My Elk Hunting tips

[rtspring]

I read Phelps post and thought I would add on my two cents...

1. I am no expert, My gear didn't cost thousands, I find deals on clothing, guns and the likes. Find stuff that works the best for you. You don"t need 3000.00 dollar binos to kill elk. Or clothes that cost 100"s of dollars.

2. I get asked alot about (where are the elk?) I return with this response, (where would you hide if you were being hunted?) that in itself is the answer. Sure every year elk are killed 5 feet off the road, but a ELK HUNTER that gets off the road  finds 10X the elk that a road hunter does.

3. ELK need three things at all times! Water,Food, Timber to hide...  Combine those three and you will get into elk. These animals will outsmart the best of hunters year after year. Just when you think you have them pegged they throw you a curve.

4. Scout, you have to spend time in the woods watching elk, how they feed, how they react to dangers, where do they run to hide, no book or human can teach anyone the amount of learning that watching elk will teach you. I have personally spent 100's of hours just watching them. Put the sneak on them, back out then sneak in again.

5. I use a practical approach to elk hunting, sure you might bust them out, but if you don't try you will never know. Use the wind no matter what. You will not walk into  elk with the wind on your back consistently. You will get busted from swirling winds, but hey you just learned a lesson in elk hunting. Find a way to get to the elk with wind in your face.

I started cow calling when I am still hunting about 8 years ago, not so much to find elk but to cover my noise. This has proven to work for me time and time again. walk 50 feet and cow call, then repeat over and over all day long.

Tons of people on here complain about to many pumpkins in their area! I use them to my advantage. Face it most hunters are lazy after the first few days. Let them chase the elk to you or into an area that only you would go to get one.

You wont kill elk by sitting in camp! Get out into the woods, Elk until pressured are creatures of habit, they might not be on that trail for three days but then on the 4th their they are.

Dont look for elk!! Look for elk parts in heavy timber... I have spotted a butt, an ear, a leg, even just eyes before looking right at me.

Move slow, no reason to run through the forest! I had to learn this the hard way. Once I slowed down on my pace I started seeing more animals. walk ten feet then stop and look at everything, even if you just looked at it ten feet before. DO this over and over.

ELK DONT MOVE MIDDAY! Oh yes they do.... Most hunters go back to camp for lunch, take a lunch with you and stay in the woods. I love middle of the day hunting. Usually along an area I know elk to be going to get a drink.

There is no guarantee in Elk Hunting. Sometimes you win sometimes you lose! Don't get frustrated! I hunted with a guy on here last year that did just that, he was pissed at himself for blowing a chance at a bull at 40 yds at best. oh well, gather your head and find another one.. Elk will drive you insane when you think you have them pegged or figured out.

I spend tons of time in the woods, NO I don't kill elk every year but I give myself the best chance I can possibly have.

For novice guys, team up with a guy who has hunted elk before! watch how he walks, how he looks around, is he in shape?
KIlling an elk is simple until you shoot one and walk up on it. This is when the real work begins, I'm no pro, but watch  someone who has field dressed an animal. That is the best way to learn.

All the scent control crap they sell is worthless in my book. Watch the wind.........thats all you need..

To kill elk you need to have an area that is know to hold elk year after year. It can be a small drainage or 5 square miles. This is the think that cannot be taught, You yourself must find it, after 27 years I am still looking for more places like that..  ha ha it isn't easy...

To kill elk you must want it bad!! go the extra mile, Do what ever it takes to improve your chances! I hunt elk all year long to hunt them for 9 days with a rifle...

Most of all don't give up, be thankful we have the chance to hunt these great animals...

Hope I didn't ramble to much

RTSPRING

[coachcw]

good read brother , I will add that expect elk when you don't expect to see them . letting your guard down gets you bust more often than not . aswell hunt them like your bow hunting always ! I'm looking forward to sharing time in the field with you this season. btw I do like some cool gear ! lol.

[SniperDanWA]

That's what I follow.  I wish you well this year for Aaron.

[Bean Counter]

Dude I thought you were taking a vacation? 

[rtspring]

Dude I thought you were taking a vacation? 

My plane had engine problems! Next plane had fuel issues! Next one was missing a wing!

So I just decided to stick around!  Ha

[elk247]

Between you an JP any new elk hunter should shave years off the learning curve. Good post RT.

[Bean Counter]

Dude I thought you were taking a vacation? 

My plane had engine problems! Next plane had fuel issues! Next one was missing a wing!

So I just decided to stick around!  Ha

Ok gotcha.

Next thing you know KC Cracker will do us all a favor by showing up and post about how how much things suk around here. 

[Bhunter253]

I agree with all of that. We have killed more elk between 10 an 1 when everyone is at camp eating lunch. Great write up.

[trophyhunt]

I agree with all of that. We have killed more elk between 10 an 1 when everyone is at camp eating lunch. Great write up.

yup, I never go back to camp until dark. I killed my biggest bull at 1 pm just after I got done eating my lunch in the woods, one cow call and the woods went crazy! Good post

[BOWHUNTER45]

Yeah we all have our way of hunting ...as long as your whackin and stackin you are doing it right 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Dude I thought you were taking a vacation? 

Pretty good come back ....HUH ? 

[bench beast]

Amen.... Lots of great info, the more time you spend in the woods. The better chance of being able to notch your tag. It's not just time in season, but the off season as well. It's a tough job but somebody has got to do it...

[huntingfool7]

All good stuff right there RT.  I especially like-

"5. I use a practical approach to elk hunting, sure you might bust them out, but if you don't try you will never know. Use the wind no matter what. You will not walk into  elk with the wind on your back consistently. You will get busted from swirling winds, but hey you just learned a lesson in elk hunting. Find a way to get to the elk with wind in your face."

Can't tell how many times I've heard a story that ends with "he was right there and I knew if I moved a muscle, he'd have busted me". 
Some times you gotta make a move, this is kinda like sitting on the sidelines thinking about asking a pretty girl to dance.  Make it happen or bust 'em out.

[Huntboy]

Between you an JP any new elk hunter should shave years off the learning curve. Good post RT.

  Agreed.

[Labs07]

I was the guy who was frustrated last year but we regrouped and things came together.  Like RT said you need to stick with it even when you are frustrated and feel like you blew it!
I have hunted Elk for many years now and have had lots of successes, many failures and many times when I wanted to give up.  You need to have the will to contunue even in the face of frustration, tiredness, bad weather and there have been some years that we just never relly got into a bunch of Elk at all.  This is why it is called hunting and I try to remamber this when I am frustrated.  RT also mentioned hunting during the midday.  This is a great tactc that works very well because Elk are moving during the day to feed and get water....I killed my Wyoming Elk while taking a lunch break on the side of a mountian last year.  Take your lunch with you and maybe enough food to last you the next day as well.  I have camped out overnight jsut to be closer to the Elk.
I would also encourage people to untilize a varity of tactics such as spot and stalk, sitting still and if the time is right run and gun.  I utilize these all of the time and yes you may blow out some Elk but that is half the fun.
Know your physical limits....if ELk are in a hell hole and you go in after them but cant get the critter out if you shoot one then maybe you  should not have been down there in the first place.
I utilize calls a bunch and carry several different calls with me. And utilize them frequently.

There is some of my two cents...maybe only a cent and a half!

[ELKBURGER]

Great advice! New guys.......Take note!

[lostbackpacker]

dont be afraid to explore new areas.  for many years, I hunted where my father in law told me to hunt. I didnt explore.  After a couple of seasons with not seeing many animals, I went out on my own.  Lo and behold, I found alot of elk and deer.