How to be a Successful Elk Hunter..with Poll

[Jonathan_S]

Finding totally unpressured elk makes it seem stupid easy but heavily pressured elk makes it hard all the time

[Magnum_Willys]

Location, location, location. 

[grundy53]

When you find an area that elk frequent learn it inside and out. Figure out where they are going to go when pressured. Use hunting pressure to your advantage.

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[hughjorgan]

Scout, be proficient with your weapon of choice to make the most of limited opportunities, being in good shape for after the shot, knowing elk behavior and being persistent.

[Tbar]

I rely on two things, dumb luck and persistence.

[Jonathan_S]

Use hunting pressure to your advantage.

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But avoid when possible!

[BeerBugler]

Know a good area OR know the area good.....that simple

[TommyH]

Didn’t put it in the original poll choices but how about aggressiveness?  I seldom go a year without shot opportunities and aggressiveness is a significant part of my methodology and has been for years.  Anyone know what I’m referring to?

  I’ve called in more than I can remember, some came in on a string... some not so easy, some took the work of 2 or 3 of us, intense back and forth calling!! and  scrapeing and thrashing everything around. Sometimes the bull will just push his cows the other direction, keeping up with them and coaxing the cows in closer, and eventually the bull coming into a fight!!
I love September.

[dvolmer]

Location, location, location.

Along with Access, Access, Access!!!!

Location and Access are the main ingredients for a successful elk hunt!  All other things can be learned.  But you can be the best elk hunter in the world, but if you don't have the space and permission its going to be a long hard season.  That is why Washington is such a bad elk state unless you draw the coveted tag, have access to hard to reach public land (horses etc), or have permission to hunt some special super good private land. 

[WSU]

Aggressiveness is another key, at least for me.  There are plenty of times every year that I move quickly to get into position, including running at times. Quick, decisive movement has resulted in a lot of shots that I wouldn’t otherwise get. Knowing when do that and when to sneak is part of knowing elk, which was my original vote along with time in the woods.

[hunterofelk]

I think location(lots of elk and low hunter density), physical condition, knowledge of elk mannerisms, amount time spent afield and some hunter luck help the most in my personnel experience.  Before I left Montana,  the years 1984 to 1987,  hunting was very successful on raghorns and cows.  This was after college when I was living at home and saving money to move out of state.  I spent an enormous amount of time in the mountains around Livingston and there was an upsurge in the elk population.  In the country I hunted I just knew when and where to look. I had young knees and lungs and stamina.  I didn't have a wife and kids to worry about or heavy job to tie me down.  Best years of my life.  I moved to Seattle for work and then being a successful elk hunter was off and on and more off.

[TwoBear]

Location is everything.  You can be an elk ace but if the elk are not there, all the knowledge is for naught. A very close second is time in the field.  Everything else pales in comparison to these to factors. 

[KFhunter]

The #1 factor to success is hunting where there's a lot of Elk.   

Go to Arizona, you trip over Elk, even a newbie can call in a rag horn or spot a giant bull across the way.  Go to New Mexico, they don't have a point preference system so it's like a lottery, but dang you can get into some nice Elk hunting...CO, MT..all have fantastic Elk hunting.  ID isn't the top three on my personal list of best states to hunt for elk, but it's still leaps and bounds better than Washington.

I've said it before lot's of times, if you can hunt Elk in WA you can hunt elk anywhere.  I'll be hunting several different states next fall, I'd be a busy dude if everything hit so I'd skip WA and ID 

[Tbob]

This thread is awesome!!!!

[Stein]

Be in areas where elk are and hunt hard for as many days as you can.  The rest often takes care of itself save for a few bits of luck.  If you can get into elk often you will either be a good hunter or become one pretty quickly.