Question for experienced elk callers?

chromebright · 10-12-2002, 04:14 PM

I have an interesting dilemma. I have a 1st season spike tag for Ukiah and intended all year to use it. While my father and I were deer hunting over in some wheat and CRP in a general season elk unit. We discovered a small herd of elk with a couple of branch bulls in it. The problem is that they are going back and forth between the ranch we could hunt on and another ranch that is NO hunting. They are not venturing very far onto the ranch we have access to. So here is my question. Would any of you experienced cow callers feel as if you could lure these elk onto the huntable land this time of year? They are only staying about 300-500 yards on the other side of the fence when they are there. There are probably no other elk within miles of these so if we pass up the spike tags to hunt them we may not even have a chance at elk. What would you guys do? How would you go about luring thes elk?

Thanks
Rick

springer_97011 · 10-13-2002, 01:29 AM

im a bowhunter but my experience would say no if there isnt any pressure on these elk to split them up or other elk in the area.from my experience in a situation like this calling would push them farther away ,this is only a guess tho.good luck cant wait to get after them in the late season.thats a hard call because of what i herd this year ukiah was a bust for the most part but that was during bowseason.i hunted mt emily just north of there and the elk were down at least 50%.

[ 10-13-2002, 02:32 AM: Message edited by: springer_97011 ]

Hookset · 10-13-2002, 09:11 AM

I'm a bowhunter too. From my experience, calling elk from a distance of 300 to 500 yards is tough in any area. And if the cover is sparse and open, nearly impossible. Even if you set up a decoy in the open, you may get those elk to look, except they'll be expecting that decoy to move. With a small group in semi open country, your odds are best to ambush a bull silently from a concealed blind and wait them out. Also, what happens if you shoot a bull and he travels back to the other property, can you still retreive him?

good luck with your hunt,

Gregg

chromebright · 10-13-2002, 09:19 AM

Hookset, that is one of the problems. I would not want to shoot one real close to the property line because I do not know the other owner. It is really kinda frustrating because these elk are just going from some wheat on the land we can hunt to a pond on the other land and beding right on the border of both. Unfortunately they only seem to be in the wheat at night. I know where they are but just can't hunt them.

tailchaser · 10-13-2002, 03:19 PM

If you think you can get within sight range of them to call maybe try using a decoy. A couple simple cow calls might just bring them enough across the border to thump one, but if you miss your opportunity it sounds like the hunt could be over with no other elk around. Pretty tough call not being able to see it myself.

tc