Elk stalk mistake

[RockHunter]

Just seeing what everyone’s thoughts are.
I’ve only been elk hunting since 2022 so I don’t have a lot of experience hunting out west. Grew up hunting whitetail.
This last year I was bow hunting and I stalked to within 25 yards of a mature elk. I was uphill of the elk so thermals were blowing towards me. The elk was bedded in a low spot under some trees in the shade, so I could only see his antlers and top of his head sometimes when he looked around or was nodding off. I was prepared to wait him out all afternoon. After about 2 hours he suddenly jumped up out of his bed and sprinted downhill. I did not get a shot. Not sure if he scented me or not. Just wondering what I could have done to get him to stand up without spooking him.
Just wondering what everyone else would have done differently.

 

[Tmac]

I’d guess he saw movement, heard you, wind swirled or thermals started going down hill a little early. It’s all a guess from here. Lots can go wrong when you are that close, it’s not easy. I’m more likely to do something like softly chirp or something to get him to stand up and not spook. Not an exact science.

 

[Bubblehide]

You could have talked to him. So I am in agreement with Tmac.

 

[Live_weighT34]

Was there some sort of prevailing wind or breeze? If so then thermals don’t mean anything and he could’ve caught a whiff.

Another thing a lot of hunters don’t pay attention to is shine off of weapons, accessories, broadheads, sunglasses, etc…sometimes you get away with it and other times it’ll ruin your stalk at the worst possible time.

 

[farmer14]

You just got busted - don’t overthink it. I have a hunting buddy who overthinks why he gets busted and then we talk about it for days on end.

They are wild animals who have probably been hunted before. They are either going to see you, hear you, or smell you. Do your best to eliminate being seen, heard, or smelled.

Stop 50 yards vs creeping into 25.

Stop at 100 yards and keeps eyes on him and wait until he stands up, then creep in.

Good luck!

 

[Maverick1]

I wouldn’t have waited that long. Swirling winds are likely to be the culprit and did you in - even with the rising thermals, 25 yards is pretty dang close for that long of a time to be so close. Either make your move or wait a bit further away. If you can get in to 25 make a move - don’t wait!

Depends on the time of the year and mood of the elk. I’ve given cow chirps. A big bull bugle. Used what @ElkNut1 calls the pop n grunt. And even had success throwing a rock on the other side (assuming one can throw a rock over the elk - don’t want to hit it!). Early on in my close encounter life - I tried to sound like a small herd of elk once by making a bunch of different elk noises - the bull quickly picked me off and that was a disaster!

 

[Leaf Litter]

Winded. Wind direction is never 100% one direction, especially in the mountains. Anytime you're within 100 yards of an animal, all it takes is a baby fart of breeze blowing the wrong direction after a gust tails off to give you away.

 

[K9kodi]

Congrats on having patience to wait him out. Ida been sweating the wind picking up or shifting. Hunting high or above works early as temps drop so will odor. But like previously mentioned can be minimized or offset with opposing wind.

Ida done sometbuht to get him to stand.

 

[spike camp]

Toss a rock, shoot him when he stands up.

 

[Wrench]

You can't camp with a herd for hours very often. There's always cows and smaller bulls circling about and scattered where wind currents protect the group. If elk are in a spot that the wind doesn't swirl they can probably see for miles.

Elk in timber choose spots that they don't typically get back doored. They can see one way and smell the other. You may have wind on your side at 9:00-9:05 but a swirl at 9:06 or a straggler walking down wind will blow it up......I've been camped on a herd and watched 2 wolves smoke the pack out. You pretty much either locate and make a play or back off until you can make a play.

Dogging the herd doesn't include getting busted.

 

[Ross]

Yep all that needs to be said has been said. Reminds me of when I got greedy or the desire for bigger made me silly. Opening of rifle slipped in on big herd bull screaming away and lip bawling. Had seen him at 5 yds in archery and dreamed about him. Planned it all right, snuck in front of him as he pushed his large cow group forward. Wind checks every few seconds, on his lateral line, he is 150 out in tag alder jungle. He is screaming every 15 seconds. See brown, more brown 5 cows and 280 6 come in to 40 yds of me, they are all browsing. Shoot small 6 or wait for big kahuna as he pushes cows my way. Seconds tick by sun slowly filtering into the dark timber, 5 minutes pass biggie just out of sight now lip balling. He is making a racket smashing his large mahogany rack. No I feel it and know the outcome before it plays out. The oh so subtle shift of the currents and the other elk 30 yards out. One tenses, then another, I can still shoot the small 6. They all look at each other, stiff, he bugles again, then boom they take off and there is crashing all over. Me, i’m left going oh man…….FK That is hunting and one of the things that brings us back

 

[BBob]

Just seeing what everyone’s thoughts are.
I’ve only been elk hunting since 2022 so I don’t have a lot of experience hunting out west. Grew up hunting whitetail.
This last year I was bow hunting and I stalked to within 25 yards of a mature elk. I was uphill of the elk so thermals were blowing towards me. The elk was bedded in a low spot under some trees in the shade, so I could only see his antlers and top of his head sometimes when he looked around or was nodding off. I was prepared to wait him out all afternoon. After about 2 hours he suddenly jumped up out of his bed and sprinted downhill. I did not get a shot. Not sure if he scented me or not. Just wondering what I could have done to get him to stand up without spooking him.
Just wondering what everyone else would have done differently.

He smelled you. In my experience you’ll never be able to sit on one that close all afternoon let alone for even 15-20 minutes. The wind will get you every time.