Post by: Buckhunter28 on September 27, 2025, 09:05:45 PM
Which leads ti my question: for those that have hunted muzzy elk for Rosies before and know it better than I do, will the elk still be talking at the beginning of the season? I’m very hopeful to be able to use that communication to locate the animals but want to know if I will be doing more damage than good letting out, say a locator bugle at the crack of dawn. Thanks in advance and good luck to everyone this season!
Post by: MADMAX on September 27, 2025, 09:31:48 PM
Post by: lewy on September 27, 2025, 10:01:48 PM
Post by: Buckhunter28 on September 28, 2025, 06:07:12 AM
Post by: Kingofthemountain83 on September 28, 2025, 11:01:55 AM
Post by: PsoasHunter on September 28, 2025, 02:16:57 PM
They are amazing at pinpointing your location based on your calls. I'll do a calling series, then move 20 yards off to a concealed spot wherei have a good vantage of the spot i was calling from.
Post by: Buckhunter28 on September 28, 2025, 07:26:20 PM
Noted to slightly move my location into cover after calling, it is really amazing how well those animals can pinpoint the PRECISE location where a sound originated from
More information in these couple posts than I feel like I found scouring the last 15 years of topics in the forums regarding this, I hope to be sharing some updates on how things go!
Post by: Buckhunter28 on October 01, 2025, 05:27:30 AM
A couple of dandy sheds I picked up are what really fueled my fire to hunt for elk. I picked them up this spring in a huge old growth timber flat that is the bottom of a small valley, with some good swamps scattered within it. This flat portion of the valley falls off eventually into a steep hillside that runs down to a big grassy wetland with a stream that runs through it. The old growth stand is situated at about 1800’ elevation, the grassy wetland(to the south) around 1600’. I’ve seen elk sign in the spring in every portion of this, including the west facing hillside that runs north to south that forms one side of this valley.
The the north of this valley is a 3rd ridge that runs east to west that “caps” it, and on the backside of that steep ridge is a big clear cut that’s on private land. The south facing slope of this that is on public where I can hunt also held elk sign. I haven’t been in here since the end of May though, which leads to my question, will the elk even be in here still? It was littered with fresh sign in May. This overall area that I have explored is about 900 acres. The old growth stand(which I really like hunting in) is again at 1800’, the ridge tops that form this valley are about 2200’, and the grassy wetland at the bottom is 1600’. I feel like the old growth has everything elk would need. Food, water, cover, shelter, etc, so in my head I’ve assumed they will be there still but I would love to get some second opinions.
What does their daily routine look like in October typically, what habitat do they prefer, etc.
Thanks in advance!!
Post by: blackymaster20 on October 01, 2025, 09:41:40 AM
Post by: Buckhunter28 on October 01, 2025, 10:55:46 AM
Do you seem to find that the bulls in October are where you find sheds in the spring?
Post by: PsoasHunter on October 01, 2025, 02:04:57 PM
The elk are where they are. Some migrate, some don't. Pressure in archery season moves them, or it doesn't. You won't know till you check it out. But if you've found a bunch of sign, yeah, go. Good luck!
Post by: Buckhunter28 on October 01, 2025, 05:56:04 PM
I’ve heard that statement many a times in my life, “the elk/deer are where you find them”, no matter what I will definitely be giving it my all for the 7 days of the season and hope to learn a lot while doing it! It does appear to be a really good spot, and if I don’t find elk it’s a spot I know will hold blacktail without a doubt in my mind!
Post by: Roslyn Rambler on October 01, 2025, 07:25:02 PM
Post by: lewy on October 01, 2025, 08:44:19 PM
Post by: Buckhunter28 on October 02, 2025, 07:00:38 AM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20251002/269b2b1c543f40798cec8e0860f8d7ca.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20251002/65b49f04aaf246cd2ca546fbe0414a96.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20251002/1fd2d600ed5448be707a2e66323aa5a5.jpg)
I found them 120 yards apart as the crow flies!! If the other side were identical on the 5 point, with a 40” spread credit he would be a 306” bull as a 5! The 6 point would be around 324” by our measurements! The main beam in the 5 is 50” and the 6 is 52”, each horn weighs 12 pounds and some change, true public land giants!
Post by: Buckhunter28 on October 02, 2025, 07:02:44 AM
Noted on raking and scraping, I forget that with elk you don’t have to be so cautious with noise as you try to be with blacktail! And the wind, great reminder!! I’m going up against a lot of dang noses and sets of eyeballs!
Post by: HntnFsh on October 02, 2025, 10:15:55 AM
Post by: redi on October 02, 2025, 12:48:50 PM
Post by: kodiak06 on October 02, 2025, 01:45:16 PM
Post by: Buckhunter28 on October 02, 2025, 03:10:00 PM
I’m not that desperate yet lol! I really appreciate all the replies, and that’s a good point that the elk have already faced some immense pressure. I’m hoping the distance required and intense terrain/elevation deterred a lot of hunters from this spot, I felt like a crazy person the first time I headed in solely on hopes and dreams and thinking it looked good on OnX, but it panned out pretty well
Post by: redi on October 02, 2025, 07:20:03 PM
Post by: Buckhunter28 on October 02, 2025, 07:26:31 PM
I’ll be in well before sunrise on Saturday and listen for any early morning locating bugles that might be happening, but will stick to my spot and go with my gut.
Whether you believe in signs or not, I’ve had a dream for 3 weeks straight, every night where I shoot a decent 5 point bull(not the one I found the shed on) and I vividly know the spot, and it happens the exact same way everytime. So I’ll definitely be starting my endeavors this weekend right there
Post by: redi on October 02, 2025, 07:28:07 PM
Post by: HntnFsh on October 02, 2025, 07:32:19 PM
Post by: salmosalar on October 03, 2025, 11:21:28 AM
Real good point indeed, that’s how I hunt blacktail and mule deer for the most part so why treat this any different? Thanks fellas!
I’ll be in well before sunrise on Saturday and listen for any early morning locating bugles that might be happening, but will stick to my spot and go with my gut.
Whether you believe in signs or not, I’ve had a dream for 3 weeks straight, every night where I shoot a decent 5 point bull(not the one I found the shed on) and I vividly know the spot, and it happens the exact same way everytime. So I’ll definitely be starting my endeavors this weekend right there
I don't believe in signs. I do believe in elk sign. Fresh droppings are really great sign to stay in the area.