Late Season elk.

[wt]

I was talking with a guy a couple doors down at my shop the other week and he said he didn't even go out early season"it was to hot" and usually doesn't. He also said he prefers late season. This got me thinking that I should consider my approach to late season a little more closely. What kind of calling do you do?, I assume there is no more bugling, but how about cow and calf sounds? Just social sounds for a little curiosity, or lost calf, irritated cow, estrus cow with the second late estrus cycle in mind? I will be hunting on the wet side for antlerless or 3pt+ in an area with locked gates but still has medium pressure. Do you call at all? Do you head deep into the timber, hang out in the reprod, go down steep? Keep in the timber but stay close to clear cuts with sign. Any input from people that have been successful in the late season is appreciated. wt.

[Button Nubbs]

early season is where its at! i dont ever want to have to hunt late for elk.

[Jonathan_S]

I too am interested in what this thread produces.

[adictd2hunting]

I would try all those places you said.  The elk will be were they want to.  Not were you want them to be.  I usally try to find fresh sign where ever i can and hunt that spot.  I usally use my lost cow or a calf call just to give me some sort of cover when moving in the area with fresh sign.  Everyone has a different way of doing things.  And no one way is right or wrong.  Just spend some time in an area that has good sign and see what works for you.

[Houndhunter]

I dont hunt late season anymore. Unless you can shoot cows or have private property its not worth it. Part of it is I want to call one in and kill it, can't do that in the late season.

[trophyhunt]

I don't want to high jack this thread so let me know if I need to start a different topic, when it comes to late elk, I really don't even bother with the smoke pole. It seems to me the units that are open for late elk for muzzy are not very populated with elk at all. Is there a unit for late muzzy that is worth a chit? Any help out there that might lead me in the right area??? I usually eat my muzzy tag because I don't draw on the east side and the early season I'm in Idaho. Any advise?

[Mudman]

Calling doesnt work much.  If a bull does respond he will sneak in downwind and you might not even know hes there.  Call to mask your sound can work, but mostly calls just alert the elk.  They tend to be quiet when pressured and a call at noon does more damage than good in my opinion.  Sometimes you can still catch a bull with herd because of late cows.  Elk are where the people dont want to go in late season hunt season. Late season is fun and frustrating, elk tend to be more nocturnal and hard to find.  Morning seems better to me.  Timber and swamps seem better too.  Sneaking and anticipating travel routes back to bed work best for me.  If you jump em out of beds I say run and get downwind of moving elk.  Who knows really different strokes for diff folks!

[mtman]

For me it is about cutting fresh tracks. Once you find them in an area walk trough the timber until you bump them. If you dont get a shot then run after them they seem to slow down and herd back up. This has worked for me a couple times.

[trophyhunt]

Oops, I didn't notice this thread was under the bow catagorie, sorry. I will make a different thread on the muzzy.

[huntnnw]

Ill be attempting this in WA for late archery in NE corner...well see

[newred]

Ill be attempting this in WA for late archery in NE corner...well see

Same here figure I better give it another go. Don't want to eat another elk tag!

[huntnnw]

I have never attempted it..I always have a late deer tag and am chasing them. I know where elk are up there. Its pretty open now and I will glass and see if I can find them move in on them or stalk one bedded. I dont think the elk will bed in nasty north faces in cold weather from what  have seen with winter mode they will bed on south faces

[PolarBear]

I prefer hunting late season for elk and deer.  Not a fan of hunting in warm/hot weather and don't give a crap about hunting the rut for either.

[coxral]

I haven't had the need to hunt Elk in the late-season lately, but will this week. I've had no problems calling in cows late season, just get'n 'em to stand still long enough and close enough as I use Longbow. Son will be there with his compound this year so, maybe! Prefer deer early season though, no real reason why, just do.