Bugling bulls....in June

As I write this, I am listening to bulls screaming back and forth outside my door. I spent the last hour of daylight following a herd of about 60-80 cows, calves, and 5 or so bulls. I have never heard so much vocal activity. There was not a second that went by where the cows were not vividly vocal. Then of course i had to tote along my bugle and diaphragms and low and behold I got into a screaming match with all the bulls. Constantly back and forth. I have never seen this much activity this time of year, I am looking forward to getting ahead of the herd a little earlier tomorrow night and trying to get a better look at the bulls and hopefully much closer as I catch them heading to water and feed. Any of you out there seeing anything like this happening? I will try to get pictures and maybe a video tomorrow night, but I am absolutely amazed the amount of vocal activity. I have heard them in the evening and every morning as I walk to breakfast. It feels like fall already, now i have something to keep me entertained every night until fall comes knocking.

Yep, happens every year! Elk are vocal pretty much year around, get those nursery groups together & they can really make some noise, cool ain't it! Watch carefully & you'll see the cows are bugling a ton too!

ElkNut1

Does the cow bugle really sound like a true bugle ?? Never heard them bugle. Would be cool to hear. Herd talk is always the best !!

thats awesome, I didn't know that, course I don't live in elk country

I was working on a trail near West Yellowstone in the late 90's in June and had a similar experience. Velvet bulls running around screaming their heads off.

Oh the great sounds of the rocky mountain elk!

Yes, a cow bugle is a real sounding bugle & can fool you. They do not have the mature sound of a big ole 6 point but more like a raggie to spike bugle. Cows can make every sound a bull does & vice-versa. Cows will bugle for many reasons but mainly for herd control.

ElkNut1

A couple of years ago, I was scouting in June for my elk hunt and heard a bull bugling his head off. I headed in that direction and low and behold it was a cow that was bugling. I had never heard of cows bugling until then, and when I read Elk Nuts Playlist book about it, I thought, good I'm not crazy.

You know..I have been around elk since I was a kid. I have heard all sorts of sounds they make....and sometimes I still learn things. I have never heard of or seen a cow elk bugle. Makes cense that they would or could though. I have spent a lot of time "talking" if you will at nursery herds and wintering groups for fun. Its always a kick to hear them "talk" back. They are so curious sometimes about it too.
Sometimes I like hiding off to the side of the cows that have been calving and "cry" at them...they come running over to find the lost little one. I have been barked at, snorted at, short screamed at, and charged. (once by a mad moose mom too YIKES! ).

I love to try new things when practicing calling to see how they respond to sounds. I feel jealous now...I now have a goal to see if I can find me a bugling cow!! :)

Paul...any tips on how to instigate one to do so?

I found this vid a while back. Does sound like she's trying to bugle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrW-OAn8VA4