Wallow hunting vs stalking

D_wit22

FNG
Joined
Oct 18, 2021
All right, so I’ve been hearing some negative input on sitting over a wallow. I wanted all the experts on here to give me advice. How do you guys view just finding a fresh wallow and sitting over it versus stalking and calling in a bull? I’ve heard the term wallow hunter being used as a negative thing. I don’t have a dog in this fight. I just am curious your thoughts?
 
Sitting is a tactic. It works, but it’s not the best, just keep it in mind especially if it’s super hot and quiet. Be flexible though

Edit: not the best for me. If definitely works and I have shot a bull sitting a wallow, it’s just boring. Who hunts elk in September to sit and stare at 40 yards of real-estate? Not me haha
 
As a seasoned elk hunter and former guide, I've never known it to be dismissed or viewed negatively. It's a valid strategy, especially during mid-day. Many find it to be boring, me included, so I never did it much unless the hunting was really slow and I needed to get a client a bull. Out of many wallow sits, I can only think of a few where a bull actually came in during the day. When hunting solo, I'll sometimes take my mid-day naps near a wallow instead of going back to camp.

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There's a lot of variables.


It's fairly likely to blow them out one way or another.

Your scent will hang around for a while if you do. If they are coming in routinely you might get a chance before they know you are there.

I killed my first elk on wallows, only one I killed on them too. Can work, not how I really care to hunt them.
 
I am far from an expert but I have killed a number of bulls and the longer I hunt elk the more I realize that If I can get them to come to me as opposed to me being the one closing the distance, I have far more success. Weather it be a wallow or a water hole or a pinch point of sorts, I have had a lot of success with a good old ambush. I think I killed my last 4 or 5 archery bulls off of wallows.

As @jolemons said it is boring but I'll tolerate boring if it gives me good odds of success. If you find a wallow that's getting pounded, let them come to you unsuspecting.

I do love to run and gun but I also love a wallow if it's a good one. 🤘
 
All right, so I’ve been hearing some negative input on sitting over a wallow. I wanted all the experts on here to give me advice. How do you guys view just finding a fresh wallow and sitting over it versus stalking and calling in a bull? I’ve heard the term wallow hunter being used as a negative thing. I don’t have a dog in this fight. I just am curious your thoughts?
Both are tactics that can be used to kill elk.

Have been successful doing it both ways, as have many others.

Have been unsuccessful doing it both ways, as have many others.

There usually is not a one tactic that is always successful.

Just different tools in the toolbox.
 
I love hunting wallows the older I get, I am more patient as I get older. I usually chase calls early morning sit all day, probably nap at a wallow and depends on if their vocal chase them in the evening.
 
Good stuff. For those of you saying wallow sitting over the midday time, do you have encounters? I always thought stuff was bedded up tight midday
 
If it's legal where you are at, set up trail cameras around a wallow to see if/when the elk are using it. It takes time to hike in and check often, but could give you good insight.
 
I’ve ran a lot of cams on wallows, unless you’re in a super dry area wallows can be very hard to pattern. A person could get lucky but if I was going to sit it would be a known water source. I typically don’t ever sit long enough to be successful, I get impatient and hunt them down.
 
I've been successful on a wallow one time. Nice CA Rosie mid-day. Just an occasional cow call.

A few things to consider.

They will generally come in down-wind.

Wallows can have really swirly wind. You may bring flagging tape and hang some in a few spots and see what the wind is doing all around the area.

Do not walk into the wallow area.

Put a camera there in the weeks prior to see what is going on.

Generally, this is an earlier season tactic, first 10 days or so. They seem to be much less used after that.



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I have never had any success sitting wallows/water. It seems like every time I have tried, the wind switches all over.

I would love for it to work out sometime.
 
Good stuff. For those of you saying wallow sitting over the midday time, do you have encounters? I always thought stuff was bedded up tight midday
I run into plenty of elk moving around between 11 and 2, they don’t sit in beds all day. May not move long distances but they do move
 
I’ve sat wallows/water, but it’s usually after putting a few miles on in a morning hunt.
If I do sit (usually in a tree stand) it’s not over water but in a spot that the elk move through

My son sat this spot opening day a couple years ago (vids taken beforehand )
The herd came in at dusk.
His arrow hit limb aiming for the larger bull.


 
Sitting isn’t elk hunting. It’s deer hunting. I’d say only as a last resort. If they are silent and you can’t find them but they are sneaking in there. I’d use a camera first. Like someone else said that is boring.
 
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