The 1 Thing You Learned- ELK

[SteveinMN]

This year I learned just how quickly a cow call with stop a bull. He was coming downhill on a trail that somewhat paralleled the one I was on. His trail was taking him away from me though and I thought well I'd better cow call to get him coming this way. Nope...he stopped on a dime at 54 yards with a ton of brush in between us. I knew a cow call was supposed to stop them, but not THAT fast! If I'd given him another 10 seconds I would have had a shot.

The point was further driven home when I saw a hunter stalking by that I thought was my buddy. I gave a cow call to get his attention. Stopped just a quick as the bull. Turned out it wasn't my buddy...whoops, sorry guy. Anyway, turns out all animals react about the same to a sound - stop and figure out what that sound was.

 

[Miflatlander91]

Shoot your last day animal the first time you see it.

Said this for years! Won’t pass on the first day what I’d shoot on the last


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[Red Letters]

On my last elk hunt (solo) I realized, that even if you went 2 weeks without ever seeing an animal, killing it is the easy part. The hard part starts when its on the ground.

 

[aachey]

the prototypical north slope, in deep, less pressured area are not where all the elk are. the elk are where they want to be and many times are in the last place you would think.

I think this is huge. The elk are where you find them, not exactly where you "think" they should be.

 

[iHunt*]

Preseason scouting is a must. Don’t anticipate finding elk in the same spot you did last year. Chances are, just when you think you have them figured out, they have you figured out.

 

[Clarence]

When the snow gets deeper and the mercury is dropping, be ready to make adjustments. Spent too much time up at treeline in Co 3rd season, and the elk had dropped down in the area. Should have not have been so stubborn, and should have checked lower elevations for sign sooner. My takeaway is if you have fresh snow, and no/few tracks, time to move on.

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[Wassid82]

No matter your experience or hunting skill elk hunting is humbling. Play your hand the best you can and hope for a dash of luck.

 

[Indian Summer]

Assuming you have elk in your spot nothing is more important than knowing that area as well as possible. If you’re doing it right you’ll still be learning things after 10 or more seasons there.

 

[4rcgoat]

Dont leave elk.......to go look for more elk!

 

[Outlaw99]

If you’re going to have a hunting partner; make sure he’s not a pussy!!

 

[Wildbuck]

When you aren’t finding them in “normal” spots, force yourself to look into the nastiest hole around. Do your best to combine past experience and scouting with new ideas and work an area systematically with a thought out plan and purpose.

 

[CHSD]

Don't leave good elk sign for better "opportunity" when you only have 3 days to hunt. Elk sign is not always better on the other side!

 

[cnelk]

Just 1 thing eh?

I would have to say 'Slow your ass down' and learn how to hunt your elk areas 'Soft'.

By 'Soft' I mean going in and not blowing them out.

I have a few places I can go in EVERY DAY throughout the season and have an elk encounter. I make sure the wind is right, time of day is right and calling is barely audible. Now, I may not get an elk every time, but having the encounters is what matters.

BTW - these spots ^^^ are only 300yds from my truck.

So many times I see guys racing around the woods, trying their best to at least SEE an elk, knowing they have only 7-10 days to hunt. They end up drive or even hike past so many elk its crazy.

I guess they cant leave the fast and furious lifestyle at home.

But YMMV - what works for me may not work for you. But I can say this, it really, really does work for me.

 

[The Ri Guy]

Preseason scouting is a must. Don’t anticipate finding elk in the same spot you did last year. Chances are, just when you think you have them figured out, they have you figured out.

Interesting, I was actually going to post the opposite -- around the rut bulls seem to be in the same traditional battleground areas every single year.

At least, that's been my experience in WA over the last 20 years.

 

[SteveinMN]

Just 1 thing eh?

I would have to say 'Slow your ass down' and learn how to hunt your elk areas 'Soft'.

By 'Soft' I mean going in and not blowing them out.

I have a few places I can go in EVERY DAY throughout the season and have an elk encounter. I make sure the wind is right, time of day is right and calling is barely audible. Now, I may not get an elk every time, but having the encounters is what matters.

BTW - these spots ^^^ are only 300yds from my truck.

So many times I see guys racing around the woods, trying their best to at least SEE an elk, knowing they have only 7-10 days to hunt. They end up drive or even hike past so many elk its crazy.

I guess they cant leave the fast and furious lifestyle at home.

But YMMV - what works for me may not work for you. But I can say this, it really, really does work for me.

This is great insight. I lot of guys forget that the second you step away from the truck you are hunting. The elk don't know they're supposed to be wandering around a meadow way up high, sometimes they screw it up and hang out where they're not supposed to be.

My first elk was a day that I needed a rest day but instead of hanging out by the tent drinking beer I thought I'd at least sit in the woods. Walked about 1/4 mile in, pulled up a cozy log to get ready for a nap but then a whole damn herd of elk wandered in. Sure made for a nice pack out though!

 

[Taylorhaught]

I’ve learned that during the rut, we do t know as much as we think we know about their behaviors

 

[ScottRK]

I haven’t even hunted elk yet.
But when people think you’re nuts at 54 for training for your first elk hunt as a solo don’t listen.From reading on here it can be done. Some folks justhave no motivation in life.
Edit- I may have a different idea on my thinking come Oct.

 

[mtnlomo]

Adapt the distance between shooter and caller based on the cover and terrain slow down a minute and think before moving in on located elk, and when the time comes be aggressive!

 

[j33]

First year chasing Elk was this year, I spent alot of time preparing with learning about Elk, better shape and proper gear. Biggest thing I learned: Good backcountry hunting partners are hard to come by...

Whether it's reliability or they aren't as passionate into getting it done. Definitely looking around for some more hunting partners for this fall in Alberta in case anyone is in the same position!

 

[DawnPatrol]

When making a stalk and the animal is out of sight always assume they moved (new bed) and keep your head on a swivel.

This.

But also, simultaneously, don't give up on them being exactly where you left them just b/c you don't see them the instant you think you should be able to.

This past season I glassed up two bulls, sent my buddy across the canyon after them, and watched him basically trip over them and blow them out at 40 yards. Talking to him afterward, he said he got there and just didn't see them right off and kinda gave up mentally.