Scouting Question - need expert advice!

[ctwiggs1]

Ok guys the area we've been scouting is still only showing the same 4 cows and a single 4 x4.  I don't want to  keep pushing the area if there aren't spikes. Trail cams and us seeing the elk have confirmed this.

Round 2: we overnighted and scouted a new area.  Didn't see any elk when we were out, but that's ok considering we were only in the area for 6-8 hours.  What we did find was really color though - a big bedding area with very fresh elk urine and poop.  It wasn't warm but I was very squishy.  I would have to defer to the experts but my guess is that it's probably only a few hours old if it's really squishy?

So here is my question - when are the elk bedding?  How do I hunt this area?  I know that's very general but I am still an elk beginner so I figure I'll ask beginner questions! ;-)

Thanks guys


Curtis

[Biggerhammer]

Depends on the hunting pressure. You will usually find me just on the edge of the deep and dark stuff before light. I let the the other hunters do the work.

[ctwiggs1]

I guess I'm trying to understand the elk better.  Do you think they'll still be bedding down in that same area in two weeks or do they migrate around quite a bit?

Curtis

[boneaddict]

What region are you hunting? 

[ctwiggs1]

LOL the same as everyone else - the Natches area/Yakima herd.  That being said, I am certainly not hunting the roads and I am almost positive nobody else will be in the particular area I'm in.  I'm not going to go on and on about the miles hiked, but it was definitely off the beaten path.

Curtis

[Vo2max]

No "expert" here but I'll give my two cents...
whether or not the elk will be there in two weeks depends on hunting pressure likely. An Elk's range can be rather large and they cycle through regions where they'll be in one area on day one and not again for several days... every 3-4 days they may cycle back through the region depending on if they are bumped from their usual routine. Likely, as soon as they hear the first gun go off close enough to matter they'll hunker down in the deepest, darkest depths of the country and stay there until its safe and they no longer hear the sound of diesel trucks cruising the logging roads and stopping to glass the same spots over and over and over. Personally, I'd do what BiggerHammer said and hunt slowly the edges of the deep, dark, dank stuff and listen close. Busting into that deep older reprod will get you a few things: tired, scratched up, pissed off, frustrated and bummed out as you just pushed elk into another area where someone was walking the logging road on the opposite side.

[rover758]

LOL .... you asked for "expert" advice so I shouldn't respond.  It's my opinion that the elk are kind of cyclic ... that is to say they vary their paths (depending of pressure) and where they bed and it may be 3 or 4 days before they show back up in the spot where you found fresh beds and fresh sign.  I've left my trail cam out for a number of weeks at at time and, like clock work, the same 6 cows, 4 calves, and one spike showed up 3 days apart and always 30 minutes after first light.  I've included a link below that has some general information on elk habits.  On it there's a map that shows elk route from feeding to bedding.  2 miles as the crow flies but a 3 to 5 mile meander getting there.  I think I know the general area where you hunt and I think you know where I hunt.  Go on Google Earth and pan out from a bird's-eye view rather than close up.  You can take the GPS coordinates of the fresh sign and "pin" it and get a feel for all the potential travel routes and optional bedding routes and elk may take.  My buddy and I did that for the Nile area we hunt.  We thought we knew where the elk were feeding so wanted to be between feeding and their beds.  We wanted to be far enough away from feeding to have light by the time they got to where we were going to ambush them.  We chose separate areas and we both saw elk.  My only problem is it was a 5x5 and not a spike.  I don't believe there are any hard and fast rules.  Think like an elk if that's at all possible and hunt smart.  And, when you think you have it figured out they will prove once again that they are smarter than you.  On the left side of the link below there's other "how to" for elk.  Maybe the real experts on here can say if the link has good advice or not.  Me?  I take every thing I can in and try to get out of this rookie elk-hunter stage I'm in.   

How'd the sister-in-law wedding go?  Get any pheasants that day?  LOL

Good luck out there!

http://www.elk-hunting-tips.net/elk-habits.html

[ctwiggs1]

Haha!  Wedding is this Saturday and pheasant is this SUNDAY!  That's my official hunting season kick-off!  Too many weekends have been taken up and my bear season was basically non-existent due to wedding stuff, wood working projects (side cash ), etc.  Time to hunt!

I appreciate the advice!  I can definitely point someone in the direction of a beautiful 4x4 and 4x5 and several cows, but I haven't seen any spikes (in person or on cam) so I picked up and moved to a new location.  I did see a small 3x2 buck, which is actually the first buck I've ever seen in the area.

Curtis