Spot and Stalk Cross-Canyon Tactics

[Acorn]

I like to hunt rugged, steep mountain country with lots of topographic features. Visibility of a mountainside is usually superior when you’re positioned on the other side of the drainage. During early September, the elk like to feed above treeline or in avalanche chutes/clearings, and then descend into the timber for bedding. Often the best glassing is 2-3 miles away as the crow flies from where the elk may come out. The actual travel path to get from glassing point to the elk might be much further, with lots of elevation drop/gain.

All that to say it’s not really possible to locate elk and then hunt them in the same morning/evening window due to logistical constraints.

I could set myself up in the afternoon on the same side as the elk, but my view shed is severely limited and they might pop out where I’d never see them. Then, as I’m heading back out at dark with thermals going down, I also run the risk of bumping them with my scent. It just feels like too much of a gamble for me.

What tactics or strategies would you or have you implemented in a situation like this?

 

[Dezurtrat]

I've killed most of my elk in the evening or right at last light. I hunt in the same kind of terrain you do and your style "spot and stalk", I try to pattern them so I put myself in the best possible ambush spot I can at last light. The thermals should be going uphill in the evening, at least that's how it is where I hunt but, I'm always watching the wind and if it starts swirling or isn't predictable, I back out and try again the next day if I'm going to be there a while and if they're in a good spot. On hunts that I don't have a lot of time to be in the field I roll the dice and get aggressive most often than not and just go for it.
As far as seeing them on the same side or not knowing if they come out that's just a gamble you're going to have to take and just try to sneak out of there as stealthy as possible.
I've had success before by failing the night before and blowing the herd out but, again the next morning relocating them in an area that worked out better for an evening ambush and sealing the deal on a bull.
The older I get and the more days in the field analyzing and watching the elk herds I've been more aggressive and just go for it pretty much every chance I get, you only have so many elk seasons in your life, make them count.
On a side note, I hunt mostly desert mountain ranges, so I don't deal with a lot of big timber on the hill sides, so it's a little easier for me to relocate them. Hope this helps

 

[spike camp]

I’ve been described as very good at predicting where the elk will go, and I’ve had a lot of success in doing so.
That said, 2-3 miles is really far to nail the spot to be.

Knowing the bench’s the elk are heading to, would in my opinion, be the best option for success at that distance.
That, and learning how to be much closer to that spot than 2-3 miles.

 

[mtnbound]

I like to hunt rugged, steep mountain country with lots of topographic features. Visibility of a mountainside is usually superior when you’re positioned on the other side of the drainage. During early September, the elk like to feed above treeline or in avalanche chutes/clearings, and then descend into the timber for bedding. Often the best glassing is 2-3 miles away as the crow flies from where the elk may come out. The actual travel path to get from glassing point to the elk might be much further, with lots of elevation drop/gain.

All that to say it’s not really possible to locate elk and then hunt them in the same morning/evening window due to logistical constraints.

I could set myself up in the afternoon on the same side as the elk, but my view shed is severely limited and they might pop out where I’d never see them. Then, as I’m heading back out at dark with thermals going down, I also run the risk of bumping them with my scent. It just feels like too much of a gamble for me.

What tactics or strategies would you or have you implemented in a situation like this?

Is that the only elk you are seeing?
Rifle or bow?
Are you backpack hunting?

 

[Acorn]

Is that the only elk you are seeing?
Rifle or bow?
Are you backpack hunting?

September archery. Not hunting with camp on my back, but sometimes backpacking into an area to set up a base camp. Or just day hunting out of my truck.

Not the only elk, but when they’re not talking the ones in thick timber are really difficult to locate and hunt due to relatively sparse numbers.

 

[mtnbound]

September archery. Not hunting with camp on my back, but sometimes backpacking into an area to set up a base camp. Or just day hunting out of my truck.

Not the only elk, but when they’re not talking the ones in thick timber are really difficult to locate and hunt due to relatively sparse numbers.

If I spotted elk 2-3 miles away, I probably wouldn't hunt them and look for animals closer. However, if I do not see any fresh signs (tracks, crap, beds, rubs, etc.) in the current area, I would relocate to the area where I am seeing them, so long as it would be practical to get a bull out before any meat is lost.
Based on the intel from glassing and map work, I would either circle around and try to come up the bottom of the drainage, or come in from the top and drop down behind where I believe the elk are bedding.
My intention is to keep my scent drifting down into the bottom, but behind the elk, so it is less likely to be detected by the animals farther up the drainage. Whether I moved through the bottom or side-hill along a certain elevation would depend on various factors. My preferred method of travel is side-hilling as it gives me better visibility and hearing. My goal is to move in as close as feasible to the bedding areas, and I would do this without calling at this point, depending on what I know about the animals and how pressured they are.
Once close to the bedding areas, I would do some calling, whether that is bugling, cow/calf calls, non-verbal communication, or combinations of all, would depend on what I am seeing, hearing, or have had success with previously in the area.
If, as I approach the bedding area, I see or hear elk, I might set up an ambush or continue still-hunting and sneak into range for a shot.
If I am in an area with fresh sign but the animals are not vocal, it's all about still-hunting and setting up on travel corridors, water, etc, for an ambush.
If a bull is responsive but holding his ground, I will be patient and see if he or another bull comes in silently. At some point, I say, "F-it," and start advancing toward his position to pressure him. If he decides to run, I try to keep the pressure on him, but wind, visibility, and his speed dictate what I do.

 

[Acorn]

This is really helpful to hear different perspectives. Based on your opinions, I think I need to either find a better glassing spot that’s closer to the elk, commit to a smaller hunt area/field of view, learn more about how these elk are moving through the country (bedding, trails, feed, water) to ambush/still hunt them based on their patterns.

Maybe I could spend the first two days or so of the season glassing a wide area from a distance and hunting nearby the glassing ridge, then once elk are located and hopefully patterns are developed, adjust my camp/glassing point/approach as needed to move in on a bull more quickly.