How do you decide when to bugle and when to cow call? Early season, start with cow chirps and cow calling subtly. If there isn’t much response, move to a locate bugle. During the rut, it’s more of a conversation. You want to interact with the bull but not over-call and sound desperate. Cow elk have a variety of sounds that you can interact with, but once they back off, you should too.
Up Next in Season One
-
Morning v. Evening Elk Hunting
It’s a matter of preference, typically, but there are things to consider when choosing a time of day to hunt elk. Morning hunts give you more time to get the elk packed out, take pictures with your trophy and just enjoy the moment. Evening hunts feel more rushed, because you want to get back to c...
-
How To Age An Elk
Scott Hatch has been chasing elk for years, and he ages elk by their antlers, body size and shape, and head position. The bigger and heavier the antlers, the more mature the bull elk. Mature bulls also have a swayback in the lower neck, a bigger hump and a lower head. If it looks like a big yello...
-
Bowhunting v. Rifle Hunting for Elk
A bow cannot cover as much ground as a rifle. Therefore, bowhunting requires the hunter to get in close. When you set up to bowhunt elk, put the hunter between the elk and the caller. Rifle hunting allows you to hang back and glass a mountain to find the elk and then move in a little closer to ma...
