question for newbie elk hunter

[uplandhunter870]

just new to elk and got a question.

so my roommate and i follow a tip one of my roommates classmates gave him about an elk spot, we head up there friday evening and see a decent to nice lone 5x5 standing in a meadow feeding, we watch him walk back into the trees unspooked and head home

roommate heads up there for the opener of montana rifle elk yesterday, i had a ref clinic to attend, he says theres a boat load of sign everywhere; rubs, crap, tracks you name it everything besides elk. didnt see a single elk

this am we both head up there and make a bigger loop than he made yesterday cover more ground and each are glassing different draws and meadows we see a ton of sign, you cannot take a single step in any direction and not step in elk crap, theres scrapes and rubs everywhere and the game trails look like I-5. again we didnt see any elk

both days were chilly to cool and the wind was howling yesterday and today it was strong gusts, terrain ranges from open clear cut to thick heavy timber

so i have no clue what im doing when it comes to elk and i am completely stumped as to how there can be so much sign and in 1 whole day and a morning of hunting how we cannot atleast bump into a single elk especially when we saw one there less than 48hrs ago.

anyone care to share some insight with an elk rookie, all i want is meat for the freezer and will shoot a cow although here in Bozo thats apparently taboo

thanks in advance
uplander

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Do not know about Montana, but if it were me, I would look for trails heading into the thick stuff on NW sides of hills.

[Button Nubbs]

I'd get in the timber.

[uplandhunter870]

thanks for the input, we were in timber all morning aside from glassing a few meadows from a ridge top

do elk have a circle they walk around in and maybe we just came a day or two too late and simply missed them and theyll be back?

[Button Nubbs]

if theres that much sign id bet theyll be back.

[ArrowH]

Elk herds tend to work in a large circle, and spend about 2 weeks in an area before they move on, so it could be that have just moved a little ways away, but Elk can also get it in their mind to just up and move, so they could be 2 counties away for no appearent reason.

[vandeman17]

I find that deer and elk don't move quite as much in stronger winds because they lose one of their major defense mechanisms in hearing. If you are seeing that much sign, I would stay patient and just keep working the area and you will find elk. Like stated before, I bet they were in the timber held up or making their big loop and will be back. Keep us posted.

[bench beast]

you need to hunt with the wind in your face, if elk smell you they dont stick around. get the wind in your favor and that will help.

[hoffmas56]

If you want a quality hunting experience, with a reasonable chance of success, get away from the roads. I would suggest hunting the rattle snake basin, upper Nile basin or upper bumping areas to get away from the people, and into the elk. The areas that you mentioned are heavily hunted and contain lots of roads, hard to escape the crowds.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

If you want a quality hunting experience, with a reasonable chance of success, get away from the roads. I would suggest hunting the rattle snake basin, upper Nile basin or upper bumping areas to get away from the people, and into the elk. The areas that you mentioned are heavily hunted and contain lots of roads, hard to escape the crowds.

He is in Bozeman, Montana...

[uplandhunter870]

thanks for the help all, its being taken into serious consideration. havent had a chance to get out again yet as i am about eyebrow deep in school work.