Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Kvw4x4 on October 16, 2018, 08:52:39 AM

Title: Rifle elk hunting 1st week of November
Post by: Kvw4x4 on October 16, 2018, 08:52:39 AM: I have access to a private area to hunt elk during the rifle season. It’s bull only. There is a herd of about 40 ish elk right now there. The bulls and cows have still been together. What can I expect come beginning of November? Will I still find them together? Will bulls be alone and if so areas to look? Thanks Kevin
Title: Re: Rifle elk hunting 1st week of November
Post by: WSU on October 16, 2018, 08:59:37 AM: Large herd bulls most likely will not be with the herds of cows. Smaller bulls may very well still be with the herd.
Title: Re: Rifle elk hunting 1st week of November
Post by: Bucks2Ducks on October 16, 2018, 09:04:55 AM: Quote from: WSU on October 16, 2018, 08:59:37 AM
Large herd bulls most likely will not be with the herds of cows. Smaller bulls may very well still be with the herd.
:yeah: That's exactly what i would expect. Its pretty common for rag horns to stay with the cows all winter.
Title: Re: Rifle elk hunting 1st week of November
Post by: Kvw4x4 on October 16, 2018, 09:09:58 AM: Quote from: WSU on October 16, 2018, 08:59:37 AM
Large herd bulls most likely will not be with the herds of cows. Smaller bulls may very well still be with the herd.

Ya that’s what I’ve read. What type of terrain would you be looking for the big bulls in? North south high low dark timber etc.?
Title: Re: Rifle elk hunting 1st week of November
Post by: Mr Mykiss on October 16, 2018, 08:00:21 PM: How big is the “private area”? Is it possible to look everywhere?
Title: Re: Rifle elk hunting 1st week of November
Post by: bkaech on October 16, 2018, 08:15:49 PM: Every bull is different, some like a rambler, some like a split-level, some like a bungelow, some like city life, some like country life. Point is you have to get in there and find them. Big bulls are likely by themselves that time of year in places they don't have to travel far to eat drink and sleep. A single elk doesn't need a large area of feed like a open pasture or a clearcut, a open creek bed or patches of foliage in the timber can provide enough feed. I like to look around small openings with feed and thick patches of timber and brush that are hard to see through but not so brushy they can't easily slip out of. Boots on the ground looking for sign is the only way to know where to look.
Title: Re: Rifle elk hunting 1st week of November
Post by: Kvw4x4 on October 16, 2018, 08:53:23 PM: Quote from: Mr Mykiss on October 16, 2018, 08:00:21 PM
How big is the “private area”? Is it possible to look everywhere?

Between his property and surrounding timber company land he has agreements with and pieces of state land it’s close to 10000 acres.
Title: Re: Rifle elk hunting 1st week of November
Post by: MountainWalk on October 16, 2018, 09:03:38 PM: Big, unpressured bulls oft times in my experience will stay with a resident herd that sticks to private unpressured land.
Title: Re: Rifle elk hunting 1st week of November
Post by: Humptulips on October 16, 2018, 10:09:04 PM: Quote from: MountainWalk on October 16, 2018, 09:03:38 PM
Big, unpressured bulls oft times in my experience will stay with a resident herd that sticks to private unpressured land.
:yeah:
Title: Re: Rifle elk hunting 1st week of November
Post by: Mr Mykiss on October 17, 2018, 05:50:55 AM: :yeah:
or
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The nastiest part of the private land.
^^id find a way to glass the edges of the steep/nasty at first/last light!!