I am only 22 and going into my 3rd elk season, so my experiences have been few. This is my first time writing to the boards.This year my cousin and I encountered something weird. We had several different bulls bark at us then immediately go into a chuckle. I was wondering what this means. They never acted threatened. Also if any of you out there could share some experiences, that would be a great help. Thanks.
Sean

Sean The information you gave is somewhat sketchy. If I had more to go on I'm sure I could help you. Was this a rifle hunt or bowhunt? I'll assume it was a rifle hunt which would mean this must of happened in the early part of the season. First of all a bark is a warning signal, and they will leave immedatley so it could'nt be that as you said they did'nt seem threatened. Then you mentioned they chuckled. A bull usually chuckles for two reasons. One, is he's looking for companionship, preferably cows but another bull would due if he's been alone for awhile. Two, and the most common reason is a herd bull will chuckle to keep in contact with his cows so they know where he is and won't feed to far away from the herd. This does'nt sound like the situation you were in, so I would guess and say what you heard was a sound I call popping grunts they sound something like chuckles and are often mistaken for them. These type of grunts are made when a bull is aware of something but is not sure what it is. They obviously did'nt smell you. Because they hung around. When a bull makes these sounds he's asking you to identify yourself or show yourself if something does'nt step out that satisfies him he will leave the area in 10 to 15 sec. If this answer does'nt satisfy you please be more detailed about your question. Also click on my web page, it may help. elknut1

www.elknut.com
Bugling Bulls & Beyond!

Elknut;
I've heard bulls make a "glunk' noise kind of like you'd get if you hit the end of your tube with the flat of your hand. Is that the 'popping grunt' you were referring to in your post?

Life begins where the pavement ends!

DREAMINBOUTELK The glunking sound you're referring to is different than popping grunts. This glunking sound is made by bulls during the rut, it's made when a bull is mating with a cow, normally toward the end of sept. and the beginning of oct. and can occur again at the end of oct. Knowledgeable bowhunters will take advantage of this time of the rut and imitate glunking to pull the herd bull away from his harem because he thinks a sattelite bull slipped in covering one of his cows. If you've convinced the herd bull this is whats happening he will come in fast and furious. On the other hand popping grunts are made by bulls who have been surprised by noise you have made while walking in the woods or they caught a glimpse of movement and are not sure what you are, they will immediatley give a high pitched short grunt which demands identification a quick cow call will usually calm him down, and a good chance of calling him in. DON'T OVER CALL. elknut1

www.elknut.com
Bugling Bulls & Beyond!

Elknut1, sorry I was not more specific in my explanation. This was actually bow season. I will try and re-create the story for you. My partner and I had taking a mid-day nap up on the mountain because we were working in on this bull all day. He was bugling every minute or two so we decided to stalk him. So I snuck within 60 yards of him. I was at a tree line and in front of me was a saddle leading up a open hillside. Well they were in the open. So I had to try and make a circle around him and get in front of where he was heading. Well I started to make my sneak, closely watching the elk on the open hillside, when this big boy starts trotting 25 yards in front of me. He goes maybe 50 yards into the trees where we can't see each other no more. Then he let out a shrilling bark, going straight into a chuckle. It sounded like his normal chuckle, but I could be wrong. I hope this helps.

Elk are very unpredicatable but from the info you gave it sounds like that bull sensed you in some way, probably heard you, and just wanted to know what you were. He probably was looking for a response of some kind. Thats when you just give a little cow call to calm his nerves or imitate him if you can. Sounds like if you would have given a smaller bugle he probably would've wanted to fight you and he'd be in your freezer. Elk are very smart though, if he can't see you don't call unless you are in sufficient cover. Reason why is even if he can't see you if there isn't enough cover to hide an elk he'll know you are a fraud.

Rather,
You know I did answer him back. I didn't repeat his bark. We did whistle back and forth for about a min or 2, then cows started getting ansi (sp) and they took off. When I was calling, I couldn't see him and I know he couldn't see me. Thanks for the reply...

I'd say the only other thing you could've done was cow call but it sounds like you did everything the way you should've. If the cows spooked then they proabably either winded you or saw you or your partner. Even with the best scent covers you still breath human and they will sense it eventually. Just another story of how you think they'll do one thing and they do the opposite. Chalk it up to experience and try a different call next time. I don't know how you answered him, aggressively, passively, full bugle, chuckle or not but they all mean something different. A lot of times the best thing to do is imitate him. One thing's for sure something will work one day and something completely different will work the next day.

Thanks for the help. I tried to imitate him best I could. I was just a little excited so, I probably didn't sound my best. What do all the different types of calls mean?