Late archery tactics

[GBoyd]

So I've read through the old information in the this forum on hunting in the late season, but I wanted to run by you what I've been doing. This is only my second season hunting elk and I've never got one, so I'm brand new to this.

So this weekend I was in the Winston unit. It was a zoo. I saw hundreds of trucks out every day. Mostly guys were driving along real slow looking for elk. I tried this for awhile, but no luck. So I parked by a locked gate and walked the road, which got me away from people, but I still didn't see any animals.

When we got the snow, I tried driving again, hoping to cut a track. I spent the morning doing that and then went back to walking closed roads. I finally found an elk track yesterday, but was only able to follow for about a mile and a half before losing it on patches of bare ground.

So what do you think? Do I need to change up my strategy or will this get me an elk if I keep doing it?

Also, how in the world do I get close enough for a shot once I find elk? And the guys who are looking for elk from the truck, what's their plan when they spot some?

[deerhunter_98520]

A lot of guys drive around randomly hoping to catch them on the road or in a cut to put a stalk on...late season can be real difficult....you just need to hit the brush and start walking and look for fresh sign then start tracking...make sure and keep the wind in your favor

[vandeman17]

On the eastside I like to burn the boot leather unless I know of areas or trails that they use regularly. Just methodically cover area looking for elk as well as elk sign. If you find fresh sign, you can either get on the trail or just mark it and come back to sit on it. Either way, just try to make mental or physical notes of where you are seeing elk and sign. I was out elk hunting a few days ago and I didn't see any elk but found some great areas for the following year. Finding where elk move and live takes time and patience. Just stick to it and though you might not be successful this year, just remember that you have that much more knowledge for next year. 

[GBoyd]

So when I'm out bear hunting and run into elk, I usually see them about 100 yards away and they see me too. What's your basic plan for stalking into range from a situation like that?

[Elkrunner]

If I hunt on the ground, I always find where they bed and where they eat.  I try to find their transition patters and set up on a trail. 

Tree stands have been pretty effective for many of my hunting friends.  You can always try that. 

[WapitiTalk1]

Driving the roads will probably not result in much; they've definitely seen you when you see them and you aren't gonna run and elk down.  Gated roads, yes; water/food sources, yes; transition routes/choke points between feed, bed, and major drainages, yes.  Get away from the pressure, that's where the elk will be.  This time of year, especially in that area, the elk are very educated and are acutely aware of your intentions.  Pick a few spots on your map that are well between road systems, preferrably with clearcut/feed access, and hunt the edges if possible.  Take three steps, confirm you still have the wind, look/listen/smell, take a few more steps, look/listen/smell, if you come across a spot that has had recent elk activity, mark it on your GPS for future reference.  The guys that get elk in the Winston type areas every year normally get them in their old reliable areas.  The elk are where they are because there are not many hunters present; they feel relatively safe.  Find those types of areas and still hunt them.... very, very slowly.  Just my .02

[GBoyd]

Driving the roads will probably not result in much; they've definitely seen you when you see them and you aren't gonna run and elk down.  Gated roads, yes; water/food sources, yes; transition routes/choke points between feed, bed, and major drainages, yes.  Get away from the pressure, that's where the elk will be.  This time of year, especially in that area, the elk are very educated and are acutely aware of your intentions.  Pick a few spots on your map that are well between road systems, preferrably with clearcut/feed access, and hunt the edges if possible.  Take three steps, confirm you still have the wind, look/listen/smell, take a few more steps, look/listen/smell, if you come across a spot that has had recent elk activity, mark it on your GPS for future reference.  The guys that get elk in the Winston type areas every year normally get them in their old reliable areas.  The elk are where they are because there are not many hunters present; they feel relatively safe.  Find those types of areas and still hunt them.... very, very slowly.  Just my .02

That's much more similar to how I hunt deer, but somehow I got  the idea that elk move around so much that it's hard to predict where they're going to be. I'll keep on with that then. I won't be able to hunt again until next weekend though.

[idaho guy]

I dont know that area you are hunting at all. In the panhandle of Idaho I have had success driving or riding 4 wheeler etc. and glassing until I see some elk from a good distance away and then planning a stalk from there. I have no expectation of getting a shot at elk close to the road but go to areas I can glass long distance into clear cuts brush fields etc. Also with new snow you can go till you find a fresh track and then track them from there.(sounds like you are already doing this) I get way more shot opportunites glassing them before they see me than I do tracking. I have freinds who do well siting or using tree stands on established trails, food sourcesetc. too but I dont have the patience. It can be a lot of fun when you are seeing a lot of elk and usally bungling multiple stalks a day. The idea is to not try and hunt from the vehicle but cover a lot more ground glassing so you can plan a hunt on elk you know are actually there. I see a lot more in heavy snow years           

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

The way I was taught to hunt elk was to drive logging roads until you saw where a herd had crossed.
Then think about where they were headed.
I was sent to follow them, while my "mentor" drove off to the next road,
He would get out and find a good spot, sit and wait for me to show up.
Usually finding him at the next road, then we would drive around to the next one...
If the tracks did not cross the next road, we "had them" and I was sent back into the brush.
This could be several miles, different units...
Cannot do that any more.
Not only do you seem to follow the tracks into a unit that is not open, but you do not find the large herds anymore.
Used to be when you found a herd, there were 30+ animals...
Now you find 3-4 on the average, a few times up to 15, but the elk I usually run into are cow/calf or lone bull. (late season)
If you find a large herd (20+) it is on private land, or closed area.
I just want to find a herd with hoof rot, and eliminate one from the gene pool.
Unfortunately I cannot afford to pay for the "priveledge"
....
 
thats a whole different thread...

[coachcw]

glass from miles away , hike to where the herd was ! track and stock herd all day for 6-8 miles , fling arrows before dark and hope your buddys have a clue as too where you are . that's pretty productive .

[Whitpirate]

Lol Coach... That's what horn honking in the dark is for!

[gaolista]

Thanks for all the good advice.  I'm in the same boat, second year archery hunting and having a go in Winston.  I've been trying to figure it out.  And its always a learning experience when I go out.  Got into places with good sign, nothing too recent though.  Saw a cow on saturday about a few thousand yards off right before dark and ran out of time trying to coax it out of the reprod.
While I haven't been able to bag an animal (deer or elk) yet, my motivation to get out there and chase them hasn't wained despite the numerous calls by my ever pessimistic extended family to just stop wasting money and time and go buy a cow.  Thankfully my wife hasn't joined in their cries just yet.

I've had similar questions about the late season with a few more.  When it snows like it did on Saturday (a few inches) do the elk head lower in elevation or do they still hang out at elevation for a while?  Does calling work at all?  Cow or lost calf calls?  Does it do more harm or good?
how do you (or can you even) avoid the crunchy sound of walking in the snow.  I was walking slow as I could and it seem like my steps were still pretty noisy.  I like the snow cause its quite a bit easier to see fresh sign, but the crunchiness makes it kind of tough.  any advice?
thanks in advance for any help.

[Torrent50]

Thanks for asking this question on here.  I'm in my second year as well and am doing my best to build up some knowledge and experience.  Good to read other's strategies. 

Talking about all the guys that just drive around all day.  After checking a couple timber patches for fresh sign this morning I was headed up the road and saw a little spur road that was completely overgrown.  Looked like there might be a clearcut in the sun across the drainage that way so I figured I might as well go for a walk and check.  Hadn't gone more than 50 feet from the truck and it opened up enough to see the cut and there they were.  Must have been 5 to 10 trucks drive by that spot already and never saw them because the wouldn't get out and walk a little ways.  Of course, by the time I figured out how to get to them and stalked in all I found was where they were.  I know where I will be in the morning though.......

[Bean Counter]

Any published success rates for the late archery? I bet its the lowest of them all.

[bankwalker]

Any published success rates for the late archery? I bet its the lowest of them all.

I could kill a elk every year if I was hunting late muzzy season. But I'm not, I chose to be one of the no success archery hunters doing my part to keep that statistic low