New eBook by John Phillips Details the Hunting of Elk – the 1,000 Pound Turkey
John E. Phillips 07.19.12
“Elk hunting is like hunting an 800- to 1,000-pound turkey,” says Eddie Salter, a world-champion turkey caller and well-known outdoorsman. “You call to the elk just like you call to a turkey. You have to move quietly to sneak-up on the elk, just like you sneak-up on a turkey. When the elk doesn’t come-in like he’s suppose to, you have to change positions and try to out-maneuver him.” To get in shape for elk season, Salter walks several miles twice a day and goes to the local football stadium to climb up and down the stadium steps. “I’ve got a bad leg from two tree stand falls, so I can’t get in shape like other hunters,” Salter explains. “But, I still try to climb stadium steps, once in the morning and once in the afternoon.” When Salter arrives at elk camp, he does plenty of scouting before the first morning hunt. Salter says, “When I go out to call an elk, I want to get to the place where I’m going to start hunting, about 15-minutes before daylight.” Unless you’re hunting with a guide, who knows the terrain, having a hand-held GPS receiver, a compass and a map, are essential for navigating in elk country before daylight.
“Often, I start bugling when I can barely see my hand in front of my face,” Salter explains. “Once I make an elk bugle back to me, then I study the terrain to determine how I can get close to the elk with a favorable wind. I plan my stalk to reach a spot above the bull, before I start cow-calling to him. I like to start calling to an elk with the Bull Hooker Cow Elk Call and then I may use the Bugle Mac Daddy Call, to try and call-in the elk.” Once Salter feels that the elk is moving toward him, he makes about a 75 yard half-circle to come-out closer to the bull then from where he was calling. Salter says, “I want to take a shot with my bow when the bull is passing by me and moving to the spot where he’s heard the cow (me) calling. This way, all the elk’s attention is focused on looking for the cow and not looking to the left or right, where I’m waiting to take the shot.
With bow season for elk starting August 1 in some states, Salter’s tactics will help you take a bull this season.
This is just a sample of what you’ll learn in the new Kindle eBooks, “PhD Elk” and “Secrets for Hunting Elk,” by John E. Phillips. Go to http://www.amazon.com/kindle-ebooks, type in the names of the books, and download them to your Kindle, and/or download a Kindle app for your iPad, Smart Phone or computer.
John, the 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the year and the 2007 Legendary Communicator chosen for induction into the National Fresh Water Hall of Fame, is a freelance writer (over 6,000 magazine articles for about 100 magazines and several thousand newspaper columns published), magazine editor, photographer for print media as well as industry catalogues (over 25,000 photos published), lecturer, outdoor consultant, marketing consultant, book author and daily internet content provider with an overview of the outdoors.
Phillips has been a contributor to many national magazines, has been affiliated with 27 radio stations across Alabama serving as their outdoor editor and wrote for a weekly syndicated column, "Alabama Outdoors," for 38-Alabama newspapers for more than 13 years. Phillips was Outdoor Editor for the "Birmingham Post-Herald" for 24 years. Phillips was also the executive editor for "Great Days Outdoors" magazine for 3 years.
The author of almost 30 books on the outdoors, Phillips is a founding member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and an active member of the Southeastern Outdoors Press Association (SEOPA). Phillips also is the owner of Night Hawk Publications, a marketing and publishing firm, and president of Creative Concepts, an outdoor consulting group.
Phillips conducts seminars across the nation at colleges in freelance writing, photography and outdoor education besides teaching courses in how to sell what you write to writers' groups. Phillips received his photography training as a still-lab photo specialist for six years in the Air Force. He was the chief photographer for Mannequins, Inc., a Birmingham modeling agency, for 11 years.
While serving as 2nd Vice President of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, Phillips was in charge of all press releases for the organization as well as serving as Chairman of Alabama's Big Buck Contest, which he founded more than 30 years ago. He also was president of the Alabama Sportsman's Association for three years.
Phillips is the recipient of a Certificate of Merit from the Governor of Alabama and the Department of Conservation for his work in the outdoor field. Phillips is vitally interested in the outdoors and travels the nation collecting personalities, stories and how-to information for his articles and features.
EDUCATION: B.S. degree from the University of West Alabama with a physical education major and a history minor.
EXPERIENCE: 10 years parttime and fulltime physical director for YMCAs and 34 years as a freelance writer, photographer, editor, book author, lecturer and daily-content provider for websites. Currently, Phillips is a field editor for Game and Fish Publications; serves on the editorial board of Grandview Media; is a regular contributor to 12 internet magazines and a daily content provider for 8 websites.
WRITING AWARDS: Runnerup - Best Outdoor Magazine Feature - 1981 - SEOPA; Certificate of Merit - Awarded by Alabama's Governor for writings on conservation; Most Outstanding Sports Writer in Southeast - 1983 & 1984; Best Outdoor Feature in Alabama, 1987 - Alabama Sportswriters' Association 3rd Place; Best Book of the Year - 1989 - SEOPA; 2007 - inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Communicator; 2008 - received award naming him 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the Year from the Crossbow Manufacturers' Association; 2009 - GAMMA Honorable Mention for Consumer/Paid Best Essay for July/August 2008 in "Southern Sporting Journal."
