Elk are vocal animals, and calling is one of the great draws of elk hunting. This guide covers what the main calls mean, how to learn them and how to avoid common mistakes.
Elk make a wide range of sounds, from the high-pitched bugle of a bull to short chirps and mews from cows and calves. A hunter who calls is imitating that conversation. The most useful way to think about it is that every call tells a story: a herd of cows feeding and moving, a lone cow looking for company or a bull announcing himself.
A believable story fits the time of year, the terrain and what the elk around you are doing. A call that does not fit can do more harm than silence. The goal of this guide is to give you a foundation so you can learn the sounds on your own time and use them with judgment.
Cow calls are the foundation of elk calling. They are soft, conversational and less threatening than a bull's challenge. A few mews or chirps can suggest a calm group of elk, and they are useful in many situations because they reassure rather than alarm. Many experienced callers use cow sounds more than bugles for that reason.
Cow calls can be made with a mouth diaphragm, a hand-held reed or a tube-style call. They are often a better place to start than bugling because they are easier to make and less likely to push a bull away. Listen to how real cows sound, either by recordings from reliable sources or by spending time in elk country, and match your tone to what you hear.
A bugle is the classic bull sound, and it is most associated with the breeding season, when bulls advertise and challenge one another. It can get a response from a bull and tell you where he is. It can also provoke a bull to come in, or warn a wary one that something is wrong.
Because a bugle is a statement of dominance, it carries risk. A bugle from the wrong place, at the wrong time or from a weak imitation can leave a bull silent or moving away. Many hunters use bugles to locate bulls and then switch to cow calls or move closer. Know that other hunters may also be nearby, so be sure of your target before moving toward any sound.
A diaphragm call sits in the roof of your mouth and leaves your hands free. Beginners often find it awkward, since producing the right sound depends on controlling airflow and tongue pressure over the reed, and changing those shifts the pitch. It takes practice before it sounds convincing.
Practice away from elk country and long before the season. Start with simple sounds and build up, and use recordings to check your tone. Many call makers and conservation groups publish instructional videos. Different brands feel different, so buy a few styles and see what works for you. Do not practice in the area you plan to hunt, since poor calls can educate the elk.
Calling does not replace the basics. Elk have excellent noses, and a bull that comes to a call will often try to circle and get downwind. Keep the wind in mind when you choose a setup, and plan for animals approaching from an unexpected angle. Use cover, stay still and be ready for a close, quick opportunity.
Patience matters. Elk can take a long time to respond, and some never do. Call, listen and wait. A guide or an experienced partner is a major advantage: one person can call from behind while another sets up ahead. Our guide to glassing and optics basics explains how to find the elk in the first place.
Seasons, weapons, tag systems and any limits on calling or electronic devices are set by each state, so confirm the rules for your unit before you go. Calling can bring other hunters toward you, so identify your target clearly and never shoot at a sound. Wear any required hunter orange where the rules require it.
On a guided hunt, the guide will often handle the calling, and it is a good chance to learn. Read what to expect on a guided hunt for the broader picture, or use our hunt planning and gear prep service to build the skills and gear you need.
The most common mistakes are calling too much, calling too loudly and calling from a bad position. Elk that are quietly approaching can be turned by one extra sound. Another is using sounds that do not match the situation, such as an aggressive bugle when a soft cow call would have done the job. Calling in a place where you have not checked the wind is also a recipe for failure.
Take notes after each encounter. What did you call, what did the elk do and what would you change? Over a few seasons, the patterns become clear. Recordings of your own calls can also help you hear what the elk hear.
Calling often works best as a team effort with movement and observation. Use glassing to find elk and understand the lay of the land, then plan your approach and your call. A cow call from a distance can hold an elk's attention while another hunter gets into position. An experienced guide will often switch among techniques as the situation changes.
If you hunt alone, stay flexible. Some days the best choice is to call little or not at all, and simply move quietly and watch the wind. Read our backcountry elk hunt packing list for the gear that supports a long day in the field.
Remember that calling is one tool among several, and the best callers know when to put the call down.
Most beginners are better off with cow calls. They are easier to make and less likely to alarm elk. A bugle can be useful for locating bulls, but it takes more skill to use well.
Making the right sound depends on airflow and tongue pressure over the reed, and changing those shifts the pitch. It takes practice, so learn it well before the season.
Yes. A poorly timed or unconvincing call can send elk the other way. Calling is about telling a believable story and being ready to stay quiet when it does not fit.
The sounds are similar, but timing, local elk behavior and the rules differ. Check state regulations and local advice for the unit where you hunt.
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