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?