What You'll See:
This sequence provides another great example of cow/calf communication and vocalizations – or “herd talk” – as a group of cows and calves move up out of their timbered bedding areas to feed out into the open alpine above. If you want to try and sound like a group of cows and calves during your next elk hunt, THIS is the type of vocalizing you need to try and emulate. The focus of this video is not only on WHAT vocalizations are being said, but also the variations in the vocalizations that you hear.

Setting the Stage:
This sequence was filmed on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. As this group moved up out of the timber below, they began to spread out a bit as they moved through the broken krumholtz on their way to their alpine feeding area – with some cows and calves quickly moving to the alpine above, with others lagging behind. As they began to spread out, and span both sides of the highway, cows started calling to their calves – and each other – more frequently.

Viewing / Listening Tips:
A few vocalizations are extremely quiet, so turn your volume up as high as you comfortably can, or use headphones/earbuds.

If you can turn the volume up on your device, you may not need headphones/ear-buds. If you can’t, however, then definitely try to use them – the subtleties in the variations of the vocalizations you’ll hear is what is important to pick up on, and mimic, in this sequence.

Vocalizations:
Chirps, Contact Mews Lost Mews, Mild Assembly Mews, Long Mews, Mild Selfish Mews, and Frustrated Whines/Cow Bugle