Smokepole, don't have too much experience pre-rut. I did an opening weekend of bow one year and we tried a few cow calls and bugles without any success. Just let it be after that. I like to be quiet in the woods, maybe that's my downfall...
I can say this, we have elk in our backyard various times of the year (spring, summer, late summer, and fall) and I've tried just about all of my calls on them...including the coveted Hoochie Mama. I figure it's a great learning opportunity with zero risk. Not one call has brought elk closer to me. Not one. At best the cows will stop walking through the meadow and give pause to where the sound came from, but that's it. The bulls could care less about any call here, bugle or cow. Perhaps I just suck at calling...
