A big bull hears one cruddy call at the beginning of the season and he might be spooky towards anything but his own group for the entire season. The key to successful elk calling is not making the perfect sound, but rather making the correct sound at the perfect time. During the late season for elk, badger says, you definitely have to change the camo pattern that you normally wear in earlyseason elk hunting. Early season elk bow hunting in september is one of the most exhilarating. Whatever the reason, i have found that the birds respond better to calling earlier in the season. Volumes have been written about these subjects and opinions are varied. Aug 07, 2017 how to hunt elk in the early season with kristy titus. Fall is fast approaching and soon it will be time to put away your shorts and pick up the hoyt or browning in preparation for bugling bull elk. Once you get eyes on a herd or a bull that you want to go after, watch him to see where he is headed. In the early season, you can depend on your scouting and your calling to bring in the bull.
As a committed bowhunter ive spent many early season days in the mountains, along river valleys and in the prairie grasslands chasing mule deer. Early season calling tactics for elk hunting success water holes and wallows. Thats tough to take without getting down on your luck, but calling elk isnt the only way to kill one. Hunting and scouting for elk is exciting and challenging, however the challenge and excitement compounds when you add in the words doityourself.
Early season rut montana elk calling tips with shawn plakke. After a long and exhausting rut, the bulls are looking to pack on precious fat as they prepare for the approaching winter. When bow hunting early season elk it is the cumulative efforts of everyone in the hunting party, the close calls, the blood, sweat, frustration and anxiety that change the definition of a trophy. Archery elk tactics from the experts gary lewis outdoors.
In the episode, titus discusses creating the frenzy to call in a prerut bull elk, team strategies, solo hunting strategies, and more. Early season elk hunting in new mexico early elk hunting season. Early season elk tips please muleymadness hunting forums. The captain had the opportunity to pick the brain of elk calling expert shawn plakke to get early season rut elk calling tips and best practices. A fourseason guide to patterning big bull elk outdoor life. Most elk talk can be easily reproduced using elk hunting calls on the market today. Elk calling in competition is an art, but you dont have to be a hunting call artist to be successful at using elk hunting calls. For me, a good location bugle is the basis of nearly every archery hunt.
Hunting elk in the early rifle season pure hunting. Some would even go as far to call this a bromance, but any hunter knows the term. The question really comes down to why do vocals work during the early part of the season. The spike and satellite bulls will be tending the cow and calf herds until the big bulls come down to claim there harem by the middle of september. Oct 23, 2019 early archery season elk calling tactics. In this article, ill share a couple tips and strategies i use for harvesting and taking care of an animal in late summer before the rut really gets fired up. Up in the high country, the grass is curing with the heat and elk antlers are hardening. Calling elk is one of the first aspects of bow hunting in september hunters talk about. May 24, 2018 late season turkey calling techniques. Elk are herd animals and extremely social, so if phelps is in an area with a ton of fresh sign, he may just sit in one spot and start cow calling without hearing from any other elk. Even though the elk are not as vocal, you can really capitalize on calling in a mature bull before hes gathered his herd. Cows can also often be harvested in many jurisdictions, and theyre also curious in the early season, checking out bugles and paying attention to bulls.
Pro secrets for bowhunting earlyseason elk outdoor canada. How do you decide when to bugle and when to cow call. This is a key, knowing these diy elk hunting tips and tactics can mean success. One major opportunity to keep in mind with elk is they. A bugle call is simply a long tube with a diaphragm inside that, when used correctly can allow you to sound like a bull elk. A few lucky folks will draw a tag during the rut hunts, but this article will focus on the most common time periods for chasing bulls with a rifle. Learn elk talk for close encounters of the herd kind elk calling in competition is an art, but you dont have to be a hunting call artist to be successful at using elk hunting calls. The earliest ive ever had a bull come to a call was august 28. This can come from a variety of factors like pressure. The 3 biggest mistakes bowhunters make in early season.
Be on the lookout for water holes and wallows when scouting. When to use elk calls in the early in the archery season here in our area of colorado our experience is that opening day tends to be a vocal affair on most occasions for us. I have never hunted elk before what tactics do you guys use during early season, hunting wallows, does calling work, any tips for a newbee. If you are finding fish stacked up on one side of an offshore reef in twentyfive feet of water on a spot the size of half a tennis court, trolling crankbaits is going to be inefficient.
Elk tend to not be as vocal in the early season and can be hard to locate. Early season elk tactics for a bowhunter will vary greatly depending on. It is indeed a great opportunity to catch deer relatively uneducated. On the other hand, if you want to deliver a message that will get the bull fighting mad, what do you need to say. Early season elk bowhunting tactics mark kayser youtube. He was alone feeding next to a pipeline, and i snuck to within 150 metres of him. Diy hunting randy newbergs elk talk system, finding. Due to the dates of the season, i have had to adapt to using early elk hunting strategies to be successful. Sep, 2015 calling elk in early season can be a great way to kill the best bull of your life, and being in elk country is always better than not. Elknuts early season elk hunting and calling tactics duration.
Spend your first light of the day hours glassing for elk moving to their bedding area. Here are three tactics you might consider when hunting early season elk. Spot and stalk is a very common method used by many elk hunters in september and early season hunts. But when the temperatures are warm, locating elk is no easy task. Ask most north american hunters and nine out of ten will probably say that early season mule deer hunting is for archers. December or january is prime cow hunting time and even in the snow our calls dont stick and dont fail. Id recommend not bugling or cow calling unless the elk themselves are calling. If you happen to find a wallow, this can be another excellent place to set up. Early season post spawn walleye tactics bass pro shops.
The elk is a herd animal that migrates during the winter. Early season elk hunting tips by brad vargo photo by peter eades. Elk call to each other all the time to communicate many things which we can identify. Just because that big bull does not show himself the first day, does not mean that he will not be back the next day or the day after that. Im worried about heat and bugs and the moose not coming out.
How to hunt elk in the early season with kristy titus youtube. Early season calling tactics for turkeys bass pro shops. As far as calling sequences go, a little goes a long way in the early season and blowing on an estrus call or bugle every ten minutes is going to do. Sep 09, 2017 the captain had the opportunity to pick the brain of elk calling expert shawn plakke to get early season rut elk calling tips and best practices. One of the things i like to do in the early part of september is to slow down and work the elky areas less aggressively. This tactic can work in high traffic areas with lots of hunting pressure. Late season is just another prime time when to use elk calls. Calling elk in the early season is the most exciting aspect of archery hunting, but onx ambassador and host of skull bound t. There are so many variables and factors in calling elk that it can become overwhelming.
My hunting area is easy access to all and receives lots of pressure, thus, early season is the best time as the elk are still a little dumb. Hunting elk in the early rifle season early rifle season elk hunting depending on the state and the season dates, early season rifle hunting for elk can give hunters the chance to experience the later part of the rut and capitalize on opportunities by using some extra firepower. Also, be sure to check out the new pursue the wild line of elk calls, the wild frenzy bugle tube, the wild fury diaphragm and the igniteherwild external reed cow call here. Best elk hunting season colorado elk hunting colorado elk. Elk calling tips 58 matching articles field and stream. Make sure you practice your elk calls consistently all year. Public land rifle elk hunting strageties rifle elk hunting on public land usually takes place in the postrut and late season periods. The author jason mitchell with a beautiful walleye caught slow trolling a salmo bullhead 8sdr. How to hunt elk in the early season with kristy titus. Tips from the wild, kristy titus shares some of her top tips and strategies that she has learned while afield pursuing elk solo on public. Glassing, cold calling, and ambushing wallows or heavily used trails are just a few tricks to make your early season time fruitful.
Aug 14, 2015 even though the elk are not as vocal, you can really capitalize on calling in a mature bull before hes gathered his herd. During the late season, elk are on a fullon food chompin mission. Use your emotion to communicate what you want the elk to hear. As in early season calling tactics, it is important to keep your calling nonaggressive and focus on soft elk mews before the rut begins. Early season elk hunting is all about being patient and slowing down.
Over the years 70 percent of earlyseason bulls responding to my calls did so after the third or fourth bugle. Late season turkey hunting tactics for last minute gobblers. When should i be aggressive and when should i be timidwhen to use cow calls or bugles. It can be cumbersome, but strapping one or two smaller elk antlers to your pack could be one of the best things an early season hunter can do. Maybe they havent been shot at yet or perhaps over the long winter they have become use to the intrusions of man. As far as calling sequences go, a little goes a long way in the early season and blowing on an estrus call or bugle every ten minutes is going to do more harm than good. It can be hot and miserable, but those hunters that are persistent, hunting from sunup to sundown greatly increase their odds at success. Depending on where you live this might be as early as the middle of march or as late as mid april. Late season cow elk and bull elk even respond to blind calling.
If you only remember one of the many turkey hunting tips for the late season it has to be related to calling. A locator bugle with an elk reel and loud estrous whines and estrous or demanding cow talk can get a distant bull to answer. The early season can be a very exciting time to be in the elk woods. It will have you rethinking the way you call to elk in early season, or during the peak of the rut. Patience and persistence will help you manufacture luck along the way. One great tactic for early season hunting is what we call spot and call. This is an underutilized hunting method, especially early on. Sep, 2015 many of the early season calling tactics that we talked about in another article are applicable to both callershooter set ups as well as solo elk calling with only a dew slight changes for solo calling. Apr 18, 2016 hunt and hunting randy newbergs system of finding public land elk is the subject of the next five videos where we expand on our five seasonal periods of the system, taking on the first hunting.
Try to use soft cow and calf calls with an occasional soft bugle. Phelps added that if you do set up for a cold calling session, be prepared. This dvd and mp3 two disc set is a musthave for the new or experienced elk hunter. I am fortunate to live near elk country and get to hunt the entire season. The elk rarely vocalize back, most come in silent, the hunting is the most intense of the entire season. Several states offer archery dates beginning in august, and the early season is a. Hiking around in the bright sun while sweating isnt what you want to be doing so dont expect elk to do the same. As anyone who hunts in hot weather knows, there can be days on end when you cant buy a bugle. Put emotion into your cow callsdon t just use a basic, mechanical cow call to make an elk sound. During the early season in september before the rut begins the mature bulls will be up high in timber pockets and in alpine meadows. Before diving too far into early season calling techniques i feel its. Slightly different tactics have worked well for me versus the more aggressive rut hunting tactics i employ later in the season.
Towards the end of the season, you really need to know pressured elk hiding areas to find elk. Elk scouting tips scouting for a diy elk hunt pure hunting. The hot part of the early season is loud and intense. It is not about selecting the best turkey calls, but rather about how you use them. How late season elk hunting is different from early season.
Use the call to get them to talk from long distance. Aug 31, 2018 elk are vocal throughout the year, but bulls start to build and guard harems in late august, and their excitement makes them vulnerable, especially if youve perfected your calling skills. We honestly think their is hardly a bad time of year to use an highly accurate elk vocalization. Early season elk hunting is all about being persistent. Hot weather is even less comfortable for the elk than it is for you. A few years back i thought howling, and using coyote vocals only worked during the breeding season late january and february. After the last two years i have educated myself on being successful in the early season with vocals. The author with the rewards of an early season elk hunt. You might also like montana hunting and fishing reports for 41820. Make sure you know how to read his demeanor before yelping back. The end result, and we will go into some detail later in this article, for many elk hunting groups is that they decide 2nd season is the best for their group.
Early season calling tactics for elk hunting success. Always keep the wind in your face, and never give up. Here are my thoughts on elk calling calling elk is probably the one area where the greatest gap between confidence and insecurity exists. Understand them, and youll be on your way to tagging your elk. I am planning a moose hunting trip the last two weeks of september and i have never hunted this time of year. Therefore, a key strategy for early season elk hunting is to find a wellused water source and set up a treestand or blind to ambush the elk when they come to water.
Most elk rub their velvet antlers beginning midaugust and throughout the third week. Calling elk and weather archery tips, hunting tips, how to. Here in utah, however, the elk hunt starts in the middle of august and ends in early september, usually before the rut is even in full swing. If you have to crawl on all fours, balance your bow across your back. How to hunt elk in the early season rocky mountain elk. Blind calling is very similar to the spot and call. Opening day has arrived, youre leaned up against a towering pine and youre waiting on that haunting gobble at first light. Elk nut paul medel elk communication products now available. The main purpose of this site is to provide you with as many practical tips and fast facts as possible to make your hunting experiences more successful, comfortable, enjoyable, positive, easier and safer. What are some of the best early season elk calling tactics for early season elk.
Frigid temperatures give way to snow, elk movement seems erratic and the peak of the rut is in the rearview mirror. Early season rut montana elk calling tips with shawn. Hush, hush either elk have learned that calling makes them vulnerable, or. When it comes to elk hunting and elk calling, there are two main types of elk calls that most hunters will use at various time throughout the season. Many hunters are completely confused and dont even know where to start. You can search within this site on the right side of this page. Jana waller says the late season is no time to put away your elk calls. And, because so many out of state hunters decide on hunting the second elk hunting season, it means there are a lot more hunters in the field than any other elk season in colorado. Like kenny rodgers sings in the gambler you really do have to know when to hold and fold.
In the late season, your woodsmanship is far more important than your scouting or calling, because once you locate the elk, they may not be there the next day. Many of the early season calling tactics that we talked about in another article are applicable to both callershooter set ups as well as solo elk calling with only a dew slight changes for solo calling. This is usually more than enough to perk the interest of any elk within earshot. I am trying to figure out what week to hunt in september in colorado, as much as i would like to hunt around the 3 week and hopefully hunt some rutting elk my schedule might force me to go during opening week. Also keep in mind that elk talk is similar to human dialect in that it differs from place to place and from elk to elk. Diy elk hunting tips and tactrics pure hunting tips and tactics video sometimes not calling to elk is the best strategy.
Elk behaviorand hunting strategiesdepends on a variety of factors, including the time of year, the rut, food availability, weather and hunting pressure. Early season elk hunting in new mexico early elk hunting. The bigger more mature herd bull elk are staying to their solitary ways for the most part. Out of all of the different elk hunting endeavors available, one of the hardest has to be hunting late season migratory elk. Some elk herds respond well to calling and others do not. Mossy oak pro karl badger lives in salt lake city, utah, and he has been hunting and guiding for elk for 25 years. Skills, elk, bowhunting, hunting, elk strategy, early season, rut, bugling. How to tag a tom in these 4 tough turkey hunting scenarios. Like chis mentions in the video, in this otc hunt, you absolutely are going to take a spike bull. Tips on scouting for elk on public land elk scouting tips. August 30 is the opener, the day when the months of practice and the scouting pay off.