Hunting elk in "steep" country
- Thread starter jaegle2
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Beendare
WKR
Yep^
As you can see by the many responses in wind...its the numero uno critical factor. Don't move in unless this is in your favor.
____
ckleeves
WKR
There are basins that hardly ever have consistent wind. It’s just in how they lay as far as terrain, face direction, shade/sun etc.
Storms, prevailing wind directions etc all play into it as well. You can have a East facing slope and a prevailing west wind and it’s gonna be a battle getting consistent wind on that slope anytime the wind blows.
Then you have those days that you just can’t buy a consistent wind. Last year in Colorado the first week of archery season was like that.
I would keep on hunting there if your into elk. Start making mental notes (or real notes) on what the wind does daily and then make moves to compensate.
The more you hunt an area the better you get at figuring out the winds. There is a reason the guy you ran into is still hunting there....
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Storms, prevailing wind directions etc all play into it as well. You can have a East facing slope and a prevailing west wind and it’s gonna be a battle getting consistent wind on that slope anytime the wind blows.
Then you have those days that you just can’t buy a consistent wind. Last year in Colorado the first week of archery season was like that.
I would keep on hunting there if your into elk. Start making mental notes (or real notes) on what the wind does daily and then make moves to compensate.
The more you hunt an area the better you get at figuring out the winds. There is a reason the guy you ran into is still hunting there....
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HighUintas
WKR
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2020
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I agree about it being his honey hole and not wanting you to hunt there.
When you get busted by the wind, are you taking into account the prevailing wind? It seems so many people talk about thermals as if it's always uphill midday and always downhill morning and evening. Where I hunt, I haven't hardly been able to use the actual thermals because the wind is always so strong. So, my thermals are usually in reality just the prevailing wind, which does swirl alot in my area.
When you get busted by the wind, are you taking into account the prevailing wind? It seems so many people talk about thermals as if it's always uphill midday and always downhill morning and evening. Where I hunt, I haven't hardly been able to use the actual thermals because the wind is always so strong. So, my thermals are usually in reality just the prevailing wind, which does swirl alot in my area.
You can’t hunt uphill in the dark timber. The bulls bed on small benches where they can look down.
The best slope face to hunt can vary. In archery season they tend to be north facing, but any slope with water, and thus thick, is a good start. Look for access points to steep terrain such as benches or saddles. For later seasons they may be more towards south facing slopes where the grass stays edible longer.
Winds can be tricky in steep terrain but if you understand the daily change from cooling air falling before sunrise to warm air rising, and then the prevailing winds, you’ll likely be fine. When/if those transitions occur is anyone’s guess.
I find random cow calls seem to mask any noise you make (other than talking of course). Elk are loud don’t worry about noise, just no human noise.
The best slope face to hunt can vary. In archery season they tend to be north facing, but any slope with water, and thus thick, is a good start. Look for access points to steep terrain such as benches or saddles. For later seasons they may be more towards south facing slopes where the grass stays edible longer.
Winds can be tricky in steep terrain but if you understand the daily change from cooling air falling before sunrise to warm air rising, and then the prevailing winds, you’ll likely be fine. When/if those transitions occur is anyone’s guess.
I find random cow calls seem to mask any noise you make (other than talking of course). Elk are loud don’t worry about noise, just no human noise.
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Poser
WKR
I learned to hunt elk in steep country. All of the elk I’ve killed have been in steep country. I’ve only hunted elk in steep country. I like steep country.
Indian Summer
WKR
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2013
- Messages
- 2,503
A guy who chooses to hunt the same area says it’s not a good area to hunt and you should leave the state entirely. 
You’re doing very well. Keep learning the area and about elk hunting there for sure.
You’re doing very well. Keep learning the area and about elk hunting there for sure.
Well I get your point Indian Summer but he never said it was a bad area to hunt. The guy admitted to me that there are good bulls there. In fact, the guy is local but he is actually a NR. He hunts his home state and then where we hunt. I consider him local because he lives within a couple hours of this particular area and thats far closer than me so I refer to him as a local.
He made it sound more like the steepness is adding another element that makes things more difficult from a wind perspective especially for an inexperienced guy like myself. He could have been yanking my chain but he may have actually been trying to be helpful too which is why i originally made the post. It never did make a whole lot of sense to me though.
Bottom line is it sounds like its unanimous that his comment makes no sense. Thats what I was looking for.
He made it sound more like the steepness is adding another element that makes things more difficult from a wind perspective especially for an inexperienced guy like myself. He could have been yanking my chain but he may have actually been trying to be helpful too which is why i originally made the post. It never did make a whole lot of sense to me though.
Bottom line is it sounds like its unanimous that his comment makes no sense. Thats what I was looking for.
adamantine
FNG
I agree with all the above thoughts BUT....
I have found areas that due to some unfathomable height/angle/moon phase/mercury retrograde/bigfoot etc reason always seem to fairly unsettled winds. They only get steady at the very earliest of latest parts of the day vs other areas nearby that are much more forgiving. No surprise, they're usually loaded with elk.
Those areas tend to be very steep valleys or next to the biggest mountains in the area. So unfortunately I'm not helping you out much other than to say that yes, it is possible you are in one of those areas. Just make sure to stalk in
For example, there is one basin we ALWAYS find elk in every year. A group of 10-20 elk with 1-2 bulls opening day all the way until the end of the month. There is only a 30 minute window in the evening when winds shift in a direction that allows you to stalk in and even then it can swirl. Don't get me wrong, I still check it out every year, but I know it's bad odds.
I have found areas that due to some unfathomable height/angle/moon phase/mercury retrograde/bigfoot etc reason always seem to fairly unsettled winds. They only get steady at the very earliest of latest parts of the day vs other areas nearby that are much more forgiving. No surprise, they're usually loaded with elk.
Those areas tend to be very steep valleys or next to the biggest mountains in the area. So unfortunately I'm not helping you out much other than to say that yes, it is possible you are in one of those areas. Just make sure to stalk in
For example, there is one basin we ALWAYS find elk in every year. A group of 10-20 elk with 1-2 bulls opening day all the way until the end of the month. There is only a 30 minute window in the evening when winds shift in a direction that allows you to stalk in and even then it can swirl. Don't get me wrong, I still check it out every year, but I know it's bad odds.
Poser
WKR
^ one of my prime spots is only good during rising thermals. We get up at 7, sneak in at 9, try kill a bull before 5.
Yep....me too. Happened to me this last year.
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