Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Calling elk with decoys

Questions for the campfire wapiti wackers

If you have two bow hunters and two decoys how would you set up?

Would a silent shooter be up wind or downwind of caller?

The decoys only have one side……would you place them facing the same way or opposite?

Should you even have a “silent shooter?”

How boisterous should one call?

Does time of rut change tactics?

Thanks
Look foreword to your opinions.

The bulls will almost always circle and approach from downwind if they can. You obviously want the bull to walk past shooter to get to caller. I would have your hunter set up about 45* to the side and 20-30 yards in front of your caller. Be prepared to reposition based on shifting wind and how the bull comes in. I would face the dekes downwind.

Don’t overdo it with the calling. Our elk are getting call-shy. We bugle as a locator only then go to work with the cow calls. YMMV.

One decoy - don't over do it - same as the calls above, less is sometimes more enticing.

Silent shooter 40-50 yards away, off of the area you expect the bull to come in, and ready to move as needed.

Agreed, he's going to circle and use the wind to see what is really there - the decoy may - or may not - be a factor in pulling him.

Some bulls are up for a fight, and will come in to fight - some will just get between you and his cows and push them away - you have to listen to what he's doing when he's bugling.

I've seen very little success in chasing a bull with cows if he's moving away as he bugles - YMMV.

If you can get him to think you're between him and his cows - he's most likely coming in to get his cows back.

I've had bulls bellow and rush the at the dominant call, and ignore the juvenile bugle, and I've it seen go the other way just as many times.

IMLE - raking a tree with a branch seems to still be good in firing a bull up to come in and see what is challenging him.

I generally prefer to locate with a bugle, and cow call to close in - I see the same thing that Timbermaster described, especially if there are wolves in the same area / drainage / valley.

Good advice ⬆️. I will add, I have never used decoys or even thought about using them. Most of my encounters involve being very mobile and constantly changing position to stay out of the wind and get in front of a bull. My shot my be 100 yards away from where I initially set up.