Sitting versus Stalking

[MTredneck]

I have always suspected that I would kill just as many elk, bow or rifle, if I set up in a high traffic area and waited. I packed out elk over the years for a number of old guys who did just that. Picked a likely spot and sat it out. You have the advantage of not moving, no noise, and unless you set yourself up in a crappy spot, you should have a good field of fire and no scent issues. I know that this is THE way to hunt for many eastern guys, but obviously elk in the west is a bit different.

Other than day three or four on a longer hunt when I'm tired out and happy to loaf on a hillside in the sun, though, or a couple hours a day glassing, I can't seem to force myself to sit still that long. Part of what I love about hunting is getting out and exploring new country, retracing old haunts, and seeing what's around the next bend. As I get older, I also appreciate the opportunity to stay in shape as far into the winter as possible before the winter fattening begins. And even though I always see something cool when I sit down and just observe, I tend to get a little bit bored. And then there's the little voice whispering in the back of my mind about that bull that's certainly bedded down on that next ridge over...

With some luck I'll be hunting into my final years, and when that time comes, I've got quite a few spots picked out that should be perfect for napping those fall days away waiting for those beautiful brown shapes to materialize on the edge of the timber. Until then, even if I know it's hurting my chances at success, I'll probably keep racking up the miles and exploring. Just curious if anyone has ever done a comparison of success rates for stalking versus ambush, has any salient meditations to offer on the virtues of patience, or other thoughts on the matter.

 

[rayporter]

well i am just about to the point i cant chase them. in fact if i go this year it will almost certainly be my last trip. one of my favorite tactics of late has been to find a funnel such as a vertical wall and wait. i cant say it is a new tactic as it has worked strictly by chance several times in the distant past. in most of these instances i was stalking but the elk were making a sneak escape right to me.

one wall in particular accounted for 6 bulls and one raghorn that walked within 100 feet of me that got a free pass. that bummer is when i camped up there last year i got altitude sickness or something bad and had to drop down 2 thousand feet to acclimate. and no one was in that drainage!!!!!!!

in high pressured areas it works.

 

[5MilesBack]

I've seen guys that set up in one spot well before first light and sit there until after dark, every day, for a week +. Might as well put a bullet in my head if I was forced to do that.

Even if someone could guarantee me a shot at a 400" bull if I sat in one spot for an hour, I'd be hard pressed to be able to do that. Even when I do stop, I'm still pacing back and forth in the spot I stopped. But, if that suits someone else.......yes, I'm sure they can be very successful every year.

 

[airlocksniffer]

I've thought the same thing but other than a mid-morning nap on the hillside, i'm always covering new country. As long as I'm physically able that's what I will do. We did find some great wallows last season that I may utilize a sit during the middle of a hot day but that's all I can see. I always think there may be something great just over the next rise, down in the timber, etc.

 

[Schnagelbagel]

We used to sit spots during rifle when i was young. Sit in a line down the mountain about 200 yds apart. If one guy would shoot they would usually run down or up the line. Worked many times for us.

 

[alecvg]

I have had to do the sit and wait method often with older and out of shape clients while guiding, and it really is a game of odds. When you get to know the country well, you learn those kind of spots. When I have clients with me, the most effective way to hunt often is set them up on good crossing, and take one with me to still hunt. Most of the crossing we set them at have the odds that if someone sits there all week, they will get a shot at an elk. Often I will switch out every other day who comes with me, but from my perspective, having more guys with me makes still hunting tougher, and puts everyone who is involveds chances of success down. I personally LOVE still hunting timber for elk, or tracking in the snow, but hunting the crossings is often more successful.

 

[Maxhunter]

I'll use stands and roam. I always adapt on how the elk are behaving. Some years they'll travel through areas almost daily in specific spots then the next year they'll change to another drainage. In my area the wallows are quite active especially during dry years. I have certain draws they do like to come through year after year. I seem to get into bigger bulls by roaming. I'm not a real aggressive caller, but call when it's too my advantage. I really prefer to sneak in on herds when the bull is bugling on their own. I've taken a lot of elk with this technique.

My dad and his friends were never bow hunters and I use to place them in spots where the other hunters would push the elk to them. They
always did very well and took some great bulls this way.

Bottom line is I always change my technique that gives me the best chance at punching my tag.

 

[AdamW]

I grew up hunting whitetails that way and still do to some extent. I won't lie, I hate it. We've always hunted the land of a family friend have fairly pre-planned hunting spots so things like scouting out a specific hot spot, etc. aren't really in the cards. Sitting all day sun up to sun down waiting for a deer to pass has put a lot of meat in our freezer and some nice antlers on the wall, but it is damn near painful for me.

That's why I'm looking forward to my first elk hunt. If nothing else get to do some glassing and have a moderate amount of activity at least. That's a big part of the allure for sure.

 

[Laelkhunter]

We usually spot and stalk in the morning after getting an idea where the Elk are. Then in the afternoon we sit over waterholes or meadows.

 

[cocky84]

Im from Missouri and when i started hunting elk 10 years ago i had a strategy to hunt them like i would turkeys. Listen for them at daybreak and make a move on them. Well it works on turkeys and maybe for elk on private ground but i have NEVER had any luck with it on public for elk. Im not lazy and in decent shape but I prefer to set. All my elk came from setting. But im a whitetail hunter so im just used to doing it like that.

 

[Laelkhunter]

We usually spot and stalk in the morning after getting an idea where the Elk are. Then in the afternoon we sit over waterholes or meadows.

Failed to add that I hunt private land- No hunting pressure.

 

[njdoxie]

I know people that have success running and gunning, but my style is to find a good park and watch it, works for me, every elk I've shot has been standing in a park on otc public land, I have one park in particular that has been gold

 

[AdamW]

Im from Missouri and when i started hunting elk 10 years ago i had a strategy to hunt them like i would turkeys. Listen for them at daybreak and make a move on them. Well it works on turkeys and maybe for elk on private ground but i have NEVER had any luck with it on public for elk. Im not lazy and in decent shape but I prefer to set. All my elk came from setting. But im a whitetail hunter so im just used to doing it like that.

I have always pictured it like hunting antlered turkeys as well. Might be in for a surprise and go back to what I know through deer hunting. Better pack my snuggie.