Free: Contests & Raffles.
Welcome to the site!One thing to remember is to hunt where the elk are. I know that sounds simplistic but all too often great athletes rush right on past the elk going high, deep or too far back. At that time of year it is all about feed, cover and positioning for migration. Don't be in a hurry to get a long way from the roads, no matter who tells you how much greater your social standing will be with every mile you put between you and the bubba hunters. In the end success is the ultimate goal.When you see fresh sign, work it! If it's two hundred yards from the main road or two miles doesn't matter, fresh sign equals elk. Be prepared to hunt harder than the next guy. But don't allow that preparation to inhibit your ability to hunt smart. The fat guy on a stump where the elk are is likely to be more successful than the human mountain goat that is hunting three miles past the elk.Next three things are wind, wind and wind! By the time bulls have survived archery and muzzy seasons they are well tuned to the presence of hunters. Their biggest defense system is their nose. I try to plan my day by working uphill in the morning and down hill during mid-day. Unless there is a storm or a constant breeze this usually gives me the most time with wind in my face. Atlas Mike's Fat & Fluffy yarn is a great wind detector. Cool thing about it is that you can see what the wind is doing 10, 15, 20+ yards from your position. Cut it into 1" pieces and pack it in an old 35mm film case or even a ziplock baggie. Grab a few strands and toss into the air. It's amazing stuff!Final thing I will say is, Use Those Field Glasses! So often I see guys with binoculars in their pockets or tucked into their jackets. They carry them all day long and use them two maybe three times a day. Field glasses are your equalizer! If you use them only to identify what you think you see your missing the point. They should be used to find the elk before they find you. You should be using them to glass every break before you get to it. Checking every edge before you step into an opening. So many of the elk, deer and bear that I have killed are because I identified a single tine, a single ear or a glimpse of a tail long before entering that animals sensory zone. Sometimes a mile away. Sometimes 75 yards away. Without binoculars in constant use your just stumbling into an encounter instead of positioning yourself for success.Good Luck Hope you feel the excitement and enjoy the experience!