First Week Colorado Thoughts and Lessons

[dirt_nap]

Since you knew where they were you should not have tried calling them out of their beds, especially this early in the season when they are not rutting. After you did that they KNEW you were there.

Good call. That would explain why ambush led to more interactions for us. Do you feel that calling them out of their bedding areas could be a more viable strategy a week or two later in the season?

 

[Phaseolus]

In heavily hunted (and called) units I’m not a fan of trying to call them out of beds. It’s different in premium units of course. Elk have become very call shy in Colorado outside of premium units. Calling experience helps level the playing field. Video learning does not. Experience is gained by finding out what works and what doesn’t.

 

[dirt_nap]

In heavily hunted (and called) units I’m not a fan of trying to call them out of beds. It’s different in premium units of course. Elk have become very call shy in Colorado outside of premium units. Calling experience helps level the playing field. Video learning does not. Experience is gained by finding out what works and what doesn’t.

Good insight. Coming from rifle hunting them for years the calling/getting in close still feels like the biggest hurdle for us. I appreciate the wisdom on not trying to call them out of their beds.

 

[mnbuckfinder]

Remember that once a shot does present itself (if you're lucky enough), that an elks shoulder bone is very tough and they have very large lungs. Extreme heartbreak on the second to the last day of my hunt this past weekend. Hindsight 20/20