How to find elk in dark timber?

[Hnthrdr]

Love the black timber. Especially the deadfall where it takes an hour to move 50 yards thru

Typically it guarantees that you won’t see any other hunters that is for sure, those elk seem to like some of that nasty deadfall too crazy how quick they can move through it

 

[Still Hunter]

Nothing affects you quite the same, as the magnitude of the resounding and echoing IMPACT! of heavily beamed antlers smashing through heavy Pine and Aspen , going quickly away in the opposite direction!

Words of advice, " Don't do that"!

 

[cnelk]

When I hunt the thick stuff, hearing the ‘Ol Hoof Knock’ gets the blood flowing

 

[jpmulk]

For archery and calling, i prefer dark timber over open country. If your not a caller, spot and stalk open country may be a better option.

 

[Still Hunter]

When I hunt the thick stuff, hearing the ‘Ol Hoof Knock’ gets the blood flowing

And the ole heart rate starts to pound in your ears!

 

[P Carter]

Look at the topo maps rather than aerial images. Those will show you the benches, flat spots, little saddles, flat ridges, etc that elk will use to get around. If elk are there, there will be sign. Once you hit the sign, then get slow like the others mention. I’d check the flat spots where creeks level out, benches, and small ridge lines, in that order, to try and find the sign. Scouting will be your friend—it may take a few years to figure out how to get around in that crap, follow the game trails rather than trying to straight line between point a and point b.

 

[Marble]

I just work my way through slowly, always using the wind and take whatever trail looks like it is traveled more. I use my binos ALOT. You can see several layers of trees and such by using them. I typically will wear light gloves because im grabbing trees to ease myself down to the ground softly and a walking stick. I use the stick for the same thing, plus I can move stuff out of the way.

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[ElkNut1]

• smokinbobf4 -- Do yourself a favor & get a Bugle & 3 different cow calls. Learn 3-4 Tactics of use that will apply within dark timber. Depending on the day you're hunting at minimum one of those Tactics can apply.

I honestly believe the couple of years you've elk hunted you are rarely using calls because you fear you will run animals off.

Get rid of that mentality & replace it with confidence! The only way to do this is through lots of educated practice & understanding what a handful of elk sounds mean to the elk. It's all about communication not just making elk sounds!

If you haven't already please watch the video clip I posted on the How To Hunt Elk In Dark Timber. What's in use there is the Advertising Sequence, it's super deadly in the country you're hunting. Don't watch it for entertainment but watch it to learn & understand the reason of its use! This is just one Tactic but super deadly on OTC elk!

ElkNut

 

[Pony Soldier]

Remember - cats are really quiet - elk walk at a stroll. Like others have said - pick a trail. Be super careful at the tops of ridges. Don't be in a rush. Let them teach you the country. Be curious!

 

[smokinbobf4]

This is all good info and kind of sounds like I am on the right track if I decide to hunt there. I have looked it over a ton on topo and have a lot of benches, saddles, etc marked on my map. I have not heard of the flat where the creek is so I will dive in to that as well. Just so hard to know what to do since I have never been “in” elk. That is really the goal this year. I did hunt this place my first year I went, about 4 years ago during the rifle season (and it was way thicker than I anticipated) and never saw any but there was fresh sign. I always thought it would be a good place to hunt during archery season but now that it’s coming up, I am second guessing.


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[smokinbobf4]

• smokinbobf4 -- Do yourself a favor & get a Bugle & 3 different cow calls. Learn 3-4 Tactics of use that will apply within dark timber. Depending on the day you're hunting at minimum one of those Tactics can apply.

I honestly believe the couple of years you've elk hunted you are rarely using calls because you fear you will run animals off.

Get rid of that mentality & replace it with confidence! The only way to do this is through lots of educated practice & understanding what a handful of elk sounds mean to the elk. It's all about communication not just making elk sounds!

If you haven't already please watch the video clip I posted on the How To Hunt Elk In Dark Timber. What's in use there is the Advertising Sequence, it's super deadly in the country you're hunting. Don't watch it for entertainment but watch it to learn & understand the reason of its use! This is just one Tactic but super deadly on OTC elk!

ElkNut

I have actually been working on my elk calling off and on since about 2018. I don’t think I am too bad at it and have watched a fair amount of your stuff and have your app. I have not seen your hunting in dark timber video but I will certainly check it out! I would really like to have an encounter or two as I really feel like you would learn a lot during the real thing. The first encounter I may just forget everything and just be amazed that elk do exist! Lol


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[cnelk]

Here’s a little story from last year.

My son and I were cow calling about 50 yds apart with a meadow behind us.

A few minutes after we started calling, I heard a ‘hoof knock’ and signaled to my son to switch positions (I had already tagged out)

He came over to where I was and I moved to where he was.
A couple minutes later here come this bull, but he swung wide out into the meadow and my son didn’t have a shot. But he did get a pic of the bull.

Lessons: Know what sounds are elk. Know that you you have time to reposition. Always be ready to do whatever it takes

 

[ElkNut1]

The Video I'm referring to is just under the Thread you started. It's on the same page as yours.

In that case the hunters were using the Advertising/Displaying Sequence.

ElkNut

 

[HornPorn]

^^ What he said....

Go slow into the wind the best you can and really, really, really, listen. If you hunt the timber like I do you notice every branch snap. And you soon learn the difference between a "thunk" "thud" "tick" "Pop" and a "snap". All of which I over analyze 90% of the time. lol

Probably best not to be stoned when doing this (for all the Colorado guys)

 

[bigjohn2]

Generally speaking, from the description of your experience: still hunt your way up from bottom. Don’t expect much till your an hour from access. Find spore that is so rich & fresh you can feel them. Take a chair with you. Sit & brush yourself in down wind of likely approach.
If you find what I’m describing don’t push the elk over to next hunter. Stay until dark 30 & slip out quietly. Be back on that chair by 1st light. Be patient!
You will need about 3 places that meet this requirement & rotate so as not to burn spot out with your presence. Good luck. Tell me how it gos after your hunt.

 

[bigjohn2]

By the way, leave your calls in your pouch on public ground for a while. When you’re sitting in chair just look and listen. Most of your calling will result in sending the elk over to your neighboring Hunter,

 

[5MilesBack]

Still hunting dark timber is how I rifle hunted elk for years, and very successfully. Shots were always close. In fact, my last rifle elk hunt (besides late season meat shoots) I shot a nice 5-point at 25 yards. I've been bowhunting them since. So much easier when they tell you where they are.

 

[trophyhill]

Typically it guarantees that you won’t see any other hunters that is for sure, those elk seem to like some of that nasty deadfall too crazy how quick they can move through it

It has its advantages for sure. And its disadvantages. Last year i had a dozen or more call ins in the deadfall and thick black timber stands with probably 100 places these bulls woulda, coulda , shoulda stopped allowing me a shot opportunity. The disadvantage was and is there are 10,000 places they can come in and stop where you don't have a shot. But the up close and personal encounters are full of adrenaline!

 

[commandoNate]

If it's that thick you have to locate them audibly in my mind. Be proficient in all elk communications, not just ripping a locate bugle and a challenge bugle.

 

[smokinbobf4]

I’m definitely going to look more in to calling sequences. I have looked through some but feel I need to do more. I have almost committed to this area, I just can’t 100% decide


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