Archery Elk Hunting Terrain preference?

[OkiechasingElk]

Question to ponder on this random Wednesday: Experts, average dudes, rookies and even the cynics are all invited to participate!

You are a Solo Archery hunter. 3 archery seasons under your belt, limited legitimate Elk Interactions. You think you are an average caller, but with limited elk interactions you probably aren't. Colorado High Pressure Unit. Hunting Mid-September.


What is your terrain preference, and why?

Option 1 - High Elevation near the tree line. 11-12k feet. Steep elevation changes, thick forests, once you get away from the road it only opens up enough to glass above tree line.

Option 2 - 11k feet, less elevation change, but still frequent 600'-800' ridges, thick forests, small meadows somewhat sporadic, rolling ridges. Some glassing opportunities but still very limited.

Option 3 - 10k feet. Elevated rolling plateau with larger open areas and numerous pockets of trees throughout the rolling ridges. Tons of opportunity to glass opposite ridges and basins in the area.

 

[Coveyleader]

7-9k Flat, close to the road, leave calls at home.

 

[jgilber5]

Early season, Option 1. After that drop 500-1500 feet below and to the sides of where they were on opener.

 

[MallardSX2]

I like my elk terrain like I like my women. Dark and Nasty.

 

[Ross]

My experience is in heavy dense vegetation areas, learned to call in the 80s, many bulls shot under 10 yds, above avg fitness and calling ability. Only an avg archery shot. I’m going option 1. Reason being you can be very aggressive in dense country, I don’t carry binos in archery and competition will be more limited due to the steepness factor. That being said, option 3 is likely better for great shots, guys who use glass, like the ambush style and easier on the body to hunt day after day after day.

 

[OkiechasingElk]

7-9k Flat, close to the road, leave calls at home.

Any chance I can get a pin to a spot with an Elk tied to a tree also? LOL

I've spent spent about 60% of my time in option 1, with the rest in an area similar to option 2. Curious if getting out of the jungle and being able to see the terrain around is worth an approach change.

 

[5MilesBack]

I'll hunt all three options on a morning hunt from my base camp.

 

[bz_711]

Whichever one currently has the elk.

 

[sodaksooner]

The units we typically hunt have all that, so wherever the elk are.....

 

[Jaden Bales]

Below average caller here. I'm either spending time at the top of Option 1. Or at Option 3. And I'm taking a glassing heavy approach because of the "high pressure" comment. It's so hard to get elk to play the calling game, especially as a poor caller, that I'd rather see them, get close, then whip out the calls.

To be fair *letterkenny voice* I do love spending time behind the glass.

Edit: after writing this, I realize if I'm not hunting mule deer, I like hunting as if I were hunting mule deer so take the elk advice for whatever that's worth. Haha

 

[fatlander]

Elk are where you find them, not where you want them to be. All of those places sound like they could have plenty of elk, a few elk, or no elk. I like hunting where’s there’s plenty of elk. I couldn’t care less where that actually is from a terrain perspective. If there’s lots of elk, you’re going to get lots of reps.


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[ResearchinStuff]

At a certain point, you have to become convinced that elk are in that area, and eventually know exactly where they are before they know your there. Hearing them, seeing them, smelling them have all led to kills for me. As others have mentioned, I would likely hunt all of those areas, if not in the same day then in a couple of days. Hunting the same area year after year can be a tremendous advantage if you keep track of your elk interactions and what the other hunters are doing.

 

[Next Ridge]

diddo on where the elk are. I would add go with whatever area you have had success finding elk in the past and know the area best.

I prefer to hunt option 1 type, but if the elk aren’t there I adjust

 

[Hnthrdr]

They can be from the top to the bottom during season, if I’m checking in a zone and not finding them or hearing them where they should be I leave and go elsewhere

 

[Read1t48]

Option 1… to me, it seems the best way to get away from people. I like thick and nasty. Elk may go there, also. If they aren’t there, I’m going Option 2. Be mobile and adaptable.

 

[cbuck516]

As others have already said, look for those thick and nasty spots where elk can find sanctuary when there is pressure. I would not plan on glassing elk in a high pressure archery unit, definitely bring your binos just in case, but maybe consider skipping a spotter.

Instead of focusing on trying to identify which type of spot to focus on, try thinking about where the elk would want to be and why. Weather can be hugely impactful on where you might find elk during your hunt so planning specific elevation bands this early might be a bit of premature planning. My first season hunting elk, I scouted for spots where I wanted to shoot an elk and not where the elk wanted to be based on all environmental and pressure factors. We ended up with a really bad drought year and I didn't adjust my hunt based on that critical fact. At that point, I was stuck thinking like a whitetail hunter from the midwest so I ended up just picking a spot and sitting there all day. I didn't see a single elk on that trip and that feeling of failure was hugely impactful on my growth going forward. That was the last time I ended an elk season without putting at least one elk in the freezer.

I only have a handful of archery elk hunts under my belt as I am mostly a rifle hunter, but I have been surprised how widely distributed they can be that early in the season. I don't think one single rule can be applied to all units and all spots because there is so much diversity in contributing factors. I've seen nice bulls in September down near the road at 7,000' and also just below tree line around 10,500'.

It doesn't matter how good you are at calling if you are trying to hunt elk in spots that they don't want to be. Learn to think like an elk and learn how to use thermals to your advantage.