Opening morning decisions ! First year elk/archery

[Meattoeat]

I’m torn, spent all summer with cameras and checking out a rather small area. I’m sure if you’re on this forum a lot you’ve seen my posts.

Come august they were still coming to the cameras I had in this area. But in fewer numbers and less frequent, with a surprise spike in the mix randomly.

So I went out searching for better sign down in a hell hole of a valley and low and behold I find this poor excuse for a wallow and real fresh rub.

I’m fairly certain this unit will be a madhouse opening day and plan on being at the gate by 2ish am and hiking down in the dark. How would y’all suggest to set up on something like this? It’s about 80 yards down off the hill, and probably that again until it hits legit swamp.

Or do I go back to where I’m decently confident they’re bedding, or at least passing on a semi weekly basis.

Pic is from Monday. It had standing water. Which was nowhere else to be found. And I suspect was just elk piss, I didn’t sniff it😂 but I have seen other wallows much bigger

Work schedule and baby due means I’ve got really one maybe two days to hunt in a row hard.

Thinking the wallow is my best shot

[huntnfmly]

Find the trail leading to and from the wallow looks like they are using that trail over the log and that thick stuff in the back of wallow and sit off of that a bit with good shooting lanes
You say it’s down a hill so be aware of the wind it will be dropping right down into that wallow in the morning that’s why you should sit off of the trail if the wind allows it

[Meattoeat]

Find the trail leading to and from the wallow and sit off of that a bit with good shooting lanes
You say it’s down a hill so be aware of the wind it will be dropping right down into that wallow in the morning that’s why you should sit off of the trail if the wind allows it

Solid. I didn’t think of that. I figured the bulls would be coming down from up high and the cows from down low.

And that they wouldn’t come to “wallow” until mid day but they might be in the area

[huntnfmly]

Find the trail leading to and from the wallow and sit off of that a bit with good shooting lanes
You say it’s down a hill so be aware of the wind it will be dropping right down into that wallow in the morning that’s why you should sit off of the trail if the wind allows it

Solid. I didn’t think of that. I figured the bulls would be coming down from up high and the cows from down low.

And that they wouldn’t come to “wallow” until mid day but they might be in the area

True true
If you know where they are bedding and can get down to the trail to that wallow without your scent drifting into their bedroom sounds like a good plan

[Stalker]

What are you hunting, bull or cow? I would get in there early and listen to what the animals are telling me and go from there.  If you are hunting bulls then listen to them and move on there calling. You will want to be talking back to them, maybe cow calls maybe bugle, you will need to evaluate based on what you are hearing, how aggresive are the bulls?  If cows you are going to try to intercept them going from feed to bedding so the wallow is not going to be a big factor in your hunting.  There is a lot more to chasing elk then posting a wallow and asking how one would hunt it.  Lots of guys on here have lots of knowedge and are willing to help but I believe there is more that one would need to know.  Not looking to bust your nuts, just saying.   

[huntnfmly]

What are you hunting, bull or cow? I would get in there early and listen to what the animals are telling me and go from there.  If you are hunting bulls then listen to them and move on there calling. You will want to be talking back to them, maybe cow calls maybe bugle, you will need to evaluate based on what you are hearing, how aggresive are the bulls?  If cows you are going to try to intercept them going from feed to bedding so the wallow is not going to be a big factor in your hunting.  There is a lot more to chasing elk then posting a wallow and asking how one would hunt it.  Lots of guys on here have lots of knowedge and are willing to help but I believe there is more that one would need to know.  Not looking to bust your nuts, just saying.   

Then don’t bust em
He said he only has a couple days to hunt absolutely nothing wrong with his thread and questions

[Stalker]

What are you hunting, bull or cow? I would get in there early and listen to what the animals are telling me and go from there.  If you are hunting bulls then listen to them and move on there calling. You will want to be talking back to them, maybe cow calls maybe bugle, you will need to evaluate based on what you are hearing, how aggresive are the bulls?  If cows you are going to try to intercept them going from feed to bedding so the wallow is not going to be a big factor in your hunting.  There is a lot more to chasing elk then posting a wallow and asking how one would hunt it.  Lots of guys on here have lots of knowedge and are willing to help but I believe there is more that one would need to know.  Not looking to bust your nuts, just saying.   

Then don’t bust em
He said he only has a couple days to hunt absolutely nothing wrong with his thread and questions

I didn't say there was anything wrong with his thread. I simply pointed out that IMO there is more info needed whether he is hunting bulls or cows, you do know you hunt them differently.  If he wants to maximize his hunting time then these are important considerations, again IMO.  But please add whatever "hunting" info you have that would benefit. 

[Mfowl]

If you get in there as early as you're planning consider just sitting back aways from the wallow, up on the road/trial in. Figure out the wind, listen for bugles, let things settle before diving in. Give yourself some options in direction to go. Consider what else is around the wallow, clearcuts, heavy timber, reprod. Your pic looks like viable elk sign but I would not commit to sitting on it. With limited time I would be prepared to be mobile. 

[Meattoeat]

What are you hunting, bull or cow? I would get in there early and listen to what the animals are telling me and go from there.  If you are hunting bulls then listen to them and move on there calling. You will want to be talking back to them, maybe cow calls maybe bugle, you will need to evaluate based on what you are hearing, how aggresive are the bulls?  If cows you are going to try to intercept them going from feed to bedding so the wallow is not going to be a big factor in your hunting.  There is a lot more to chasing elk then posting a wallow and asking how one would hunt it.  Lots of guys on here have lots of knowedge and are willing to help but I believe there is more that one would need to know.  Not looking to bust your nuts, just saying.   

Totally get it. Just finding the fresher sign less than a week before opener threw a wrench in my “plan”

I’m hunting the first legal animal I see, cow or 3ptmin.
I hadn’t seen any cows on Public all summer but I finally noticed them on public land maybe 2 weeks ago. So it’s all sort of changing as this is my first year seeing their pattern as fall approaches.

In the end I’m not asking for a sure fire plan to shoot a 300” bull lol just getting some opinions because my only thought is to get there and hike in earlier (like 2am) and further than the rest of public madness I’m sure will be there.

[Meattoeat]

If you get in there as early as you're planning consider just sitting back aways from the wallow, up on the road/trial in. Figure out the wind, listen for bugles, let things settle before diving in. Give yourself some options in direction to go. Consider what else is around the wallow, clearcuts, heavy timber, reprod. Your pic looks like viable elk sign but I would not commit to sitting on it. With limited time I would be prepared to be mobile. 

It’s sort of a hard spot to get into, it’s about a 1200’ drop in just as many feet horizontally, like a damn staircase but mixed with some deadfall and typical thick western wa brush. But the bottom opens into nice big shooting lanes with that cabage looking brush and clover/grass. Plus it’s much quieter to move around at the bottom.

No real hunt-able clearcuts they’re all bloody steep and not enough cover to make a move in on any sort of elk with archery equipment at least in my current skill level. I’ll only take a 40 yard shot.

It’s a rather large drainage that’s flat for a really good section. And I just feel it’s a spot that as the elk get pressured from all around it’s an area they’d be heading too.

[huntnfmly]

All great advice sounds like a good spot with that description of a lot of flat ground in a big drainage.
Bulls will be looking and following the cows we have bulls already bird digging cows on a trail cam in our area have fun and keep us posted 👍

[predatorG]

If you get in there as early as you're planning consider just sitting back aways from the wallow, up on the road/trial in. Figure out the wind, listen for bugles, let things settle before diving in. Give yourself some options in direction to go. Consider what else is around the wallow, clearcuts, heavy timber, reprod. Your pic looks like viable elk sign but I would not commit to sitting on it. With limited time I would be prepared to be mobile. 

Plus it’s much quieter to move around at the bottom.

Point 1: Expect to lose a good quart of blood to the mosquitos down in those holes 

Point 2: Not sure if you're calling or not but one of my favorite things about elk hunting is how much less important being quiet is. Deer sneak around. Elk sound like like a drunk carnival troop lost in the woods. They will be way more weirded out by something sneaking than they will by something crashing. Not sure if you call or not, lots of people prefer not to, but just having a simple cow call (not hoochie mama) will help cover your noises. If you need to crash through something, do it. Just let off a little cow call after and it'll seem pretty normal. Thats my  , but if someone replys and says the opposite of me then I would probably take their advice instead 

[Meattoeat]

If you get in there as early as you're planning consider just sitting back aways from the wallow, up on the road/trial in. Figure out the wind, listen for bugles, let things settle before diving in. Give yourself some options in direction to go. Consider what else is around the wallow, clearcuts, heavy timber, reprod. Your pic looks like viable elk sign but I would not commit to sitting on it. With limited time I would be prepared to be mobile. 

Plus it’s much quieter to move around at the bottom.

Point 1: Expect to lose a good quart of blood to the mosquitos down in those holes 

Point 2: Not sure if you're calling or not but one of my favorite things about elk hunting is how much less important being quiet is. Deer sneak around. Elk sound like like a drunk carnival troop lost in the woods. They will be way more weirded out by something sneaking than they will by something crashing. Not sure if you call or not, lots of people prefer not to, but just having a simple cow call (not hoochie mama) will help cover your noises. If you need to crash through something, do it. Just let off a little cow call after and it'll seem pretty normal. Thats my  , but if someone replys and says the opposite of me then I would probably take their advice instead 

I’ll have my cow call and tube with me but I figured depending on pressure they may get nervous from the sudden 30 other hunters cow calling and bugling

[predatorG]

Yah that can happen. But soft cow calls should still help cover a bit of noise. Totally agree that ripping bugles opening morning can sometimes be less than productive.

[Meattoeat]

Yah that can happen. But soft cow calls should still help cover a bit of noise. Totally agree that ripping bugles opening morning can sometimes be less than productive.

Either way I’ll make I let y’all know how it goes come Saturday evening!