RE: elk calls
Calling elk is an art, just making elk sounds is not! A bugle is an important part of ones needed tools in the elkwoods. If one wants to do more than just blow a high pitch classic bugle sound then mouth reeds with a grunt tube are best. Most external reeded bugles are easily picked out as human bugles, although many times they can get elk to respond it's tough at times to finish them off with them without tons of practice, & then only a few can get it done. Go with the mouth reeds & put in your time, in a few days time you'll do good with dilligent practice.
Rockies calls are best, primos calls are good but I prefer the others. The Scream N Tormentor is user friendly & can make all needed elk sounds by both cows & bulls.
Spot & Stalk as you mention is a good way to locate & find elk at a distance along with selective sounds that will get elk or ask elk for a response. It's the sounds you use that will make the difference. Most who say bugling is not good & only chase away the elk, can't bugle themselves or have little confidence in it, they lack the practice & confidence that's needed to sound like an elk. More importantly one needs to be equipped with all needed calls to be versatile & ready for all encounters. Making sense to elk with the right sounds at the right time is no accident. It comes with knowledge & a real desire to be good at your game! Here's a real life example of being prepared for any situation!!!
Your Spot & Stalk takes you to a herd of elk with a decent shooter bull in it, you wait for them to hit the timber so you won't be seen & Indian in on them, you get the wind right & proceed. You've done no calling to alert the herd of your presence, not even cow calling. As you get ahead of them you see a few cows making it your way, you need to move to a slightly different location to get in their path for a shot, especially if you're bowhunting. As you move to better your position you're caught by 2 unseen cows that were there feeding, they're staring you down hard & are ready to bark & blow the whole thing! Now What????
If you are prepared & have the needed confidence/knowledge & the right tools, bugle--cow call--or mouth reed, then that's a dead herd bull. This isn't a what if! It happens quite regularly to many hunters, few kill the bull, most cow call & watch the herd bolt off, bad decision! Some bugle & get a quick response but don't know how to follow up & eventually lose out as well. --- Point is, be prepared for any encounter & be willing to adapt to the immediate set of circumstances, make sounds that make sense to elk per encounter, your freezer will be fuller if you do! (grin)
ElkNut1