Follow a track?

[Giggles]

I 've heard that following a fresh set of elk tracks is a productive tactic for elk hunting.  I know it's a diiferent species, but if I did that with a mature Pennsylvania Whitetail buck I'd go in a 2 mile circle and end up back where I started; talking to myself saying: "Self", that wasn't very smart.  So I'm asking before I do it. Is following a set of fresh elk tracks a productive tactic for elk? 

[dscubame]

Absolutely yes.  And cover ground and more ground.

[Alchase]

Only if it is fresh 

Sorry

[coachcw]

freash wth wet pee in the trail , otherwise it's a goose chase.

[fair-chase]

Good topic. Chiming in to follow along and hear others take on this.

I grew up on the heels of my uncle who preferred this type of hunting. He did this for both deer and elk. When I was young he tried to teach me the ways of a tracker. It's definitely not for everyone. When I would tag along, or we were just sharing a base camp. He would disappear after cutting a track and end up back at camp 3-4 (sometimes 10) days later with his tag punched. Slow, tedious, and painstaking would be the best way to describe it. You can find game faster by glassing for them first, but there is a certain satisfaction out of walking down a single animal. It's very rewarding, I just don't have the required patience/persistence anymore. What I found to be the most difficult is that if you purposely set out to hone your tracking skills you will eventually have to make a choice wether or not to take other animals along the way that are not the particular animal you are tracking. That would be cheating after all.   

[Bob33]

They can be followed, but it may be a long walk.  If an elk has been bedded down for a few hours, the tracks may not even look fresh.  It's a challenging way to hunt, because the elk has spent its life refining survival skills.

I once tracked a cow elk in the snow for the better part of a day. I was really ticked when later in the day I found that another human had picked up the tracks and was in front of me following the elk.   I studied the human tracks a bit more and realized they were mine. 

[pianoman9701]

I learned a really good lesson following a fresh track in the rain once: look up from the track often or you'll walk right into the critters! True story, 5 yards, big time busted.

[boneaddict]

You need to be able to read tracks......  the wrong read could cost you a day.  A good read could  yield you a notched tag

[iRem]

I only follow tracks if they are fresh with piss and poo. I also make just a few soft lost mews as I go along the trail.

[724wd]

years ago i remember reading an article in either Bugle or Grey's sporting journal about a wet-side washingtonian running down elk.  he'd cross a fresh track and start booking down the trail    until he bumped the herd.  then the chase was on and he'd continue until, finally, he'd end up with a shot.  had him pictured with MONSTER bulls!    

[hunter_sean08]

I was never completely sold on following tracks until last season. Followed what looked like a fresh, dug up trail on the bank of an old road in the heart of some of the best elk country I've ever been in. Once I got into the thick stuff, this trail led me into a gold mine. Rubs everywhere, elk droppings all over the place, and man did it smell like the barnyard! Eventually the trail led me to where the elk were. You know your decision was a smart one when the droppings are still steaming, and the beds they were in are still warm. Finally caught up with them but the only elk that presented itself with a good shot was a brush rack bull (I had a cow tag....). Getting on trails can be highly productive as long as they're fresh. Once you're on it, keep quiet and continue to look up from the tracks for the elk you're following. 

[funkster]

We where walking an old spur one sept morning and came to the end of the road and glassed a cut. On the way back I notice tracks that where not there before. We slowly followed the tracks and got on a herd of 13 elk with 4 legal bulls.

My advice is when you are elk hunting every situation merits its own tactic. Don't get stuck using one method let the situation dictate what you do. Sometimes you can creep and crawl and sometimes you need to run to get into position

[Quackwhacker]

I would say it's a good tactic. The last three times I followed fresh tracks and found the elk standing in the trail with their butt towards me. This presents a bad shot for a bow hunter. It then becomes a long waiting game trying to get a good shot opportunity without getting busted. It is very gratifying to know you can sneak so close to such a weary animal. Guess I better start packing a camera.

[washelkhunter]

We where walking an old spur one sept morning and came to the end of the road and glassed a cut. On the way back I notice tracks that where not there before. We slowly followed the tracks and got on a herd of 13 elk with 4 legal bulls.

My advice is when you are elk hunting every situation merits its own tactic. Don't get stuck using one method let the situation dictate what you do. Sometimes you can creep and crawl and sometimes you need to run to get into position

Good advice there.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

In my experience, you just might do something similar to the 2 mile circle, but it will be more like a 12 mile circle !! 
In snow, I might follow a fresh track, but in September, I follow ANY track, get on game trails, and see where they are going...
To me, that is how I "hunt" them, look for tracks and droppings, figure out where they are going, get there, and do some "talking"
I have the most excitement by using low volume calls, from areas I feel Elk can hear me, and when I am right.. 
I honestly believe that calling from main (human) trails, and roads, at full volume, will only work every once in a while, but walking through the woods on a game trail, making game noises, the only thing that seems to care I am there are those damn squirrels, but I have been looking the right direction on many occasions where a squirrel has told me to look, so I guess we are even, the tell on everything !!

[slim9300]

I learned a really good lesson following a fresh track in the rain once: look up from the track often or you'll walk right into the critters! True story, 5 yards, big time busted.

Yep. Killed my first elk at 12 years old like this. Followed the fresh tracks with my head down for about a mile on an old grade until my old man and I were certain that we smelled them, only to look up and see them at 10 yards wide eyed. Lol. The stupid muzzleloader misfired and when they stopped at 75 yards to do a double take, that was it with cap #2.

Also, for late season cow my partner and I have tracked down quite a few different herds over the last few years. In 2008 we followed the tracks in to their beds and jumped them at 40 yards. Because only one elk saw us and spooked the herd I started a string of regathering cow sounds. The half of the herd that started down the ridge stopped and started to come back. My partner and I peeked over the edge and timed shooting two separate cows at the same time. Both died within 60 yards of each other.

Roosevelt's are very easy to track down in late season when they are in herds of 10 or more. The skill comes in reading sign and knowing what to do when you bust them.


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