Looking for some advise...

[Jekemi]

also looking for advice. can anyone  point me to a good source of field dressing an elk? I understand it's somewhat different than dressing out a deer. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

[cohoho]

Depends upon how you like to do it, there are a couple post on it on the site, can't remeber where though.  I do the gut less method for all the bigger animals, it works for me very well and keep most of the mess inside.  I start at the where I am caping the animal at the horns "Y" cut then straight down the back to the rear, cut the hide well behind front legs for cape, the peel away removing hide from the exposed side, take the back strap off, both if you can at this time, then rear qrt, then front, then neck and rib meat, I cut through a couple ribs then reach in and get the best -the tenderlions.  Flip the hide up and roll it to the head and cut off at base of skull.   Roll the animal over then repeat the process on the other side..  It is easy once you do it and pretty quick, hardly mess anything up.  It doesn't waste any meat and everything stay really clean..

[Jekemi]

cohoho: Yes, I've done a little research and this sounds like the best method. I followed along as you described your no-gut method but I probably need to see it. Any suggestions regarding a DVD on the process? This definitely seems like the way to go. thanks for taking the time to reply.

[DeKuma]

Dang Mike!  Sounds like a blast.  I have not gotten out after elk at all yet.  Made a few trips with the wife for rabbit, grouse and whatever else, but not really targeted hunting.

Keep at it.  Wish I was there too!

[Professor Chaos]

Sounds to me like you should get out of the stand and try to intercept them as they head back to their bedding area.  So far you have been close to the big bull twice as i read it, but he doesnt want to be at the lick.  I would not bugle from the tree stand, especially if you know he is there. 
I would try to find a travel lane as they head down to bed and ambush it at a pinch point if you can find one.  OR
I would stay on the ground, and still hunt my way in there until I got close to the bull and then squeal like a spike once i am inside his "zone" .  He doesnt want to leave his cows but if you get close enough he will come to chase you out. 

[cohoho]

Yea, I ditched the tree stand idea for the time being, kind of had too, someone was down at the mineral lick, boot prints, not of my own.  Probably from when I heard shoots Saturday Morning below the stand and then hollering?  Anyhow went with Pope over the weekend and learned quite a bit on calling.  We had a couple setups that were great, a bull closed the gap quick from a far ways off but must have gotten our wind. In the area we went cows were open, had a couple chances just they were too quick busting out or just too far for a bow shot...   Anyhow back this morning to my first area at 0500 again, wind was bad right down the hill, so I side hill-ed around and setup, made some gentle calls and thrashed a bit, a small spike popped out to see what was going on and stayed with me for a bit before gently walking away, a couple cows were at the lick when I came back up the hill on the way home around 1100hrs.....  They weren't scared but walked away.  I have not heard a bugle up there since Friday morning, a couple guys I talked too on the road home also stated the same thing, they were bugling last week, must be the temp/Moon/etc...  I got three more mornings of the season, can't go or the weekend, so down to crunch time it is....