| The big six by six bull elk had been willing to come to
my bugles a half hour earlier. But, it was hung up now about seventy yards
away. I had chosen a spot next to a large pine tree behind some brush,
hoping the bull would walk by while looking the elk it thought it heard.
I caw called softly on my Haydel's mouth diaphragm to assure the bull everything
was all right., and to try to get the bull to come closer; meeeuw.
The bull looked in my direction. I paused and then let out a soft grunt;
uugh. I didn't answer the bull because I didn't want to give my location
away. It was several minutes before the bull moved again, seining in a
wide arc around to my left. When the bull had moved about thirty yards,
but hadn't come any closer, it stopped and grunted again, trying to get
the cow elk it thought it heard to call and reveal it's location. I remained
motionless, and cow called again, hoping the bull would come closer.
When the bull stepped behind a large patch of brush I decided to
take a chance. I reached into my backpack took out a pair of rattling racks
...
The bull looked in my direction and grunted softly again. I kept silent
for ten minutes while the bull moved a few steps, looked around, grunted
several more times, but did not come any closer. When the bull stepped
behind a large patch of brush I decided to take a chance. I reached into
my backpack took out a pair of rattling racks and began to thrash the pine
tree beside me. I held the racks high enough that the bull could see them
but not me, tipped the racks back and forth, and made sure to make plenty
of noise. The bull looked up, apparently saw the racks waving in the air,
and slowly approached me. When the bull was forty yards away I put the
racks down, and bent to pick up my Darton Viper. Then I heard a crashing
of brush behind the bull. As I looked up another bull came out of the woods,
bugled loudly, and went after the six by six. Before I could even bat an
eye both bulls charged by me and into the woods beyond.
Apparently the second bull had heard me or the first bull calling, came
in to hear the bull grunting, and me thrashing, assumed the six by six
was making a challenge, and charged. Although one of the bulls had responded
to my thrashing of the tree, and my waving the racks in the air, and it
had been exciting, the end result was not what I had expected, me standing
there with my bow in my hand watching two nice bulls disappear into the
woods. But, on the positive side, my tactics had worked.
Elk Dominance Displays
Prior to, and during the rut bull elk rub on trees; rake and thrash
brush, spruce and pines; and participate in sparring to express dominance.
They also participate in dominance displays of head bobbing and antler
tipping. Scientists believe that bulls often judge the size and dominance
of each other by the apparent mass, number of points and the distance of
the arc of the rack of another bull as it moves back and forth. Obviously
large racked mature bulls with 50 inch plus main beam lengths have an antler
arc that is easily distinguished from the smaller arc of lesser racked
bulls. Dominant bulls that see antler tipping from small racked bulls often
charge the smaller bull in anger. Hunters can use these dominance displays
to attract a bull while hunting.
Tip The Bull
I use a split four point rack for tipping because it is easier to haul
around than a large rack. A four point or larger rack may scare off small
and medium sized bulls. To tip the bull I hold one antler in each hand,
position myself behind a tree, bush or rock and tip the antlers back and
forth above my head after I have attracted the bull by calling.
Raking, Thrashing and Rattling
Dominant bulls encountering each other, especially if an estrus cow
or cow herd is near, will fight for breeding rights. The sounds of any
of these activities (rubbing, thrashing, sparring, fighting) will Attract
other bulls in the area, particularly dominants. Subdominants that have
previously been beaten in a fight may immediately leave the area. If a
bull hangs up out of range you can get him to come in by raking the trunk
of a pine tree with a large stick or your tipping rack; breaking off branches
with your hands; or thrashing the outer limbs of a spruce tree, willow
or alder bush. Raking and thrashing can be used to bring in bulls from
as far away as a half mile.
You can also rattle elk just like whitetails. After you get close to
a bull take the rack you use for tipping and slam the two sides together,
then roll your wrists and grate them together simulating two bulls twisting
and pushing. You can pound the ground with your boots, break branches and
grunt to make the fight sound more realistic. Don't rattle the same bull
from the same area twice on successive days. If he comes in but you didn't
get him move to a new area and try again.
Be patient when using any sound to Attract elk because it may take them
a half hour to come in. Bulls at closer range may charge right in, or be
brought back by raking, thrashing, grunting and gurgling when they began
to leave. You should include a decoy when using these techniques. If the
bull doesn't see an elk when it responds to these techniques it usually
will not respond in the same area again
T.R.'s Tips: Elk Calling, Tipping, Raking, Thrashing,
and Rattling (TRTR)
-
Calling should be used for long range attraction. Scents, TRTR and decoys
are short range attractors.
-
Calling and TRTR are most effective in areas with; high bull to cow ratios,
high numbers of dominant bulls, open forest, limited habitat of river bottoms,
and property managed for trophy quality.
-
Because elk travel so much calling and TRTR work best near "high use" feeding,
watering, crossing and bedding areas.
-
Calling and TRTR are most effective where you can see the bull before it
discovers you. Choose stand sites in open areas and use natural cover or
blinds for concealment.
-
Calling and TRTR work any time of the year but are most effective prior
to and during peak rut, when bulls are most aggressive.
-
Calling and TRTR work best in the morning when bulls are herding and calling
cows or going to bedding areas, and are less effective during midday. Bulls
may respond near feeding and bedding areas during midday and in the evening.
-
Bulls that respond to calling, TRTR and scent are intent on discovering
the source, which leaves you vulnerable to discovery. Take precautions
to conceal or disguise unnatural sights, scents, sounds and yourself.
-
Use the buddy system when using calls, TRTR or scent. One hunter attracts
the bull while the other shoots.
-
When bulls are a long way off use long, loud calling and TRTR sequences
so they can hear it. When bulls are close use short, soft calling and TRTR.
Long, loud calling and TRTR make you prone to discovery.
-
When you hear two bulls answer you, or two bulls challenging each other,
get between them and let them do your work for you.
-
Small antlers and imitation racks work best for TRTR techniques because
they transport easily and their sound carries farther. Use neutral color
racks.
-
To rattle bring the antlers together loudly, then roll your wrists
and grind the racks together simulating two bulls pushing and shoving every
3-5 minutes and 15 minutes apart. Stop and listen for the approach of a
bull before each session.
-
Rustling brush and pounding the ground with a stick or rattling racks,
grunting and blowing add realism to TRTR.
-
If you don't get a response when you call or TRTR wait a half hour
and try again, or move a 1/2-1 mile away and try.
-
Use bull in rut, cow elk or estrus scents to add realism and bring bulls
into range after they are attracted by calling and TRTR.
-
When a bull hangs up out of range use soft TRTR, grunt, gurgle or cow call
to coax it in. If the bull starts to leave before you get a shot, or won't
hold still, use a grunt or mew to stop it.
-
Patience is an asset when Attracting elk. Bulls may respond from as far
as a mile in calm weather and open country. Bugle and use TRTR every 10-15
minutes to keep the bull interested. Listen carefully before and after
each session.
-
An elk calf decoy added to calls, TRTR and scents provides the final visual
stimulus to bring in reluctant bulls and distract their attention from
your position.
-
Before leaving your stand check the area thoroughly, especially if you
have been watching a bull. More than one bull may have responded and be
nearby.
-
Don't use Attracting techniques on the same bull from the same site on
successive days. If it comes in and you don't get a shot wait a couple
of days before trying that site and that bull again.
T.R. Michels
T.R. Michels is a nationally
recognized big game researcher, speaker and writer. He is the author of
the Whitetail, Elk, Turkey and Goose Addict's Manuals; and the Deer Addict's
Manuals. He is also the innovator of the Moon Indicator, which predicts
peak monthly movement of deer and elk, based on the forces of the moon;
the Daily Deer Movement Indicator, which helps hunters decide when and
where to hunt, based on current meteorological conditions; and the Rut
Phase Indicator, which helps hunters determine the stage of the rut, and
when and where to hunt, by the current deer activity and sign. T.R.'s latest
books, available for 2001, are the Deer Addict's Manual, Volume 7: Hunting
Tactic; the Scrape Addicts Manual; and the Outdoorsman's Cookbook, Volume
1 and 2.
Contact: T.R. Michels,
Trinity Mountain Outdoors, 41267 Hwy. 56 Boulevard, Nerstrand, MN 55053.
Phone: 507-789-8808
Web Site: www.TRMichels.com
E-mail: trmichels@yahoo.com |
|
T.R. Michels
T.R. Michels is a nationally
recognized big game researcher, speaker and writer. He is the author of
the series Whitetail, Elk, Turkey and Goose & Deer Addict's Manuals
and the innovator of the Moon Indicator.
T.R.'s latest books, available
for 2001, are the Deer Addict's Manual, Volume 7: Hunting Tactic; the Scrape
Addicts Manual; and the Outdoorsman's Cookbook, Volume 1 and 2.
Contact: T.R. Michels,
Trinity Mountain Outdoors, 41267 Hwy. 56 Boulevard,
Nerstrand, MN 55053.
Phone: 507-789-8808
Web: www.TRMichels.com
E-mail: trmichels@yahoo.com |
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