Solo Elk Hunting

[tttoadman]

I enjoy the solitude. All I need is my GPS and the inreach to talk to the wife. I listen to music for an hour or so at night. I agree the mental is the hardest part for most. Not really an issue for me anymore. As mentioned, the freedom to make all of your decisions on the spot without anyone else's opinions is liberating compared to the committee hunting of a group.

I make a general plan for a day. I will try to avoid travelling more than 4-6 miles a day to avoid burnout. My mid day breaks will always be sitting on a stand somewhere in a chute or somewhere with good visibility. My goal is to never miss an opportunity. Elk will move around all day. There is plenty of non-hunting hours to screw around with chores.

 

[Beendare]

That goes for any solo bowhunter in the rut.
.....

Yeah, like I told you on the phone...it was frustrating for me getting drawn on a bull coming in with my stick bow.

Its SOOOO much easier with a compound- Night and Day- as when their head goes behind a tree you draw ...and when they finally step out you have your pin right on them. Then there is the close in aspect- inside 30 yds they see every movement. You can't draw on them at 50 yds and just wait.

I tried drawing early with my stick and they either didn't step out before my shoulder popped out of its socket...or they caught a little movement and stopped with vitals behind a tree.

I finally waited for them to clear, drew and of course they spotted me. A couple just took off immediately, one stood long enough for me to get off a good shot [right at 30 yds] but the bull jumped the string and the arrow hit him dead in the back hip barely penetrating...and popped right back out.

I will figure that out.....but there is an ocean of difference solo calling with a stick vs a compound.

________

 

[Beendare]

Re being solo;
I enjoy the excitement of being solo in some remote drainage and then having to hike out in the dark. Life picks up a beat for me. Been doing that for 4 decades now.

I can see where a guy that has never done it would be skeptical. Just have your wits and survival skills in your back pocket, a couple forms of nav- one being GPS on your phone or a dedicated unit, A GOOD headlamp and the chops to be able to stay out in the woods if necessary- it ain't all that bad if you have the mental aspect down.

______

 

[roosiebull]

Re being solo;
I enjoy the excitement of being solo in some remote drainage and then having to hike out in the dark. Life picks up a beat for me. Been doing that for 4 decades now.

I can see where a guy that has never done it would be skeptical. Just have your wits and survival skills in your back pocket, a couple forms of nav- one being GPS on your phone or a dedicated unit, A GOOD headlamp and the chops to be able to stay out in the woods if necessary- it ain't all that bad if you have the mental aspect down.

______

there was one year that I went from not owning a head lamp to carrying at least 3 with me at all times (and 2 of them are not rechargeable so if I carry spare batteries I have light) more than once I have went to get a head lamp only to find one that got turned on in my pack and was dead... that can and will happen.

the year I started carrying a head lamp was inspired by a sore jaw taking an elk apart with my flashlight in my mouth for the whole process because that was the option I had. it's enough to wrestle a big bull around in the dark on a steep hillside without having to have your light in your mouth the whole job.... I was wishing it was a smaller flashlight too.... that sucked, but it was a lesson that stuck, and now I may be a little too redundant..... but that's ok

 

[87TT]

Headlamps are your friend. Two minimum for me plus a small 1AA flashlight or two. Extra batteries for all.

 

[5MilesBack]

Its SOOOO much easier with a compound- Night and Day- as when their head goes behind a tree you draw ...and when they finally step out you have your pin right on them. Then there is the close in aspect- inside 30 yds they see every movement. You can't draw on them at 50 yds and just wait.

I'm not sure I've ever drawn and then waited on the bull. It usually happens in a hurry for me. The shot is usually going off within 3-5 seconds of hitting my anchor. In fact, I'm normally estimating range while I'm drawing so I'm ready to shoot as soon as the right pin is on him. I'm usually running in on him instead of waiting for him to come to me.

 

[Marble]

I am excited to go back and read all the replies to this question. My long time friend and hunting partner recently started his own business and has two young kids. Needless to say I have found myself out in the woods by myself more weekends than not. The one thing I am going to work on is patience. The last two years I have called bulls in, but have spooked them while trying to move to a better position as they were coming in.

A few things... if you want the closest thing to calling in and killing a bull with a bow, then do it for turkeys. Not in a blind. You'll learn "doorway syndrome" and how to set up.

When setting up for calling in a bull. Do it with the mind set you will have to move, shift and make noise. Have everything ready. Anything you are unsure of will cloud your decision making process and you'll pause, second guess yourself and make poor decisions.

 

[rayporter]

i always recommend baby steps to learn yourself. short trips close to home or a truck. dont stress your self or over extend at first.

i am lucky here in that i can take a solo trip at least once a year and get a couple miles from roads and crowds.
even just to squirrel hunt for a few days is keeping skills sharp.

 

[Beendare]

Well I'm not sure anyone already mentioned this but when calling solo its worth noting that these elk know EXACTLY where you are. A critical fact...so if you plan on sneaking in VS calling them in...you just gave your location away.

If you are calling them in, they triangulate you and will be studying that spot when coming in. Now if its thick its been an advantage for me as they can't see everything and have to hunt around a little.

I use a decoy a lot which really helps to give them a visual confirmation to come in that last little bit. Last season I didn't use the decoy much....which definitely hurt me solo in a few situations.

____

 

[trophyhill]

That goes for any solo bowhunter in the rut. Ya, it's much easier when the elk have no idea you're even there while someone else is calling. But it's those close-in solo chess matches that make it the most fun for me. Going one on one with a big bull in close proximity........doesn't get any better than that.......until you also put an arrow through him.

Ya, solo has it's own challenges and it's a whole different strategy game and mindset than setting up with a caller way back behind you. I've never had a caller, but every time I've been the caller for another hunter.......it's been a really easy shot opportunity for them.

As for shot distance........I think a lot of people confuse target shooting with hunting shots when others mention shooting. For me, I may only take one shot at an elk during a season but I'll take 1000's of target shots the rest of the year. And of those shots I'd guess that 90% of them are between 40 and 100 because that's what I enjoy. That's why I try to go to the 3D range when no one else is there, so that I "can" take those shots.

I live for that chess match. Putting your wits and drive to kill an elk against an elks will to live with a bow is pretty ultimate to me. Hard to beat this ultimate challenge

 

[trophyhill]

Well I'm not sure anyone already mentioned this but when calling solo its worth noting that these elk know EXACTLY where you are. A critical fact...so if you plan on sneaking in VS calling them in...you just gave your location away.

If you are calling them in, they triangulate you and will be studying that spot when coming in. Now if its thick its been an advantage for me as they can't see everything and have to hunt around a little.

I use a decoy a lot which really helps to give them a visual confirmation to come in that last little bit. Last season I didn't use the decoy much....which definitely hurt me solo in a few situations.

____

I want them to know where I'm at. Or where they think I'm at

 

[Firestone]

Persistence kills

 

[Wapiti1]

My two tips.

I prefer a flexible bugle tube that I can direct behind me. I tuck it under my left arm on a tether. That allows me to direct the sound behind me or to the sides easily, and draw my bow without moving my hands. I just tip my head forward to call into the tube hands free. It's been a technique that has worked for me in tight situations where I needed him to move just a little more.

Tip two is don't discount decoy use. They can direct attention away from you, and help pull animals into a shooting lane. Just know that bulls typically respond well to decoys, especially satellite bulls, and cows are 50/50. They might come in, they might give you the finger and walk off. For me, decoys have been best pre-rut, and when I want a satellite bull.

Jeremy

 

[5MilesBack]

I want them to know where I'm at. Or where they think I'm at

It's like I always say "they always know where I am and that I'm coming before I get there".

 

[seananigans]

Be sure your rangefinder and binos are attached to your harness or body somehow. (Easy to lose)

Hunt close to the roads to be mobile until you find the elk, then hone in on them.

Be at a glassing spot BEFORE the lights come on and glass AND listen for elk.

Get frustrated and think it won't happen because you're probably right but that's when the magic is revealed.

Don't be afraid to sit down and take it in, enjoy the process (the extremely difficult process).

Lots more but I won't ruin those lessons for you. Good Hunting!!

 

[BeastOfTheTrees]

Fire bans...... only overnight solo I’ve ever done was in a spot with fire bans, couldn’t believe how uneasy I was with no fire.

I also had a very strange experience on the only time I ever went overnight solo, so that definitely had a damper to the trip.

Going too deep is also something to think about. The only elk I called in and got within shooting distance on ended up being no shit 9 miles as the crow flys from a road. Thinking back now, It would have been almost an entire 36hrs to get that meat to the truck, the way that terrain was. Probably would have had some spoiling with how hot it was. Definitely had me wishing I had friends that were as sick as I am for this stuff.

 

[Bcorn]

Definitely mental for me, podcast ,music always helps. Some sort of communication device delorme, spot to check in with wife.

 

[BradNSW]

Don't quit. Don't overpack. Don't let noises outside the tent freak you out. Don't go too deep.
Stay hydrated. Be physically fit. Have comfortable pack/boots. Be able to carry it all day (<40lbs). Carry a map/compass for when GPS dies. Minimum of 2 sources of light (1 a headlamp). Easy access to your bear spray. If a 6x7 charges in and hangs up behind cover on day 5, stay positive. If something shreds your tent while your out all day in the rain/sleet, don't come off the mountain. If you don't see or hear elk but see fresh sign don't quit, you will eventually have a close encounter. Don't worry about how bad you smell, use the wind. Don't pass any elk, even a cow. Piss into the wind, if you don't, a bull will sneak up to 20yds behind you. If you hear two big bulls crashing antlers @ 100yds in the thick stuff, don't leave your calls in your brush blind. Constantly range, so if a 5x5 materializes from nowhere at 30yds you can snap off a shot. Don't pass up the chance to fill an empty canteen. Pack for low 30s to 80s and rain. Hunt all day...half my encounters were mid-day. Keep a tree between you and any moose you encounter. Stay positive, it's all mental. Free lessons learned from last 3 years of highly successful 10-12 day solo bow hunts, starting at 55years old. Successful because I learned a lot, enjoyed myself immensely, had a few close encounters but have yet to fill a tag. Whole different game than rifle hunting...would have 3 tags filled with a rifle! Sept 2020 will find me at 7,900ft in Idaho, Bowtech in hand AGAIN, with a new tent!

 

[Afhunter1]

What^ a smart azz.

I called in 6 bulls last year....and I would be 6 for 6 if I had my compound and could have drawn early, hooked the string on my ear like yourself...taken a leak, maybe had a chew...then shot.

If I had another caller so I didn't get pinpointed it would have been a done deal too.

The problem when calling solo with a stick bow is drawing the dang thing....I still need to figure that one out. Draw too early and they hang up...and you are shaking like a leaf. Wait until they are on you then of course they spot you and its over before unleashing an arrow.

Plus, every year I tell myself to not be picky...and then every year I get a layup shot early that I pass on. 2019 I had a dink 2x3 walk past at 5 yds and never had a clue I was there. Problem is, there was a good bull in the trees at 60 yds screaming his head off at me and I thought I might get a shot. I didn't. That happened a couple times....but thats stick bow hunting.

......

Yeah no kidding. I had 3 bulls and a cow all hang up at 45 yds calling em in last year. My problem was finding elk in open terrain and not able to use the cover effectively. If I had a compound I’d of been done at noon on my first day. I have killed a 6X5 and a 5x5 with my tradbow. Not too bad for a wet behind the ears eastern guy I guess.

funny story: I shot the 5x5 at 30 yds after my buddy with a compound shot under him at 15. Ha ha

 

[HighUintas]

Make sure all your gear is dialed and in tip top shape and make sure you have redundant backups for really key prices of gear. Which pieces of gear depends on how far out you'll be.

Multiple water treatment methods
More than 3 arrows cause you might fall and break 3 of them
More food than you think you'll need
Something to ease your mind if you're in a mental rut (book, journal, etc)