Ten Rules for Bugling Bulls

One of the most exhilarating sounds in the fall outdoors is the call of a bull elk. The resonating bugle sends a chill down your spine, not only for its shear beauty, but because behind the bugle rests the animal you've been adamantly pursuing. For these reasons, the hunt for a great bull gives a feeling like nothing else in the hunting world.

Those of us fortunate enough to bow hunt a rutting bull in fall can attest to what works and what doesn't. I've had several conversations with individuals who are skeptical for their first trip and those who have no desire to hunt simply because they feel it's too challenging. Although, I can understand the newbie hunter feeling a bit unsure, I struggle to understand why someone would see hunting elk with a bow during a rut too challenging to even try. The fact is, bugling elk during the rutting season is not only unmatchable in turns of excitement, but it's fairly easy to call a bull elk into shooting distance. The real difficulty lies in the set-up to get a good, clear shot.

In my years of calling elk, I have called in numerous bulls from spikes to 7x7’s, most under 50 yards and some as close as 10 feet. However, my success in calling has not transcended into many harvests. Of course, that's part of hunting but failed hunting trips also provide opportunities to learn from mistakes. The remainder of this article highlights the ten rules of bugling bulls. They come from lessons learned from my own mistakes and also from tips given to me by some of the best veteran Montana elk hunters roaming the mountains today.

It starts like this…

Rule 1: Bugle to Locate.
Obviously, you are not going to enter the field without ever hearing the sound of a bugling elk. So, to properly prepare yourself, get acquainted with the sound of a bugling elk by either watching a few elk hunts on an outdoor television show, during a family vacation in a state or federal park, or by purchasing a tape available via the web or your favorite hunting store. Once acquainted with a bugling elk, practice with a call suggested to you by a friend, fellow hunter, or salesman.

Okay, so the time has come for you to start your hunt. What do you do? Quite simple, you let the wind from your lungs push the majestic sound from your call into the mountains and hills before you. Rutting elk are very susceptible and if they are in the area they will respond. Once you get reply, the first step of locating a bull is over but the work has just begun.

Rules 2 & 3: Close The Distance But Let Him Come to You.
One of my biggest mistakes while hunting elk was my actions after the intial locate. Whether it was my excitement or just the fact I was new to the game, I'd close the distance on the bull but would do so calling every 100 yards or so. All this did was let the bull know where I was. Sometimes this worked but just like humans, elk do not want a confrontation unless absolutely necessary. Having said that, if an elk can track your movements via your bugling, he'll likely push on in the opposite direction. Instead, you need to quietly place yourself within 100 yards or so of the bull. Usually, this can be accomplished by placing yourself between where the bull is and where he appears to be going. Once you are positioned begin to bugle. More times than not, the bull will be caught by surprise and challenge the opposing elk (you) because "his" territory has been breached. Now, he will come to you.

Rule 4: Talk as Long as He Talks.
On my last elk hunt, I called in a 7x7 to 26 yards. Great, right? Well, not really, I needed him at 20 yards on either my right or left where I had clear shooting lanes. My mistake was not bugling or using a cow call while I searched and settled into a shooting position.  Now moving toward me, the bull continued to bugle but after several minutes without my replies he became suspicious. My heart sank as I watched him test the air from behind a brush patch 26 yards away because I knew he was only seconds from turning is beautiful 7x7 rack and fading into the timber. The bitter-sweet episode has been re-lived over and over in my mind, but it did provide another valuable lesson learned. That is, if he's talking, I'm talking…no matter what.

Shot set-up…

Rules 5 & 6: Chose Cover Wisely and Do Not Change Positions.
During another hunt, a bull located about 300 yards from me had a cow companion. As I closed the distance, the cow continued to make subtle calls and move inside the timber. Now at 50 yards, the bull began moving my direction but I still couldn't get my eyes on him. Almost magically, the bull emerged in an area of cut timber only 30 yards from me. Before moving further, the bull thrashed a defenseless sapling allowing me to slip behind a large tree anticipating his path would lead him less than 10 yards from me.

The giant finally began moving and as I expected came eleven paces from where I stood. Once again, I was faced with disappointment as we exchanged glaring eyes--me at the moisture beading on his nose; and he, at a helpless figure incapable of posing any sort of threat. You see, choosing to hide behind the tree instead of hiding in the tree's brushy forefront allowed for only one shooting lane instead of several. As you guessed, the elk did not move into my only lane.

The point is, in the mountains you are able to hide without hiding (if that makes sense). Let the forest conceal you by breaking your silhouette but do so without compromising your shooting lanes. Choosing brush areas versus heavy trees will not only offer sufficient cover it will also offer multiple shooting lanes which is by far the most important factor in hunting elk with a bow.

It's important to choose your cover wisely but it's also important to use it wisely. During another hunt, I bugled in a nice 5x5 bull within 50 to 75 yards from my location. Using rule number four as described, I settled into a perfect location and continued to coax the bull. Time passed and with it coccasional twig snaps began to show he was moving away from me. Although, I couldn't confirm whether he was moving away from me or it was another elk in the area, I decided to move. As I crept forward, I looked down to avoid snapping my own branches. Sure enough, as I looked up I found myself only 25 yards from me. Unable to move, my only hope was to not spook him any further than I had already did. After a few more unanswered bugles, I knew I had just written rule number six.

Rules 7 & 8: Watch the Thermals and Use Cover-up Scent.
A thermal is a column of rising air, caused by uneven heating of the earth. Similar to the large cumulus clouds that build into strong thunderstorms, thermals have the ability to quickly push parcels of air up or down. Mountains provide a haven for thermals and will either be your biggest ally or worst enemy.

Learning how thermals work is relatively simple. Basically, the rule is warm air rises easier than cold air. If you can identify the thermals you'll know whether to hunt a certain ridge, position yourself above or below a trail, when to use cover-up scent, etc. Identifying the up and down thermal currents coupled with making the right decisions previously mentioned will help in a hunt. However, as you know, nature can change things in a hurry. When it does, she becomes a hunter's worst enemy.

On a related hunt, I called in a large 6 x 6 bull for my friend Brett. Because the morning thermals were lifting the air up the mountain, we positioned ourselves above the trail our big bull was taking. Everything was working in our favor including the thermals, ambush location, and my calling. However, time began to play against us as the bull took too much time. As the morning progressed, the warm thermals lifting our scent above our heads began to give way to the colder thermals resting in the dark cool timber.

Regardless of the transition, we held tight and almost escaped the drowning thermals. To our dismay (especially with Brent at full draw) the thermals broke loose sending a signal to the approaching elk. Although, our cover scent was working, the mighty bull sensed something with the rush of cold air and instead of taking a few more steps toward his fate; he turned and slumbered in another direction. We had done everything right including playing the thermals but as with any spectrum in life, we couldn't avoid the wrath of time.

The kill…

Rules 9 & 10: Spot, Shot, Stop.
The rules used above combined with luck will eventually provide you the opportunity to draw your bow. There's no question that the worst way to ruin a hunt is by poor bow handling. Obviously, there are "natural" obstructions when it comes time to finally make your shot. Beading sweat, a pounding heart and shaky limbs will all play into you shot. However, at this stage you probably have learned to control them (at least a little) by previously hunting elk or deer with the bow.

With that said, let me explain a few things I have compiled into Rule 9 thru 10.

When it comes time to draw the bow one must be particular in how and when. A common mistake is thinking the big body is un-missable. A hunter must look beyond the mesmerizing antlers extruding from the elk's gigantic body and focus on a small area within the vitals. Avid elk hunters often hear that shooting an elk is harder than shooting deer. How can this be? Well, the classic saying of "Aim Small, Miss Small" sums it up quite well.

Never, I repeat NEVER, draw your bow without first forcing yourself to identify your shot "spot". Think of drawing your bow similar to pointing out an object on the horizon. Instead of drawing the bow to simply draw…draw to point. This will allow you to instantly be aiming at the kill zone while drastically reducing your body motion. Remember, you are only 10 to 20 yards from an animal. Moving your bow to compensate for a poor draw will ruin a hunt.

After recognizing where you want to hit the bull you need to identify WHEN you want to hit it. Expanding your focus, identify where big trees, brush, or other natural obstructions will offer concealment as you draw your bow and won't obstruct your arrow flight. Having identified where and when to take the shot it's now time for a deep breath…

The arrow is released, time for high fives and screams of enjoyment right? Absolutely not!

Upon release of your arrow, the big bodied elk will most likely be startled so much he won't feel the arrow penetrate his body. Instead, he will want to know what caused the unnatural sound of the bow string. During this brief moment, bellowing a quick cow call will calm the big animal down helping to ensure his adrenaline won't push him crashing through the timber. Calming the elk will allow the arrow to quickly do its job making for easy retrieval. Now is it time to celebrate? Absolutely!

Putting it all together…

Above, you read several stories of hunts responsible for teaching me the ten rules. Below, I have one more story…a story that highlights what happens when the ten rules come together.

Earlier I mentioned the bull I had at ten paces. The following morning I packed back to the same area to find the 5x5. Creeping along a ridge, I bugled hoping for the big elk to expose his location (Rule 1). After no response, I worked deep into the timber before calling again. Suddenly, at 80 yards a bugle rang from the thick cover (Rule 2).

Instead of pushing on, I immediately set-up slightly above the trail and knelt in front of a small brush patch (Rules 3-7). As I received bugles back it became obvious this was not the same elk the night before and before I could finish thinking whether the elk was bigger or smaller, he emerged thirty yards from me. Pleasantly surprised, I watched the 6 x 6 work his way closer.

My heart began to pound but I was able to compose my thoughts and identified where I wanted to hit him. Focused on where my shooting lanes were, I drew back the bow as his line of sight was interrupted by a smaller tree. At 24 yards, my target exposed itself and the arrow was released piercing the bull behind his right leg (Rule 9). Simultaneously, the 6 x 6 wheeled like a rodeo bull and blasted out of the immediate area. Forcing myself back to reality I reached for the cow call hoping to calm him (Rule 10). Like clock work, the crashing timber reduced to occasional snaps and pops.

Forty-five minutes passed and my excitement couldn't be contained any further. The blood trail brought me to a small opening and across from it was the bull. I remained hidden and observed the bull as he began to feel the effects from the arrow. Pushing my patience, he drifted further into the trees but within moments the timber's silence was interrupted one last time by a crashing thud.

I hope you enjoyed my stories of failure and of success. Give these rules a try and remember, some rules aren't meant to be broken… 

Editor's Note:  If you have been a loyal Fishing Buddy or TON member, there's no question you know Wayne's passions.  For those of you that have recently joined the site (welcome aboard) or those who haven't run across his posts or articles, Wayne loves the outdoors more than most.  Besides spending time in the outdoors, Wayne enjoys spending time with his friends, family, and offering a helpful hand to other hunters thru sport shows, articles, and phone conversations.  

In Cyberspace, Wayne a is the webmaster of Trophy Big Game Profiles a Total Outdoor Network affiliate and also a contributing writer as one of Fishing Buddy's Field Staffers.  Wayne has hunted for years upon years using the same equipment on each outing.  Some of his go to hunting gear includes his:  Mathews bow to backcountry where the bucks grow big and are not pressured by other hunters. Quality arrows and broadheads are also needed for these big-bodied bucks. Gold Tip Arrows and fixed blade Rocky Mountain Broadheads. 

Recently in a converstion with Wayne, he mentioned a change in his arsenol including Rivers West waterproof system clothing and Blacks Creek Guide Gear backpacks. Rivers West is one of the most waterproof, comfortable and durable outerwear on the market.  After the conversation it was clear to see that Wayne was confident in his changes.  So don't be hesitant in taking the Ten Rules he just authored to your next field visit or giving a serious look at the gear trusts each time out.

Photo One:  A beautiful bull elk boasting his presence (photo taken by one of Wayne's good friends).  Photo Two:  Locating a rutting bull is the first rule to a successful hunt.  Photo Three:  After many runs of failure, the rules finally were put together in a single hunt allowing for the harvest of the pictured 6 x 6.  The Montana elk was taken during the 2001 season.  Photo Four:  The author and Fishing Buddy Field Staffer.