How to keep elk on your property till daylight?

[Longfield1]

I have access to hunt a small 7 acre place on the west side that sees almost daily action of elk. 3 legal bulls and a bunch of cows (10+). There’s one major problem though. They don’t stick around till legal shooting light. In the past 2 months I’ve gotten maybe 3 pictures of elk at a time when I could legally shoot them( out of thousands). The owner wants to take a few out as there damaging his yard and I told him I would try to help anyway I can.

Is there any way to keep the elk in a certain area for longer? I just put a salt block down this morning and will have to see if it helps. I’m also archery hunting. As for predators on the cameras, the only ones I see are coyotes daytime and night time.

[MR5x5]

Hay and/or apples instead of salt this time of year might be a better option.

[buglebuster]

Only thing I can think of is some sort of food to hopefully keep them there longer, but could prove to be a tall order if they always leave before light. Do you know where they head and potentially get permission from adjacent property?

[Longfield1]

There are 4 full grown apple trees where they spend some time in. Didn’t seem like it kept them around long enough. Hay like from the feed store? Would that be over the limit for baiting though?

[Longfield1]

Only thing I can think of is some sort of food to hopefully keep them there longer, but could prove to be a tall order if they always leave before light. Do you know where they head and potentially get permission from adjacent property?

That’s probably the next step if I can’t get them during the day. They head 1 of 2 ways,  either towards the river or to the property with more timber.

[MR5x5]

There are 4 full grown apple trees where they spend some time in. Didn’t seem like it kept them around long enough. Hay like from the feed store? Would that be over the limit for baiting though?

Get a bail of hay and gallon of molasses from the feed store.  Punch four deep holes in the bail and pour a quart of molasses into each hole.  Think giant hay sugar daddy.  Should do the trick for a couple days.

[brew]

There are 4 full grown apple trees where they spend some time in. Didn’t seem like it kept them around long enough. Hay like from the feed store? Would that be over the limit for baiting though?

Get a bail of hay and gallon of molasses from the feed store.  Punch four deep holes in the bail and pour a quart of molasses into each hole.  Think giant hay sugar daddy.  Should do the trick for a couple days.

That sounds like it would do the trick but remember maximum bait size is 10 gallons 

[jackelope]

They almost definitely will not hit the salt this time of year.

[hughjorgan]

There are 4 full grown apple trees where they spend some time in. Didn’t seem like it kept them around long enough. Hay like from the feed store? Would that be over the limit for baiting though?

You can buy cubed alfalfa from the feed store. Should be easier to get to your intended bait sight and stay under the 10 gallon regulation.

[Klickitatsteelie]

Good quality alfalfa is your best bet, the problem you will have is the 10 gallon rule. 10 head of elk will have 10 gallons of alfalfa eaten up before daylight. If the alfalfa is in a stack not cut open and not directly at an initial bait site I don’t think it would be considered baiting but I  could be wrong

[LDennis24]

Good quality alfalfa is your best bet, the problem you will have is the 10 gallon rule. 10 head of elk will have 10 gallons of alfalfa eaten up before daylight. If the alfalfa is in a stack not cut open and not directly at an initial bait site I don’t think it would be considered baiting but I  could be wrong

 
Buy a stack of alfalfa and store it on your property to sell in February and March when everyone else runs out.

[Griiz]

Good quality alfalfa is your best bet, the problem you will have is the 10 gallon rule. 10 head of elk will have 10 gallons of alfalfa eaten up before daylight. If the alfalfa is in a stack not cut open and not directly at an initial bait site I don’t think it would be considered baiting but I  could be wrong

 
Buy a stack of alfalfa and store it on your property to sell in February and March when everyone else runs out.

The owner of property will love that when even more elk come hang out for the free snacks.

[300rum]

I would pay attention to the weather, look for one of those real foggy mornings where it takes longer to get light, you might be able to trick them.  Same thing happens at night, a few times every hunting season the moon comes up after the sun goes down and it stays light just a little bit longer, in fact it can get dark and then brighten a bit when the moon comes up, it gives you just a bit more light especially in dark timber.  Sometimes it tricks those animals and they start at their normal "brightness" and are a little further ahead, heading into their nighttime feeding areas.  You are looking for the opposite, having them hang just a little bit longer before they head for their daytime bedding area. 

[Dark2Dark]

In my experience, elk will hammer alfalfa once there is snow on the ground and food is hard to come by.

Once things green up and there is real food, they typically stop showing any interest in it. That continues until the snow returns.

I have had them totally destroy a stump that had molasses/apple syrup on it. I guess that’s what I would try. I kinda doubt it would be appealing enough for them that they would deviate from their daily return.

In the winter, they will hang out and eat alfalfa till it’s gone. 

[buckcanyonlodge]

What will you do when you shoot/wound one that goes off the property?

[Longfield1]

Thanks for all the input everyone, I'm gonna get some molasses and Alfalfa tonight and hunt at first light again tomorrow morning. If no elk are around (like today) i'm gonna set up the cameras and set up the bait to try again.
If i shoot a elk and it wanders off then i will go knock on doors like ethical hunters are suppose to do. The owner knows all the neighbors and there friendly towards eachother.

[Longfield1]

I just went to Coastal to grab the molasses and alfalfa but they didnt have any molasses. Anyone know where to find some locally (around auburn kent area)?

[JWBINX]

Wet oats, this will contain molasses.

[lewy]

wet cob

[bearpaw]

depending where you get it, sometimes called sweet cob too

[tvandy45]

In my experience salt does absolutely nothing for west side elk. Has to be some type of valuable food source that makes them want to be there over other options. Its possible they are getting good feed elsewhere such as a clover agg field or something. If thats the case you might be out of luck because its hard to pull them away from that stuff

[highside74]

I'm westside and have tried almost everything. Apples #1. I knock on doors and carry buckets all summer and go through hundreds of gallons all for free. Best places are homes that have apples sitting under the tree. Most of the time you are doing them a favor by cleaning up the apples. #2 Whole corn NOT cracked. Cob molds and turns to mush plus they don't care for it as much as straight corn so save your money. You can get whole corn at Walmart sometimes this time of year for $13 for 50#. BassPro has it for $10. Tractor supply has it but it's twice as much I think. You don't need to add anything to the whole corn. I've done piles of corn with stuff like apple mineral and without. The deer and elk both prefer the straight corn. Another thing they both like is the horse alfalfa pellets but don't care for alfalfa hay. They like growing alfalfa and growing winter rye. Planting winter rye early fall would be a homerun for late season.