Tree Stand Elk

[dlee56]

I’m considering hiking my tree stand into a water hole for this archery season, I have a bear and elk tag here in CO and I’ve always wondered how a tree stand would do in the quakies.

Any prior experience to share?

 

[butcherboy]

I’ve never put one in a quakie. Those suckers like to move a lot in the wind. Probably be fine in one that’s big enough and not high off the ground. I just use pine trees.

 

[Indian Summer]

The first question that comes to mind is, how is the availability of water in the area? If it was Arizona, I would say go for it. The places I hunt in Montana and Wyoming a water hole probably wouldn’t be a good bet. There is water everywhere.

 

[spike camp]

Even if water is everywhere, a particular water hole can be ridiculously productive.

Especially in benchy terrain.
I’ve hunted a soggy spot, creeks everywhere, and elk hammer this particular wallow filled bench.

What I’d do, is use a trail cam in August to gauge the activity and base my commitment off of pics.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I’ve thought about it, it’s a technique… can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat near water and had a bull ripping bugles I’m not gonna sit in a stand while that is going on…

 

[WyOwen]

I spent some time walking around the ears a few years ago, end of August. I was amazed at how many tree stands were hung.. most were not even over a wallow!

Either there’s something to it or.. …


Personally I’d loose my mind sitting like that.

 

[Lil-Rokslider]

Sure isn't the most fun way to hunt elk.....

 

[Indian Summer]

Sure isn't the most fun way to hunt elk.....

This!

 

[dlee56]

I’ve thought about it, it’s a technique… can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat near water and had a bull ripping bugles I’m not gonna sit in a stand while that is going on…

I’m 100% climbing down if I hear bugles, I’m just thinking it’ll be a good “home base” where I can sit over a productive water hole if there’s no other immediate opportunities present, without just squatting behind a bush

 

[dlee56]

Sure isn't the most fun way to hunt elk.....

I always feel torn between sitting and hoofing it. Does a guy get more encounters when hiking his ass off and/or calling, or when he’s sitting at a water hole that’ll usually get used a couple elk and a bear everyday.

 

[Phaseolus]

I've killed a couple out of tree stands. The real trick of it is to find a spot that elk use regularly and also have the right tree close enough to the action.

 

[Jbehredt]

I've killed a couple out of tree stands. The real trick of it is to find a spot that elk use regularly and also have the right tree close enough to the action.

And keep yourself convinced you haven’t blown out a 1/4 mile radius with the swirling wind. I quickly lose hope when I try to sit.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I always feel torn between sitting and hoofing it. Does a guy get more encounters when hiking his ass off and/or calling, or when he’s sitting at a water hole that’ll usually get used a couple elk and a bear everyday.

From my cams… some waterholes will get a few critters a day, some will get hit a night mostly or go several days with out action, it’s hard to say. I have a couple wallows/ waterholes that tend to be more productive but I’ve only shot 1 bull over water, most have come from hiking through elk habitat

 

[Beendare]

I've done it both with a stand and Treesaddle in remote spots.

My take; The solid tenants of Treestand hunting still apply. You can't half ass it.


Blow those elk out once and you just screwed up that spot for days.
A couple examples;

1) One stand I had in a canyon that was good [and hunrtable] in certain conditions where the wind was light to stagnant on warm days as my scent drifted up and away. Sit it during a swirling wind or cool downdraft and that spot is done/cooked. Trust me I did. If the wind is swirling which is usually the case, - fuggetaboutit, its a waste of time sitting that spot.

2) I hiked my saddle into a remote wallow in NM that was smoking hot. I was in an Aspen fairly high up, all good, Right? Nope. There was nothing behind me to break up my outline as is often the case in those aspen groves and a really nice bull picked me off drawing my recurve- that still chaps my hide.

 

[butcherboy]

I would definitely stay out of an aspen tree. I’ve killed 3 for 3 out of a tree stand. My pic above was from September 2024. Had 5 different bulls screaming around me at 6 am. I stayed put and killed my elk at 7:45 am. Climbing down and chasing bugles isn’t a guarantee that you kill that bull. Neither does sitting in a stand but you have a pretty good chance if elk are frequenting that spring/wallow. Doesn’t matter if you are in a stand or on the ground if the wind is swirling. They will smell you. Chasing bugles is definitely fun but so is sitting and just listening and learning the sounds of the different bulls and where they go to bed. It will give you an idea of a possible ambush or calling one in. Always chasing and calling isn’t necessarily the best tactic at times.

Killed these two from the same tree, stand, spring. Almost exactly the same shot and even hit them almost exactly the same. Even used the same game pole I made for the first one 7 years earlier.

 

[Lil-Rokslider]

I always feel torn between sitting and hoofing it. Does a guy get more encounters when hiking his ass off and/or calling, or when he’s sitting at a water hole that’ll usually get used a couple elk and a bear everyday.

I'm not sure, because I've never hunted elk like that. I'm a run and gun kind of elk hunter and I'm biased, so I would think more encounters while hiking and calling. I think if I sat at a water hole all day, and didn't kill an elk, I would feel like I wasted my whole day of hunting. At least if you hike your tail off and get skunked, you feel like you gave it your all, saw some beautiful country, got a good workout, found out where the elk are or aren't, etc....

I've been statistically way more successful hunting elk than the 10% success rates that they say is average for archery elk.

 

[Backyard]

Could read up on it. I’ve never hunted elk like this but this guy wrote the book on it. Goes by the handle of Swede on another site.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dlee56]

Could read up on it.

That’s awesome I’ll get it on order!

I would definitely stay out of an aspen tree. I’ve killed 3 for 3 out of a tree stand. My pic above was from September 2024. Had 5 different bulls screaming around me at 6 am. I stayed put and killed my elk at 7:45 am. Climbing down and chasing bugles isn’t a guarantee that you kill that bull. Neither does sitting in a stand but you have a pretty good chance if elk are frequenting that spring/wallow. Doesn’t matter if you are in a stand or on the ground if the wind is swirling. They will smell you. Chasing bugles is definitely fun but so is sitting and just listening and learning the sounds of the different bulls and where they go to bed. It will give you an idea of a possible ambush or calling one in. Always chasing and calling isn’t necessarily the best tactic at times.

Killed these two from the same tree, stand, spring. Almost exactly the same shot and even hit them almost exactly the same. Even used the same game pole I made for the first one 7 years earlier.

Looks like a great setup, you’re hooked up in a pine there?

I'm not sure, because I've never hunted elk like that. I'm a run and gun kind of elk hunter

Sounds like you found your niche but if you’ve never hunted elk sitting on sign then I’m not sure I can take your advice on it. What sort of run and gun tactics do you use?

 

[Lil-Rokslider]

Sounds like you found your niche but if you’ve never hunted elk sitting on sign then I’m not sure I can take your advice on it. What sort of run and gun tactics do you use?

Ya, I definitely am not claiming any knowledge or offering advice on still hunting elk. Like I said, I'm biased.

Personally, I like to see a lot of country. Sometimes I need to slow down, because I bump elk. I'm learning how to slow down, but I still cover some miles. I like to find some dark timber on a steep north facing slope without easy access, and climb right into the thick of it. I like to locate Bugle or find fresh sign, and then see if I can get an elk to play the game. It's more fun with a friend. It's the most fun when the elk comes pissed off screaming right into your bugling or cow calling.

 

[butcherboy]

Yes sir, treestand is in a ponderosa pine. It’s on a hill so it makes it even higher from the spring.