If you’re trying to call, bugle, or otherwise outsmart a big bull elk, it’s possible you’re being too quiet.
As of this writing, I’m hunting elk in Wyoming’s Birdger/Teton National Forest, where two fellows in our camp ran onto a most interesting elk-calling tactic.
This is totally public land, so a mature bull has been called to by humans hundreds of times, making them very cautious. My two friends were bivouacking way 
back in the mountains and were having little luck with cow calling, bugling, or both. In three days, they saw 17 bulls and had their best luck by approaching elk by snapping small sticks and rustling stones.
“As long as we were making noise, the bulls held their ground and often bugled at us, thinking we were elk.”
Using this tactic, they got within 50 yards of several bulls and had one at 25, until our most ambitious archer got caught drawing his longbow and busted.
I once hunted with Darwin Vander Esh in the Seven Devils Mountain region. We were finished for the day and the four of us walked noisily to our horses when a bull suddenly bugled aggressively 200 yards ahead of us. In the next 10 seconds, he was 100 yards and screaming.
“He’s coming,” whispered the guide. We all ducked for cover, our bows at the ready. I was downwind and at full draw, but the bull charged right into the center and I couldn’t shoot. I’m certain that the bull thought we were a herd of elk and was coming to take charge.
Many guides and outfitters often make ambient noise in conjunction with calling to give their lure extra attraction. Keep natural sounds in mind and make it part of your elk-hunting stratigies.
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