Elk tactics

[Muleyhunter970]

I got an otc Colorado elk tag after tagging out on a mule deer. I’m hunting a unit I’ve hunted and killed elk in before, however it’s a pretty low elk density unit. This year there is very very few elk around with no snow. I’ve been hunting since Thursday and have been in elk every day, however they’ve all been cows and spike bulls, I believe I’ve been seeing the same group of elk. My question is do I keep hunting the same few canyons where I have been seeing the elk or should I move to another area and start from scratch. The area I’m in is also hunted be about 90% of the state of Texas, so the few elk around are very pressured.

 

[shootnrun]

Have you still hunted every patch of timber?

 

[Caseknife]

Is it branched antler only?

 

[mtnbound]

I got an otc Colorado elk tag after tagging out on a mule deer. I’m hunting a unit I’ve hunted and killed elk in before, however it’s a pretty low elk density unit. This year there is very very few elk around with no snow. I’ve been hunting since Thursday and have been in elk every day, however they’ve all been cows and spike bulls, I believe I’ve been seeing the same group of elk. My question is do I keep hunting the same few canyons where I have been seeing the elk or should I move to another area and start from scratch. The area I’m in is also hunted be about 90% of the state of Texas, so the few elk around are very pressured.

By now, the bigger bulls are likely in sanctuary areas, so in the area you are in, are there any deep, dark places that you look at and think "I don't want to go there". If so, go there; if not, move and find them.

 

[Muleyhunter970]

Have you still hunted every patch of timber?

It’s very thick oakbrush where the elk are, you can still hunt a few old logging roads but other then that your bushwhacking. Ive been told that later in the season mature bulls split away from cows, with the pressure do you think they would be in the same drainage?

 

[HunterGatherer]

I would say that the location of cow herds this time of year is pretty irrelevant. The bulls will be somewhere else - maybe in the same drainage, maybe not, but they aren’t positioned relative to the cows in any way. They don’t care about cows anymore and almost seem to avoid them because the cows/calves seem to get more of the predator pressure. There are a few exceptions to that “rule”.

In most of the West, elevation plays a big factor in where to find elk (as well as wolves). Late bulls are a tough hunt. Good luck

 

[shootnrun]

It’s very thick oakbrush where the elk are, you can still hunt a few old logging roads but other then that your bushwhacking. Ive been told that later in the season mature bulls split away from cows, with the pressure do you think they would be in the same drainage?

As others have stated, they are in their sanctuary areas. The thick bushwacking type cover is likely where they are. How you go about getting one is up to you. Sometimes you'll catch them in openings adjacent to that thick stuff in the first/last 20 min of light. But there are lot of hours in between there. I'd be looking for heavier cover that you can pick your way through, even if it's painfully slow to do so quietly. That's likely where you'll be successful. At least more likely to turn one up there than back at camp or on a ridge watching cows and calves

 

[Hnthrdr]

Bulls are bachelored up, really big bulls are often solo, they will be in a very very nasty spot that can provide, food, water, shelter, and solitude. Cow/ calves are irrelevant to them now

 

[chindits]

Okay I’ll be devils advocate

The bulls are there and will periodically check on the cows that didn’t take and are going back into estrus

Helped my buddy pack out his spindly bull who had multiple bulls screaming opening day at a herd in of 25 cow/calves this season


Last year in the last day or two of third rifle I waited 5 minutes for a clear shot on this spindly bull that just finished mounting a cow in a herd of 30



Three or 4 years before a herd of 15 cows with 3 spindly bulls all the same age class fourth rifle opening day




I got more but I don’t want to bore you with spindly bulls and November bull porn stories. Now I swear even in September I’ve seen bulls with harems screaming up a storm and in comes this Shirker and mounts a cow right in front of the herd bull. Try to find the shirkers, they’re the bulls that no how to live.

 

[chindits]

no=know