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Thread: 2020 elk bugle report

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    British Columbia, Canada
    Posts
    595

    Re: 2020 elk bugle report

    It was quiet where we hunted. My friend and I got our 6 pt bull last Saturday. 14.5km day including approach, kill and packout. They were quiet and they were up high. We had to go get him. We found fresh sign and I speculated on where he was bedded. It was an hour hike through a basin and across scree to get into position for my first bugle. He answered right away.

    He bugled and chuckled in response to my bugle and chuckle. We started towards him. 4 mins later it was another bugle and chuckle at him. I had concerns he was trying to gather cows and run so I ran at him to the ridge above him. Bugle, chuckle, rake. He seemed to hold up and was growly screaming back. We then dropped down into his bedding area. I stopped halfway down slope. Sent my partner another 1/4 way down the slope. Rake, bugle and chuckle. In came the bull and my buddy shot him at 10 yds. I was about 35-40 yds above him watching it all play out. EPIC!

    Moral of the story. Find fresh sign. Develop a plan. Get to a spot where you can bugle that is different from the last 30 bugles he has heard from other people. If you get a reply you need to know what he is saying. Know if he is gathering and running or know if he is holding up. Pressure him. You don't need to bugle every 30 secs when you have him going.

    Our bull was dead in about 15 mins from first bugle to last. I stopped in 4 different spots as we closed distance quickly.

    Obviously not all situations are the same, but that's how mine played out. My bull last year was very similar, but I was making gathering/locating calls. I called from 3 different spots over a 15-20 min timeline. I heard him the night before and I copied his call. I actually ran away from him when I was calling as it sounded like I was gathering his cows. I killed that bull oct 19th at approx. 10 yds. He walked broadside in front of me facing downside off the FSR looking for the possible cows I was dragging away.

    Be strategic. I haven't had a dumb one come in during peak rut with a hot cow where I just called and he ran at me. Looking forward to that day though. My 2 bulls have require me to be a bit more active.

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    546

    Re: 2020 elk bugle report

    Sounds like you have lots to learn.
    We get a bull every year out of 95 mile area.

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Lower Mainland
    Posts
    296

    Re: 2020 elk bugle report

    Quote Originally Posted by dapesche View Post
    It was quiet where we hunted. My friend and I got our 6 pt bull last Saturday. 14.5km day including approach, kill and packout. They were quiet and they were up high. We had to go get him. We found fresh sign and I speculated on where he was bedded. It was an hour hike through a basin and across scree to get into position for my first bugle. He answered right away.

    He bugled and chuckled in response to my bugle and chuckle. We started towards him. 4 mins later it was another bugle and chuckle at him. I had concerns he was trying to gather cows and run so I ran at him to the ridge above him. Bugle, chuckle, rake. He seemed to hold up and was growly screaming back. We then dropped down into his bedding area. I stopped halfway down slope. Sent my partner another 1/4 way down the slope. Rake, bugle and chuckle. In came the bull and my buddy shot him at 10 yds. I was about 35-40 yds above him watching it all play out. EPIC!

    Moral of the story. Find fresh sign. Develop a plan. Get to a spot where you can bugle that is different from the last 30 bugles he has heard from other people. If you get a reply you need to know what he is saying. Know if he is gathering and running or know if he is holding up. Pressure him. You don't need to bugle every 30 secs when you have him going.

    Our bull was dead in about 15 mins from first bugle to last. I stopped in 4 different spots as we closed distance quickly.

    Obviously not all situations are the same, but that's how mine played out. My bull last year was very similar, but I was making gathering/locating calls. I called from 3 different spots over a 15-20 min timeline. I heard him the night before and I copied his call. I actually ran away from him when I was calling as it sounded like I was gathering his cows. I killed that bull oct 19th at approx. 10 yds. He walked broadside in front of me facing downside off the FSR looking for the possible cows I was dragging away.

    Be strategic. I haven't had a dumb one come in during peak rut with a hot cow where I just called and he ran at me. Looking forward to that day though. My 2 bulls have require me to be a bit more active.
    Thanks for the great story! Lots of great points to learn from.

    cheers, br

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    kamloops
    Posts
    3,851

    Re: 2020 elk bugle report

    Quote Originally Posted by bruce44 View Post
    I can’t seem to find the old thread so I started this one. Anyone still hearing elk bugle at night? Sitting here by halfway reserve totally quiet since I got here at 3am. Anyone got some tips for this area? Please PM me. I know I sound desperate but I don’t really want to eat a tag after 6 hours of driving from Prince George.
    secret go back to town and swap your bugle for a soother..

  5. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    390

    Re: 2020 elk bugle report

    Was out in 4-9 and heard one long distance response, could have been another hunter. lol. Anyone else having luck in the west koots?

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    British Columbia, Canada
    Posts
    595

    Re: 2020 elk bugle report

    two bulls down in the West Koots.

    Both large packouts though. Both up high. Both screaming. One shot at 10yds. The other shot at 40yds.
    They both answered my bugle with chuckle with a bugle and chuckle. We had to located both. Both bulls were not actively bugling.

    Good luck out there. Not an easy season and feeling fortunate to have gotten it done twice.

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