Elk Calling Tips

Jim Zumbo. "First thing to consider is to get away from human traffic areas when you call. Elk are aware of trails and roads where most people concentrate and may be totally unresponsive. On the other hand, they're apt to become unglued when you penetrate their backyards and call in nasty blowdowns, timber stands and places far off the beaten path.

"Descend into a timbered hole where there's no road or trail in the bottom. Most hunters don't hunt down because they have to climb back up at the end of the day.

"Don't worry about being a world champion elk caller. Instead, focus on learning about elk behavior and how to react when they respond. Bulls themselves may have a terrible bugle, sounding worse than poor human callers. Buy a call that you can easily use and watch videos on elk calling to get the hang of it. If you can't use a diaphragm call, buy one that has a built-in mouthpiece.

"Use the cow call, and not sparingly. If bulls will respond at all, they're more apt to respond to a cow call than a bugle call. A herd bull will likely run away with his cows if you sound like a challenging bull. Blow the cow call, and he might tear in. A satellite bull is grumpy and unhappy, looking for at least one skinny cow. A bugle call will probably run him off; a cow call might bring him in."

Wayne Carlton. "Look, you can be the most horrendous caller in the world--never win a contest--but if you know what the wind is doing and where the elk want to be, you can be successful.

"First ask yourself, 'At this time of day, am I where the elk want to be?' Make it easy for them to get to you. Are there any ravines, fences, deep rivers or other obstacles that might prevent the elk from coming in?

"Always expect an answer. It's like a trial. An attorney doesn't ask a question that he doesn't already know the answer to, and an elk hunter who expects an answer will be prepared to do what he has to do. You need to make the appropriate response when you get that answer. If you were cow calling, cow call with more intensity. If you were bugling, bugle with more intensity and start raking the trees to sound like another riled up bull.

"The last thing to keep in mind is that it's real easy to get overexcited, and a lot of guys, when that happens, they start calling too much. Remember, you don't want the elk looking at you when he comes in; you want him looking for you."