Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Tbob on August 24, 2025, 06:30:22 PM

Title: Let’s hear those early season tactics…
Post by: Tbob on August 24, 2025, 06:30:22 PM: Hey everyone.
I was out scouting last weekend up in the high country and dang was it hot and crispy out. With archery elk running pretty early this season, I’m just curious what’s everyone’s go to tactics for hot, dry, crispy pressured early archery elk?? Where I hunt there is water all over with alpine lakes and tons of little creeks so sitting water might not work in my area… so how are you planning to get on the elk this season?
Title: Re: Let’s hear those early season tactics…
Post by: Rutnbuxnbulls on August 25, 2025, 03:55:50 AM: Find elk. Kill elk. Get meat to cooler.

Tried and true 3 step method.

Honestly though every area has its own tactics. Open country, spot and stalk.
Tight cover, light calls and ambush. Find food sources and intercept. Play on curiosity and early season solo bulls. Good luck! I’ve bagged elk in 90 degrees it happens. Hope they die in shade near a cold creek but they don’t always fall down where you want them to.
Title: Re: Let’s hear those early season tactics…
Post by: Longfield1 on August 25, 2025, 06:04:08 AM: I like to think of where i would be if i was an elk in the hot crispy weather. Hopefully you have game cameras set up on some year round streams that are a little bit further away from roads then you can see whats going through. Lakes are nice but they don't provide the cooling that a creek does. During the day i wouldn't be out in the sun at all if at all but could get bumped from another hunter. If you found a year round creek you probably will find a wallow or two and i would sit on that. They are big animals and need to drink multiple times a day and theres only so many water sources that provide ideal cover and water.
Title: Re: Let’s hear those early season tactics…
Post by: baldopepper on August 25, 2025, 08:18:06 AM: 102 degrees at my place near Hunters yesterday and forecast hot for the next few days. Animals aren't moving until right at dark and back in cover at the first break of daylight. Concentrated around any area that is still green (mostly the ag fields). None of the occasional wandering around you see when the weather is cooler. I suspect youll see that same pattern hold until it cools down and hopefully some fall rains freshen things up a bit. Early days of the hunt are likely gonna be tough with the pattern they're in right now.
Title: Re: Let’s hear those early season tactics…
Post by: hunter100 on August 26, 2025, 07:12:19 AM: Quote from: baldopepper on August 25, 2025, 08:18:06 AM
102 degrees at my place near Hunters yesterday and forecast hot for the next few days. Animals aren't moving until right at dark and back in cover at the first break of daylight. Concentrated around any area that is still green (mostly the ag fields). None of the occasional wandering around you see when the weather is cooler. I suspect youll see that same pattern hold until it cools down and hopefully some fall rains freshen things up a bit. Early days of the hunt are likely gonna be tough with the pattern they're in right now.
I get what your saying but am always amazed how many animals show up on the trail cameras in the middle of the day throughout summer and into fall. Even in the heat :twocents:
Title: Re: Let’s hear those early season tactics…
Post by: Tbob on August 26, 2025, 10:20:20 AM: These are all great comments. Yeah, I’m
Planning on sticking to some of the creeks around my area I think. Gonna probably just hunt near those in the more dark shaded areas. They gotta be around somewhere. If I was an elk that’s where I think I would be. I’ve got a few trail cameras in the area. Haven’t seen any bulls on them as of yet, but plenty of cows and calf’s so far.
Title: Re: Let’s hear those early season tactics…
Post by: salmosalar on August 26, 2025, 02:04:59 PM: My tactics aways revolve around believing the sign when I see it.
Title: Re: Let’s hear those early season tactics…
Post by: CP on August 26, 2025, 02:16:44 PM: Stake out a wallow.

Seems like a good idea, but I must admit it has never worked for me.
Title: Re: Let’s hear those early season tactics…
Post by: coachcw on August 26, 2025, 06:38:55 PM: I like to try and locate in the dark often they shut up quick this time of year , accelerate your morning pace , if they are down in a hole you can figure there not coming back up . Haul ass down on there level and work the cow and calf calls .
Title: Re: Let’s hear those early season tactics…
Post by: salmosalar on August 27, 2025, 03:03:05 PM: Quote from: CP on August 26, 2025, 02:16:44 PM
Stake out a wallow.

Seems like a good idea, but I must admit it has never worked for me.

I have had cameras on several wallows on the west side. In my experience, they are used every 5 days or so in August and unused after about Sept. 1 except by bears.

The animals seem to generally the in the same area as the wallows but once they really start to be intersted in cows, they stop using them.
Title: Re: Let’s hear those early season tactics…
Post by: ganghis on August 27, 2025, 03:48:46 PM: I've had them on wallows just on the east side of the crest. One of them have had as an average of 2-3 groups of elk in there a day Sep 1-18 or so, then it really dips. I think it just depends on weather and the rut