Deepest, darkest, steepest timber advice

[kaaby]

Am I the only one that thinks this stereotypical advice is just to screw with new elk hunters? I followed this advice as a novice elk hunter with terrible results. Since my own boots on the ground research, some helpful mentors, and actual Elk hunting experience, I have not found this to be true at all. Especially since it’s near impossible to be quiet when working through said areas. Do you all agree or am I missing something?


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[timber_ghost]

It depends a lot on the area. Sometimes elk love using steep timber especially when the pressure is high. But there still needs to be food and water close by and some pockets of the timber have to be low enough angle for the them to bed. They typically won't bed on anything super steep. It is hard to hunt it if they aren't being vocal and responding to calling. Move really slowly and stop very often to listen and look. If you still hunt timber enough, eventually you'll be surprised by an an elk within 20 yards in front of you. Keep your scope zoomed all the way out

 

[mtnbound]

Am I the only one that thinks this stereotypical advice is just to screw with new elk hunters? I followed this advice as a novice elk hunter with terrible results. Since my own boots on the ground research, some helpful mentors, and actual Elk hunting experience, I have not found this to be true at all. Especially since it’s near impossible to be quiet when working through said areas. Do you all agree or am I missing something?


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Most content creators won't hunt it because it's too hard and doesn't make them look good, but elk can be found in those places, and in high-pressure areas, those hell holes provide sanctuary.

 

[Jtb.kfd]

Most of the elk hunting advice/tips I have heard over the years seem to been very location dependent in my experience. One area in WA I have hunted for 30 years has the tall dark timber on super steep slopes. The elk (and bears) use it heavily in August when certain mushrooms are at their peak. They move out of those areas during the rut and don’t eat the mushrooms anymore after the first hard freeze. They use these areas again in late Oct-Nov before migrating out as transition zones and also to bed in during extreme weather. When we have cow tags, still hunting through those areas is super productive. Seems like we are making a lot of noise and rolling rocks, but we have shot a lot of elk point blank walking up on them bedded. Also seems like you can see a long ways in that timber, but the small benches/beds can conceal them well.
Other areas in WA and Idaho I don’t see the elk utilizing that country as much. I think it all depends on the surrounding landscape and what it holds for cover, shelter and food.

 

[wapitibob]

I've haven't bugled a Bull on a North face in the last 50 years. Never hunted "dark timber", and only hiked steep country to get to the bottom where the Elk were. Don't recall ever shooting one more than a mile from a road and many were within a cpl hundred yards.

 

[Dark timber]

Where do you think they go bed? Or where do the bigger bulls go live by themselves when they peel off from the herd post-rut?
I’m not sure what state(s) you hunt, or what the terrain/vegetation density is like but it sounds like you had terrible results because you were a novice hunter. You can’t just expect to go in and kill them without knowing what you’re doing. You don’t just wander around aimlessly, although it can work if you’re lucky. Learning how to track elk is very important for success.
I love sneaking through big timber patches with a rifle or muzzleloader. In fact, I can only think of a couple bulls that I’ve killed out in the somewhat open and have had most shots be either offhand or using a tree as a rest.
If you discount hunting timber, you are absolutely denying yourself opportunities at animals.