A love triangle is not so bad when you are talking about calling in bull elk. Being in the middle of multiple bulls does not happen often, but when it does, a bow hunter must make a choice. If an Oregon bow hunter is fortunate enough to find himself in the midst of one this season, remembering the following story may help him connect.
Having found his way to the end of a heavily wooded ridge line, Bob looked down into a shallow drainage that carried cool water to who knows where. He sat down and began cow calling with a pocket full of cow calls. By adding the bugle of an immature bull, he hoped to tempt any nearby bull into an easy cow theft.
With the slight wine of a bugle in the breeze, it was all Bob needed to drop off the edge and climb up the other side of the creek. He held his ascent at a small bench and called again. This time he heard a distinct bugle to his left, rear flank. Turning to the bugle he called again hoping for a better idea of the elk’s range and direction. This time, the bugle came from above in the direction he had been ascending, but much closer.
Bob was not sure if the wind and terrain had deceived him concerning the first bugle, but he was now focused on a very certain bull no more than 100 yards above him. He moved a short distance into some suitable cover that would make a good ambush spot. Bob called again and got his response. For the first time he understood his situation when all three bulls sounded. He was in the middle of a three bull triangle.
Bob would focus on the closer bull above him since the air current was favorable and the cover ideal. After a short calling secession, it was obvious the bull had hit a wall. The elk was interested in the cow calls, but the earlier bugles Bob made led it to believe there was a bull among them. He was probably a young bull and afraid of getting roughed-up. Bob jumped to his feet and went crashing down away from the bull, bugling as he went; but he actually only went about 30 yards. Making a quiet bugle and some softer steps, Bob attempted to lengthen the actual distance of this feigned retreat by making himself sound further away than he was.
Sneaking back to his ambush spot, he gave some enticing cow calls. The beast bought it and started coming. One of the other bulls bugled and caused it to stop. The bow hunter cow called again but the rag horn held his ground. Not until the third and furthest bull bugled did the bull above decide it was safe to come in. The snapping of limbs and the thud of hoof impacts meant he was heading in.
When he appeared about 15 yards away, Bob had already drawn his bow. Moments later the bull turned broadside to navigate around some fauna and Bob arrowed him behind the front leg. After the usual waiting and tracking, the rag horn bull was recovered and removed from the woods piece by piece.
While being in the love triangle is awesome, ultimately it only helps convince the other elk that the hunter is one of them, and they become less cautious. Beyond that point, the rest is standard ambush tactics making sure the wind is in your favor, having good cover and adequate shooting lanes.
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