Should I move?

[Huntnfish89]

It sounds like we are hunting the same mountian.

Last year (my first archery year) and the place was littered with rubs, scat, etc. I was never able to get one to come in though.

This year it's a ghost town... I'm planning on moving a few drainages over next time I get out early next week.

 

[307]

Year 3 week 3 and still failing. I’m hunting a mountain range in my unit (new unit this year) and outside of one drainage where I had one bull respond I haven’t seen anything.

I’ve been bugling at night, listening, and even popped out the thermal scanner to look from ridges. Nothing.

I have pounded out countless miles for two weeks and haven’t even seen any fresh sign outside the one draw. If I saw fresh sign I’d just figure they’re all quiet or I just suck.

Talking to regular hunters in this area they say it’s normally pretty good and they’re all talking. I haven’t even jumped a buck in all my hiking. Just a few doe on the roads. I’ve heard from one guy that Corey Jacobson downed a 6 point around here but other than that haven’t seen one truck with a kill in it and haven’t heard anyone else say they’re seeing much. No ek tracks on the road anywhere. Another Rokslider stopped by my camp for a night and decided it wasn’t worth staying to hunt there.

I’m starting to lose my mind working this hard for this long and still feeling like I’m not even close to getting one.

Should I abandoned this area? If I move, how far should I go?

What elevation? Could they be higher or lower? I would definitely be changing the area. Sounds like you've worked this area very well and can rest easy knowing you had to move.

 

[Geewhiz]

I won't spend more than 36 hours in a spot without seeing an elk or at the very least squishy green poo.

No kidding. Ill give it a day. If im not in them or have a darn good reason to stick around, Im off to check the next spot.

 

[philos]

First thing is I would never bugle to an elk I was not hunting. I may be wrong but I feel like calling to an elk when you are not hunting can be detrimental to your hunt in the long run. They can pinpoint you’re location with amazing accuracy and if they smell a human in the same location as the calling it is not good. If you are bugling at night the elk may know exactly where you are given the changing thermals and no good comes from that.

You are having a confidence problem, which is understandable. I would not hunt desperate but hunt smarter. Looks for sign that is fresh and look to see if other folks-not just hunters-are in the area. Elk won’t tolerate human presence if they have other options. Don’t just wander aimlessly. Use your glass to look for sign-not just live elk. Mainly just don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Hunting is supposed to be fun. Get your head right and enjoy your time out there.

 

[Ross]

After that much time and apparently very limited sign, if your not seeing rubs to go along with everything else,recommend finding some new ground to cover….and move on…keep listening at night that can be a very good tactic up high and we are entering the fun phase of the season…good luck

 

[Idaho_Potato]

Put your bugle tube away. My experience in the otc shit show of September is that the majority of bulls know what a bugle tube sounds like and will walk in the other direction. Or just hear it and ignore.

Find fresh sign with your legs. Figure out the pattern near day break. Set yourself up near the daybreak shuffle. Cows still need feed and water in September. Once the cows shuffle by there might just be a bull behind them. Youtube is selling a lot of bugle tubes these days.

 

[wind gypsy]

Different area = somewhere elk are not likely to move between there and where you are currently hunting.

IDFG has said I can use both NV and thermal as long as I’m not shooting with it, which I’m not..

But heaven forbid someone use lighted nocks!

 

[hoff1ck]

Bugling at night? lol Seriously?

I couldn't imagine doing that. I'm too tired from pounding the mountain away from the crowds all day long. lol

Can be an effective way to find elk when most people are sleeping and not out pounding on a bugle tube. Granted if you’re into elk every day it’s probably unnecessary, but can certainly be effective in situations like these.

 

[svivian]

Different area = somewhere elk are not likely to move between there and where you are currently hunting.



But heaven forbid someone use lighted nocks!

 

[SIR_34:16]

If you aren't seeing, hearing, or smelling elk keep moving.

 

[5MilesBack]

The elk in my area are more quiet than I'm used to, but it's also a heck of a lot more crowded than I'm used to as well. Lots of pressure and the bulls just aren't telling you where they are. But I had three bulls keep me awake from 11:30pm Wed until 0430 Thursday morning. First they were screaming at each other, then they went into full on fighting for over 20 minutes while they locked horns across the creek from my camp. Then they just screamed until 0430.......and then shut up for the day. I still found them that morning, but it does make it harder to not over run them when they're silent. I came out today to let the last ML weekenders have at it and let things settle a bit before heading back up next week.

Had a herd of 30+ pass right below me at 40 yards this morning, and of course the thermals were going down so the lead cow caught my scent before the herd bull could come into view.

 

[IDspud]

Different area = somewhere elk are not likely to move between there and where you are currently hunting.



But heaven forbid someone use lighted nocks!

Haha. They finally joined the party and legalized them this year. I wasn’t missing out apparently. They suck hard.

I called them when I moved here and asked why they weren’t allowed. They said they wanted to keep archery primitive. I laughed and said how is a compound bow with cams and carbon fiber primitive??

I just want to down one with my compound so I can move to a handmade longbow. I told myself I wouldn’t switch to that until I got one with a compound.

 

[Mojave]

Don’t give up try moving that’s pretty cool that you can use thermal we were able to do it in Germany it was a massive game changer as long as you don’t shoot thermal.

 

[Ross]

Case in point move and don’t stop calling if your calls are realistic….today scouting for my rifle tag and calling for my buddy long 10 mile day otc unit at 4 mlles in and zero people tracks hit elk sign….seen a spike is all…came back three hours later stopped at same place 11am got an answer an hr later at noon called in a 4 pt…he passed on him and had fun and made it happen using calls…will never stop using them because they do work in the right mouth and setting…keep grindingBuddy had broadside shot at just over 20..if need escape checkout feed on my Instagram currently

 

[Jgill19]

Hunt harder. It took me 5 years. It takes many even longer.

and Smarter!!

 

[IDspud]

Thanks guys. Chase locations and within 48 hours I was on three different bulls including a 6 point. Screwed it all up, but at least I’m really elk hunting now

 

[Ucsdryder]

Thanks guys. Chase locations and within 48 hours I was on three different bulls including a 6 point. Screwed it all up, but at least I’m really elk hunting now

Get the drone, find them during the day, Get that thermal scope out and find where they bed. Ride your ebike up close, get on your Hecs suit on so they don’t detect your aura and get a shot with your mechanical, lighted nocked arrows!

 

[IDspud]

Get the drone, find them during the day, Get that thermal scope out and find where they bed. Ride your ebike up close, get on your Hecs suit on so they don’t detect your aura and get a shot with your mechanical, lighted nocked arrows!

Ha ha ha ha. Now that I see where the elk are in the dark timber that thermal scope is useless. Wouldn’t do me any good if I strapped into my bow.

But I do love this made up image you’ve painted of me. Absolutely hit The nail on the head 100%. That’s me.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Ha ha ha ha. Now that I see where the elk are in the dark timber that thermal scope is useless. Wouldn’t do me any good if I strapped into my bow.

But I do love this made up image you’ve painted of me. Absolutely hit The nail on the head 100%. That’s me.

I’m just busting your chops! Good luck! Keep the wind in your favor and you can hunt those same elk for a long time. If they wind you, chances are you’ll never see them again.

 

[IDspud]

I’m just busting your chops! Good luck! Keep the wind in your favor and you can hunt those same elk for a long time. If they wind you, chances are you’ll never see them again.

Oh no, that was hilarious. You described the people I can’t stand perfectly. I couldn’t have thrown all those things together in one jab