Oregon post-rut ???

[birddog316]

Hey Ya'll...Just a curiosity here...okie from North Kakalacky (North carolina) trying his damndest to bag a bull...only trouble is i get in during the rifle season and no luck with the calling as it is post-rut....can anyone give these ole boy here a helpin hand at calling tactics to lure in mah first bull? Much appreciations for the considerations.

 

[Or/Elkster]

Look in the deepest darkest places far from any road calling wont do a thing that late in the season even the last weekend of archery was tough they where call shy by the middle of the last week walk slow and make sure the wind is in your face

 

[Nate_Smith2]

Only time I see calls work consistantly is on those videos they sell on the rack right next to the calls.

A cow call is usefull for covering up mistakes. But at this time of year most of the big bulls have their herds established...so they are not going to come busting out of the bush to get one more cow. Not unless they see the cow. You can certianly use the call to set up a good shot though. They will turn towards you.

Best bet is to get up early and spot them before the sun comes up. Watch them bed. Then sneak into the area they bed in and spook them up. Lay a cow call on them and hope the shot is clean.

Good luck.

Nate

 

[wmidbrook]

The rut will be done so almost no point in bugling to try to locate elk.

You can stop a running bull that's seen you (but not smelled you) by cow calling. I bumped into a spike that was running into me while I was runnin' towards it's bugling/squealing. He ran about 50 yds before I started cow calling like crazy. It stopped it in its tracks. But, it was out of archery range. With a rifle, it would have been full freezer time. I hear this works almost any time of the year.

You can cow call cows in almost any time of the year if you've got a cow tag especially using a lost/distressed calf call.

In WA state, I'd just hunt thru the timber of weyerhauser lands (off the roads a ways) next to the limited entry unit and was always into elk...it was a spike only unit for muzzleloaders during Oct/early Nov.

If Oregon's general otc rifle tags are anything like Washington state's, you'd have to hike at least a few miles from the road to get into elk usually....looking for the fresh sign/elk to confirm their presence then concentrate in that area.