In the Elk Woods: the strange & unreal.

[jg]

#3610

I thought I’d make my first contribution here about elk hunting and the strange things they can do. I hope you all will add your own strange elk stories. There is a brief period of time where I bowhunt when bull elk go on what I call “walkabout”. They are in search of cows and are moving almost around the clock in the quest to link up. I was ghosting through some heavy timber and deadfall next to a big meadow I favor when A bugle at about 100 yds brought the adrenalin meter off zero. I started toward him when he let another banshee wail rip. He was a LOT closer! My instant thought was, my god, he’s in the meadow! It was 1pm and a warmish, bright sunny day so this was a surprise for me. I no sooner got past the thought when I saw his royals floating above the breeze bent grasses. He majestcally walked across the open, his heavy muscles undulating under the blonde tan of his hair. It was quite a vision and the A-meter was bumping redline. Be cool, I warned myself. I set up a decoy on the inside edge of the timber. I backed up 15 yards downwind of the deke and gave a couple excited cow calls. On a string, the big Dandy came in. Oh boy, I thought. This may work out! He stopped when he saw the decoy and began to bugle her to come to him. (First mistake: never set up a decoy they can find before offering you a shot) He then circled UPWIND of the decoy continuing to bugle. I had always read, and thought, the bull would circle downwind to scent the cow, thus bringing him into a shot. Not this guy. “I am the baddest bada__ around here. And I smell like THIS!” he seemed to be saying. Anyway, he never did circle downwind and offer a shot. When the fake cow didn’t go to him, he got the notion all was not right and I listened to his bugles fade away as he went deeper into the timber. Joshua

[Etter1]

#21892

That sounds a lot like turkey hunting! With turkeys, IMO, the decoy will screw you more times than it will give you a fried breast on the plate.

[David Petersen]

#21968

jg — that’s a good presumption about a bull circling upwind of a cow in order for her to smell him … I’ve never considered that possibility before and think it’s entirely possible. In my experience elk just don’t pay as much attention to wind as deer, esp. during rut. I’ve had both genders come in upwind when calling. But with a decoy, it makes some sense. Welcome here.

Etter — I too quit using turkey dekes for trad bowhunting long ago, for exactly the reason you suggest. (Likewise, I haven’t owned an elk bugle in more years than I can remember.) When in doubt, remain silent.

[Fallguy]

#22066

I also have got burnt on the turkey decoy,the first year I hunted them. Unfortunately I am a very slow learner I worked the same Tom on the same setup for 3 days before I figured it out. Then my season was done. Never once did I lay eyes on him. Just 3 hours of puts, purs and gobbles from 7:00 am to 10:00 am each day.

My hunter partner on the other hand had never heard cow talk before and came back to camp the first night out talking about the funny bird noises heard 50 yards behind him just over a ridge. We had a good laugh about that one at his expense.

[Etter1]

#22355

David Petersen wrote: jg — that’s a good presumption about a bull circling upwind of a cow in order for her to smell him … I’ve never considered that possibility before and think it’s entirely possible. In my experience elk just don’t pay as much attention to wind as deer, esp. during rut. I’ve had both genders come in upwind when calling. But with a decoy, it makes some sense. Welcome here.

Etter — I too quit using turkey dekes for trad bowhunting long ago, for exactly the reason you suggest. (Likewise, I haven’t owned an elk bugle in more years than I can remember.) When in doubt, remain silent.

As much as you and I fence, we could surely split a glass of scotch Dave.:D

[jg]

#23540

Since it was nice out and I “had a feeling” that bull would be back, I found some sun and took a nap not too far away. He came in again about 3 hrs later, bugled once, but this time got behind me and was gone. I should have set up right where he was standing above the deke in the first encounter, but I didn’t. I believe it cost me a shot. If they don’t wind you, chances are they will return to find out if that cow is still around. Next time I won’t be so casual. I am discovering that with trad, you have to play the hunches for keeps if you want to close the deal. Joshua

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