C
coonhound40
Guest
Well I am back from my backcountry elk hunt, WHAT A YEAR. My hunting partner shot a 6 x 6 that will go around 320. I will post photos when he brings them by.
This was the most amazing season I have ever had. I spent 8 days in the backcountry and called in 12 bulls under 30yds. What is even more amazing was that not one of them presented a shot. overall I saw 20 legal bulls and some of them were tremendous. This was the type of hunt you would pay many thousands of $'s to go on and it was only a couple hours from home.
Was this the experience everyone was having in Washington? This was the most vocal I have ever heard the bulls. I have been hunting this area for the last few years, in a typical year I would see 5 or 6 bulls and feel great about it.
Everyone seems to be so concerned about the quality of their calling skills. My firm belief is, if the bulls are ready it ain't that important. Mid week I had hiked the trail in the dark for a few miles. It was just getting to be shooting light so I reached for my bugle and realized I had left it at camp. I let out a lone cow call with my reed and instantly had a bull return with a bugle. When it was all over I ended up squeking out a bugle with no tube chuckling and after an hour of having this bull under 40 yds he finally came in to a close 20yds and never presented a broadside shot. I fully believe I could have called that bull in with only my mouth. My suggestion is, don't be shy about calling And use that cow call, most of these bulls responded much better to the cow call than the bugle. Only a few of the bulls were vocal before I called.
I may not have the bull I was hoping for but I had so much fun, I learned more about calling in one season than I had in a life time. Next year will not get here fast enough.
This was the most amazing season I have ever had. I spent 8 days in the backcountry and called in 12 bulls under 30yds. What is even more amazing was that not one of them presented a shot. overall I saw 20 legal bulls and some of them were tremendous. This was the type of hunt you would pay many thousands of $'s to go on and it was only a couple hours from home.
Was this the experience everyone was having in Washington? This was the most vocal I have ever heard the bulls. I have been hunting this area for the last few years, in a typical year I would see 5 or 6 bulls and feel great about it.
Everyone seems to be so concerned about the quality of their calling skills. My firm belief is, if the bulls are ready it ain't that important. Mid week I had hiked the trail in the dark for a few miles. It was just getting to be shooting light so I reached for my bugle and realized I had left it at camp. I let out a lone cow call with my reed and instantly had a bull return with a bugle. When it was all over I ended up squeking out a bugle with no tube chuckling and after an hour of having this bull under 40 yds he finally came in to a close 20yds and never presented a broadside shot. I fully believe I could have called that bull in with only my mouth. My suggestion is, don't be shy about calling And use that cow call, most of these bulls responded much better to the cow call than the bugle. Only a few of the bulls were vocal before I called.
I may not have the bull I was hoping for but I had so much fun, I learned more about calling in one season than I had in a life time. Next year will not get here fast enough.
