Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting How to stop a moving bull to get a shot?

I've hunted all my life, but never elk.
Planning to start this year (rifle hunting.)
If you've got a bull within, say, 100 yards and it is on the move, what do you experienced guys do to get it to stop for a look so that you can take a shot? Or do you just hope it cooperates?

Cow calls, coyote howl, if nothing, then just start yelling!

One of mine, shot at 42 paces, I bleated at him like a white tail. This year's bull I just whistled. Shot at 137 yards.

If you shout (maw) at deer that are running away they will stop sometimes and come back.

It might work with other animals.

I said "Hey" to a bull at 36 FEET this year to get him to stop....He is in my freezer!!!!!

A nervous grunt. Go to WapitiTalk.com to learn about it. Probably the very best elk hunting forum on the internet. Fellow on there called Elknut( Paul) has spent many years studying elk language. A lot of good info there.Mostly archers, but generally a good bunch of guys without the drama of the Campfire

Bugle at him. They stop in their tracks. Watched 100 elk moving single file thru the timber at 300 yards. My guide bugled when the 6x7 stepped into an opening. The whole herd stopped and looked to see where the other bull was. 99 then continued up the trail.
I've seen a 6x6 bull stop, get shot, stop again, get shot a second time, stop and look for the third time and go down after the third hit.

I don't dispute that at all. Elk don't follow rules very well.However,if in rut and a bull has his harem gathered up, he n is more likely to move those cows off instead of wanting to fight. Depending on the time of the year,pre rut, rut or post rut or way past rut, a different call is needed . There is no one right answer to fit all occasions. A soft mew, lost cow call might be just as effective.

At other times the herd will stop as mentioned,but it's a big gamble. A short one or two note bugle with no challenge in it is more likely to stop them. A nervous grunt is sort of like a longer bark,but with a different ending. It can be done with the mouth and no call .It also depends on how much hunter pressure the elk has seen and how many people have been running around the woods tooting without knowing what they are doing.

A 200gr .308 partition stops them nicely.

Just shoot it!!!!!

This ain't archery hunting..........

There you go. Everything a guy needs to know right there.

Casey

On the move is one thing. Fleeing is another!

I've noticed crosshairs on the point of the shoulder and a smooth trigger squeeze has stopped them pretty well, though I recommend repeating that until they have hit the ground and stopped moving.

I've never filmed my hunts and needed a better camera angle for a bullet to work. With archery gear the cow or other noise would be well worth a try.

I always try to get them to stop first.

Cow calls work best in my experience, if it's just walking. Once they start to go you better get a lane on 'em.

If they don't know you're there almost anything will work.

Judge the situation carefully. If they don't know you are there and they aren't about to go out of sight than shut your mouth and just wait and be ready to shoot without taking all day once you have the shot.

Actually the not taking all day to shoot applies even more if you have to stop them. Drives me crazy when guys sit there all day trying to shoot. Almost as much as when they don't automatically reload and get ready to shoot again.

If they don't know you are there than I agree with huntinaz, just about anything.

But even if they don't know you are there if they are chasing a hot cow it can be pretty tough. I almost always try a cow call first.

If they know you are there than good luck, just depends on how spooked they really are. If they've gotten a nose full of your scent than you'll be dang lucky if you can stop them within range.

Cow call.

I have stopped a small herd (15-18) with a cow call.

Aim for that little brown spot in the middle of their butt

Depends on what got them moving. If they are exiting due to my presence then I simply hope they stop for a look.

If they're not on to me, about any single sound should work.

I've killed quite a few elk that were fleeing. Guiding elk hunters, I've learned that most are not accustomed to the all the noise and crashing when elk blow out in front of them and tend to hesitate and miss the chance at a shot.

When I was guiding archery or rifle I almost always had a diaphragm bugle in my mouth. If the elk have not entirely picked us off and blowing out at high speed, then sometimes I can get them to pause and take a look, but usually things don't go that way........

Casey

^^^^^^^^

This

Thanks, fellas. Good advice... well, mostly.

Good question. A lot depends if your archery hunting or rifle. If archery wait or cow call, but the cow call will get him looking right at you hindering a draw. Rifle within a 100 yards; if your in the open and he's walking-front shoulder trigger press, if your in the trees pick an "ambush lane" front shoulder trigger press. If he's busting out of the place you've already lost it most times. If your in shape and not worried about running him out of the state a last ditch yell or running straight at him can stop him long enough to get a shot. Low probability though. Best course if he's running is lay off and go where you think he's going.

Yeah. Cow call. PEEUUWW!

I just stick my foot out and trip 'em......then shoot them while they're laying on the ground.........



Casey

Yep.

What I was thinking.

Dying Rabbit call

For a rifle, just shoot!

A cow call if you really must stop him for some reason.

I would cow call if I was ready to and if the bull was unaware of me and was just moving out because it was nervous or spooked by other game.

But really, within 100 yards I'd normally just put a bullet through his lungs while he was on the run. Have done than many times. Within 100 yards it should not be difficult for a skilled shot. But I realize very few hunters practise moving shots any more, and if you are not confident hitting moving game, calling or even whistling can sometimes make them pause long enough to settle your crosshairs.