Elk, Do You Speak It?

[WapitiTalk1]

All righty then, since we're all frequenting a forum that is made possible by let's be honest, one of the most innovative elk language interpretation cats out there, I pose the question.... do you speak elk? What would you say is your level of both interpreting what elk are saying/asking for and, your ability to throw out realistic sounds to evoke a response in many situational scenarios is?

A. I get it completely.... and, can understand what elk are saying/asking for (needing) and talk to the elk appropriately for the given situation maximizing my potential for success in harvesting a wapiti in almost all situations.

B. Not too shabby. I know the difference between advertising sounds, grunts, chuckles, normal herd sounds, nervous/popping grunts and in most situations, respond accordingly or challenge when up close.

C. I understand the basics but need work on either understanding what elk are saying or how to respond.

D. Need quite a bit of work on both the comprehension of elk language interpretation, and, my own elk sounds .

E. Other... Fill in an option/answer of what RJ didn't include in his late night rambling

[Trophyhill]

C. I think i understand it for the most part during the off season but then while hunting when all hell breaks loose and i hear something i've never heard before i still make mistakes.

[JGH]

A solid "C". After last year, hearing elk more than ever, I'm starting to climb the steeper part of the learning curve.

[dapper]

I will have to say C as well. But with almost daily practice, the elknut dvds/book and the 124 days before departure that is bound to change.

[cnelk]

Im bilingual....

[>>>---WW---->]

I'd have to say I'm a fairly good solid (B). There is no such thing as an (A)! And anyone that thinks they know it all is only kidding themselves.

Just when you start thinking you know it all, an elk will throw something new or differant at you. The only true (A) is the elk themselves.

[bnsafe]

i can make quality elk sounds, but i still struggle with knowing when to make the right one and the right time. putting inflection and feeling and agressive vs passiveness at the right time. but im learning

[ElkNut1]

"Elk The 2nd Language" --- (grin)

Understanding what you are hearing is more important than knowing how to make all sounds elk make!

Learn & master 5 sounds. Location Bugle -- Challenge Bugle -- Popping/Nervous Grunt -- Chuckles (not grunts) -- Social/Excited Cow Talk --

With these sounds & variations of them or two together you can "fit in" to any elk encounter from Herd Bull to Satellite bull/bulls.

ElkNut1

[montanabrown]

C but finally getting to that B with another year of practice and being out in the woods

[easeup]

C - also.

I wished I could hear better too.....I think there are many sounds I never hear

[elkmtngear]

I think I would get a B on the test.

I have been in many serious debates with elk....usually I lose them, but sometimes, they cannot help but concede to my "point"

[JohnFitzgerald]

My team would say I'm and A, but I think I'm an A- or B+. Hey, that's a better grade than I got in most of my college classes.

[bowhunterty]

Probably a B. And every tear I learn something new,

[planebow]

I would say that I am a C

[stringunner]

C+

[Swede]

For years I was at the "D" level and I knew it. I was bothered by that fact, and listened and read from a number of different sources to try and improve. There were a lot of callers writing books and magazine articles. I have watched a multitude of videos. Some I bought. Some I rented, and some I have seen on the internet. I even have an old cassette tape from one prominent, successful bow hunter. Some bow hunters were putting on seminars and I attended at least three of them. I was still at the "D" level and knew it. That grade did not come from me, but from the elk that were scoring my calls. I could get answers, I would close in on them and call again, but most of the time they just left. No; they did not run away. They treated me as an unwanted guest in their close circle of friends. Usually they just walked off leaving me to wonder "what did I say?"
Finally I started picking up on this character who went by the handle of Elknut1. At first he was just another elk nut, but after reading his posts awhile I realized he know elk. In a world of people posting and making lots of noise, I could see Elknut1 one was the genuine article. I called him several times, I purchased his full set of DVDs when they came out, and have his Playbook.
I have never worked up to the "A" level. That is not terribly important to me. I do understand what I am doing and what the elk are saying now. I feel confident in the elk calling arena and can say I am a solid "B". That is not too bad for an old tree stand hunter. Ya, I still rely on my tree stand, but it is very comforting to know if I want to come down and call elk for a change, I am not wasting my time.

[Bowhunter]

Swede. I am in the same boat. I was a "D" and now after his Playbook and DVDs and CD. I am a "C" with a lot to learn. He does do a great job of explaining elk sounds. I just need to refresh on them and practice. Maybe some day I will be a "B"