Phelps/Hunt-Wa Elk Hunting Q&A

[JPhelps]

The elk will most likely be in the same general vicinity.  I would probably start there looking for elk and sign.

[hunter9949]

Great, thank you.

[206dawgfan]

I was wondering about different altitudes with elk. We hunt the east side and I was wondering if there is a certain altitude that elk like to be at at different times of the year. I know there are always exceptions to the rule. In addition, I am wondering about snow. Do they move down from snow or only when the snow gets bad. Thanks


"Honey; Hunting is free meat". She'll never know the truth.

[CalebMcK]

  In the Modern Firearm season, where should you look for the elk at? In the colder weather do they usually come down in elevation? Should you sit and wait for them, or go and try to find them?
   Sorry for these really basic questions, but I am a newbie at elk hunting.   

[JPhelps]

I was wondering about different altitudes with elk. We hunt the east side and I was wondering if there is a certain altitude that elk like to be at at different times of the year. I know there are always exceptions to the rule. In addition, I am wondering about snow. Do they move down from snow or only when the snow gets bad. Thanks


"Honey; Hunting is free meat". She'll never know the truth.

If you are targeting specific elk that summered up high it typically takes a decent amount of snow to push them down the drainage.

[JPhelps]

  In the Modern Firearm season, where should you look for the elk at? In the colder weather do they usually come down in elevation? Should you sit and wait for them, or go and try to find them?
   Sorry for these really basic questions, but I am a newbie at elk hunting.

I'm assuming you are hunting the west side. Elk will be scattered from top to bottom (the old saying of elk are where you find them).

If you have them patterned and they aren't pressured sitting/waiting/glassing can be effective. 

Most of the guys I know  (successful hunters) will hit the brush within an hour of daybreak.

[Torrent50]

What are your thoughts on cow calling during late archery season?  Only my second year hunting and not sure if I should be calling occasionally while I'm busting brush or not.  Thanks

[gonehuntin68]

I would. Ive called in plenty of elk all year long.

[The100Road]

I called from 7:30 to 9:30 yesterday morning and had a cow and a spike come in. Only took about 2 hours. but it worked.

[JPhelps]

It never hurts to call and can work.  My concern is when stalking a herd that doesn't know I'm there and then get close and call a lot of times it can backfire and put the elk on alert or scare them.

Cold calling or lost cow can be effective though during late season

[Torrent50]

Thanks for the input.  I will put it to use in the morning.  Had to work the last four days so I will be back at it tomorrow and see if the ones we found on Wednesday are still where we left them. 

[D-Rock425]

Jason are your calling tactics any different from westside elk vs eastside elk?

[JPhelps]

Jason are your calling tactics any different from westside elk vs eastside elk?

They are pretty much identical.  Whether I am hunting coastal Roosevelt's, cascade Roosevelt's or Rockies I use the same tactics and calls.

The biggest difference in hunting them is the coastal Roosevelt's commitment to want to stay in one general area where the other two seem to blow out and be 3 miles away if spooked.

[Skyvalhunter]

Jason, I have heard of some peninsula hunters jumping elk then running after them to catch up with them , have you ever used this tactic?

[D-Rock425]

Here it is only march and i'm reading Guy Eastmans elk hunting the west and asking Phelps calling questions.  I guess you can never know to much.