brother hal----You've got to be more careful, you can't just go throwing out statements like that, (elk talk) heck, I darned near chocked on my sandwhich when I read your post!!!!! You've got to give a guy some sort of fair warning first off!!!! Jeeesh!!!

Let me be the first to say that your statement is a very uneducated one. (no offense meant) But, you can understand elk talk! Bulls communicate with other elk all the time and vice-versa. Bulls give greeting sounds, challenges, different sounds when calling a lone cow to him, different sounds when talking to his harem, various types of intimidating sounds to other bulls, all have meaning, and when understood it's much easier to communicate back in a language that makes sense to them, instead of a bunch of elk jibberish!

Like-wise, cows too communicate with other cows or their young as well as with the herd or bulls. Lead cows use a certain high pitch sound when leading the herd from feeding to bedding or vice-versa. Cows use a welcoming sound when inviting other elk to join them, you may have heard it when giving off types of bugles and cows respond to your calls. They give off distress sounds when being bothered or annoyed. Mature cows use certain types of squabbling sounds when battling for lead cow position. Cows give pleading or begging type sounds when wanting a certain bull.--Of course there's much more, but this gives you an idea where I'm coming from. Elk do communicate, and you can make certain sounds that will attract elk, intentionally, not by mistake!!

You may have experienced many of these sounds but were unfamiliar with what they meant. Once you do understand them I guranttee you'll change your tune or your way of thinking!! Too, you'll be a much better & smarter hunter letting few opportunities slip away because of lack of understanding!--------------------ElkNut1