Do Elk calls spook Deer?

[TheObserver]

Curious about your guys' experience and observations.

If your Bugling or even doing cow calls do you find you don't bump into Deer?

I bumped into two Bucks last month and Bugled just before I bumped into them, seems like they thought I was an Elk.

Another incident had me almost right ontop of Deer calling I didn't know they were there and didn't move until I raked (had an interaction with a Bull, hence the raking) then they took off they were probably 5 yards from me and I was bugling.

Then another location wouldn't bump into any if I was calling which I found strange.

[Ron.C]

I often cow call as i move. Bumped into lots of deer in bow range.

Have had deer in sight while bugeling (Wt and MD) and for the most part they stay put and look for the source of the call.

I guess if they dont wind you and you sound like what they hear daily, they have little reason to be alarmed.

A few years back my buddy and I noticed a cranker 4x4 muley at less than 150 yards as we called back and forth with a 6pt bull, climbing trying to get him to show himself. For a micro second I considered shooting the buck, but quickly dismissed that notion thinking of the bull elk. Cow elk were in between us at the top of a very high slide and the buck. The bull was in the timber within 100 yards. The buck couldnt give a $#%& about our calling, bull calling, cows chirping. He just fed away like nothing was going on.

At the end of that day, never got the bull or buck, but thats hunting

[Elkaddict]

Hell, my elk calls spook elk let alone deer :oops:

[Norwestalta]

I think that it might make the deer more alert. What I've seen in relation to elk deer interaction is in the winter time. 80 or more elk will move into a field and break trail thru the snow. The elk will paw thru the snow to get to the grass underneath and the deer follow along right behind them picking up the crumbs. I've never seen them right side by each because in my experience elk are scared of their own shadows.

I'm gonna figure the deer you're running into are mule deer?

[TheObserver]

I often cow call as i move. Bumped into lots of deer in bow range.

Have had deer in sight while bugeling (Wt and MD) and for the most part they stay put and look for the source of the call.

I guess if they dont wind you and you sound like what they hear daily, they have little reason to be alarmed.

A few years back my buddy and I noticed a cranker 4x4 muley at less than 150 yards as we called back and forth with a 6pt bull, climbing trying to get him to show himself. For a micro second I considered shooting the buck, but quickly dismissed that notion thinking of the bull elk. Cow elk were in between us at the top of a very high slide and the buck. The bull was in the timber within 100 yards. The buck couldnt give a $#%& about our calling, bull calling, cows chirping. He just fed away like nothing was going on.

At the end of that day, never got the bull or buck, but thats hunting

40 minutes after your comment i'm 1.5km deep in an inaccessible valley, was doing some Bugling and trees start breaking heading my way what sounded kind of like a muffled dog barking I think it's lost voice trying to chuckle.

It was coming straight for me ready for battle, it's now almost in view I see antlers and what looked like a mane i'm crouched safety off. Then 30 yards I can see him clearly..... a large Bull.... Moose hahahah f*****g insane!!

I think I just called in a Moose with my Bugling hahaha.

Then 20 minutes later heading back for truck losing visibility fast I find a nice duece palm 7 pointer dead head Moose skull last years almost mint condition. I know where i'm applying for a draw next year, seen lots this spring/summer and especially since september.

Rough 2 hour pack out through disgusting blow down had to carry it, thank God I have a safari sling on my rifle. I'll post a pic of it when i'm able too. Just got back to the truck with service.

Found so much cool stuff this year doin back country

Thinking back now there may have been a second Bull grunting back to him behind me and I may have got caughten in the middle, but almost swear I just bugled in a Bull Moose he came crashing right to my exact location, man calling in these big guys is crazy can't believe i'm just starting to hunt Elk now.

[TheObserver]

Hell, my elk calls spook elk let alone deer :oops:

Hahaha don't worry buddy I just called in a friggin Bull Moose with my calls lol

[Bugle M In]

I have had plenty of white tail, usually doe or young bucks just continue on with heir feeding or what not many times while calling elk.
And they sometimes are pretty close to me and does not phase them.
Sometimes they stare, and as long as I stay still they don’t move away.
If they don’t see me at all they don’t seem to care at all.

and I used to worry that my calling would cause them to panic and thus run away, crashing thru timber and alerting any potential elk.

The big concern is them smelling me, this wheezing away at me as an alert to everything else.
Then again, just like squirrels they have also helped alert me to the fact that something else is in the area and when it is when I am calling for elk, it usually is an elk.
Been a couple of cougars and Grizz however too!

[TheObserver]

I think that it might make the deer more alert. What I've seen in relation to elk deer interaction is in the winter time. 80 or more elk will move into a field and break trail thru the snow. The elk will paw thru the snow to get to the grass underneath and the deer follow along right behind them picking up the crumbs. I've never seen them right side by each because in my experience elk are scared of their own shadows.

I'm gonna figure the deer you're running into are mule deer?

That's right Mulies.

Definitely scared of their own shadows.

I've heard of Elk chasing Deer out of areas, but this was a second hand report given to me of Roosevelt Elk and Blacktails

[TheObserver]

I have had plenty of white tail, usually doe or young bucks just continue on with heir feeding or what not many times while calling elk.
And they sometimes are pretty close to me and does not phase them.
Sometimes they stare, and as long as I stay still they don’t move away.
If they don’t see me at all they don’t seem to care at all.

and I used to worry that my calling would cause them to panic and thus run away, crashing thru timber and alerting any potential elk.

The big concern is them smelling me, this wheezing away at me as an alert to everything else.
Then again, just like squirrels they have also helped alert me to the fact that something else is in the area and when it is when I am calling for elk, it usually is an elk.
Been a couple of cougars and Grizz however too!

Had a Deer blow at me couple days ago, hate that sound. Hate Grouse spooking always gets me hahah

[Dannybuoy]

I have had plenty of white tail, usually doe or young bucks just continue on with heir feeding or what not many times while calling elk.
And they sometimes are pretty close to me and does not phase them.
Sometimes they stare, and as long as I stay still they don’t move away.
If they don’t see me at all they don’t seem to care at all.

and I used to worry that my calling would cause them to panic and thus run away, crashing thru timber and alerting any potential elk.

The big concern is them smelling me, this wheezing away at me as an alert to everything else.
Then again, just like squirrels they have also helped alert me to the fact that something else is in the area and when it is when I am calling for elk, it usually is an elk.
Been a couple of cougars and Grizz however too!
The squirrels have helped me on more than one occasion.(on deer or bear ) Not an elk guy myself but I will add that I have rode right up to within 50 yds or less on horseback to mule deer and they just stood there watching the horse as I got off and shot .

[Bugle M In]

Here is an odd thing I have noticed and done and many may laugh but I believe there is something to in WT deer communication.
Often I hunt by mtn bike.
Quite often this means “pushing” the bike due to the fact either terrain and heavy packs on it.
I guess the profile of me upright by the handle bars and the rest of the bike behind me gives me a profile if some sort of ungulate.
WT sees me, freezes and stops feeding.
They appear to not be sure what I am.
I notice the wave their tail around in quick bursts.
Stop, a few moments pass and do it again, all while staring at me.

So, I use a glove, and wave it behind me back at them.
And oddly enough, as soon as I do that, they go right back to feeding!!???

it’s as if their tail wag is a way to communicate “ what are you coming this way”.
And once I give them the “glove wag”, they become settled and ax if my wag is some sort of acknowledgment that I too am a deer.

I have done it many times and with hunting partners.
They can’t believe it but have seen it numerous times now and concur.
The profile of me with a bike walking it and using a glove as a tail wag signal to them has helped keep them calm and not blow out of the area and alerting everything else.

Okay, everyone can go ahead and laugh now.

[Elkaddict]

^^^ I get it. You're just a really poor copy of a Montana decoy to them :wink:. Your packs/panniers probably just add to the mass and fill things in making you look even more like a quadra-ped.

Maybe just an anomaly, but last year while still hunting I came upon a small bowl, maybe 50-60 yds across. It was full of lush green vegetation, over half a dozen whitetail, AND four elk, all feeding side by side. No one seemed to mind at all. T'was quite a spectacle when I was busted while trying to count tines. Hooves were flying everywhere :)

[RackStar]

I was chasing a bull around one morning and bumped up a 4pt muley I’d shoot any day of the week. He stood at 20 yards wondering wtf I was and why am I making those noises. Passed the buck , bull got away lol. Same month I called in a 45” bull moose with a bugle. He came across the river and walked right up to me grunting. I’d say no to spoookin, maybe some would?

[TheObserver]

I was chasing a bull around one morning and bumped up a 4pt muley I’d shoot any day of the week. He stood at 20 yards wondering wtf I was and why am I making those noises. Passed the buck , bull got away lol. Same month I called in a 45” bull moose with a bugle. He came across the river and walked right up to me grunting. I’d say no to spoookin, maybe some would?

This Bull Moose came just ready for war full tilt breaking everything to my Bugle, there may have been another Bull grunting lower down the slope or it was the one that ran in I heard. I thought it was an Elk for sure and when I seen the antlers through the trees for a flash thought looks like he'll be a 6 or greater, got the heart pumpin thats for sure lol.

Would of had my first Moose if I had an LEH, big bull full paddles.

Will post some pics of the one I picked up when I get back home from this trip probably Monday

[Linksman313]

Hahaha don't worry buddy I just called in a friggin Bull Moose with my calls lol

Haha no lie my Turkey mouth reed has called in many a whitetail lol

[J_T]

Elk and mule deer will cohabitate, but they typically eat different foods. The whitetail and elk, are both grass eaters so they compete for food and prefer to be apart. Though, in terms of alerting your chosen prey, I might worry less about ungulate to ungulate... and more about other critters in the forest. Whether you are calling, sitting or stalking. Squirrels obviously kick up a fuss and alert other wildlife, but particularly, the "Black Cap Chickadee". Sitting in a stand, or stalking quietly, you hear the subtle buzz from the black cap. They are talking. And they are telling other animals what is happening. Listen to those birds.

[high horse Hal]

Mine do
I work it like a shock call for turkeys , just to see what moves

[ACE]

Had pulled a lone bull into the back of a basin. Buddy had gone down try for him. Wasn't using my bugle anymore . . . just cow/calf twerps. Mr. G-bear was on his way up behind me in the basin we had come up in the dark earlier. We pretended we didn't see each other . . . he left graciously.

[Norwestalta]

Elk and mule deer will cohabitate, but they typically eat different foods. The whitetail and elk, are both grass eaters so they compete for food and prefer to be apart. Though, in terms of alerting your chosen prey, I might worry less about ungulate to ungulate... and more about other critters in the forest. Whether you are calling, sitting or stalking. Squirrels obviously kick up a fuss and alert other wildlife, but particularly, the "Black Cap Chickadee". Sitting in a stand, or stalking quietly, you hear the subtle buzz from the black cap. They are talking. And they are telling other animals what is happening. Listen to those birds.

I don't have much experience with mule deer but the seem to be dumber then dirt. You are correct about the whitetail. I've seen them together in a field but there is lots of space in between and they all seem to be paying attention to what is going on until you throw a swamp donkey in the mix and that sure peaks the elk and deer's curiosity.

The only time I seen a mule deer run was when I thought I'd try a grunt tube. They took off like speedy Gonzalez

[TheObserver]

Here is that Moose skull I found 20 minutes after I called that Bull Moose in with a bugle for anyone interested......

https://i.imgur.com/eqDhoJI.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Tk7nCTK.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/01QnVX7.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/vLdCIXA.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/oi7SMlK.jpg

[TheObserver]

https://i.imgur.com/BPrbjdB.jpg

[Bugle M In]

Yup, we have had some really big EK antlered bull moose come in from elk bugles.
Sometimes they just walk on by across the river and other times they wake out of their trance, so a quick 90 and come straight at us.
Usually the last week of September.
This week seems to be when u see the most bull moose activity pre rut and in the open and getting fired up.
So, I fully believe you!!

[hawk-i]

I don't know if elk calls spook deer, but I do know they will bring in black bears and domestic cattle :)

[Bugle M In]

And plenty of other hunters if you are good at it!!!

[sammer]

Last week got home from a trip and the boy was helping me unpack the truck.
He started playing with the cow calls, squeaking and squawking, trying all the ones in my bag.
I bugled a couple times, just to piss the wife off.
The boy carried some stuff into the house
A minute later a fork muley came bursting into the yard.
He stood there 3 meters away from me trying to figure out what was going on, while i was hollering for the kid to come out and see what he called in.
Wife and boy stood on the deck laughing as confused deer wandered away.

Sam

[Bugle M In]

A fellow told me he used a deer distress call once, early December, and had a massive 4pt MD come in to him.
If I recall right, there was a doe with the buck, so maybe the Doe led the buck.
Maybe your sons inexperience with the call ( just guessing), had a sound of distress in it?

[TheObserver]

I bugled a couple times, just to piss the wife off.


Lol!.......

[TheObserver]

A fellow told me he used a deer distress call once, early December, and had a massive 4pt MD come in to him.
If I recall right, there was a doe with the buck, so maybe the Doe led the buck.
Maybe your sons inexperience with the call ( just guessing), had a sound of distress in it?

Seen Does on the internet come running right up to a human baby crying in someones backyard, ears perked. Must be that Mothers instinct hey