Seeking Definitive How-To on Wallows

[Ultraheight]

Hi All,

I’m usually a rut/calling/run-and-gun archery elk hunter, but this year I’m hunting a public area where the big bulls move to private a week or two into the season. I know nothing about the art of hunting wallows and just want to absorb as much info as possible if I’m going to dedicate a week to that tactic. Is there a definitive book/tutorial/
podcast/magazine article anyone has seen on wallow techniques? I’m sure the short answer is find an active one where the wind stays right most of the time and sit all day, but looking for the nuances. EG 1. how to find them using maps and topography 2. Is there a preferred time of day to sit? 3. Should I be changing blinds when thermals shift? 4. How close is too close to set up a blind? 5. How many cameras is enough to setup during summer scouting? Looking for the total rundown on how this works. Thanks!

 

[Indian Summer]

This book was written by a friend in Oregon. He goes by the name Swede. You can pick his brain if you want. At 70 he knows a thing or two.


Tree Stand Hunting Rocky Mountain Elk: A step by step guide to prepare, scout and achieve success with a bow; for novice and experienced hunters
https://a.co/d/9VH3ZfP

 

[Beendare]

Didn't we just have a thread on this?

Most wallows I've seen are unhuntable...a waste of time. The wind swirls and shifts in many of those areas. Sometimes you don't even know that you were busted and once you are they will be wary of coming back in.

I have killed elk from a perfect wallow setup....its ALL about the wind......but mostly it's days of sitting with nothing happening.

 

[mt terry d]

If I were going to "stand-hunt" a wallow I'd climb a tree
and add occasional low-key calling (cow/calf/ weak young bull squeal)

 

[Cliff Gray]

As mentioned above, most wallow sitting in the mountains results in elk winding the hunter and the hunter never even knowing. In the mountain west, almost any wallow that is situated in conifers has bad swirling winds. This makes it easy for elk to deviate their approach just a smidge on any given day and wind it.

Setting up on trails that go in/out of active wallows can be a good bet, in a spot that has a solid thermal you can depend on. Where trails curve back into a draw, on a steeper slope is a good example. Consistent upwelling wind during the day and you have the angle posting up above them. Great way to spend midday hours. Depending on the grade you may not even feel the need to get up in a tree.

Bulls and cows will both go into the water but bulls actually lay down more often and get muddier. So if you see muddy drippings on a path, that is the path the bull is using. It's kinda weird but a herd bull with cows will take one path... all the other bulls will typically take the same alternative path. Sometimes a herd bull will even break off and come in on that path. Probably multiple variables why they do that... might be specific to my experience in areas where spruce grows really thick near wallows. Cows can get through thinner gaps in the trees.

Some of what you see on videos and stuff that looks like wallow hunting is actually hunting on open stock "tanks". That's a bit different. I am less experienced with it, but the experience I do have with it suggests the elk are way dumber in that situation. It's probably related to why the stock tank was created, there isn't much for alternative water sources for a long distance.

You can also just choose to hunt wallows ahead of a storm, when a steady wind straightens out the swirls.

 

[cnelk]

IMO - wallows located in the lower part of a mtn are nighttime spots for the elk - i.e. base of the mtn, open meadows.

The ones I like to find are located halfway up or higher. Typically small in size.

If you find one, spend a little time in the area with your wind checker, or milk weed to see the wind currents

 

[Marble]

For wind issues, you can hang flagging tape around the wallow in multiple spots and see what the wind is doing from afar.

For killed a bull, early afternoon is when I've had success. Warm weather, rutting elk, and call shy bulls are all things to consider.

Most wallows are not huntable. And be wary of visiting one and laying your scent all over. I've seen animals bolt crossing the path, and some that don't seem to notice.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

 

[Gman12]

I think one of the main factors in hunting water is the amount of water available in the area. If there is water available all over the place then it will not be nearly as effective because it will be a total crap shoot of where the elk will water. But, if you are in an area with limited water sources, it can be extremely effective. The area where I hunt has very little water and I normally hunt water nearest to bedding areas. The afternoons are much more consistent and there is very little activity mid-day. This could obviously change during the peak of the rut when elk may be on their feet more all day but I normally hunt early in the season.

Most of my spots are in draws where the water flows down canyon. If the wind is blowing the wrong direction, I simply don't hunt the spot or wait until later in the afternoon. The wind will switch based on thermals later in the afternoon and blow down canyon most of the time. I typically set up about 25 yards below the water and make a blind or cut out a spot in sage or whatever type of vegetation is nearby.

 

[Pony Soldier]

Be cautious about hanging flagging. I was following a herd last fall and they stopped, started to mill and then took off in a differant direction. I looked to see what they saw that could cause that and found a pink piece of flagging about 3 ft long hanging in a tree about a 100yds up the trail.

 

[Marble]

Be cautious about hanging flagging. I was following a herd last fall and they stopped, started to mill and then took off in a differant direction. I looked to see what they saw that could cause that and found a pink piece of flagging about 3 ft long hanging in a tree about a 100yds up the trail.

I agree..I don't use it when I hunt the wallow.

I'll hang it during a time i plan on hunting and watch what the wind is doing on both sides and then use that info to either hunt there or not.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk