The Top 7 Most Effective Elk Calls for Hunting Success

The worst mistake a hunter can make, regardless of the game they are pursuing, is to believe they will succeed just because they sound excellent on the call.You still need that "hunting" element whenever you venture into the woods.

You need to trust your knowledge, experience, instincts, and ability to interpret the signs and scenarios, but most of all, the behavior of the animals you are pursuing.

Elk hunting is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and adventure; therefore, you need to learn some practical tips before going for game hunting. It will help if you position yourself correctly to have a chance of succeeding in the big picture.

Elk calling and elk calls, in other words, are just a tiny component of elk hunting. Your skill and experience as a hunter are crucial.

This post will discuss seven of the most effective elk calls to ensure you succeed in game hunting. Please continue reading to discover more about elk calls.

1. Locator bugle

Bull elk employ this call to determine the mountain's temperature. It's a mild, two- or three-note bugle with no identifiable beginning or conclusion. This bugle is the easiest to make using only a diaphragm and a bugle tube since it doesn't involve any chuckle.

If you don’t know how to make this sound, you can browse YouTube and other online platforms for elk calling videos and sounds.

You can make this call to find herds of elk or zero in on a bull's precise location on the mountain. However, don't think you can eliminate the bull with the call. You should go closer to the bull before calling again if he is too far away.

Some bulls will remain in one place for a considerable time, sending out many locator bugles. Take advantage of this information when hunting on heavily hunted public lands and avoid calling back.

2. Challenge bugle

Bulls use this bugle to alert other bulls and cows that a new kingpin has arrived on the mountain and is seeking to slam antlers. The sound of this bugle resembles a scream. It starts with a shrieking high note, reaches its apex, and then fades out with a low, booming explosion. Bulls are known to chuckle after issuing this challenge bugle.

If you find yourself in a piss-off with a bull, be aggressive and go for the kill. A challenge bugle is a call requiring full attention and energy, as you might get a little dizzy when you're done.

Cut the bull off and come straight back over the top of him if you can get near a bull with cows or a scrapper prepared for a fight that ushers in a challenge bugle. There is a high chance he will show up on a string.

3. Chuckles

A bugle will usually be followed by a bull's chuckle to impress the women in his harem or to woo a woman he doesn't yet have. However, sometimes, a bull will only chuckle and make a few toney moans. It's not difficult to pull off a chuckle.

You only need to study the illustrations and invest some time with your bugle tube to understand the idea of pushing quick, intense bursts of air across the reed at the end of your bugle.

4. Glunking

This is not a fundamental call to learn or employ. Bull elk still produce it, and it sounds like an indistinct gargle. During the rut, it's normal for elk to make brief grunts. If the bull you're trying to find makes clunking noises, he probably has cows.

Bulls employ this call when communicating with cows; therefore, you should adapt your calling sequence suitably.

5. Bark

Bulls and cows can bark. However, barking is not a good sign and often signifies danger. When elk bark, they release a high sound that sticks in your mind forever. If you're getting close to a herd and hear a bark, the game is approaching its conclusion, so make the wisest choice and try to get an ethical shot off.

6. Mews and chirps

A herd of pleased elk makes two most important noises you'll need to learn - mews and chirps. Cows and calves enjoy meowing and chirping throughout the year, from summer's sweltering heat to late winter's bitter cold.

These calls are generally one note, brief, and have a moderate pitch. Therefore, scouting requires complete concentration. You'll likely hear mews and chirps when approaching an elk herd.

7. Estrous whine

Like the chuckle, this is another call all hunters want to make.However, the estrous whine is challenging to imitate with most reed-style calls.

This is a fantastic call to have in your arsenal, and if you can use your diaphragm mouth call to make a whine that resembles a bugle's beginning which cuts off abruptly with a nasal finish, you can attract a bull that is ready to breed. This call is also compelling when you want to stop a bull and take a shot.

Final Thoughts

Anybody heading west to hunk elk should understand that elk are naturally vocal beings. The elk is unquestionably the most vocal of all the animals connected to them (deer, moose, and the like).If you want to learn to call elk, you must start by understanding the meaning of their sounds.Mastering this might take time, but you can get a good start by listening to elk calls.

The first thing to remember about elk calling and elk hunting is that bulls and cows make noise at different times of the day. Therefore, the rut is a great time to go hunting since bulls and cows are often highly active and noisy.