Elk Hunting - How to Structure the Day?

[jacobini]

Hey Guys,
This will be my second season hunting - i'm wondering what the best way to structure my day is. Currently what i'm doing is positioning myself in a high spot with a lot of view at first light and glassing for several hours in all direction trying to pick up some elk. Next i've been hiking, trying to find signs of them, and stopping to glass again when I can get somewhat close views into timber (the only binoculars I have are 8x42 diamondbacks and I really doubt my ability to see anything in Timber unless its pretty close). Then position myself yup high again for dusk/sunset and try to spot game again. Do I have the right strategy going on here? I feel like i'm probably not glassing enough during the day, but I'm concerned im wasting time glassing at any kind of a distance with the 8x42 as I really can't see shit in the shade, which seems to be most of the north facing timbered steep hillsides where i'm hunting. The terrain is also really steep and lots of little gullies/draws and I can only see small portions, then it takes me sometimes a significant amount of time to hike to the next one as they are already snowy enough to make hiking through them a pain. Should I get a scope or a nicer pair of more powerful binoculars and a tripod? I'm doing all my hunting on foot with a pack and i'm hesitant to add a bunch of weight to it. Help appreciated!

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Plan sounds decent for rifle hunting its more or less what I do successfully. Putting binos on a tripod with definitely help seeing stuff further way regardless of the power. Light weight tripods are 2lb, worth it.

 

[idahohikker]

Not everyone agrees but I think adding a good spotter helps a lot with the glassing, by adding distance, if you're hunting areas with breaks in the timber.

 

[twall13]

I agree with Pods8, a tripod will help alot. I'd get that before upgrading Binos though both would be helpful. Even when I'm still hunting dark timber (how I got my bull this year) I always have and use my Binos. I rarely use my tripod in the timber but I've grown used to carrying it for photography so I always have it for my Binos when I need it and it's unexpectedly come in handy on more than one occasion.

If you are not seeing any elk with your glassing, still hunting the dark timber can be effective. I really believe that effective still hunting is more difficult than most people think it is. It takes alot out of you both physically and mentally to move that slowly and quietly through the nasty deadfall. I can travel at a normal pace for 10 miles and not be as tired as I am after 3 miles of true still hunting. My last 2 bulls and a buck have all been shot with a rifle at under 50 yards. Still hunting has become my go to when the animals are pressured and start heading for cover.

If you can catch them in the open you have the advantage. If you can't find them in the open you have to go to where they are. As long as there is fresh sign I'll keep still hunting the same timber for multiple days until I run into something.

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