Killing Time in the Elkwoods ?

[trophyhill]

Is there a certain period of the day that's been more productive for you? For me, every elk I've killed has been within an hour or 2 of dusk. I have blown some great opportunities at other times of the day

 

[squirrel]

guy told me he has never killed an elk except between 9-3 I found that hard to believe until I analysed his hunting.

He is scared of the dark, never goes out early or back late. And he does not "hunt" just shoots as they run past.

I would trade all the evenings for one more morning, but I have killed a bunch in the evenings too.

If you get in a rut it can lead to self-fulfilling prophesy territory. The BEST time to kill an elk is sometime when there is enough daylight to see the sights against his hide.

 

[Beendare]

Well its crazy how many times I've been kicking back in the woods mid day....and an opportunity presents itself.

I typically nap, eat, roast a grouse or sausage for lunch, study the topography or analyze sign...or analyze what I've seen the elk doing so far, or look at new country, sitting water or wallows- etc...there is a ton of stuff to do on these hunts to improve your odds.

Just being in the right spot you might get lucky. I don't know many guys that have killed one in camp...well maybe a couple actually. I killed a caribou in camp on the peninsula while eating lunch- but I digress, this is elk.

I've been woken up from a nap at mid day by bugling bulls and then killing one 10 minutes later.

I was teaching my buddy how to call mid day on a limited unit Bowhunt in Utah and we had a small 6 point walk right in to us on a hot wide open sagebrush hillside and sniff his boot.

One time in hard hunted Co OTC middle of the day- and it was warm, too warm- I was in an Aspen grove snacking and getting ready to relax when I hear a bugle 500yds away...then I hear it getting closer...and here comes a cow running right at me.

I was right on a game trail and dang if she didn't come right on that trail [better to be lucky than good eh? grin] Well she spooks a little and veers off at 10'....then here comes the herd on her trail 5 more cows and a decent 5 point bull taking up the rear.

Well somehow when the bull was 10' away I drew my bow really fast at a funny angle being hunched down and all and my arrow gets wedged in between my QAD rest and the riser. The bull is looking at me broadside...and I'm trying to unwedge the arrow with my bow hand.

it went downhill from there...but point is you just never know....even mid day.

_____

 

[Indian Summer]

I’ve killed em morning noon and late but I’d say mornings have been best.

 

[Elkdreamer]

Morning have been best luck for me. However, I have had many chances throughout the day.

 

[elkguide]

I like the mornings best because I love to watch the sunrise but as for killing elk...……..
I can't say that one hour has been any better than another.

 

[BradNSW]

In my short 3 years elk hunting, all my encounters (less than 50yds) almost evenly spaced 1/3 AM, 1/3 10-4PM and 1/3 evening. Glassing, more in the evening/morning.