Elk Strategies When Hunting Time is Limited

[HolisticCowboy22]

Happy September and hope you all are chasing Elk right now

I got married and had a kid (now 9 weeks old) all in the past year and this obviously has cut down my hunting window, ability to scout, etc.

I have a 4 day window coming up where I flew my wife’s mom in to help with our little guy and that’s my opportunity to stick one.

My question is what is your strategy for a limited time elk hunt? Are you more aggressive? Do you call differently? Do you hike more miles and take more risks? Or do you just pray to the Elk Gods and let it ride as if you had a 2 week hunt?

 

[bozeman]

For me, with limited time, I have found (very difficult lesson to learn) to let my optics cover ALOT of miles for me and not just bum rush in and screw things up the first day. I am also truly enjoying the solo time in the woods where you can see/get in the rhythm with your surroundings, something I dont seem to do when in a rush because my days are limited.

 

[ProStaffSteve]

Personally, I’d try to get good at hunting trailheads known for having elk right at them.

In fishing, we would call it a community hole.

Haven’t killed an elk yet, just while scouting deer tags, but I have ran into two general unit spots where I could drive to, step out first day of opener for archery elk, and was surrounded with guys in camo with bows and animals were dead by the time I got back to my car. Lots of trailheads are desirable to elk. Usually water, flat ground, thick cover.

Where you might find one of these, that’s up to you.

 

[bz_711]

Very little sleeping - listening for bugles at night
Try to get last minute intel from locals, warden, biologist, mailmen/delivery guys, utility workers, hikers, fishermen, SxS riders and other hunters (deer, bear, moose, small game, wolf, etc)

Good Luck!

 

[el_jefe_pescado]

This is my world. I work too much and have a 4 and 2 year old at the house. I think you are already way ahead by simply adjusting your expectations to your new normal.

Hunt hard and have a good time. You can't kill what's not there--hunt until you find the elk and then don't leave em.

Congrats on your kiddo...nothing will ever be the same. I mean that in the best way.

 

[hibernation]

On a longer hunt, I'll throw some random darts and explore a couple new areas that I've had circled on a map for years. On a short hunt, I'm going straight to whatever I'm most confident in. And partly, what you're going to enjoy out of the hunt.

If you know a good wallow, your best bet to kill something might be an all-day sit. But if I only had 4 days to hunt, I'd have a hard time burning it staring at a mud puddle.

Kinda depends on what tactics you're good at, what areas you know, and maybe a little bit on how bad you want the meat vs the chase.