First elk hunt

[618-Flatlander]

Just finished my first elk hunt and ended up doing solo archery in CO. I didn’t get one, but it was definitely a spot I will go back to. I did happen to get a good look at a bull elk about 100 yards away, side hilling through the woods. As embarrassing as it is, I thought it was a horse walking through the woods at first glance. Haha. Now for my questions, since I really had barely any knowledge of elk hunting outside of reading about it and watching videos. There were also cattle around, but I swear I found a couple spots that were covered in elk poop and rubs. Do you guys usually focus on these areas for a day or 2, or do you just keep it in mind and hunt the surrounding area, trying to find them instead of waiting for them to come back into there? And tell me if you all think this one pic is an elk wallow. Again, there were cattle around this spot, but there was also elk poop all over and rubs on trees like crazy around here. There appeared to be a rub and elk poop right next to this mud hole also. Thanks for any input and advice.

 

[Stumpknocker-81]

Don't know much about Elk hunting but i would say you are where they want to be

 

[Gerbdog]

Sure looks like a wallow ... but .... not one thats being used currently. I see moss and grass growing near the water.... and its not covered in splashed mud all around it.

Certainly rubs you have photo'd ... could be a nice mule deer or could be elk, some say they can tell by the height of where its at on the tree but unless its at 6 ft i dont know if i can tell ever. Beware porcupine chews as well, the one with your hand on it could be a porcupine. Could be a rub.

I dont pay attention to any of it though... unless the elk is standing there creating the rub i'm moving through the area looking for elk... you asked if im staying in an area or moving and the answer is im always moving.... i'm always looking for actual elk and not a ton on the sign. If i find a wallow thats being actively used i'll mark it and i may use it to sit a day when im exhausted from hunting hard for a couple of days.

The cattle in the area are no matter. This year on the morning i killed that bull i got fooled into a black cow that was kicking a log for some reason... i had a bear tag and thought i had found the biggest black bear in the world haha. For a moment anyway.... eventually logic kicked in.... but just up the mountain from that moo cow i found the bull so i dont think theyre gonna be standing shoulder to shoulder but they tolerate eachother in the area.

glad you saw an elk on your first outting! more than many can say. My buddies on his second year in Wyoming (resident) and is complaining about not getting an elk after being in bugling elk for a week and a half and is still finding bugling elk in other areas near his house.... told him he's spoiled and doesnt have the perspective of how tough elk hunting can be yet

 

[3Esski]

If I find rubs etc I wouldn't say I focus on that area, but certainly it's a place to start trying to figure out why they like that area, how they access it and how they exit it. I feel like an area that has a good amount of rubs both old and new is obviously somewhere they feel comfortable and there is a reason why. likley you'll find water and bedding areas pretty close. I hunt elk that are really pressured and try and find the holes they get pushed into and just hang out in until the pressure goes down. Once I find sign I know that they are close in that area and it's just a matter of finding the best way to hunt it in regard to wind, access, shooting lanes etc. Rest assured though, if you make four plans of action, the other 3 that you didn't use were likely correct and the one you chose only proves you know nothing... at least that's my experience.

 

[LongWayAround]

The cattle in the area are no matter. This year on the morning i killed that bull i got fooled into a black cow that was kicking a log for some reason... i had a bear tag and thought i had found the biggest black bear in the world haha. For a moment anyway.... eventually logic kicked in.... but just up the mountain from that moo cow i found the bull so i dont think theyre gonna be standing shoulder to shoulder but they tolerate eachother in the area.

I had a similar thing happen a few years ago in a fairly heavily grazed area. A bull elk bugling on the other side of my drainage. I cut the distance down a little draw and see a flash of tan hide through the trees. "Oh shit, he's right here!" Draw my bow and step out. Big Charolais bull all caked in mud at like 10 yards. He was as surprised to see me as I was him. That thing has no idea how close he came to getting stuck.

 

[618-Flatlander]

Sure looks like a wallow ... but .... not one thats being used currently. I see moss and grass growing near the water.... and its not covered in splashed mud all around it.

Certainly rubs you have photo'd ... could be a nice mule deer or could be elk, some say they can tell by the height of where its at on the tree but unless its at 6 ft i dont know if i can tell ever. Beware porcupine chews as well, the one with your hand on it could be a porcupine. Could be a rub.

I dont pay attention to any of it though... unless the elk is standing there creating the rub i'm moving through the area looking for elk... you asked if im staying in an area or moving and the answer is im always moving.... i'm always looking for actual elk and not a ton on the sign. If i find a wallow thats being actively used i'll mark it and i may use it to sit a day when im exhausted from hunting hard for a couple of days.

The cattle in the area are no matter. This year on the morning i killed that bull i got fooled into a black cow that was kicking a log for some reason... i had a bear tag and thought i had found the biggest black bear in the world haha. For a moment anyway.... eventually logic kicked in.... but just up the mountain from that moo cow i found the bull so i dont think theyre gonna be standing shoulder to shoulder but they tolerate eachother in the area.

glad you saw an elk on your first outting! more than many can say. My buddies on his second year in Wyoming (resident) and is complaining about not getting an elk after being in bugling elk for a week and a half and is still finding bugling elk in other areas near his house.... told him he's spoiled and doesnt have the perspective of how tough elk hunting can be yet

Thanks for all that input! That’s all good info to use going forward. I don’t feel so dumb for shaking like crazy, trying to knock an arrow when I was sitting over that possible wallow, only to find out it was a cow. Haha

 

[huntercooper84]

618, another 618er here. From the Nashville area. My brother and I made our first trip out the 7-11th. We are both athletic builds but even though I knew the mountains would be tough we both were not prepared for it. First couple days were a bit rough adjusting to altitude and getting a feel for the mountains. Our last day hunting I feel we were actually doing well with hiking the mountains and controlling our breathing.
We ended up only seeing 2 elk, also in a heavily ran cattle area, more in the western part of the state. We hunted our way back home and got in a lot more elk sign in a location where no cattle were present.
We hunted from 8600-10600’. Out last day was more around 9500-10200’.
Knowing we would be a bit in over our heads I tried to hunt more overlooked spots closer to the trail heads. We were able to get on some sign but most of it looked old like they’d been pushed out already. Our next trip we plan to make more of a push further back and then take our time hunting further back.
Overall wasn’t much of an elk hunting experience but did learn a lot about the hiking, camping, terrain side of things, which we had virtually zero prior experience with.

 

[Beendare]

Thanks for all that input! That’s all good info to use going forward. I don’t feel so dumb for shaking like crazy, trying to knock an arrow when I was sitting over that possible wallow, only to find out it was a cow. Haha

It's all about learning the species you are hunting, their habits and more importantly what is affecting them at that particular time- be it food, cover or hunter pressure. FWIW, hunter pressure is the #1 factor in those heavily hunted units. Then you have to use the wind to your advantage- not easy in the swirling wind of the mountains.

The fun part is when you figure it out and are consistently into them....while others aren't.

 

[618-Flatlander]

618, another 618er here. From the Nashville area. My brother and I made our first trip out the 7-11th. We are both athletic builds but even though I knew the mountains would be tough we both were not prepared for it. First couple days were a bit rough adjusting to altitude and getting a feel for the mountains. Our last day hunting I feel we were actually doing well with hiking the mountains and controlling our breathing.
We ended up only seeing 2 elk, also in a heavily ran cattle area, more in the western part of the state. We hunted our way back home and got in a lot more elk sign in a location where no cattle were present.
We hunted from 8600-10600’. Out last day was more around 9500-10200’.
Knowing we would be a bit in over our heads I tried to hunt more overlooked spots closer to the trail heads. We were able to get on some sign but most of it looked old like they’d been pushed out already. Our next trip we plan to make more of a push further back and then take our time hunting further back.
Overall wasn’t much of an elk hunting experience but did learn a lot about the hiking, camping, terrain side of things, which we had virtually zero prior experience with.

Nice! I’m from Marissa. The first time I went to Colorado, I just got a black bear tag and hunted during September, hoping to hear an elk bugle. It was a reality check to say the least. I camped at around 9800 and felt bloated the whole time. Also was sucking air the whole way in. Once I dropped below 9400 on my way out, I felt way better. There was also a foot of snow, which I didn’t expect in September. This time was way better. Truck camped, with gear to spike camp if I needed to. I think the highest I got was in that 9500 range and I was running around like I was back here in Illinois walking in the woods. I think my average miles hiked was 8.5 miles and I could have done more easily, I just didn’t want to stay out late being by myself. Also probably why I didn’t see more elk. But I was ok with it. Learned a lot and had a good experience overall.

 

[The Harbor Master]

The first time I saw 2 large bulls at about 600yds running across the high desert, I thought they were horses as well lol. I understand.

 

[nwcomechanic]

Hike high sleep low if you're not used to altitude is what they say. Meaning its alright to hike high during the day but sleep low at night to limit the impacts of altitude sickness

 

[QBTurner7]

618, another 618er here. From the Nashville area. My brother and I made our first trip out the 7-11th. We are both athletic builds but even though I knew the mountains would be tough we both were not prepared for it. First couple days were a bit rough adjusting to altitude and getting a feel for the mountains. Our last day hunting I feel we were actually doing well with hiking the mountains and controlling our breathing.
We ended up only seeing 2 elk, also in a heavily ran cattle area, more in the western part of the state. We hunted our way back home and got in a lot more elk sign in a location where no cattle were present.
We hunted from 8600-10600’. Out last day was more around 9500-10200’.
Knowing we would be a bit in over our heads I tried to hunt more overlooked spots closer to the trail heads. We were able to get on some sign but most of it looked old like they’d been pushed out already. Our next trip we plan to make more of a push further back and then take our time hunting further back.
Overall wasn’t much of an elk hunting experience but did learn a lot about the hiking, camping, terrain side of things, which we had virtually zero prior experience with.

I made my first elk trip with my brother also in September in the SW part of the state. Stayed between 8800-10400 feet and we honestly got our butts kicked despite being athletic built and thinking we were in shape. Did not see one elk but we learned a ton and can't wait to get back into the backcountry in the future!

 

[Mcribs]

Hardest thing to grasp as a new hunter is that the poop needs to be very very fresh. Not 2 days old. And the area needs to smell like elk. Or you need to have eyes on elk. Otherwise keep looking.