Ok need some Elk rifle advise.

[Luked]

I have hunted CO once in Archery season. Had a blast and got hooked.
I have really got into shooting more so for 2025 i plan to go back.
Here is where some of my delima comes in.
Its looking like I'm going to be going solo, which is fine with me. I had planned to hunt the same unit that I hunted in 2022.
But I know the Elk behave different from Early season to later seasons.
I'm still trying to do some map study.
In 2nd rifle types of season when doing E scouting what types of things are you looking for mainly?
Are you looking for south facing slops mainly?

 

[sndmn11]

Places to glass from and roads that will likely be open to get near them.

 

[jgilber5]

Pockets with food, water, and thick cover that are juuust big enough for them to survive in but not big enough that 100 other people will find em E-scouting.

 

[csrichardson97]

Watch some of Randy Newberg's E-scouting videos on youtube. He gives some good well rounded advice for each season.

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

There’s not really any rhyme or reason to where elk will be, you hear stuff like “south facing slopes” “9500’ and higher elevation” all kinds of “rules” but as someone who spends months on the mountain chasing elk I will tell you there isn’t a single rule for elk. They do what they want when they want or when they need. I’ve chased elk at 6,000’ elevation in the middle of summer and chased them 2 days later at 11,000’ and every elevation in between. When you are e scouting find 15 areas to hunt all over that look elky, and be ready to be on plan G by day 2 if you need. Elk will do elk things and that’s feed, water, rut and survive. Where they do it will depend on a ton of factors 1 being pressure, 2 being recreational traffic 3 will be just cause they are elk and do what they do.

Remember when ur escouting, you and every other person may be following the same exact rules so you and all those guys may being going to the same spot. If you call the game warden in the area ur not special, he’s not gonna give you some inside intel he hasn’t given the 40 others that have called. Sometimes the closest places to the trail head produce elk because it’s overlooked. Rarely believe the guys that say they are 15 miles deep, in this state it’s very rare to be 15 miles deep and 15 miles away from another trailhead, in my area if I’m 15 miles in from one trailhead I’m 1 mile from the other. And my biggest rule if you’re going solo, don’t go to a spot ur not willing to go into 5 more times, don’t get greedy and shoot one then be the guy on social media begging for help cause it’s to far, and don’t get pissed at the outfitter when you call and he says he can’t do it, or tells you he can’t get his animals to that spot.


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[hereinaz]

There’s not really any rhyme or reason to where elk will be, you hear stuff like “south facing slopes” “9500’ and higher elevation” all kinds of “rules” but as someone who spends months on the mountain chasing elk I will tell you there isn’t a single rule for elk. They do what they want when they want or when they need. I’ve chased elk at 6,000’ elevation in the middle of summer and chased them 2 days later at 11,000’ and every elevation in between. When you are e scouting find 15 areas to hunt all over that look elky, and be ready to be on plan G by day 2 if you need. Elk will do elk things and that’s feed, water, rut and survive. Where they do it will depend on a ton of factors 1 being pressure, 2 being recreational traffic 3 will be just cause they are elk and do what they do.

Remember when ur escouting, you and every other person may be following the same exact rules so you and all those guys may being going to the same spot. If you call the game warden in the area ur not special, he’s not gonna give you some inside intel he hasn’t given the 40 others that have called. Sometimes the closest places to the trail head produce elk because it’s overlooked. Rarely believe the guys that say they are 15 miles deep, in this state it’s very rare to be 15 miles deep and 15 miles away from another trailhead, in my area if I’m 15 miles in from one trailhead I’m 1 mile from the other. And my biggest rule if you’re going solo, don’t go to a spot ur not willing to go into 5 more times, don’t get greedy and shoot one then be the guy on social media begging for help cause it’s to far, and don’t get pissed at the outfitter when you call and he says he can’t do it, or tells you he can’t get his animals to that spot.


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Agree. Elk do what elk do, and at best the “rules” are sorta guidelines. You find elk where they are…

Weather and location are as important as for where you hunt, generally. Boots on the ground, high points to glass, and ways to look into nooks and crannies. You don’t need to hike far for that.

There are roads all over in AZ and the silly elk could bugle and disappear in a flash. They don’t need much room to do that. Even following them as they bugle it’s hard to see them and understand how they vanish into the pockets.

 

[LostArra]

You find elk where they are…

.... not where you want them to be. (from resident elk Ninja, cnelk)

 

[HenDawg3]

All the things stated above pretty much sum it up. They’ll be where they want to be and getting what they need. My experience 2nd season can be a harder hunt sometimes cuz of the pressure that comes after the 1st rifle shots during 1st season and that’s when they aren’t bachelors uo
And aren’t rutting. Bulls take odd and want to be alone and they find the nasty stuff to do it in. Nasty country and some good glass hemps a ton unless you’ve some early snowstorm or something to help you out. Good luck !