Dominant Bugles
Bulk Elk Vocalizations - Refresher Videos
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Dominant Bugles convey a sense of maturity, confidence, and/or potential dominance.
Dominant Bugles can be used to give cows the impression that the bull can protect them from harassment from aggressive immature bulls and/or
quickly and effectively breed them when they cycle into estrous. To other bulls, Dominant Bugles tell them that this is a bull that shouldn't be messed
with. Therefore, Dominant Bugles are simultaneously attractive to cows (which helps to gather, and hold, a harem), and—hopefully—intimidating to other
bulls (hopefully keeping other bulls away from the bull and/or his harem).
LEVEL 1 DOMINANT BUGLE
This is the most basic, least-intense level. It starts with a high-pitched raspy or "growly" high note, holds that note and tonal quality for a moment,
and then falls off to a raspy, "growly" low note.
LEVEL 2 DOMINANT BUGLE
This is a step up in intensity.
The Level 2 Dominant Bugle starts with a raspy/"growly" low note and rises to a raspy/"growly" high note for a moment. It then either ends there
(with the high note ending as the animal cuts the vocalization off mid-breath), or falls off to a raspy/"growly," low note (which may or may not fall
back to the level of the first low note).
LEVEL 3 DOMINANT BUGLE
This is yet another step up in the intensity level.
Like the Level 2 Dominant Bugle, the Level 3 starts with a raspy/"growly" low note and rises to a raspy/growly high note for a moment. Again, it then
either ends there (with the high note ending as the animal cuts the vocalization off mid-breath), or falls off to a raspy/"growly," low note (which may
or may not fall back to the level of the first low note). After the "bugle" portion, Excited Chuckles are added to express a higher level of intensity.
Depending on the intended level of intensity, either the high, raspy note of the vocalization is what is drawn out the longest and/or emphasized the
most, the high notes of the chuckles are emphasized the most, or BOTH the high, raspy notes of the bugle and chuckles are emphasized.
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