new vs old sign

[Coach529]

Elk newbie with a question.

How do you determine old vs new sign. Trails, rubs etc.

 

[Superkodiak38]

That rub to the right is the freshest, look how bright the wood is, also look for definition in tracks, fresh broken earth. Earth dries out, oxidizes over time. Tracks get old and cave in, or get weathered and degrade. You'll know it when you see it, when you can smell it you know you are really close

 

[Superkodiak38]

Also look for hair, hair doesn't last long, birds use it, squirrels use it unless it gets trapped in barbed wire or under bark or something it isn't around long.

 

[CX5Ranch]

When looking at elk poo smear ur with your foot. If it stays the same bright green color throughout it is only hours old. If the outer shell is a little darker than inner, but still bright green and smooshy in the middle still very fresh. Crusty outside day or 2 old. Crusty all the way through can be months old.

If tracks are still pointed and sharp in the mud they are fresh. If mud is fallen in and the water is clear around them they're old.

If a wallow is clear as bath water it's old. There will be muddy water and fresh mud on sides of trees.

Rubs are pretty easy. If the sap is still sticky around the wound of the tree it's been done in less than a couple days. If its dry and non sappy it's old.

I've hunted super fresh sign and never saw an elk. I've saw lots of elk where there was no sign. The freshest sign is the kind you can hear.

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[Coach529]

Thanks!!

 

[Ruskin]

I watched 8 elk walk into an open field. I shot one and dropped him in the field. I took the opportunity to walk the field so I could see what new elk tracks looked like. In that dry dusty field, I couldn’t find an elk track I thought was fresh. That was 45 min from watching the elk cross. It’s hard to tell sometimes.


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[Coach529]

I watched 8 elk walk into an open field. I shot one and dropped him in the field. I took the opportunity to walk the field so I could see what new elk tracks looked like. In that dry dusty field, I couldn’t find an elk track I thought was fresh. That was 45 min from watching the elk cross. It’s hard to tell sometimes.


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Defintately appreciate the feedback.