Moving before first light

[Randle]

I am hunting as soon as I leave the truck or camp . I have run into elk 100 yards from there so no need to push them further away . I don't have glassing spots, it's north idaho you know.

 

[Rangerpants]

I am hunting as soon as I leave the truck or camp . I have run into elk 100 yards from there so no need to push them further away . I don't have glassing spots, it's north idaho you know.

Good point. In some places I hunt blacktails I do the same thing. It really depends on where you are. In open country, I like getting up high prior to light, but in the thick stuff, there really isn't a point unless you already know where a big one lives and have to move in the dark just to be closer in the morning.

 

[WCB]

I didn't know there was even a question around this? A main tactic rifle elk hunting has always been get above some meadows or around a saddle before light and wait.

 

[AaronMColeman]

I am hunting as soon as I leave the truck or camp . I have run into elk 100 yards from there so no need to push them further away . I don't have glassing spots, it's north idaho you know.

Opening day of archery this year I drove up to a spot I like to start from about 60 min before light. I got out and heard crashing noises about 300y away. Turned out there were 6 bulls all fighting and a big dude watching.

Then later in the day I was in dead fall city just crunching and making a ton of noise and not really hunting. Bumped a decent bull who I may have seen if I had been paying better attention.

So, bottom line, always be hunting even when you're not hunting.

 

[Randle]

Yep 2 years ago hunted all morning got within 100yards of my truck crawled out of the white fir sapling jungle to see a 5 point bull standing there looking at me, and there he was ..... gone

 

[silverbullet555]

I always try to be in first glassing point before first light. Not sunrise, preferably an hour before, or 30 minutes before shooting light. That being said, I sometimes don't get that far. Even where you know the place, if the hike is a hard one, it usually takes longer than expected. Yesterday's hike was 3 hours. I didn't quite make it where I wanted to. Last year in the same spot, I didn't get to my planned spot in time, but I got to a point and saw the two deer below me, one of which was looking at me. I got lucky and took them. This year, no deer to be seen. Maybe they weren't there. Maybe I was too late.

 

[Gerbdog]

All depends on the spot for me, i have hunting spots i wouldnt dare hike very far in in the dark and others i dont think it would be a problem. As someone mentioned above, i stopped calling before light as ive had them come in a half hour before hunting hours and then leave again also. I usually try and get in to where i think there is a possibility of elk and then sit and listen in the dark, let them talk on their own but i dont push past even the first area i think there will be elk, i've bumped them in the dark before doing that.

 

[justinspicher]

I’ve never had any success being anywhere before first light except being cold sitting somewhere. This is for any animal, stalking or sitting in a stand or blind. I understand the purpose, but it doesn’t seem to work for me where I hunt.

 

[bigharge]

My best success for elk has been sleeping in but that’s probably just because it happens more than waking up early, so just a matter of percentages.

I will say last week I had pinpointed a spot I thought a herd of elk would be opening morning. And low and behold they were there, unfortunately I mistimed how long it would take my son to make the hike and we were about 30 minutes away from being in position to shoot. So my advice is leave a little earlier just make sure lol


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