Uncommon elk hunting strategy

Josh Gray

FNG
Joined
Mar 10, 2022
Messages
19
I’m curious how many of you have found success just pulling off a main road or hwy and dropping or climbing straight in to an area. I’ve actually only hunted 1 or 2x out of a main trailhead or even trail systems and have found most sign and success just 1-3 miles away from these places. My last bull I killed I could clearly hear semi’s using their engine brakes while cutting him up. My theory is the elk actually feel safer closer to the sound of traffic when there isn’t any non-hunting recreation. Maybe potentially less 4 and 2 legged predators?

Driving to hunt bear last month nearly every license plate we saw at trailheads or cruising forest service roads were out of state, while every truck we saw parked right off the highway had resident plates. I think a lot of east coasters are looking for a wilderness experience and maybe just don’t like the idea of hearing traffic at night?
 

Poser

WKR
Joined
Dec 27, 2013
Messages
5,462
Location
Durango CO
Yes, but on the years that the 4 Corners Motorcycle Rally align with opening weekend, the highway noise is overwhelming even 2+ miles from the road.
 

go_deep

WKR
Joined
Jan 7, 2021
Messages
1,905
Killed my first elk by seeing fresh tracks in the snow crossing a state highway. About 3 hours and 1.5 miles later I caught up to it and killed it, in it's bed. It made a huge loop and was only beded about 1/3 mile from the road to the west of where it first crossed the road.
Like Gerbdod said, you find elk where you find elk.
 

go_deep

WKR
Joined
Jan 7, 2021
Messages
1,905
Do as the name go_deep says....

Go Deep!

Also dont pull out......

gotta stick to those deep areas even when there arent elk.... they could move in at any moment..... commit commit commit!

Well, that's what I do, till I'm sick of all the hiking, then I shoot one from a lawn chair off a meadow I found years ago that everyone drives on by.
 

go_deep

WKR
Joined
Jan 7, 2021
Messages
1,905
Heck, about 8 years ago I found a pretty big 4 point mule deer shed from the seat of my work truck! Might need to change my handle? Go_deep_when_needed_go_shallow_most_other_times
 
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