Blog

If you’re planning an archery elk hunt, take the time to practice your elk calls! Don’t let yourself get rusty. And don’t wait until the season gets too close. Just like you should be practicing with your bow year-round, never go too long without putting an elk call in your mouth.

On our guided elk hunts in New Mexico, we’re fortunate to be using a “team” calling approach. The guide is the designated caller, attempting to work a bull toward the shooter (or shooters). Whether or not you plan to hunt with a guide this season, the team calling approach is one we’d highly recommend.

Here are a few things to know about the team approach to elk calling, and some things to think about as you practice for the archery season:

The Pros 

One of the primary benefits to a team approach to elk calling is the ability to draw an elk past the shooter, without giving away the shooter’s exact location. 

Elk have an uncanny ability to pinpoint the location of a sound. If a bull responds to a hunter’s cow calls or bugles, you can bet that bull will come with his eyeballs glued to that exact spot. Even if a bull comes from a long distance, it’s often surprising his ability to pinpoint the very spot from where those calls originated.

In our guided scenarios or when you have a hunting partner, the shooter can be positioned slightly in front of the caller in an attempt to draw the elk past the shooter’s position unnoticed.

The Cons

As with anything, this team calling approach has its drawbacks. If the shooter is positioned out in front of the caller, communication between the two can sometimes be difficult. Miscommunication can quickly lead to botched opportunities.

Elk rarely read the script. It’s not uncommon for elk to approach from a direction you didn’t expect. Or sometimes they hang up out of range, necessitating a move or a change of tactics. This can be difficult when even a short distance separates caller and shooter.

 Practicing for the Hunt

As you keep up your calling practice during the off-season, this can be a great time of year to try new diaphragms and figure out which ones work best for you. Mouths come in many shapes and sizes, so there’s not a one-size-fits-all “best” call for everyone. Pick up a few and spend some time trying them out.

Once you land on a diaphragm or two that works well for you, take the time to become comfortable and confident. Try making one cow call every day. Pick up the call once each day and try to get a perfect cow call on the first attempt. Keep practicing until you can do it consistently on the first try.

Make A Plan

If you’re hunting with a guide this year, you can rely on their expertise in the field. They know the terrain and the way elk typically behave in that area. Trust them. If they tell you to stay put and stay silent, do it. When you’re waiting on a bull, it can seem like an eternity. It’s important to stay patient in calling situations.

If you’re hunting with a partner this year, go over some communication basics and situations. Will you rotate being the caller and shooter each day or with each opportunity? Work these things out well before the hunt, so that things operate as smoothly as possible in the field.

Most importantly, don’t be the partner that didn’t practice calling until right before the hunt! Start now and be confident by the time September arrives.

Contact Us with Questions

For details about our guided elk hunts in New Mexico, please take a few minutes to review the information on the elk hunting page. To book a trip, you can call or text us at 575-315-6674.