Post by: JeffRaines on May 25, 2016, 10:56:00 AM
I'm not sure I'll get around to it this year with so much going on, but I am definitely interested in elk hunting in the future. I know there are a thousand other threads asking about elk hunting, how to do it, where to find elk, etc... This isn't one of those I promise(not yet anyway ;)
I know that elk hunting is physically hard, like you have to be in good shape hard. What I want to know is how difficult is it to find animals, really? When I started deer hunting last year, after doing a bunch of searching and reading threads, it led me to believe that finding one was going to be really hard if not impossible my first year. Season came and I was seeing deer almost every time I went out. Closing the deal turned out to be the real challenge. Reading past threads about elk, it seems like people are giving the same reputation to this animal as well.
So whats the real story?
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on May 25, 2016, 11:10:10 AM
Also don't get to caught up in the "physicality" of it. Yes being in super shape wont hurt. And on alot of hunts is a requirement. But alot of "old and slow" :chuckle: guys are superb elk killers by A) not moving so much, especially in areas with elk. and B) making the right moves at the the right time.
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on May 25, 2016, 11:10:59 AM
In places with low elk density, unless it is adjacent to a major population center, the hunter densities are low too. Elk distribution tends to be more random throughout, and very spotty, with less road avoidance, making those elk even harder to find than relative elk densities would suggest. Finding elk in that situation can be a real challenge, with few sightings. On the plus side, once off the roads you are highly likely to not see any other hunters, and if you do find elk they will be less spooky generally. I used to advise hunters interested in those areas to go bear hunting, and if they see a legal elk, shoot it.
Post by: JimmyHoffa on May 25, 2016, 11:12:33 AM
Post by: JeffRaines on May 25, 2016, 11:14:30 AM
What season are you hunting? Finding elk is more difficult in theory because they are not as widespread throughout the state, and tend to have larger home areas so odds of missing them is more likley. Going out now is going to be the best time to find elk IMO. If archery hunting they shouldn't be to far from where you find them now, on opening day. Pressure will hide them and you will be surprised at how well a dozen cow sized critters can vanish for days. But they don't evaporate, they just have to be dug out. Muzzy and rifle season their patterns will change a bit again as presssure dictates. If hunting high country elk in the later seasons, follow the snow below areas you may have found elk earlier in the year.
Also don't get to caught up in the "physicality" of it. Yes being in super shape wont hurt. And on alot of hunts is a requirement. But alot of "old and slow" :chuckle: guys are superb elk killers by A) not moving so much, especially in areas with elk. and B) making the right moves at the the right time.
I'm thinking for my first season I'll be MF. I've seen videos of people bow hunting these animals and while I love bow hunting in general, I can see how getting close to an entire herd of animals undetected will be a hell of a challenge - especially for someone new to elk hunting.
Post by: elkchaser54 on May 25, 2016, 12:01:36 PM
Post by: theleo on May 25, 2016, 12:23:51 PM
It's easy in theory but in application it can be a bit difficult. Even with horses covering, a couple miles as a crow flies can be quite the trek in the mountains. As for the in shape part, it never hurts but I know guys that are successful and are from 60 on up. Skills and tactics beat muscle, but it's nice to have both.
Post by: Jpmiller on May 25, 2016, 12:58:06 PM
Post by: Jpmiller on May 25, 2016, 12:59:10 PM
Post by: jhawk13 on May 25, 2016, 03:35:39 PM
Myself I grew up in the Midwest archery hunting from a tree stand for whitetails, but now that I have moved out west learning to elk hunt has been a huge challenge. I have hunted for four years now and every year I feel my skills have improved every year. You can read every book out there but elk hunting comes down to watching your wind and moving slow. Those two things I feel are the easiest to monitor and have the biggest impact on seeing game. There is nothing like archery hunting elk in September and I wouldn't trade the bugles and sex-driven craze of the rut for any other type of hunting.
Also knowing when to move quickly and aggressively!
Post by: Chukarhead on May 25, 2016, 08:14:04 PM
A lot of elk hunters go camping or driving for a few days in fall. They escape their wives (or husbands) and jobs for a while, see some woods, and go home happy. I'm not one of those guys, so I run, lift, and spend a lot of time on elliptical machines year-round so that when I need to be 900 vertical feet higher at a brisk jog, I can do it.
I have a hunting buddy that is chronically out of shape for elk season. He *hurts* after a couple of days in the steep and deep, but guts it out. Watching him pack quarters up a steep hill is painful. He takes the mind-over-matter approach, and has killed more than his share of elk over the years.
I've harvested elk five out of the last six years. If I wasn't in shape, it would have been two of the last six. Those two, though, were "lucky." I was in the right place at the right time early on opening day for one and the second day for the other.
Post by: Humptulips on May 25, 2016, 09:14:53 PM
Always hunted modern and on the westside in fact I've never hunted far from the coast.
I think there is a big difference in the how tos depending on where a person hunts. Me, it is brushy or in the timber, very seldom have I got elk in a clearcut. It has happened but more often it is where I start them not where I get one.
If there is one thing I can suggest is to get real good at reading sign. Elk are not everywhere. They range over a large area but they are only occupying a small area at one time.
One way or another almost every elk I have ever got, reading sign/tracking played into locating the elk.
Post by: JeffRaines on May 25, 2016, 11:43:04 PM
Knowing me, I'll probably be going it alone whenever I decide to give it a go.
The annual success rate for elk hunters in Washington is roughly 7%, while the deer success rate is roughly 25%. As the saying goes, if elk hunting were easy, it would be called deer hunting.
A lot of elk hunters go camping or driving for a few days in fall. They escape their wives (or husbands) and jobs for a while, see some woods, and go home happy. I'm not one of those guys, so I run, lift, and spend a lot of time on elliptical machines year-round so that when I need to be 900 vertical feet higher at a brisk jog, I can do it.
I have a hunting buddy that is chronically out of shape for elk season. He *hurts* after a couple of days in the steep and deep, but guts it out. Watching him pack quarters up a steep hill is painful. He takes the mind-over-matter approach, and has killed more than his share of elk over the years.
I've harvested elk five out of the last six years. If I wasn't in shape, it would have been two of the last six. Those two, though, were "lucky." I was in the right place at the right time early on opening day for one and the second day for the other.
How long did it take for you to get your first?
Post by: gocougs on May 26, 2016, 12:00:41 AM
Post by: deerslyr on May 26, 2016, 06:11:19 AM
Post by: RadSav on May 26, 2016, 07:18:36 AM
Post by: BlackRiverTaxidermy on May 26, 2016, 07:26:45 AM
All of this is my opinion and hope it helps on top of what everyone else has offered....best of luck!!
Post by: wooltie on May 26, 2016, 08:11:44 AM
Come September they were not in those areas.
I wish I would have spent more time in July/Aug searching more areas in less detail than searching less areas in greater detail.
As someone said earlier, once you find them, you run after them and kill one.
Post by: mburrows on May 26, 2016, 09:37:18 AM
Last year I found some areas that had elk, lots of elk sign, lots of trails, elk on cams, etc. This was in July/Aug. I scouted those areas by spending hours finding trails, going to the bottoms of draws, up the other side, over to the next ridge. This was a valuable use of my time...but...
Come September they were not in those areas.
I wish I would have spent more time in July/Aug searching more areas in less detail than searching less areas in greater detail.
As someone said earlier, once you find them, you run after them and kill one.
I learned this one the hard way too. Learn as much of the gmu and how to navigate it as possible so you can have several contingency plans in place because once the woods fill up with hunters and traffic increases the elk definitely shift their habits.
Post by: rosscrazyelk on May 26, 2016, 12:08:44 PM
Post by: Chukarhead on May 26, 2016, 01:42:00 PM
The annual success rate for elk hunters in Washington is roughly 7%, while the deer success rate is roughly 25%. As the saying goes, if elk hunting were easy, it would be called deer hunting.
A lot of elk hunters go camping or driving for a few days in fall. They escape their wives (or husbands) and jobs for a while, see some woods, and go home happy. I'm not one of those guys, so I run, lift, and spend a lot of time on elliptical machines year-round so that when I need to be 900 vertical feet higher at a brisk jog, I can do it.
I have a hunting buddy that is chronically out of shape for elk season. He *hurts* after a couple of days in the steep and deep, but guts it out. Watching him pack quarters up a steep hill is painful. He takes the mind-over-matter approach, and has killed more than his share of elk over the years.
I've harvested elk five out of the last six years. If I wasn't in shape, it would have been two of the last six. Those two, though, were "lucky." I was in the right place at the right time early on opening day for one and the second day for the other.
How long did it take for you to get your first?
First year big game hunting, first elk. It was a permit cow in the Manastash. Walking up to it was pretty intense--I was alone, and I'd never shot anything bigger than a goose. For a variety of reasons, I didn't seriously pursue elk until six years ago. We ate a lot of deer in the interim.
Post by: coachcw on May 26, 2016, 09:10:47 PM
Post by: JeffRaines on May 28, 2016, 05:41:15 PM
The annual success rate for elk hunters in Washington is roughly 7%, while the deer success rate is roughly 25%. As the saying goes, if elk hunting were easy, it would be called deer hunting.
A lot of elk hunters go camping or driving for a few days in fall. They escape their wives (or husbands) and jobs for a while, see some woods, and go home happy. I'm not one of those guys, so I run, lift, and spend a lot of time on elliptical machines year-round so that when I need to be 900 vertical feet higher at a brisk jog, I can do it.
I have a hunting buddy that is chronically out of shape for elk season. He *hurts* after a couple of days in the steep and deep, but guts it out. Watching him pack quarters up a steep hill is painful. He takes the mind-over-matter approach, and has killed more than his share of elk over the years.
I've harvested elk five out of the last six years. If I wasn't in shape, it would have been two of the last six. Those two, though, were "lucky." I was in the right place at the right time early on opening day for one and the second day for the other.
How long did it take for you to get your first?
First year big game hunting, first elk. It was a permit cow in the Manastash. Walking up to it was pretty intense--I was alone, and I'd never shot anything bigger than a goose. For a variety of reasons, I didn't seriously pursue elk until six years ago. We ate a lot of deer in the interim.
How awesome. I hope to be that lucky my first year out!
The difficulty in elk hunting is getting them out of the woods once you shoot them. Never found finding elk much of a problem. Finding a spike on the east side...much more difficult! ;)
I found the guy I need to go hunting with... :hello:
Post by: mrgoodwrench on June 06, 2016, 05:38:19 PM
:twocents:
Always hunted modern and on the westside in fact I've never hunted far from the coast.
I think there is a big difference in the how tos depending on where a person hunts. Me, it is brushy or in the timber, very seldom have I got elk in a clearcut. It has happened but more often it is where I start them not where I get one.
If there is one thing I can suggest is to get real good at reading sign. Elk are not everywhere. They range over a large area but they are only occupying a small area at one time.
One way or another almost every elk I have ever got, reading sign/tracking played into locating the elk.
Humptulips hit the nail on the head. I'd say 95% of elk hunters these days are inept at tracking an elk.
Post by: shootnrun on June 06, 2016, 10:00:00 PM