Tactics... best odds?

[Hunter mike]

So, I have a lot of miles under my boots (and mountain bike tires) but no bull yet.  I've been dividing my time between a few different tactics.  Elk are definitely in the area - tracks and fresh sign everywhere, so I know I'm "in the zone."  I haven't laid eyes on a bull during this hunt, but saw a few nice ones about 2 weeks ago in the same general area.  Moderate pressure in the unit, but I'm the only one I've seen in any of my spots so far.


#1 sitting on clearcuts glassing.  I have a tough time doing this for very long because I can hardly sit still.  I know elk come through these spots, but no luck so far.  I try to sit on cuts that a large area is visible and within shot range.  Mostly do this at last light because it's easier to get back to the truck in the dark and would be easiest to deal with a kill by myself.

#2 Working some trails along the river bottom.  A few miles of "trails" - mostly overgrown roads.  Tons of habitat with river bottom/open grass meadows mixed in between mature timber 40 yrs old or so.  Also some reprod out along the edges.  My first morning I stalked into one spot and had a cow 30 yards out feeding by the river.  Same morning also had a couple others (unknown if a bull or not) feeding way out in one of the grassy meadows (think swamp).  They were gone before I could get out for a better view.  I like this type of hunting, but within about 2 hours I feel like I've covered the ground and move on to something else.  Also on morning 2, I came up with nothin...

#3  Walking roads and working the reprod a bit.  I haven't done this as much - the reprod is really thick and I feel like anything would be long gone before I'd even see it.  I try to set up so I'm walking down one side of the drainage and glass across to the other and possibly have a shot.  I also figure I might get lucky and come across something on the road (way back behind gates).  I ride my bike on the mainline and walk back in on the spurs and off the end of landings down into the reprod.


Sorry for being long-winded, just looking for opinions.  I only have a couple of days left to hunt and want to give myself the best chance possible.

Any advice?

[Eli346]

It sounds like you're doing eveything right. I usually only see a few elk a year and one of them is the one I shoot. I try to get into the timbered draws and work them slowly and as quietly as possible with the wind in my face or quartering to me. I seem to see the cows on the benches but find the lone bulls in the draws near a drainages. Have a cow call handy because if they bust you sometimes they will stop with a call and give you a shot. It's happened many times before and worked again on Monday. Good luck and keep at it.

[billythekidrock]

Not sure where you are at but you might try some light bugling and cow calling.

This week I have seen cows being bred and bulls running cows in two different units.

[Jrod79]

I feel your pain man. I've put a lot of miles on the boots through some nasty terrain and have come up empty handed and the year is over for me. I'm not able to get out the rest of the season. Good luck and I hope to see a pic soon!