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Author Topic: This is going to be my first elk season -- what are things you wish you knew?  (Read 6349 times)

Online highside74

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Re: This is going to be my first elk season -- what are things you wish you knew?
« Reply #15 on: September 01, 2022, 01:02:58 PM »
Hunt where the elk are! Not where they were.

That's what I meant :chuckle:

Offline mburrows

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Re: This is going to be my first elk season -- what are things you wish you knew?
« Reply #16 on: September 01, 2022, 01:12:58 PM »
always always play the wind and know how thermals work

Offline Dark2Dark

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Re: This is going to be my first elk season -- what are things you wish you knew?
« Reply #17 on: September 01, 2022, 01:48:33 PM »
What are you hunting with?

Offline Rutnbuxnbulls

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Re: This is going to be my first elk season -- what are things you wish you knew?
« Reply #18 on: September 01, 2022, 03:05:26 PM »
If you haven’t scouted, find sign. Then find hot sign. Then slow way down.
I was also too quiet and careful when I first started, elk make noise as they walk through the dry woods. Don’t be a beast but snapping a twig is no big thing. Make a cow mew if you do. Diaphragm calls are great for hands free calling

Offline KDfishbiologist

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Re: This is going to be my first elk season -- what are things you wish you knew?
« Reply #19 on: September 01, 2022, 03:42:49 PM »
What are you hunting with?

Rifle hunting :)
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Offline KDfishbiologist

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Re: This is going to be my first elk season -- what are things you wish you knew?
« Reply #20 on: September 01, 2022, 03:43:36 PM »
Hunt where the elk are! Not where they were.

Sounds simple, but effective. Thank you  :)
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Offline KDfishbiologist

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Re: This is going to be my first elk season -- what are things you wish you knew?
« Reply #21 on: September 01, 2022, 03:44:30 PM »
Thanks, all! These suggestions are great, and definitely include things I hadn't given a lot of thought about. We'll see how it goes  :)
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Offline vandeman17

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Re: This is going to be my first elk season -- what are things you wish you knew?
« Reply #22 on: September 01, 2022, 03:48:53 PM »
Like was mentioned though and I wish I paid WAY more attention early on is wind and thermals. Even with a rifle, in the wrong wind, elk will smell you and be gone in the blink of an eye
" I have hunted almost every day of my life, the rest have been wasted"

Offline trophyhunt

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Re: This is going to be my first elk season -- what are things you wish you knew?
« Reply #23 on: September 01, 2022, 04:23:18 PM »
always always play the wind and know how thermals work
:yeah:most important thing you can do, elk can be anywhere in elk country. It’s not how much ground you cover, it’s how well you cover the ground. Be patient, stop and listen, keep your head up-look all around. And hunt ALL day! I’ve killed most my bulls and my biggest in the afternoon.
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Offline logola512c

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Re: This is going to be my first elk season -- what are things you wish you knew?
« Reply #24 on: September 01, 2022, 04:28:10 PM »
If you haven’t scouted, find sign. Then find hot sign. Then slow way down.
I was also too quiet and careful when I first started, elk make noise as they walk through the dry woods. Don’t be a beast but snapping a twig is no big thing. Make a cow mew if you do. Diaphragm calls are great for hands free calling

Agree.  And if you make noise while you're moving, try to sound like an elk or a deer or other animal moving, not a human.  Meaning, don't walk in a human cadence, step after rhythmic step,

Offline trophyhunt

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Re: This is going to be my first elk season -- what are things you wish you knew?
« Reply #25 on: September 01, 2022, 04:29:59 PM »
If you haven’t scouted, find sign. Then find hot sign. Then slow way down.
I was also too quiet and careful when I first started, elk make noise as they walk through the dry woods. Don’t be a beast but snapping a twig is no big thing. Make a cow mew if you do. Diaphragm calls are great for hands free calling

Agree.  And if you make noise while you're moving, try to sound like an elk or a deer or other animal moving, not a human.  Meaning, don't walk in a human cadence, step after rhythmic step,
:yeah: add this to my suggestion! Act like elk, cow call once in a while, even in late rifle season.
“In common with”..... not so much!!

Offline MIKEXRAY

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Re: This is going to be my first elk season -- what are things you wish you knew?
« Reply #26 on: September 01, 2022, 04:33:18 PM »
Have a plan and the equipment to get the animal broken down,  out of the woods and meat cooled down. I always have knives, gamebags, meat pack with me always( now) . Two huge ice chests with frozen milk jugs waiting in the back of the truck. Watch a " field to freezer " video on how to do a clean job. Don't stand over the dead elk with no plan . Good luck.

Offline jason stevens

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Re: This is going to be my first elk season -- what are things you wish you knew?
« Reply #27 on: September 01, 2022, 04:42:28 PM »
Make sure you have a good pack board an plenty of game bags for your harvest. An yes you can do it alone it just takes time to get it all out.  Ice it down fast. Sharp knifes an slow patience to get it all done.i hope you fill your tag.

Offline elksnout

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Re: This is going to be my first elk season -- what are things you wish you knew?
« Reply #28 on: September 01, 2022, 08:43:00 PM »
 
Stay out all day, you'll never shoot an elk from your sleeping bag.
Those animals get up and move during mid-day. Keep at the ready. Keep looking.
Expect to see elk. Negative thinking kills the hunt.
And as many have said. You'll never fool an elk's nose.


elksnout

Can't we all just get along?

Offline b0bbyg

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Re: This is going to be my first elk season -- what are things you wish you knew?
« Reply #29 on: September 01, 2022, 09:06:01 PM »
Animals can show up in unexpected areas, so always be hunting if out of the truck or camp.  Mt first year I had a 5x5 walk across a main road as I was heading back to camp to eat. equipment not ready no shot.

Fast forward a few years.. late season hunt, missed getting a shot at an elk that crossed my path as I was headed to "where I wanted to hunt" then as I was grumbling and trudging on another elk busted me at 15 yards because I was not paying attention.

Learn from my and others mistakes, always expect to see something and always be ready.

Animals don't really care where you think they should be  :chuckle:
In God we trust, all others bring cash.

Do not say, Why were the old days better than these? For it is not wise to ask such questions.
Ecclesiastes 7 10

 


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