Trust me the I-25 corridor has seen its fair share of bleats and bugles! If it wasn't 95 degrees outside you could probably hear me comin!! The diaphragm calls aren't bad but when I was practicing my new Zink little man goose call last year people can give you some really strange looks, I just laugh!
I hunted near Steamboat a couple years ago, and you are right! Absolutely beautiful! Here is a picture of a valley that had well over 100 head of elk come out in the evening. They were bugling and calling all night in the middle of June. One of the best camping trips ever! http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e302/stuntriders/CampingnearSteamboat06-12-2009015.jpg
Get one of these: You can inflect it an infinite number of ways, and -- as pointed out above -- it won't sound like another darn Hoochie Mama in the woods. I'm going to pick up another two or three before I head out west again.
Practice, practice, practice! That is the #1 thing i walked away from my first season with, I wish I would have spent more time learning to call. I had always rifle hunted and never really heard elk calling, so I guess I didn't think I was going to actually have them call that much. Well once they started calling, I quickly figured out that I didn't really know what I was doing. The Elknut has been a big help. You won't see a single elk in his videos, but he tells you what they are saying and how to reply. Or at least he gives you a good starting point.
Greg has a good point. Don't be afraid to go into the mountains with several calls. Right now I have 3 diaphragm calls, 2 squeeze calls and 3 reed style calls and all of them will be in my pack or pockets when I walk into the woods. My experienced freinds have told me about numerous situations where they were calling and calling with no response and as soon as they change to a different call they get a response.
Anybody else supposed to be working right now and can't stop day dreaming about hunting?!?! And my motivation just died!
Work? ha! It's my weekend here. Today I got up early, built my hunting arrows, super tuned the bow, shot broadheads, organized my camo, and am now cooking elk steaks:D Tomorrow....elk scouting trip
Make sure you listen to your guide. He knows how to call and should be able to call in some elk. Practice with your bugle, you might piss off the wife and the neighbors but it should pay off.
Looking forward to the day when I hit western soil...this year its back to Montrose, Colorado....until then I surf the pics.....let the packin' begin. Pic from within the Gila 2009 Last bull we packed out in Colorado (2008) My view this year
I have to give another nod to ElkNut's stuff, great info. Pick up his playbook and his dvds. If you want the entertainment of the hunt, you won't find it here, if you want to learn to call elk, that you will find. 42 day suntil Colorado..... Back and legs strong enough?
elkhuntinnut, was wondering when you would chime in buddy. Good to see you aboard! http://forums.bowsite.com/tf/bgforums/thread-print.cfm?threadid=387199&forum=5 Here's a picture thread from Bowsite, they always have good elk stuff over there.
Looking forward to the day when I hit western soil...this year its back to Montrose, Colorado....until then I surf the pics.....let the packin' begin. You would. First time in a few years I won't be making the trip this year ... be back next year. Unless you're in New Mexico again, you owe me a meal at the Red Barn... and I'll buy you breakfast at Starvin' Arvin's.
Awesome Pics Gentlemen! Backcountry/MNPurple - do you bivy camp when Elk hunting? Don't plan on it this year but would like to consider next year as after the first few days that walk back to the truck seems like a waste if I could just sleep with the Elk and start fresh again. What do you consider the "breakingpoint" in mileage that you would bivy vs. hike back to base camp - for example, if Elk are over 3 or 4 miles, it's better to bivy... The Elk truly are a bonus - just being in the mountains for a week is worth all the effort. Not sure how many more times I can check back on this thread...it seems to derail my thoughts for about an hour each time
I am bivy hunting alot of the time. Depends more on my distance from the house than my distance from the truck, also the size of the area. If it's and area where I could be hiking in 2-3 miles to get to where I will hunt, I will bivy. I have this weird thing where I hate walking in that far in the dark in the mornings, don't want to walk past anything. Plus I prefer the solitude that comes with bivouac hunts, just keep the MP3 player handy for when you get lonely! http://forums.bowhunting.com/showth...y-Pack..-And-Whats-Inside&highlight=bivy+pack Here's a link to my bivy gear.
I've done both, bivy and hunted from a camp that we can drive the vehicles to. Our bivy was at 4.5 miles from the trucks as the crow flies. Both have their pros and cons but the bivy camp really does give you quite a sense of accomplishment as you are living so minimally (at least compared to everyday standards). We bivy hunt for the sole purpose of getting away from the crowds. It sounds cliche, but it really is true that the farther you get away from the roads and 4 wheeler trails the better the hunting will be. About the only thing that touches us every year is a few guys from texas who come in on horseback. The big challenge to bivy is when you get something on the ground and its warm out. Not only do you have your work cut out for you, but you have to accomplish your work quickly so no spoilage occurs. I'd recommend everyone try it once.
