It really depends. It depends how much the elk are calling and how they are responding. Try different things.

Early in the rut bulls may come in silent. Try a few calling sequences focusing on cow in heat and wait 5 to 10 minutes. Try again 2 or 3 times. Keep alert and looking all around you. Try a locating bugle and see if anything responds. If not move a bit and start all over.

If nothing at all is repsonding either vocally or coming to you put the calls away and switch tactics. Time for spot and stalk or still hunting the timber.

If they are calling back to but not coming in then locate them, stalk as close as you can quitely, then try to challenge a bull by bugling and raking trees or give him some cow calls. If the situation is right once you locate a bull then just use his vocalizations to get close and kill em without calling at all. If you know where he is and can get close without calling then just put em away.

Most people over call so don't over do it. Lots of circumstances and most of it is learned by trial and error. Good luck.