hunting in the rut

[Black Bear]

what method do you use to hunt in the rut?

 

[Hoback Hunter]

Personally, I like to cow-call to locate, then use a mixture of different cow calls and a spike bugle/screem/grunt to suggest to other (hopefully larger) bulls that I am a small bull with cows...

This has always brought bulls in to my location, but to date the biggun' has evaded me... of course, most Wyoming hunt areas (rifle season) open towards the end of the rutt when the big bulls already have their heirum and therefor don't respond well to calling, and the small bulls are like teenagers willing to mount anything that moves.

I think bow hunters out here can really get into bugling contests with big bulls much better than a rifle hunter, since the bow season opens 2 or 3 weeks earlier, and I like to think that a similar strategy would work really and have great success... need to get my bow before I can prove that though.

I have had a few hunts where you could hear a bull running around in the woods, screaming and grunting, thrashing trees, but unwlling to come out. I have always responded by repeating the same behavior. If he screams, I scream (bugle call). If he grunts, I grunt. If he thrashes the brush, I find a big stick and beat tree trunks and limbs to mimick the same noise. This has gone both ways for me, resulting in both successful harvests and occassions where I see nothing but white-rump running away through the trees...

I bet you find a lot of other tactics, but these have worked for me.

 

[Mr.Redneck]

Hoback,
What are you waiting for??? Get a bow, and hunt!!!! I like hearing that early on, you can pull a bull and later it becomes more difficult, because I am planning to be hunting early in CO, and considered doing similar locating tactics. That in part reassures me. I still don't have the call down perfect, but its improving. By Early Sept., I hope to be a near pro, and a successful hunter!!! Get a bow, sticking an animal with an arrow is the most rewarding experience I've had as a hunter, be it a nice buck, or a healthy doe.

 

[Hoback Hunter]

Redneck, I know, I know...

It's just that right now I am waiting for 3 kids (twins in diapers and one on the way) to get old enough for my wife to return to work...$$$

Although, if we get a few forest fires this summer, I may have chance to do a little smoke chasing and earn a few extra dollars... Otherwise, I'll just have to find a big bull with heirum and sneak up on him after he beds them down in the trees...

That seems to be the other rut tactic... Find a bull who won't respond to calls out in the open, and sneak him through the trees after he beds his cows (you gotta be sneaky though). And if you call just a little, you can sometimes get them thinking you're an invading bull, which can really piss them off enough to charge towards you... which can also get you gored to death... so be careful!

As for calling, I think an imperfect bull call is an OK thing... If you've ever listened to a young bull try and bugle, it's pretty pathetic... which is about what my best call sounds like. I have been practicing for 2 years with a diaphram call, but my early days as a turkey hunter have largely screwed up my ability to do anything other than talk turkey with a diaphram, so I use the classic grunt / bugle tube... but the small one (spike call).

The Primo's squeeze type Cow calls are easy for cow talking. I use that one and an old-school plastic-match-book looking thing with a rubber band (I can't remember it's name - 'Cow Talk' I think) but between the two you can get such a range of pitches, you actually sound like a small herd of cows (which I like to think is attractive to a bull). I could be wrong on this and just have great dumb luck...

But in any case, if you're bow hunting early season in good elk country - you are going to have a blast!!! Especially if you get one charing at you out of the brush, teeth bared, head in the air, screaming at you...

Stay steady and let that arrow fly (and if you miss - god bless you!)

I just hope I can get a bow soon and have the same enviable experience.

 

[Mr.Redneck]

If you pilfer away $20 here and there, you can accumulate enough for a moderately decent bow.



Reflex Excursion Bow - 295fps IBO with a 88 forgiveness rating!!!
$249.99 at BassPro

Buckmasters 3000 Bow - 300fps IBO

PSE Dakota S8 Bow - 303 fps IBO


A Good Starter's set-up for a good $$$$!!!

Fred Bear Sparrowhawk II Bow and Kit - 278 IBO with everything you need for $225!!!! And as good as most bows that are 8-10yrs. old!!!!

Arrows
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Cabela's Carbon Hunter Arrows - Per 12
Five-layer carbon construction provides durability and strength. Sizes: 55-70-lbs., 65-80 lbs.    Item:IF-414982
Price: $39.99[/b]

And their actually pretty good, I have a dozen of them, and love them.

Broadheads
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

Satellite Mag Broadheads
Satellite Mag three-blade broadhead features a hardened steel tip that is hollow ground. The in-line position of the blades and the cutting edges of the tip result in one continuous cutting surface for maximum penetration. The tip is so sharp it begins cutting even before the blades come in contact with the target. Per 6.
$26.99[/b]

All at Cabela's, and online!!!

Total up!! $225 + $40 + $27 = $292 plus $13.95 Shipping and handling = 2-3 good hunting seasons with irreplaceable memories!!!!!

 

[Mr.Redneck]

Edit, my error, the Sparrow is for short draw 28" or less archers, may not be that good, but I also found

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

PSE Nova Extreme HL Bow Package Item:  IF-416204 
Price:  $199.99
A machined-aluminum riser forms a bridge between the compression-molded Magnaglass limbs for lasting strength and durability without adding excess weight. Mossy Oak® Forest Floor™ camo finish. Bow comes with GS-Glow fiber-optic sight, arrow rest and Mongoose™ quiver in matching camouflage. Right hand only.
Giving you 280fps IBO with a 84 forgiveness rating.[/b]

Gonna make your wife mad at me!!!

 

[Hoback Hunter]

Thanks Redneck, I'll check them out... I actually have a few of the cabella's packages bookmarked and occassionally go back to them drooling like they were good porn

Yeah my wife would be ticked if she knew I was being lobbied to buy that bow - but thankfully she doesn't know about JHO!!!