West side elk hunting tactics

[Tbob]

So to all you west side jungle elk hunters, how do you best spend your time hunting in the jungle? Timber? Clearcuts? Walking roads? Glassing, spot and stalk? How do you jungle hunters best get it done?

[JimmyHoffa]

Walk/bike the roads to find where they crossed the roads, pick the freshest crossing, pick the next road they are likely to cross and go check it out for sign, if sign is fresher then go to the next road they would cross for even fresher sign, when no sign because they haven't crossed yet--then you know which two roads they are in between.  Then pick what geographical features and trails in the area to use and move in.

[Tbob]

Wow! That’s a great tactic!

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

Kind of hard to tell where they cross in dry weather imo

[WSU]

Cuts early and late.  Have an idea where they are using the cuts and ambush them.  If you can glass from a distance and then sneak in, even better.

During the day, I hunt timber and bedding areas.  On industrial timber land, it can be difficult to find timber big enough shoot in.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Walk/bike the roads to find where they crossed the roads, pick the freshest crossing, pick the next road they are likely to cross and go check it out for sign, if sign is fresher then go to the next road they would cross for even fresher sign, when no sign because they haven't crossed yet--then you know which two roads they are in between.  Then pick what geographical features and trails in the area to use and move in.

Back when I first started elk hunting we would tie thread about 3' high and string it along crossing areas, when the thread got pulled off it showed direction of travel.
Then someone made one with a camera attached...
.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I have had good luck walking up creek-bottoms that have good trails, and waiting in areas that show signs of high traffic.
When I get far enough up drainage (near top) I look for benches and saddles that cross over top.
Usually end up on road for hike out, and often encounter elk near road that I pushed out coming up bottom.
.
Also, not much of a "typical" elk hunt, but there seems to be quite a few elk that hang out in often overlooked pockets that most just drive by in their attempt to get "deep and steep"
My reasoning is that once a cow has survived a few seasons she has a spot she likes to go that has kept her safe, and much like blacktail, they seem to have developed patterns of hanging out in "safe" zones near regular traffic areas, until the traffic changes or someone pushes them out.

[deerhunter_98520]

  I just jumped a small herd 6 cows and a 4pt bull and they were bedded 50 yds from the road...they bed where they feel safe..most people would of drove right past this spot ....the most success I've had is getting on fresh tracks and just walk them down

[dominknows]

I just jumped a small herd 6 cows and a 4pt bull and they were bedded 50 yds from the road...they bed where they feel safe..most people would of drove right past this spot ....the most success I've had is getting on fresh tracks and just walk them down

   Pretty much my tactic, check some cuts early am then starting looking for track.

[psr81]

What is the necessity of finding northern facing drainages?  Is it less of a concern for Westside elk than more arid and warm areas?

[knighttime25]

I snuck up on a herd of 25 elk on Sunday that were .17 miles off the road with vehicles driving by all morning. They definitely feel safe along the road in certain areas 

[WSU]

It is impossible to get more than a quarter or half mile from a road in the places I've been hunting recently.  Elk are used to vehicles and not alarmed by them driving by if the elk are in cover.  They will, however, not stand around in a clearcut once they've experienced a little pressure.

[ASienkiewich]

I shot a big Rosie 75 yards off the road last year. He was in a tangled mess which was his “safe zone”. Not a fan of the “deep and steep” saying


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[Tbob]

Crazy how this all works! Lol... some guys need to ride 50 miles behind a gate, some need to hike to the bottom of a hell hole to only barely return, some say, “you’ll never shoot a big bull in a clear cut”, some say, “ya gotta cover 10-15 miles a day”, only hunt the timber, you HAVE to be waaaay awaaaaay from any roads..
   Sounding more and more like, just be at the right spot at the right time! Thanks for all the tips and tactics! These west side jungle bulls have me so confused!

[JimmyHoffa]

You have to hunt where the elk are at.  I find that the herds like to make a big loop every ten days +/- a few days.  Whatever that lead cow likes and was raised to follow.  You can usually find how they make that loop, then it is about finding where they are in that cycle (hence the checking the roads first).  There may or may not be a bull (big bull) with them, especially by the time modern and the late seasons come around--one of the problems with checking the herds first.