First Nevada archery elk hunt

[Mtbhikernv]

Hello everyone,
I cashed in 6 points on a Nevada bull, and with a 7 year waiting period, it’s high stakes. The caveat is I’ve done one depredation elk hunt, and I just started shooting a bow this year.

I’ll be hunting in August in northern Nevada, I wanted to see if there are any unique tips or tricks for archery hunting elk in Nevada conditions? I’ve been shooting my bow a ton, shooting in weird positions, done as many 3d shoots as I can, listened to every dang podcast I can find, and done some e scouting. I have two scouting trips planned this summer.

Anything I’m missing? My units are pretty well roaded, so as much as I’d like to backpack I think it makes more sense to be mobile and find small pockets where they are hiding from pressure and staging for the rut.

 

[RockAndSage]

Congrats on the tag. Best advice I can offer is to treat the first couple of days of your first trip as just scouting for access, for good glassing spots, and for good approaches to those spots from wherever you park. You want to have a solid game plan of exactly where you'll be at first shooting light on opening day, how long it takes to get there from camp and from where you park, and where your next few glassing spots will be, in order.

E-scouting is critical, but it's just the pre-scouting of what I just described - when you get on the ground, you'll find "roads" shown that are impassible, along with 2-tracks that don't show up on the map at all. Gates, washouts, and rock fall that can shut a road down too. You'll be able to perceive things you can't from the air, including topographical and vegetation layout that could change things entirely for your plans. So the first day or so, just think about it as learning the access of the area, then dial it in from there. After that, start trying to be in those glassing spots at prime-time. And, never underestimate the value of getting down into those areas on foot during scouting season to check for sign.

 

[Mtbhikernv]

Congrats on the tag. Best advice I can offer is to treat the first couple of days of your first trip as just scouting for access, for good glassing spots, and for good approaches to those spots from wherever you park. You want to have a solid game plan of exactly where you'll be at first shooting light on opening day, how long it takes to get there from camp and from where you park, and where your next few glassing spots will be, in order.

E-scouting is critical, but it's just the pre-scouting of what I just described - when you get on the ground, you'll find "roads" shown that are impassible, along with 2-tracks that don't show up on the map at all. Gates, washouts, and rock fall that can shut a road down too. You'll be able to perceive things you can't from the air, including topographical and vegetation layout that could change things entirely for your plans. So the first day or so, just think about it as learning the access of the area, then dial it in from there. After that, start trying to be in those glassing spots at prime-time. And, never underestimate the value of getting down into those areas on foot during scouting season to check for sign.

Awesome, thanks! I picked a bad weather weekend to head out there in a few days, but it’ll be good to get boots on the ground and stop staring at these damn maps. My onx looks like a lite brite.

 

[chicoredneck]

Set yourself up to cover lots of ground during your hunt. Be mobile. The big bulls will be by themselves or in bachelor groups. If you don’t find elk where you are during prime glassing hours, move to a new spot. Elk seem to disappear into cover even earlier than deer, but in the summer, they can surprise you with some late afternoon activity.

The elk hunt in NV occurs primarily before the rut - rut usually starts here mid to late September. So you will be spot and stalk hunting.

 

[Mtbhikernv]

Set yourself up to cover lots of ground during your hunt. Be mobile. The big bulls will be by themselves or in bachelor groups. If you don’t find elk where you are during prime glassing hours, move to a new spot. Elk seem to disappear into cover even earlier than deer, but in the summer, they can surprise you with some late afternoon activity.

The elk hunt in NV occurs primarily before the rut - rut usually starts here mid to late September. So you will be spot and stalk hunting.

Perfect, my trips pre season will be more oriented to water sources, sign, and road access. I’m hoping I catch the beginning of the rut at the end of my season. But that’ll also mean I was unsuccessful to that point, which I don’t want! I also have a deer tag the same time so it’ll be a target rich environment, hopefully.