By Paul Smith, Outdoors
The first light of day streamed into the North Woods, revealing hints of fall color in the dense canopy.
A dozen members of a search party, many wearing camouflage, assembled and began a stealthy hike into the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
The hunt was on.
Jeff Morden of South Milwaukee led the group down a two-track dirt road. Morden slowed to a stop, raised a call to his mouth and blew.
As the sound echoed across the landscape, it was met by a response.
"Ooooeeeee, ooooooo, hoo, hoo, hoo."
The bugle of a bull elk defies simple description. It begins with a high-pitched squeal and ends with a series of throaty huffs.
If you've never seen an elk in the act of vocalizing, you'd be hard-pressed to match the sound with the animal.
Once you've heard it, however, you'll never forget it....
...Wild elk returned to Wisconsin in 1995 when 25 animals were transferred to the Chequamegon from a herd in Michigan. The reintroduction was a joint project of the State of Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service.
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