bull elk barking

[MULIES4EVER]

I asked this in the bowhunting forum but I think it will do better here.

What does it mean when a bull barks at you? I had him in close and was bugling back and forth. Then he started barking at me. What does this mean? Did he bust me? I remember hearing something about this but I cant remember if it was an alarm call. He did not run off but kept up the barking. I threw a cow call and he stopped for a few then started back up. He was still holding in there when I came out. I didnt want to push him.

 

[quack_head]

I take it he was not the bull you were looking for. Barking is a distress call. I have seen cows do it. i have never seen a bull do it. If he is barking ya busted. If he would have gotten your scent he would have been gone sooner. What species was this?

 

[Kentuck]

Got these responses from MM website.....

It means you've been busted. It's a "I know something is not right here--show yourself" type of call. It alerts the whole area to watch out, and in most cases, get out of dodge.

Yep, it means your totally busted!
He probably didn't run because he only smelled the hunter and couldn't pinpoint what or where it was coming from so he barked to alert the rest of the heard.
In a nutshell, it means "heads up troops".
Muley's will stomp a foot, and or snort....elk bark.

 

[quack_head]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kentuck @ Aug 30 2007, 02:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Got these responses from MM website.....

It means you've been busted. It's a "I know something is not right here--show yourself" type of call. It alerts the whole area to watch out, and in most cases, get out of dodge.

Yep, it means your totally busted!
He probably didn't run because he only smelled the hunter and couldn't pinpoint what or where it was coming from so he barked to alert the rest of the heard.
In a nutshell, it means "heads up troops".
Muley's will stomp a foot, and or snort....elk bark.[/b]

I had a cow pick me out from behind a sage brush with the wind in my face. She came from 150 yards to see what the hell I was. She barked a few times and when she got behind me about 10 yards and got my scent, she was gone and barking like I just beat her. I also had a nice buck with a doe that morning start stomping the ground and hunching his back at me. If I had a buck tag I would have took the meanness right out of him.

 

[MULIES4EVER]

Thanks for the help. Sounds like I screwed up. Hope I didnt run them out of there.

 

[MULIES4EVER]

Quack head this is rocky mountain elk.

 

[easymoney]

It means, bye, bye...

 

[Kentuck]

Got another response from someone on another website. Here is their take.....

Kentuck, all elk can & do bark, from calves of both genders to cows & bulls of all size & age. Their bark can vary from gender & age. Your question on the encounter that took place however was not a warning or alarm bark by this Bull. He used what I refer to as a Popping/Nervous Grunt, it's in single note form as you mentioned. It can be given in a variety of situations by all elk. It's noticed by hunters from bulls mostly as that's what it seems most of us hunt.

This grunt is in essence asking another elk to step out & show itself, they want to make sure you're not a threat to them in some cases but not all. You will hear this grunt under situations where you may be bugling a bull or cow calling a bull & he hangs-up, he refuses to come any closer without a visual. So he asks for an identification. This can also be heard if you're tromping through the woods & you alert elk to your presence by sound or movement but they can't see you clearly, they will hit you with this Popping/Nervous Grunt. This grunt is also used under excitement situations or an invite to other elk. As hunters we can use this sound against the elk in the right situation such as hung-up bulls.

The difference between a Bark & Nervous grunt is easily identified. An Alarm Bark is a mountain side clearing event, no ifs & or butts! Too, barks are given in a more rapid order & each one gets further away as elk exit the area, generally 5-10 sec apart. Nervous Grunts however when given by elk are spaced apart generally 30sec or so & the elk don't rush off, they stay right there expecting a showing or safe response to their request. There's a big difference between the two when understood, it's far from Game Over!!

 

[MULIES4EVER]

Kentuck, thanks for the help with this. In reading this I realize that that is exactly what happened. The elk did not leave. It was definatly a call to show. Saturday morning I was at it again and I had a raghorn bull come in to 45 yards or so. I was not dead set on shooting him as there are bigger bulls in the area. He was sidehilling through the area I was in and I made the mistake of moving to get a better view of him. He stopped abruptly and looked right at me. He stared for about 30 seconds then let out a bark and ran up the hill. The wind was right and he only had a visual. He definatly saw movement. He barked maybe 3 times but did so while running off. Definatly different from the first encounter. The first encounter the elk never left. I should have stayed in there and seen what happened. I figured I was busted but now I know there were enough elk moving I should have waited it out. I am going back out tomorrow.

 

[One Track]

Sounds exhilirating. Let us know how tomorrow goes. My season starts on the 14th. Can't wait.

 

[spectr17]

Elk bark is the same as a turkey cluck. It's the "Hey you, where you at?" call. If you don't answer or show yourself it's all over. It really helps to be able to do this call with your mouth or a mouth call since the animal is in close in killing range usually.