late archery elk

[wt]

OK, I didn't fill my tag, it was fun trying. I'm now thinking of late season, I would love to learn as much about getting close to elk post rut as I can in two months. What are some tactics that have worked for you late season; tree stands, cow calling, dog the heard and calf call, rattling, ambush. I would love to learn as much as I can from those of you with the experience I lack, this is my first season archery. I will be hunting on the wet side so I'm sure its gonna be wet muddy and cold. Any help for the green horn trying to catch up with at least the rag horn?

[briancorneal]

Try reading elknuts playbook....  just google it and get the one designed for field use.  It's great for solo or hunters in groups. 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Hell Its been 2 yrs I bought a tag and never left the house  but still supporting my Dept .. maybe I go on the late hunt .... Getting 3 bulls in a row makes me think my luck ran out for awhile 

[Instinct]

I ditch the calls, spot and stalk or find somewhhere to set up and let em walk in. U use them calls their gonna bbust imo.

[wt]

Ya,I have elk nuts playbook. I've read it at least three times. There is a lot of great info in there, and I'll probably be reading it time and time again over the next couple of years to commit it to memory and to refresh before season, and to pick a few tid bits for the situation that I think I might be getting into, but I don' recall a"late season" chapter. The calls where a double edge sword in the early season for me, they were good for locating and getting some talk but I wasn't successful in bringing elk in, so I am very leery about pushing animals especially in the late season. Thank you for the feed back guys.. any other thoughts?

[BowBender87]

definatley ditch the bugle...Ive cow called in cows late season.  Hope for snow and track em!

[jechicdr]

Hunt the snowline if you can.  Find some fresh tracks and follow them.  Hit the funnels.  Don't call, from experience, they will run away unless you get between calves and herd, you can close distance with some calf calls.

[Fullabull]

I feel the late season is strictly for Cow hunting unless you get lucky and have a young bull hanging with the cows. I have used cow calls to bring elk in during late season. You need to make lost cow sounds, calf sounds use them while moving through the woods so you can cover some ground. Or like someone else sead, if you can find a good area where they travel through. Sit and wait. I have a hard time sitting so I still hunt and call.

Good luck,
Fulla

[wt]

Any thoughts on raddling. I spoke with someone who hunts this area for MF deer and says the 4 and five points would lock horns and play pretty consistently just before light, then fade into the timber. Ever raddled post rut and got some interest?

[TheHunt]

Yea, the late season you will put on the miles.  Snow makes it easier.  Just remember location, location, location for the late hunt.

[blackveltbowhunter]

@ the OP, Do you have an area in mind you will be hunting? Many GMU are antlerless only for late hunts. As far as bulls go, echo what has already been said. My experience has been bulls will be alot harder to locate, but can be easier to kill in the late season.

  If you do locate a bull, ditch all calls IMO, spot and stalk if possible. Bulls usually seek out food and refuge after the rut, so they are often up just feeding in a secluded meadow or clearcut,on the end of a tucked away or overgrown road, or just a clearing in deep timber that allows forage to grow. And will remain there until pushed out. Snow can help for sure. Both with concentrating the animals and tracking. Bulls are often solo or in small batchelor herds so you wont have to deal with all the eyes and ears like early season. 

[wt]

Thanks blackveltbowhunter, good info, I love it, the unit I'll most likely be hunting is 3pt min even in the late season, but I'll have to re-check the reg's.