collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Elk Hunting Competencies  (Read 13168 times)

Offline WapitiTalk1

  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+9)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 7914
  • Location: Wet Side, Rainier, WA
  • Groups: RMEF, NRA, US Army (R)
Elk Hunting Competencies
« on: January 28, 2015, 02:38:28 PM »
What puts an elk hunter in that 10-12% range? I believe all elk hunters that consistently get shot opportunities each year share a common set of competencies or skill sets. Yes, each individual may have specific ways of going about the business at hand but most successful elk hunters I know share a good handfull of these competencies. What are they? Attitude, experience, physical fitness, understanding of elk behavior, mastery of weapon used, understanding of elk vocalization, patience, short memory, expert backwoods navigator, pre-hunt research and planning expertise?

What do you folks think are the core competencies of a good elk hunter?
Darton Archery Maverick II
Traditions Vortek StrikeFire Smoke Pole
Weatherby VG-2 Boomstick
"Poking at a campfire with a stick is one of life's great satisfactions." Patrick F. McManus

Offline Jonathan_S

  • Trade Count: (+6)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2012
  • Posts: 8999
  • Location: Medical Lake
  • Volleyfire Brigade, Cryder apologist
Re: Elk Hunting Competencies
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2015, 02:52:08 PM »
I would say that from my observations:

TOP 3 Important Attributes
understanding elk behavior
understanding vocalization 
planning pre-hunt


TOP 2 Overrated Attributes
Physical Fitness
Mastery of Weapon Used
Kindly do not attempt to cloud the issue with too many facts.

Offline jay.sharkbait

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jun 2013
  • Posts: 6507
Re: Elk Hunting Competencies
« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2015, 03:24:12 PM »
Time off work.. :chuckle:

Offline Bean Counter

  • Site Sponsor
  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 13624
Re: Elk Hunting Competencies
« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2015, 03:34:12 PM »
Having to actually draw your tag and not just buying it OTC. I am guessing there is a high correlation to those who go to camp based on tradition alone and those who have unfilled tags.

Offline trophyhunt

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+11)
  • Explorer
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2008
  • Posts: 19642
  • Location: Wetside
  • Groups: Wa Wild Sheep Life Member
Re: Elk Hunting Competencies
« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2015, 03:44:18 PM »
knowledge of the area you are hunting and how the elk move around in those area's are big in my categories. Which I think takes years to learn.  And Not waiting around for 20 years for a tag helps!!
“In common with”..... not so much!!

Offline Tbar

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+26)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 3046
  • Location: Whatcom county
Re: Elk Hunting Competencies
« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2015, 03:48:52 PM »
Dumb luck and persistence or vice versa.

Offline WSU

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2009
  • Posts: 5502
Re: Elk Hunting Competencies
« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2015, 04:07:57 PM »
Time in the woods/persistence has to be close to the top.  Sometimes my elk have come from skill and sometimes you bumble into them.  Beyond that, knowledge of elk behavior.  Also, I'm sure it varies by weapon group.  Skills that are very helpful during early season may be irrelevant by late season.

Offline ipkus

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 714
  • Location: Eastern
Re: Elk Hunting Competencies
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2015, 04:10:58 PM »
So...there are so many different kinds of elk hunts that certain things may be important during one season, and almost irrelevant during another.  10 day backpack archery hunts demand different things than November rifle hunts.  I've been to an awful lot of funerals for elk in my life, from August to January and 400 to 10,000 ft., and my advice would be this;

1.) Understand elk behavior

Understanding where elk want to be when the weather is X, the hunting pressure is Y, the terrain is Z, etc. is really the paramount thing a hunter needs to know to consistently kill elk.  Once you really know elk behavior, someone can drop you off anywhere from New Mexico to Montana to Nevada and you can quickly solve the puzzle. Everything else you mention revolves around this point, and while you can learn quite a bit from reading and talking to other people, experience will be your best teacher.

2.)  Familiarity/experience in the hunting area

I know people who can consistently kill elk in certain areas because they've learned a spot, but because they don't hunt different places much if at all they haven't connected the dots.

3a, b, c, d, e...)  pre hunt planning, physical fitness, ability to shoot, calling ability, etc. all have there place and importance depending on what type of hunt you are doing, but number 1 is the key. 

No matter how good you are at the rest of it, you can't kill an elk you can't find.

 

Offline kentrek

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2012
  • Posts: 3495
  • Location: west coast
Re: Elk Hunting Competencies
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2015, 04:16:11 PM »
for all elk hunting id say not being desperate




Offline vandeman17

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+12)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2007
  • Posts: 14489
  • Location: Wenatchee
Re: Elk Hunting Competencies
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2015, 04:16:28 PM »
I think being able to adapt is key to success. Even if you hunt the same spot every year, things are rarely the same so being flexible and adjust to different conditions is very important. Knowing what to do and how to respond to those changes is something that comes with time and experience.
" I have hunted almost every day of my life, the rest have been wasted"

Offline elk247

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 1684
  • Location: Skagit co.
Re: Elk Hunting Competencies
« Reply #10 on: January 28, 2015, 04:41:20 PM »
Knowledge of area, bedding area, feeding/drinking areas, escape routes, thermal currents/changes,
Willingness to work harder than the other %90. Scouting, burned boot leather and off season preparation with the weapon system are other factors that separate the consistently successful hunters from the wannabes.

Offline WapitiTalk1

  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+9)
  • Old Salt
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 7914
  • Location: Wet Side, Rainier, WA
  • Groups: RMEF, NRA, US Army (R)
Re: Elk Hunting Competencies
« Reply #11 on: January 28, 2015, 05:06:13 PM »
So...there are so many different kinds of elk hunts that certain things may be important during one season, and almost irrelevant during another.  10 day backpack archery hunts demand different things than November rifle hunts.  I've been to an awful lot of funerals for elk in my life, from August to January and 400 to 10,000 ft., and my advice would be this;

1.) Understand elk behavior

Understanding where elk want to be when the weather is X, the hunting pressure is Y, the terrain is Z, etc. is really the paramount thing a hunter needs to know to consistently kill elk.  Once you really know elk behavior, someone can drop you off anywhere from New Mexico to Montana to Nevada and you can quickly solve the puzzle. Everything else you mention revolves around this point, and while you can learn quite a bit from reading and talking to other people, experience will be your best teacher.

2.)  Familiarity/experience in the hunting area

I know people who can consistently kill elk in certain areas because they've learned a spot, but because they don't hunt different places much if at all they haven't connected the dots.

3a, b, c, d, e...)  pre hunt planning, physical fitness, ability to shoot, calling ability, etc. all have there place and importance depending on what type of hunt you are doing, but number 1 is the key. 

No matter how good you are at the rest of it, you can't kill an elk you can't find.

 

 ;)  Nicely put. 

Darton Archery Maverick II
Traditions Vortek StrikeFire Smoke Pole
Weatherby VG-2 Boomstick
"Poking at a campfire with a stick is one of life's great satisfactions." Patrick F. McManus

Offline deerslyr

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2007
  • Posts: 1979
  • Location: Clyde Park MT via Roy WA
Re: Elk Hunting Competencies
« Reply #12 on: January 28, 2015, 05:33:17 PM »
Knowing your area and how the elk use it is the key IMO. one of the biggest elk slayers I know is 73 years old in ok shape for his age and has been hunting the same area his whole life. He doesn't have to hike far to kill elk because he knows the area so well and filled both his tags this year. The other elk slayer I know is 55 smokes a pack of marb reds a day (don't recommend or promote this) and filled both of his elk tags this year. been hunting the same area for 20 years.

Now here's the kicker. I consider a good elk hunter some one who can go to the same spot every year and kill an elk.

I consider a GREAT elk hunter some one who can go to any unit any time and kill an elk. This is where fitness, general elk behavior, weapon knowledge etc comes into play big time.

Offline washelkhunter

  • Region 5 State Delegate #3
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2011
  • Posts: 3549
  • Location: Vancouver
  • Site sponsorhttp
  • Groups: TPE, NRA, RMEF, AST
Re: Elk Hunting Competencies
« Reply #13 on: January 28, 2015, 05:35:06 PM »
Roll out 2 hrs before legal light, hunt all day, come back way after dark, repeat till done.

Offline stew pidasso

  • GHOST FEET
  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 952
  • Location: vancouver, wa
  • Shoot straight
Re: Elk Hunting Competencies
« Reply #14 on: January 28, 2015, 06:40:30 PM »
Roll out 2 hrs before legal light, hunt all day, come back way after dark, repeat till done.

 :yeah: yep, time in the woods.
Don't forget your spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch.

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Looking for Solid 22 LR input by Rat44
[Today at 12:26:36 AM]


Lynx kittens confirmed in the Kettle Range by dwils233
[Today at 12:04:14 AM]


Archery elk gear, 2025. by spin05
[Today at 12:03:42 AM]


How To Get Your $0.00 Tax Stamp - Black Hammer Arms by dreadi
[Yesterday at 11:33:25 PM]


AUCTION: SE Idaho DIY Deer or Deer/Elk Hunt by Rainier10
[Yesterday at 10:19:01 PM]


Seeking recommendations on a new scope by Klickitatsteelie
[Yesterday at 09:23:56 PM]


2025 Canning by Twispriver
[Yesterday at 09:15:12 PM]


2025 Montana alternate list by Edminsterquality
[Yesterday at 08:47:06 PM]


WSTA 2025 Summer Rendezvous Agenda by Trapper John
[Yesterday at 08:00:27 PM]


First attempt at polish sausages by Stein
[Yesterday at 07:58:22 PM]


Fullsized Truck Opinion: HiMiNew vs LoMiOlder by MADMAX
[Yesterday at 07:57:22 PM]


Sockeye Numbers by Southpole
[Yesterday at 07:44:30 PM]


Best all around muzzy (updated) by jjhunter
[Yesterday at 07:44:26 PM]


38% increase in fishing and hunting licenses by Sitka_Blacktail
[Yesterday at 07:02:41 PM]


50 inch SXS and Tracks? by 92xj
[Yesterday at 05:34:03 PM]


3 days for Kings by MADMAX
[Yesterday at 05:06:49 PM]


Full moon and last week of September by pd
[Yesterday at 04:51:23 PM]


Hunting bears in the thick stuff by ghosthunter
[Yesterday at 04:33:46 PM]


GMU 247 Entiat bear hunting by Ridgerunner
[Yesterday at 11:56:01 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal