weak bugle will drive him nuts!
No way. 4 to 6 hours a day, 2 months tops you'll be right in there. I'd suggest a walk in closet for practice....
That's right.... I'm a closet bugler.....
Have to get it down to where it's not even a thought to do it... just comes out of your mouth. Swallowing the reed and choking on it at the wrong time is a bust...
Secondly.... call it a mouth reed. TSA tends to frown when you tell them that "this is called a Grunt Tube and you use it with a Mouth Diaphragm....."
Had a famous elk killin' guy (heheheheh...) tell me once.... don't worry about the folks that tell you bugling doesn't work... they are probably just not that good at it.... guy has killed a train car of elk.... and he was dead on right. If you get good, know when, where and how... it's very effective. And hands down the most fun you can have with your clothes on..... in my case, prolly with them off too....
Cow calls are easy and death on satellite bulls. Herd bulls not so much as they want the cows to come to them.... until it's looking like somebody is snakin' their cows out from under them.... then it's like midnight at a rowdy bar and somebody is hittin' on your lady....
Not gonna kill that guy every time... me, solo calling is tough, I haven't put a monster on the ground yet, but oh my.... is it exciting...
IMO the calling is the easy part. The set up is where I brain fart it most every time. The set up is where you kill elk, not just call one in.
http://www.elk101.com/2009/08/elk101-com-elk-hunting-tip-4/
Calling is not rocket science, its not even science. Some guys that have products may lead you to believe it is, but its not. Get 2 -3 open reed cow calls, a diaphragm if you chose to bugle, and get to practicing.
Like mentioned, your setup is very important. Go have some fun and let experience be your teacher.
Find a diaphragm and tube that suits you, and within a couple of hours almost anyone can make sounds that will bring in elk.
It's akin to flycasting in that people want to make it harder than it really is.
It's not all that difficult.
What helped me the most with his videos is he explains what the elk are saying and what to say back. So it is worth the price. There are other good ones out there, but I learned the most as a beginner from his videos.
What did we do before the interweb?! The resources available for newbie and veteran alike are amazing...as are 99.99999% of Bowsiters who respond to honest requests for assistance with honest advice based on their [very considerable] experience
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to respond and share on this, and other [elk] bowhunting posts
Good luck and good hunting
Below is another link for some calling advice.
http://bowsite.com/bowsite/features/interviews/danmooreelk/
Never gets old listening to experienced elk killers. Thanks again Dan!
The sounds can be mastered within a reasonable time. What takes years is figuring out what sound to use in each set up/situation. Even those of us that have been doing it for years make mistakes.
What is hard to do is when they are silent and you are calling. How long do you stay put? Make a rule for yourself (30 min for example) and use your watch/phone to be sure you stick to it. You mind will tell you it is time to move on sooner when you are not getting any responses.
Of course then comes a swirling wind right when you got him coming in and blows the whole thing!
Blown out and you never saw em. Happens a lot.
Now everybody is a "caller", which is why, as TD notes, more often than not they sneak in silently and take their sweet time in the sneaking.
Learning elk behavior is the key to knowing what calls when and then just being a good hunter.
So many guys setup and call then sit there moving around fidgiting- the elk will pick up your movements from 100yds out.
