Elk Tactics 101 - Episode #11

[WapitiTalk1]

Date/Time: Mid September 2016/5:15 PM
Location: Somewhere in the elk woods
Hunt Pressure Status: Minimal
Hunt: Solo Hunt
Tag: Archery season; any branched bull

Late afternoon/early evening finds you in this situation. Wind direction is as shown and you, the hunter, are set up in a group of saplings in the middle of an oval shaped dry meadow. You chose this spot as a ground blind/ambush point as there are numerous elk trails that cut through the meadow in several different locations, and, there is fresh sign throughout the meadow and some pretty fresh beds in the grass in several areas. The long week of hiking/hunting has taken its toll and the warm SEP afternoon has you doing the bobbing bird thing (dozing off and on while waiting for any elk traffic to move to/through the meadow). After bobbing bird doze number 5, you lift up your head as you sense/hear something to your right and see this fine fellow walk in on one of the elk trails and stop to smell one of the cow beds just off the trail. Your cover/concealment is adequate and the bull is not spooked. Where he stands, the bull is right at 65 yards away which for the sake of this scenario, is 15 yards beyond your "first shot" comfort range. If the bull continues on the trail, he'll work in the direction of the red line and perhaps offer a shot at around 40 yards as he follows the trail.

Your move.....what is your game plan for bringing this bull home for dinner? Are you making any elk sounds at some point? What perhaps, is wrong with where you set up?

[Crunchy]

You are too close to make any elk sounds.  If I can move up the 15 yards undetected I make the move.  If not I wait him out and pray he comes in closer.

[theleo]

I'm not making a sound or move. On warm Sept days pine needles can be a little crunchy. I'd just cross my fingers that I'd get a shot before he works down wind of me.

[kentrek]

If i have enough cover walk up 15 more yards, if its really obvious he's going to walk closer to me I wait for him...if he starts walking the wrong way I give him a sleezy calf

[Karl Blanchard]

creep up that 15 yards and let the air out of him

[notsosneaky]

Deploy decoy and hit him with a soft cow call.

[pianoman9701]

Assuming the wind hasn't changed, I would've originally set up on the left side instead of in the middle. Being where it is, I would have my Poison Arrow decoy deployed and wait. If he got too close to my wind, I'd move closer for a shot.

[shootnrun]

Kick off the boots and cut the distance 

[coachcw]

Knock arrow hold bow in front of my face and sneak into those jack pines and kill him , if I didon't send the 65 arrow lol.I've walked  right at elk in the wide open moving a half step at a time , every time bull moves I move .

[bracer40]

Knock arrow hold bow in front of my face and sneak into those jack pines and kill him , if I didon't send the 65 arrow lol.I've walked  right at elk in the wide open moving a half step at a time , every time bull moves I move .

I've been learning how being more aggressive often pays off, but wow! I wouldn't have imagined moving in on an animal in an open area could pay off! Appreciate hearing of your experience!

[scoutdog346]

I lurned when elk and deer r chewing they cant hear as well