Good evening elk hunters!
I leave Friday for an archery elk hunt in an alpine basin I’ve hunted 3 times over the previous 10 years. I am addicted to this spot. No matter where Im hunting I always wish to be there and year after year it frustrates me but I can’t give it up. There aren’t many elk, but every year I encounter a masher or two. I know Im getting close to putting a bull on the ground. Here’s the thing: this entire area is 210 acres large. It’s a large basin surrounded by big rocky cliff bands that the elk can’t climb. The elk live in this basin all summer and into late fall but their travel route down the mountain funnels right into a unit I can’t hunt. They have everything they need in this basin; food, water, bedding timber and without pressure they don’t seem to leave until the snow comes. I’m always hyper careful in this spot because it’s GRUELING getting into it and they have an easy escape out. My game plan is always to glass from up on the rim then sneak down to the elk when they come out to feed. I’m not an elk caller and not interested really in trying. When the wind is right, I’ll risk sitting in a natural blind near their feeding areas or by a wallow. Rarely, I’ll still hunt the timber. Anyway, I’m getting ready for my trip and thought maybe I’d ask on here if anyone has experience successfully hunting elk in a small area like this and what has worked for you? Any tips are appreciated and maybe I’ll have the courage to try something new at the risk of blowing these elk out of there
I leave Friday for an archery elk hunt in an alpine basin I’ve hunted 3 times over the previous 10 years. I am addicted to this spot. No matter where Im hunting I always wish to be there and year after year it frustrates me but I can’t give it up. There aren’t many elk, but every year I encounter a masher or two. I know Im getting close to putting a bull on the ground. Here’s the thing: this entire area is 210 acres large. It’s a large basin surrounded by big rocky cliff bands that the elk can’t climb. The elk live in this basin all summer and into late fall but their travel route down the mountain funnels right into a unit I can’t hunt. They have everything they need in this basin; food, water, bedding timber and without pressure they don’t seem to leave until the snow comes. I’m always hyper careful in this spot because it’s GRUELING getting into it and they have an easy escape out. My game plan is always to glass from up on the rim then sneak down to the elk when they come out to feed. I’m not an elk caller and not interested really in trying. When the wind is right, I’ll risk sitting in a natural blind near their feeding areas or by a wallow. Rarely, I’ll still hunt the timber. Anyway, I’m getting ready for my trip and thought maybe I’d ask on here if anyone has experience successfully hunting elk in a small area like this and what has worked for you? Any tips are appreciated and maybe I’ll have the courage to try something new at the risk of blowing these elk out of there
