I feel weird asking for help with this one, cuz I' ve hunted elk for years, but not in this particular set of cirumstances. I' m picking up a bow for the first time in many a years due to the fact that Colorado is issuing additional cow tags for the archery season. Now, I' ve hunted cows during rifle season and used the usual tactics,(spot and stalk, spot and stand) and even had several cows practically walk right over the top of me. (more often when I was carrying just a bull tag) My question is this: Should the usual tactics and some dumb luck fail me, have any of you guys used particular calls/calling techniques to specifically bring the girls out of hiding should they be feeling shy?

If you have buy a Hootchie mama cow call made by Primos, it has a Calf call/bleat. I have one and you can squeeze that thing in such a manner that you would think that this calf is about to die from being lost/alone. It has worked for me every time I am near elk. Best of luck.

Nice...Thanks. I have a Buttolo squeeze call, but I' m not sure if it will produce a calf bleat. Come to think of it, I would need to hear a calf bleat again because it has been years since I' ve run into one on its' own that was making any noise.

Beans, thats why they call it hunting, sometimes I bump them and my hunt is blown, I do mostly stalk and hunt and its dificult to carry all calls that are avaliable ,especially when I go in with the intent that I may spend the night, so some times you got to keep it simple, but dureing the bull rut which is dureing Sept./Oct. all I will take as far as calls go is a cow and calf call and that maybe reassureing to other elk and may give them a sense of being comfortable in knowing that other elk are in the are. I personally do not like the Primos hootchi whochi calls as no skill is required in useing one, before you know it theres hunters all in the woods useing the hootchies and can' t change the tone. Its not going to take long for this ole bull to wise up if every hunter in the woods is immulateing the same pitch.
The RMEF Bugle championship has never been awarded to anyone useing the hootchie or simular crapp. Bobby

Bobby makes an excellent point here. You should become proficient at using a diaphram call as well. When I used to be a guide, they did not have all these squeeze callls. When that big bull does come in, and your at full draw, having a diaphram call in your mouth, you can stop the bull right where you want him with a cow call...............................

Mathews, I wish I could use a diapham so that I could keep my hands free, and every year I try to make an attempt to use one but I keep gagging, but if you can use one thats the way to go. Bobby

You folks are missing the point! He asked about hunting cows with a bow.

I was going to get on this forum and ask the same question, but no matter what it always ends up turning into a discussion of hunting bulls. I would really like to hear from someone that has hunted COWS!

I' ll answer yer question. I ain' t had dependable results callin' cows. Sometimes they' ll respond, mostly they jus' ignore the call. I' ve been as close as 20 feet from grazing cows an' they generlly don' t even acknowledge a cow call, even when a bull is headin' in at full steam. After the heards break up, you might have better luck with a solitary cow and a calf call. But then, you probly would be rifle huntin' at that point.

I' ve called in many cows over the years, some purposley, some by accident. With a few adjustments, I can now call them in on a regular basis. I have many different methods, for different situations. I' ve got 3 basic ones that I use. I' ll share two with you. With these 2 I' ve called in 100' s of cows.
First thing I do in any case is to locate aprox. area where there' s elk. I find about where they' re feeding, and aprox. where they bed. Very important, make sure there' s elk in a given area before you waste your time calling. These methods work best with two hunters, a caller and a shooter, but will work if you' re alone.
If it' s morning, I get between feeding grounds and bedding area, get the wind in my favor. As long as I' m within 1/4 mile of where they should pass, they can be called over, but closer is better. Have the caller 50 to 60yds behind shooter. Shooter must be patient and not move around. The caller who is some what hidden starts off with a good spike or raggy squeal followed by soft rapid chuckles. (not thumping grunts) Follow up with 2 or 3 different cow sounds, a couple social calls are fine, but you need to add some excited ones as well, those are the type that have a whiny mew to it aprox. 1 to 1-1/2 seconds in length. Only give those spike squeals twice about 3min. apart, then give the cow sounds off and on for the next couple minutes, be very aggressive with your calling, do your best to change the pitch to your cow calls like you' re really putting up a fuss. Make sure the caller also does a little stomping around and shake the brush up some as well, this will be more convincing to any elk listening. Rarley do cows respond vocally to this, they just show up, half the time they' re accompanied by a spike or two. It usually takes aprox. 15 min. of calling before something happens, sometimes up to 30min. so be patient, they' ll show up. Call off and on during this scenario, you' ll know what feels right and what doesn' t.

The 2nd one I use after elk are bedded down for the day.
I get no closer than 200yds from where I think elk are bedded. I do this because any closer and you may pull the herd bull away from his herd to check out the commotion, and in this case you want a cow not a bull. During the rut or pre rut a bull is reluctant to chase after other cows that are a distance away because he doesn' t like to be out of eye sight to long from his harem. So you should be able to pull a cow or two away. So don' t get to close.
Once again get comftorable and setup, in both caes make sure shooter has shooting lanes, in other words don,t be so hidden you can' t draw your bow easily for a good shot. This time no spike squeals. Start off with those excited cow calls, really mix it up, add a couple calf mews as well, remember change pitch around, this really sells it. Again caller should rustle pine needles, brush, or whatever is around, elk are noisy critters in a relaxed enviorment, remember you' re an elk.
Be aggressive and persistent enough that something has to come over and check out what the fuss is all about. Don' t get crazy though. Be patient once again, believe me elk will show up. You may even get the herd bull to bugle and chuckle at you, he' s telling you to come on over to him, but stay put and hold your position, cows will eventually show up. Hope this helps. elknut1