Moment of truth elk hunting

[Gutshot007]

Have been hunting trad for 30 years. Mainly whitetails from treestand. I like shots 15-20 yards and in. Heading to Montana in the fall for elk with a buddy that shoots compound. We are planning on calling/decoy tag team hunting. I get each situation /terrain is different and one has to adjust to be successful. If it's a little more open I may have him set up front for potential longer shots etc. As a trad shooter have you guys picked up "tricks" that have been helpful to close the gap for a shot ? Other than obvious wind /cover. How successful have you been agressively trying to move towards the animal coming in or is that a recipe for getting busted? Caller moving back. Curious about mistakes made and risks that payed off. Thanks

 

[Werty]

Make sure your caller is behind you enough, so that the elk have to come through you to find the caller.

 

[oldgoat]

I like decoys but they can be tricky, have had them work and have had them screw me! But it's sure nice when they work and you can get a way with a lot of movement. Not as important though to have them with a calling team, but I basically won't hunt solo without them!

 

[Sapcut]

Just turkey hunt them.

 

[Gutshot007]

Funny you said that. That was pretty much what was thinking!

 

[dlee56]

If you're just going for any bull focus on cow calling satellite raghorns. I called this bull to 7 yards solo this last year, late Sept. In my experience younger satellites are more likely to come right to where the call is made where an older bull will hang up. I'm a huge believer in Chris Roe's cow calling strategies, look up Roe Hunting Resources.

 

[Gutshot007]

If you're just going for any bull focus on cow calling satellite raghorns. I called this bull to 7 yards solo this last year, late Sept. In my experience younger satellites are more likely to come right to where the call is made where an older bull will hang up. I'm a huge believer in Chris Roe's cow calling strategies, look up Roe Hunting Resources.

Nice job! I will look him up. Thanks

 

[SwampGhost]

Don’t be afraid to hunt them just like you hunt whitetails. I have been successful sitting trails and water holes/wallows…..
I was sitting a trail that crossed a small creek and heard this bull bugling. I cow called to him and he kept coming. I didn’t “go after him” he came to me and I stuck him at 13 yards!
Good luck to you!

 

[Gutshot007]

Man, that's a dandy. Some of the videos I've seen a bull bugle "kissing"close .looks like the guy had to clean " elk snot " off. Talk about keeping a cool head.

 

[Gutshot007]

I know elk and whitetail are different. Watching body language it seems like a whitetail is more "skittish " or nervous. Maybe others have different opinions. Certainly could be related to their experience of human pressure

 

[sneaky]

I rolled my 4 wheeler over the winter and messed up my left shoulder. Tried drawing my ILF setup with 40lb limbs the other night. That didn't go well. Archery season may not be in the cards for me this fall. Best advice I can give on calling solo... call, then move. I've been pinned multiple times by bulls sneaking in silent and I didn't know they were coming. If I had moved 20 yards or so I would have gotten shots.

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[Gutshot007]

Sneaky, sorry to hear about the shoulder(try a little PT or steroid shot) Looking at your pick in the corner I see a "government dog" . Not to venture to far of track ,any story there ? I trap in Minnesota ,but haven't since the crash and NAFA going belly up.

I rolled my 4 wheeler over the winter and messed up my left shoulder. Tried drawing my ILF setup with 40lb limbs the other night. That didn't go well. Archery season may not be in the cards for me this fall. Best advice I can give on calling solo... call, then move. I've been pinned multiple times by bulls sneaking in silent and I didn't know they were coming. If I had moved 20 yards or so I would have gotten shots.

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[Recurve Man]

One thing I've learned elk hunting is if the bull spooks have a cow call in your mouth. Had several encounters trad hunting where they get close but maybe quartering or something, just not a good angle be patient and do not take a bad shot. If they spook ive called and they stop on a dime. They dont leave the country like you'd think. Also have had second shot opportunities alot. Especially as fast as you can reload your bow shooting trad. Plus have had some sickening situations where if you could shoot 30 - 50 yrds could drilled them probably with a compound. Its a blast and gut wrenching all in the same set up.

I'll be in MT for my 7th year this year. It sure is addictive.

 

[Recurve Man]

I'll add this as well. You dont have to hide behind something like you'd think. Especially shooting trad bow stay in front of something that breaks your outline. I never get down on one knee to shoot either. Learned that as well but took about 3 years trying to be sneaky. You can get by with so much more on elk than you can WT. Like you im a WT hunter for 40yrs and did way to much sneaking and cat and mousing on my first years of elk hunting. They make a ton of noise coming and its okay to make nouse getting to them. Enjoy your trip and dont pack so much crap up and down the mountains either. Youll learn you need just what you need to break one down and hang the quarters and be able to pack some with ya back to the truck. My buddy actually wears a turkey vest and has everything he needs to get the job done on his back and in the pockets. Next trip in we take frame packs when you have one down.
Good luck my friend.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Haven't hunted with a stick bow in a few years. Two things that helped me, rake more than you call inside 200 yards and move your ass when your gut tells ya.

 

[Gutshot007]

Have had a few second shot on whitetails after a mmmiss ! Like that quiet bow. Interesting point on raking vs calling. Sounds like being more aggressive on movement shouldn't be unrealistic. . Thanks fellas

 

[sneaky]

Sneaky, sorry to hear about the shoulder(try a little PT or steroid shot) Looking at your pick in the corner I see a "government dog" . Not to venture to far of track ,any story there ? I trap in Minnesota ,but haven't since the crash and NAFA going belly up.

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Yeah, I rolled my wheeler checking my wolf line before the snow got too deep to use it. If I had taken my normal route it could have been avoided like always... but I wanted to take a short cut. Still regretting that decision. That one weighed 93lbs when I got him home and on the scale. Had another one get wrapped around some solid brush and pulled out. I'll get an earlier jump on them this year if the judge doesn't shut us down. Ruling was supposed to have come down earlier this week but they delayed it. Antis somehow think we're going to kill all the grizzlies and lynx.

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[GreenNDark Timber]

Not a trick to get them in range, but some advise I learned the hard way on the first couple bulls I shot with a stick bow. If they're walking, use a mouth call to stop them prior to the shot or if you prefer to shoot animals walking intentionally pick a spot forward of your target. I know this sounds obvious but they look big and slow when they're within stick bow range and those long legs can move them a long ways before your arrow gets to them, even at 20yds or under. I stop them every time now.