You just described the exact behavior I'm talking about. Elk near roads have learned from the dipshits calling from the roads/their trucks. Sure, they might make bugle during the safety of dark, but at light they are thinking about all the dipshits they have heard on or near the road and are not...
I know you see this kind of chit on youtube (BTW you should notice how bad it actually works for killing an elk), but seriously anyone that is too lazy to get away from the road and away from their truck before trying to locate deserves the 10% success they will average. It's exactly this sort...
I've hunted both as well as every other Western elk state than NM. I really can't imagine not being able to kill a bull in CO if you're not picky about size. ID has some better size potential in OTC, but is also a much harder hunt to get that done. I hear all the time about CO being difficult...
Good luck! Not to be negative, but I've been a WA resident for going on 5 years and have not hunted elk 1 day in this state. For good reason. I'll "maybe" hunt it one time in my life IF I happen to draw an Eastside archery tag. Otherwise it's not worth the price of gas to me. Will be in OR with...
But now you're after the 1500 bow hunters and 1000 deer hunters. Still should be able to find a cow no problem, but early would have been way better IMHO. Probably could have shot one within 100 yards of camp.
Yes, most are way over calling because that's their only real tool. The end result is they are mostly killing bulls I'm not interested in anyway. Of course not all the time, but it's definitely the norm. People can do whatever they want assuming it's legal. I believe in adapting. Have a large...
JFYI, I probably won't be hunting that area again.. Not really because of bears, but just because I've hunted better in WY with less people. This is my 6th WY elk hunt.
From what I've seen hunting 10-15% success areas/seasons, either they are way off or people in CO just don't know how to hunt. Can't imagine how you couldn't be 100% from what I've seen.
1. Don't call unless it's your last resort.
If they don't know you're there you have an infinite number of options. Once they know you're there you have 1!
If you really want to become a better elk hunter, especially solo and if you want to hunt the largest bulls listen to the podcast below...
Really should be no problem finding cows in August. Elk everywhere in the unit and not hard to find before the 1500+ bow hunters run them around. If you want to stay in more moderate terrain on top, camping around Divide Well will put you right in the elk.
I still remember taking my son to...
WA is a joke. Been a res for 4 years. Didn't even put in for a hunt this year because of other hunts. I'll keep putting in for an east side tag and maybe I'll hunt my home state once in my life. There some great bulls, but if WA thinks I'm going to hunt spikes because I didn't draw a tag... Ha...