Reflections on 2024 Elk Hunt

[Undrgrndprdcts]

I've been thinking about my 2024 elk hunt since we got back, and reflecting on the terrain there has left me with a few questions. First, we covered 10-12 miles a day with lots of elevation gain for 5 days straight. We glassed every area we could. Out dark to dark except a few days where strong winds made spots on the mountains unsafe in the dark with dead trees standing. I feel like we did a lot right, but saw no elk. We did see moose and deer. My question revolves around covering ground that is not on a trail. We did this on the first day, moving along a ridge and watching below for bedded elk. This was very difficult at times due to tons of beetle kill deadfall. We abandoned this strategy after the first day as much of the unit was the same. So I guess my question is for guys that are covering ground trying to find elk, are you doing so largely on a trail and glassing a bunch as you go, or covering lots of ground that is off trail?

 

[The_Jim]

Find a high spot and let the glass do the walking.

 

[Gerbdog]

What season is this? post rut elk ? I'm archery hunting elk pretty exclusively these days and i'm rarely on a trail.... but i have the benefit of listening for bugling elk to locate. IF its post rut elk, get on top and glass as far as you can and keep looking for differing views of pockets on the mountain

 

[Undrgrndprdcts]

It was CO 2nd rifle. We did find as many high spots and glassed as much as possible. Lots of dense timber on this unit though.

 

[db3445]

I am not sure how experienced you are as an elk hunter, but covering a lot of ground seemed like the right strategy for me last year on my first elk hunt. I covered lots of ground and similar to you I did not see an elk.

This year I decided to switch my strategy up. Instead of covering a lot of ground with my legs, I decided to get to a high glassing spot, just like majority of experienced elk hunters would tell a new hunter to do. Similar to what The_Jim said, the goal was to conserve energy by letting my glass do the walking.

On opening morning of first rifle, I was able to locate a herd of elk 1-2 miles away. I marked the last spot I saw them in the woods and hiked there after eating breakfast. As soon as I got to that general area, we heard bugles and were able to call a nice bull in that we were able to kill.

The plan worked out perfectly: Get to a high spot, locate a herd of elk, hike to herd of elk, relocate elk, kill elk. Easy as that, right?

I know I did not answer your question, but I write this to tell you to keep your options open when out in the field. I am young and ambitious and thought that walking all over the mountain was going to give me the best shot at killing an elk my first year. Thankfully I learned from my experience and was open to trying a new strategy that ended up bringing me success.

 

[CAElkhunter]

Elk walk way faster than you do so the previous advice of high spot and glassing is the best strategy.

 

[Poser]

Covering ground that is off trail, using game trails as much as possible.
Yes, it sucks more often than not.

 

[Beendare]

Yeah, Covering ground is key...but when you didn't find them in one area...that just increases the odds they are in the next drainage over...or the next.

 

[hunthikecamp]

My experience has been that rather than worry about on-trail/off-trail, figure out the best way to get into good looking country. I've definitely had a few off trail 'walks' that after i finished i thought "man, that was a waste of calories" and i've had some trails run right through prime habitat. Shot a bear during archery this year literally standing on the trail bc the area he wanted to feed in happened to be close to the trail. But yeah as I get out and just see more country that elk and critters are either in or aren't in, I gain more confidence in being able to identify areas where i think they will be and areas I can maybe write off or save for last resort. So the non-answer i'll pitch in is, nothing beats days (and miles) in the woods, on or off trail.

 

[ElkArcher918]

I mix it up. Glassing from high vantage points and "bushwacking" to off-trail basins I've e-scouted or have a hunch about. For my style of hunting I prefer moderately broken up country rather than huge expanses of boring dark timber. I've had good luck glassing evenings and locating elk. Once I know where they are, I make a plan to get to them the next day, meaning getting up extra early. Sounds like you're doing alot of things right and working hard. Over time you'll get better at identifying good elk habitat before "diving in". Going off-trail doesn’t always mean go deep and steep. Some of my better spots are actually less than 1.5 mi from FS roads/trails. Good luck to you and keep working.