Elk Scouting ~ What do you do?

[engelwood]

Okay, so obviously there are a lot of licking blocks, feed blocks, attractants, etc. sitting in the woods right now with scouting cameras on them, but that's not what I'm talking about. I am wondering about tactics that you use in the couple of weeks leading up to the opener. When scouting, are you calling? Do you ever bugle to see if they are going yet? Do you wear full setup and scent blocker? Do you ever try to see how close you can get to a bull and risk spooking him?

This year I have been spending more time scouting for elk than I have EVER in the past. The last thing I want to do is ruin my spot right before season. For now I am not worrying about my scent at all as I figure it doesn't really matter, but as it gets closer to season, the last thing I want to do is screw up my area right before game time.

[Huntbear]

We spend a lot of time in our area, leading up to season.  Mainly glassing, watching openings, and meadows, at daylight and dusk.  We do some hiking, but mainly to get into an area.  We know the area real well, so we know where the elk feed, travel, bed, etc....

[engelwood]

No calling though?

[saylean]

We spend a lot of time in our area, leading up to season.  Mainly glassing, watching openings, and meadows, at daylight and dusk.  We do some hiking, but mainly to get into an area.  We know the area real well, so we know where the elk feed, travel, bed, etc....

same here...

[toe-jam]

We spend a lot of time in our area, leading up to season.  Mainly glassing, watching openings, and meadows, at daylight and dusk.  We do some hiking, but mainly to get into an area.  We know the area real well, so we know where the elk feed, travel, bed, etc....

 

[Huntbear]

No calling though?

We rifle hunt, so no need.  I do go up and bugle some during the rut, but try to avoid making the arrow slingers mad at me.    I do it mainly just to see a few big boys, that we can maybe target during rifle season, but they are always long gone.   

[saylean]

I dont call at all unless I am coyote calling. I went and checked on the area about three weeks ago and elk were bugling. I have heard some people say they dont bugle unless in the rut, but I call BS on that. If any calling happens, it is usually a brief cow call I let out, so the elk in the area dont spook, if I am close by.

[Gamblin Guy]

Nothing better than sitting in treestand during archery season listening to a dodge diesel rattle up the road...guy turns it off, truck door slams, bugles a couple times, waits 5 minutes, truck door slams, diesel fires up and rattles down the road another half mile...repeat.

We spend a lot of time in the woods during the summer and never call, hell I dont call during archery season unless I can hear or see elk moving.  Spend the time in the woods getting to know the area you plan to hunt and you wont have to call much, you will know where the elk generally feed, rest, water, etc. 

[bow4elk]

Huntbear pretty well covered a good-sense plan, and one that most guys use.  I do actually bugle when I scout but only during the season and well after dark, say between 10 PM and 2AM.  I bike logging roads and call into cuts and drainages that I've marked on maps (no bow with me, of course).  Once I get a response, I don't call again, I just mark the map and move on and try to locate between 3-5 bulls per night.  Then an hour before daylight, go back and give a shout out to those same areas with a high-pitch locator bugle, just to say, "hey, here I am".  More often than not the bull is still within earshot and will sound off again.  We usually try to pick the bull that sounds the most ready to commit to the call.  This takes time to dial in and sometimes you pick the wrong bull.  After the first week of September, it's usally the bulls that grunt (or chuckle as some call it) at the end of their bugling that are the most fired up.  And more often than not they are the herd bulls in a given location.  Once we locate them, we shut up, play the wind and get as close as possible to him before making another sound.  The less you have to call to get into his lap the better so we are patient and very careful with the wind.  Once you get inside that magical ~60-80 yard mark, he will usually two one of two things.  Get out of dodge or come in on a dime.

Ok, got way into the meat and potatoes there, but hope it helps.

[engelwood]

That is definitely some great info. I know some guys who follow that same methodology as far as locating a few bulls a night, seems to work well for them, it is something that I'm going to try to do more of this year for sure. I am assuming that once you get within that magical ~80 yards, it is mainly cow calls with a shooter 30-50 yards ahead of the caller?

[funkster]

It is not a smart idea to bugle or call before the season. All you are doing is educating the elk. Bulls know each elks bugle in the area and if you are out there messing with them before you can actually harvest them, all you are doing is making them call shy and can even push them out of that area. If you do your homework,you will know where bulls hang and where to be opening day with out calling aimlessly. When to use your call and what you are saying when you use it is critical.

[seth30]

I am glad I read this thread, will save some doe over at outfitters supply. Those elk cow calls are very cheap, while the bugle calls seem to cost a tank of gas.

[BLUEBULLS]

I'd say the main thing is don't concentrate on a small area, atleast not on the eastside. Some big bulls will act like a whitetail and stay in a core area year round but for the most part, elk travel, A LOT. As far as calling, you'll know if they're going... they'll be calling or there'll be other signs. If you're scouting for archery season, look for signs of last years rut, rubs, dust bowls, wallows, etc. If you're scouting for rifle season, look for tucked away hidey holes, deep canyons, dark timber, etc. They'll be laying low trying to avoid everything. Best bet is to not let them see you but also remember that most elk that are fairly accessible see people on a fairly regular basis.

I don't call when I'm scouting unless I want to film a bull or say call one in for my daughter. If you get busted by them calling then it's going to be dang tough to kill them with a call.

have fun!

[highside74]

It is not a smart idea to bugle or call before the season. All you are doing is educating the elk. Bulls know each elks bugle in the area and if you are out there messing with them before you can actually harvest them, all you are doing is making them call shy and can even push them out of that area. If you do your homework,you will know where bulls hang and where to be opening day with out calling aimlessly. When to use your call and what you are saying when you use it is critical.

[elkman54]

X3