Post by: @RCHER on February 13, 2009, 01:56:03 PM
How about those places you've found in your travels through the woods?
Here is one that stands out in my mind. It was the early 90s and I drew an archery bull tag in AZ's north country. Well, my buddy and I decided to hike back into a remote area to scout and were following fresh sign, beds, rubs and trails leading up to a bench, until...BAM!! I'm standing at the edge of a 20 yard circle of three small water puddles that are just hammered. There's this one poor little juniper in the middle that has taken a thrashing on more than a couple occasions. After walking all around the area, I realized that the north side of every big juniper for about 100 yards out from the wallow was rubbed on. There were a ton of elk in there (wish I had a digi camera back then) and we ended up not getting back in there for the hunt. Killed elk in another part of the unit. And of course haven't drawn that tag since.
There have been many other cool places like this, but this one stands out as the "hottest" elk wallow of my hunting days.
Post by: GEARHEAD on February 13, 2009, 05:39:30 PM
I HAVE TWICE SINCE TRIED TO FIND IT AGAIN, AND COULDN'T, AUGHHHHHHH
Post by: WAPITIHUNTER on February 13, 2009, 06:33:16 PM
If I found a wallow like that one in your picture I think I would have to camp out there for a solid week and wait for the big boys to show up. That is awesome. And yes that would really get me fired up hardcore.
Post by: gasman on February 13, 2009, 08:37:27 PM
I did find a good one up Manashtash that had fresh sign, i was just to late every time i hunted it :(
Post by: bankwalker on February 13, 2009, 10:24:49 PM
Post by: WAPITIHUNTER on February 13, 2009, 10:30:42 PM
Post by: bankwalker on February 13, 2009, 10:50:56 PM
Time for a treestand. Sounds like an Elk goldmine. :drool:
the area i found sure was this season. usually everyone hunts the river. i stuck to the swamp/wallows and seen bulls every single day all day. 5 different bulls forsure. to bad i was in a spike only area.
Post by: Elknut1 on February 14, 2009, 06:20:44 AM
Nice! A good wallow is tough to beat! Find a great secluded one in deep dark timber not far from bedding grounds but near known breeding areas & you have a wallow for life! Wallows are hit the hardest from Aug 15 to Sept. 15 after that their use will dwindle down as the rut increases!
ElkNut1
Post by: MIKEXRAY on February 14, 2009, 06:55:15 AM
Post by: bowhuntin on February 14, 2009, 07:29:19 AM
Post by: BC CHASER on February 14, 2009, 07:45:57 AM
Post by: WAPITIHUNTER on February 14, 2009, 08:13:33 AM
Time for a treestand. Sounds like an Elk goldmine. :drool:
the area i found sure was this season. usually everyone hunts the river. i stuck to the swamp/wallows and seen bulls every single day all day. 5 different bulls forsure. to bad i was in a spike only area.
I was going to scold you for not killing one of them bulls until I realised you were east side in Spike only. That really must suck rocks. :bash:
Post by: Elknut1 on February 14, 2009, 08:22:38 AM
Here's a small excerpt in the Wallows Chapter out of the PlayBook on wallows & usage!-------------------
Which wallows/water sources are best---Active ones no doubt, but there's more to it than that. Normally wallows can be hit anytime of morning, midday, evening to just before dark! But during a full moon phase midday, evenings, and night are common times of use.
The overall best time for sitting wallows are the last 2 1/2 hrs of light or evening. If you choose this time then sit the wallows closest to bedding areas, not the lower ones on the mountain where they may not get hit until near dark or at night. Each area may vary! Look for wallows that have several trails leading to them, your odds are better than single trails. Too, if you can find a well hidden wallow in thick cover where few to no one knows about it the better. Look for rub trails, some areas will show a resident bull is using this particular wallow regularly & you'll know this when you see various trees rubbed on for 100yd-200yd on the way to the wallow. This is rare but worth ones attention. So check your area closely. Always check the wind before using a wallow in your scouting or hunting ventures. It's the #-1 deal breaker. At times you'll find you need to back-off the wallow & setup on in-coming trails to them for best wind direction!
Many water sources have no wallows there but can be very effective to sit on, I like the more hidden or remote ones to knock down other hunter influence when possible! Subtle calling here can be a plus! I use similar sounds as mentioned below. I never hunt the surrounding area that day or week if I plan on sitting a particular wallow or trail, I do not want to upset an elks routine if at all possible. The hotter the weather the better the chances of wallow use, cold rainy days are not ones best bets, but focusing on well used trails from bedding to feeding areas instead may reap better rewards.
There will be days where the wind is really bad & swirling & you can't get to a great wallow without being winded on a bulls approach to the wallow or waterhole. So watching wallows from a distance can be effective. The next best thing if at all possible is to setup below or above this area even if you can't get a good view of it, if you can still see it, well, that's a bonus! A good set of optics can be useful here. Distance from wallow/waterhole to a setup will vary from area to area. Set up where you can get a view of the incoming trail or trails to this wallow/waterhole, most likely the wind will be in the bulls face as he walks on the trail that enters towards the wallow. A bull generally doesn't spend a lot of time there, generally 20 minutes or less & he's gone. In many instances the bull will leave the way he came in. If you're lucky, the wind will now be at his back & hold that way for you to get down there & setup off the trail in hopes of an ambush. Do not call, let him come your way naturally. Too, if this bull bugles on his way to the wallow, do not call back leave him be, he will continue on in to his destination.
ElkNut1
Post by: Slider on February 14, 2009, 09:46:49 AM
Post by: Elknut1 on February 14, 2009, 10:09:09 AM
Slider, cool ! What elevation is that where it was freezing at night in early Sept.?
ElkNut1
Post by: WAPITIHUNTER on February 14, 2009, 10:30:27 AM
Post by: @RCHER on February 14, 2009, 11:37:03 AM
Here's another wallow from E WA last year. Spike only unit though. Now, if i can just find a little honey spot on the west coast this year.
I'm gonna have to start back into the game camera stuff again. I used to build the home brew 35mm cameras (late 90s) and just don't have the time or interest to do that anymore. I have no doubt this east side wallow will produce some intersting shots. It's one of the only (that I know of) water sources in the area. At least if I don't draw a bull tag, there's always deer, bears and cats.
Got any more wallow shots? Nice pics, Slider.
Post by: bankwalker on February 14, 2009, 12:22:45 PM
Time for a treestand. Sounds like an Elk goldmine. :drool:
the area i found sure was this season. usually everyone hunts the river. i stuck to the swamp/wallows and seen bulls every single day all day. 5 different bulls forsure. to bad i was in a spike only area.
I was going to scold you for not killing one of them bulls until I realised you were east side in Spike only. That really must suck rocks. :bash:
i offered up this location to everyone who had a bull tag for the teanum area. i know a couple people who ate tag soup that should have taken me up on my offer.
and i bet this area is still gonna be the same next year. the amount of wallows, rubs, and just plain sign in the area was awesome.
Post by: bowhuntin on February 14, 2009, 01:48:33 PM
Time for a treestand. Sounds like an Elk goldmine. :drool:
the area i found sure was this season. usually everyone hunts the river. i stuck to the swamp/wallows and seen bulls every single day all day. 5 different bulls forsure. to bad i was in a spike only area.
I was going to scold you for not killing one of them bulls until I realised you were east side in Spike only. That really must suck rocks. :bash:
i offered up this location to everyone who had a bull tag for the teanum area. i know a couple people who ate tag soup that should have taken me up on my offer.
and i bet this area is still gonna be the same next year. the amount of wallows, rubs, and just plain sign in the area was awesome.
Sounds like you found a great area for when you draw one of those branched antler permits.
Post by: Slider on February 14, 2009, 03:02:28 PM
Post by: bankwalker on February 14, 2009, 03:59:11 PM
Time for a treestand. Sounds like an Elk goldmine. :drool:
the area i found sure was this season. usually everyone hunts the river. i stuck to the swamp/wallows and seen bulls every single day all day. 5 different bulls forsure. to bad i was in a spike only area.
I was going to scold you for not killing one of them bulls until I realised you were east side in Spike only. That really must suck rocks. :bash:
i offered up this location to everyone who had a bull tag for the teanum area. i know a couple people who ate tag soup that should have taken me up on my offer.
and i bet this area is still gonna be the same next year. the amount of wallows, rubs, and just plain sign in the area was awesome.
Sounds like you found a great area for when you draw one of those branched antler permits.
yup im gonna start putting in now this year.
a ive told a couple guys on here the exact location, but im not worried bout them hunting it. at least not worried a bout people getting drawn and hunting the area that is. i never seen another boot track, or a single person within a 1/4mile of this location. everyone i seen was hunting the river or around the lake.
Post by: @RCHER on February 14, 2009, 09:17:16 PM
Post by: SHANE(WA) on February 16, 2009, 07:33:13 AM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi200.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa139%2Fshanewa300%2F1221828969.jpg&hash=a399742b558e527a7db7651f39ba5fd321a519b1)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi200.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa139%2Fshanewa300%2F1221829395.jpg&hash=cf0ce4dc847a4b269b6ee15d7cf85e5108b305bf)
Post by: @RCHER on February 16, 2009, 09:53:19 AM
Would getting up there to clear some shooting lanes help? Looks like a great treestand location.
Post by: bankwalker on February 16, 2009, 10:46:33 AM
Very sweet spot there, Shane. It's great when you find those seeps and there aren't a bunch of deciduous trees around to give away the location. Gotta mark em on your map/GPS though.
Would getting up there to clear some shooting lanes help? Looks like a great treestand location.
the few areas i have found, and mainly the one i posted about above is so over grown that you couldnt get a shot off if its more then 15yds. ill be in this summer trimming the area a little.
Post by: Pathfinder101 on February 17, 2009, 11:34:41 PM
Post by: @RCHER on February 18, 2009, 09:31:33 AM
Post by: bankwalker on February 18, 2009, 11:03:13 AM
i called a spike in one time to about 30yds, i was sure and *censored* he was gonna charge me. he sure woke up on the wrong side of something that morning.
Post by: Pathfinder101 on February 18, 2009, 08:33:28 PM
Post by: bankwalker on February 18, 2009, 10:44:03 PM
A buddy of mine had to take his arrow and chase a 2x2 off a few years ago. He said he could almost touch him with it.
the cow i shot 3 years ago i actually had to step back around a tree to get a farther shot. i didnt know that was possible lol. i only had 30, 40, 50yd pins at the time and didnt want to risk a 10ft shot :chuckle:
ended up losing that cow :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: i might as well have just shot it at 10ft with a guess the point of impact shot with my eyes closed.