my plan

[buglebuster]

So I've got a spike and about 5 cows coming into my trail cam every evening at the same time on the dot. I only had a salt block out but dumled 100lbs of apples this time. My plan is to go in next week and clear a shooting lane to a spot i figured would be good to sit. I planned on taking the trimmings and building a blind. It will be 30yds away. I also plan on dumping a couple hundred lbs of apples everyweek and possibly some sweet cob. Does this plan sound good? Any other things i need to consider, I've never stand hunted elk before. Thank you!

[lostbackpacker]

So I've got a spike and about 5 cows coming into my trail cam every evening at the same time on the dot. I only had a salt block out but dumled 100lbs of apples this time. My plan is to go in next week and clear a shooting lane to a spot i figured would be good to sit. I planned on taking the trimmings and building a blind. It will be 30yds away. I also plan on dumping a couple hundred lbs of apples everyweek and possibly some sweet cob. Does this plan sound good? Any other things i need to consider, I've never stand hunted elk before. Thank you!

depends on exactly where your blind will be.... let me know and I can tell you if it's a good plan

[bobcat]

Just make sure the wind is right and that you don't walk across the trail the elk are likely to come in on.

Are cows legal too?

[vandeman17]

Just make sure the wind is right and that you don't walk across the trail the elk are likely to come in on.

Are cows legal too?

I agree with bobcat. I would also take an inventory of how much they have been hitting the applets and adjust accordingly. I have never tried apples for elk so I don't know if they prefer them. I learned the hard way not to set up too close to where you expect them to be coming in or else you can get busted pretty easy when trying to draw. I would also consider where the sun will be shining because you don't want to be sitting with the sun right on you because it makes your movements stand out that much more but I would let the wind dictate it more then anything. 

[buglebuster]

I should have been more specific on how i set up, i come into the clearcut from the south west and set up west of the salt lick so the sun will besetting behind me as i am looking east. The elk come in from north and east. The wind usually blows west here so will be in my face, usually. And yes, cows are legal.

[vandeman17]

I should have been more specific on how i set up, i come into the clearcut from the south west and set up west of the salt lick so the sun will besetting behind me as i am looking east. The elk come in from north and east. The wind usually blows west here so will be in my face, usually. And yes, cows are legal.

sounds like your set up should be perfect. Just cross your fingers that their patterns don't change between now and the opener and you should be good to go. 

[et1702]

I'd get up a tree.  Put a tree stand up in the same area you plan to palce a blind.

ET

[buglebuster]

There are no trees tall enough for a stand in this spot. I forgot to mention, when i placed the camerathe elk came in only a few hours later, they dont seem to be spooked by human odor on the ground.

[et1702]

There are no trees tall enough for a stand in this spot. I forgot to mention, when i placed the camerathe elk came in only a few hours later, they dont seem to be spooked by human odor on the ground.

If no tall trees, I'd say ground blind is the next best thing in this situation.  Just make sure you don't hunt it unless the wind is perfect (i.e., in your face).  Also, don't forget to brush up behind you.  You want a dark background behind you.  If not, they could see movement, even thru the brush in front of you.

ET

[motg9_6]

Possibly check out the sniper tripod stand at sportsmanship guide. I just bought one and put it together for a similar setup should work great and seems to be good quality and easy to assemble.

[buglebuster]

here he is  not a monster but ill take him! I wont pass up a mature cow first tho.

[vandeman17]

Is that milk dripping off his lips?  Shooter any day in my book 

[furbearer365]

They only issue I see with "building" a blind is you say the elk are already coming in on a regular basis.  Ive never been one to disturb the surrounding area to much once they are coming in.  Kind of like when you see the guys on TV that put up a ground blind on a water hole to hunt antelope.  They do it well in advance to get the game used to coming in and seeing it there without any harm coming to them.  Then once the hunter slips in they know nothing.  I would just be careful how much you do when building a blind.  May throw them off and spook em.

[buglebuster]

I don't really plan on building a full out blind, but take the branches from the shooting lane and lay them around where I'll be sitting, the spot is pretty concealed as it is.

[vandeman17]

I don't really plan on building a full out blind, but take the branches from the shooting lane and lay them around where I'll be sitting, the spot is pretty concealed as it is.

If you do it early then I think it will be just fine. That will give it a few weeks to sit and I doubt they will really notice if it is already pretty thick.