I recently got a new interest in hunting, ive been shooting for a few years now and have recently seen a few elk around. I think that it would be fun to learn how to call these animals in and eventually hunt them. Is there a good way to get started and/or any good tips to help?
Calling in Elk
- Thread starter SonnyCJ12
- Start date
Best info I learned was from watching the Primos Truth video series on elk hunting.
Have used many of their methods, calls and scent control products with great success over the years.
Best advice:
You can fool their ears and their eyes, you cannot fool their noses!
Use good scent control and watch your wind.
Use of the Montana decoys has been very effective when used in conjunction with Buck Bomb scents (bull and cow in estrus).
Set up and be downwind or crosswind from your decoys and callers, who should be 50-100 yards away from you (depending on your environment where you set up).
Do not over call, and get away from your vehicle/ATC/camp before you do. I never use the same calls on multiple days when hunting the same bull, as he will quickly learn to ignore you altogether.
You will learn something new from every set up and hunt.
Have fun and enjoy!
Warning: It is highly addictive!
Have used many of their methods, calls and scent control products with great success over the years.
Best advice:
You can fool their ears and their eyes, you cannot fool their noses!
Use good scent control and watch your wind.
Use of the Montana decoys has been very effective when used in conjunction with Buck Bomb scents (bull and cow in estrus).
Set up and be downwind or crosswind from your decoys and callers, who should be 50-100 yards away from you (depending on your environment where you set up).
Do not over call, and get away from your vehicle/ATC/camp before you do. I never use the same calls on multiple days when hunting the same bull, as he will quickly learn to ignore you altogether.
You will learn something new from every set up and hunt.
Have fun and enjoy!
Warning: It is highly addictive!
I have been keen to harvest a bull elk myself and while I consider myself a good hunter when it comes to mule deer, blacktails, black bears and moose..... I have only taken one cow elk in a late season draw and she just walked out into the open on the last day of the hunt and it was awesome. The meat was incredible and I miss it..... oh I miss it LOL
My biggest issue is where to go where there will be elk and not a lot of hunters..... I don't have horses so it's daunting. I don't really know anyone in BC that elk hunts that I could go with so as a solo hunter for the most part these days I just stare at the maps and it doesn't really go beyond that.
I'm not a guy to ask folks to put a spot on a map for me either so one day I do hope to either join up with some other hunters who elk hunt that maybe want to trade some knowledge on techniques and areas who maybe are keen on some black tail hunting and some long held spots that produce some very nice bucks nearly every season. As a meat hunter my success rate in my black tail spots is 90% or better. For Elk.... I've been 4 times in the late draws , seen elk everytime but either unreachable or it all happened too fast LOL
My biggest issue is where to go where there will be elk and not a lot of hunters..... I don't have horses so it's daunting. I don't really know anyone in BC that elk hunts that I could go with so as a solo hunter for the most part these days I just stare at the maps and it doesn't really go beyond that.
I'm not a guy to ask folks to put a spot on a map for me either so one day I do hope to either join up with some other hunters who elk hunt that maybe want to trade some knowledge on techniques and areas who maybe are keen on some black tail hunting and some long held spots that produce some very nice bucks nearly every season. As a meat hunter my success rate in my black tail spots is 90% or better. For Elk.... I've been 4 times in the late draws , seen elk everytime but either unreachable or it all happened too fast LOL
First elk I ever called in and subsequently killed was with a simple electrical conduit style whistle.
Gizz
Sadly you cannot buy those anymore.
Usually with Archery you only get 1 shot, especially with compound....so ya you need to make 1 shot count.
I have yet to call elk in, I have tried a few times in the sask provincial forestry.
In elk draw season is completely different
I have patterned them on one field. Got in there really early
Laid down in the field 100yds from where they come out of the bush.
Massive rush watching mr bull come out, sniffing the air and seeing around.
Then the spikers come out with the lead cow
Then the cows and calves.
I have a great video of two calves running around chasing each other.
Magical experience
Seems a shame sometimes to poke one but at least I
Know they weren’t spooked and I get the chance to pick the exact beast
I want for my freezer.
3 times I have succeeded in doing this.
In elk draw season is completely different
I have patterned them on one field. Got in there really early
Laid down in the field 100yds from where they come out of the bush.
Massive rush watching mr bull come out, sniffing the air and seeing around.
Then the spikers come out with the lead cow
Then the cows and calves.
I have a great video of two calves running around chasing each other.
Magical experience
Seems a shame sometimes to poke one but at least I
Know they weren’t spooked and I get the chance to pick the exact beast
I want for my freezer.
3 times I have succeeded in doing this.
duncansuds
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Weyburn, SK
If you think guns are addicting…. You are in for a world of cravings with calling elk. I listened to a fellow once who said, tell the story with the calls you think they would believe. I walk and call through our area and I try to tell the story of bulls chasing cows, watched a few videos of how they communicate during the peak rut and tried to mimic similar patterns.
Haven’t been skunked yet. Nothing like a bull coming in under 10y.
I watch wind directing the best I can but I do not go out of my way to cover scent, just sensible things. I do not know if I have missed the really big ones due to that or not, but I’m having a great time.
Haven’t been skunked yet. Nothing like a bull coming in under 10y.
I watch wind directing the best I can but I do not go out of my way to cover scent, just sensible things. I do not know if I have missed the really big ones due to that or not, but I’m having a great time.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I suggest you concentrate on learning how to call like a lost cow. Bull bugles are cool, but as a calling technique bugling is way over rated and until you understand elk behaviour, bugling has the potential to scare away more bulls than you call in. As practise, I'd suggest you find a park where the elk are undisturbed and easily available. Practise on them, not the ones you'll actually hunt.
I agree, there is no other thing that can compare to the experience of having a bull elk less than 10 yards from you bugling, glunking and thrashing the brush!
If that doesn't get your blood pumping, I don't know what will...
unless it is being charged by a grizzly bear...but that would be a very different rush, where one may be apt to spoil their britches!
If that doesn't get your blood pumping, I don't know what will...
unless it is being charged by a grizzly bear...but that would be a very different rush, where one may be apt to spoil their britches!
Cow calling has it's place, might call up a cougar or Grizz around here though. Other side of cow talk is it's going on all the time. Listen for it and it might take you to a bull.
Grizz
The Outsider
CGN Regular
Calling in a bull is not that hard if you practice your technique, and you are in the right place at the right time.
Calling in a legal 6 point "herd" bull is not so easy, as a herd bull may answer your call, but if he thinks you're far enough away that you're not a threat,
he might answer your call, then round up his cows and move away.
If you get an answer from what sounds like a herd bull, you should move in quickly and try and get close, (so that he considers you a threat)
then he might leave his cows and challenge you.
Try to be out there just before and just after a full moon,
and try to be out there just before and just after bad weather,
you will increase your chances if you do.
... and keep in mind that animals are never far from water, especially after a hot dry summer like this past one,
they will start to head towards water at dusk, and start to move away from water before dawn.
Good luck!
Calling in a legal 6 point "herd" bull is not so easy, as a herd bull may answer your call, but if he thinks you're far enough away that you're not a threat,
he might answer your call, then round up his cows and move away.
If you get an answer from what sounds like a herd bull, you should move in quickly and try and get close, (so that he considers you a threat)
then he might leave his cows and challenge you.
Try to be out there just before and just after a full moon,
and try to be out there just before and just after bad weather,
you will increase your chances if you do.
... and keep in mind that animals are never far from water, especially after a hot dry summer like this past one,
they will start to head towards water at dusk, and start to move away from water before dawn.
Good luck!
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that's it..... I'm moving up to elk country. All this talk is driving me nuts and the wife wants to relocate as well. The 20grand signing bonus she was just offered to take a position up in north east corner of BC is pretty hard to resist...... and I have a decent area I have gotten to know up that way.
This thread needs more pictures hehehe
This thread needs more pictures hehehe
- Location
- Saskatchewan
They're about as adaptable as white Tails.
