Scratching my head a bit…

[Thomasj1107]

Spent 7 days in the elk woods with a general tag in Montana last week. Same area I killed a bull last year, was into elk just about every hunt morning and evening for a week but couldn’t seal the deal. Last two days however, woods went completely quiet. Im hesitant to leave and look for other “spots”, but I feel kind of too reliant on basically the only two spots I’ve reliably found elk for the past two seasons. What would you do? I have 6 more days starting Thursday and that’s it.

Would venturing away from where I know they’ve been be a good option? If so, venture away and glass other places at dawn and dusk or cover as much new ground as possible calling?

 

[Yooper]

Personally, I wouldn't leave elk to find elk, especially if you're confident that they're there. Could be a host of reasons they weren't talking. I know that full moon last week played a part in our hunt in Wyoming, as did the heat and the wind. More movement at 10 to noon than early and late for a good part of the week. The bulls advertising earlier in the week went silent and the bulls with cows also quieted down. No cows coming close to estrus yet I suspect. If it were me, I'd go back to the same area and give it hell for your last days.

 

[cnelk]

Elk will tolerate being disturbed only so much before they vacate.
Sounds like you hassled them for a week straight.

Maybe drift to another spot for a day or two and let the area calm down. You'll still have a few days to hunt it again later

 

[mike.adams.467]

I've seen them leave an area when a pack of wolves moved through. They generally return when the wolves leave.

 

[Deadfall]

3..2..1 rule.
Hear you 3 times
See you 2 times
Smell you 1 time.

Give it a week

 

[CAElkhunter]

So that is the rule my wife follows weekly....

 

[Thomasj1107]

But moving forward to future years and hunts I want to be less reliant on these two to three specific spots…

Do you all have certain “spots” that you always rely on, or kinda start from scratch each season and go look for them?

 

[Gerbdog]

I hit the same ole spots time and time again ..... actually this thread makes me wish i had more also.... but they keep producing so not sure. I generally just move around to different places in the valley every day, i rarely hit the same place two days in a row - may just be a half mile down the valley , but i move a bit. So many micro habitats on a mountain that hold elk

 

[insanelupus]

What are you considering "spots"?

Gerbdog is right, many micro habitats on a mountain. Elk don't, normally, use a whole mountain.

Analyze your "spots" Then look for similar spots nearby. I used to hunt an entire mountain. Now I go on and check the terrain features I anticipate might hold elk. If they don't, I bounce out and move. Nomadic mobility is my method. If I encounter/work elk/call or hunt in archery, i wait 48 hours to go back.

But then, I'm great at hunting elk, just not always killing them! LOL YMMV.

Good luck!

 

[5MilesBack]

I like exploring new areas with a bow in my hand. So I generally have many spots to choose from. These spots may be 50 miles away from each other and everywhere in between, but I like options. Some areas set up better for morning hunts and some are better for afternoon/evening hunts. I almost never go back to the same spot two days in a row.

 

[cnelk]

I definitely have my core spots, but Ive also been known to put 800 miles on my truck in 10 days of elk hunting, going to all the areas I know.

 

[S.Clancy]

I have more reliable elk spots than I could ever hunt in a season or 2. I skip around based on year, conditions, etc etc.

 

[TaperPin]

But moving forward to future years and hunts I want to be less reliant on these two to three specific spots…

Do you all have certain “spots” that you always rely on, or kinda start from scratch each season and go look for them?

Every year I try to stretch the boundary of my favorite spots - just exploring a half mile further than normal every year often gives me a new appreciation of other areas right under my nose. After hunting an area for half a dozen years an area I knew didn’t hold elk or deer was explored, turned out to be a major travel route. I camped out with a good view, and shot a bull as a herd outside my area was pushed in by hunters on horseback.

I’m used to elk that go silent before they feel the need to move out - chatty bulls don’t live long. If they do move out, the travel routes this year are the same as the travel routes last year, and where they go is either one of two areas.

 

[el_jefe_pescado]

Stay positive, everybody seems to be struggling a little bit this week with the warm spell/moon. Might be worth poking around some new country and letting your area settle down.

To your question, I think it is always a good idea to stretch yourself and explore a bit. Especially, when you know your current areas are productive.