Roosevelt Elk. Please nudge me in the right direction. I feel hopeless.

[HntnFsh]

I still have some of those maps laying around. They used to be in most of the gas stations etc. free for the taking!

[blackveltbowhunter]

I would say 60 to 75+ percent gone is accurate over the past 15 to 20 years. But not in one year. Good luck getting an objective number from WDFW.

At the OP if your finding elk trails 100 percent follow them in and see where they lead. This will get ya started on learning how they move and where the are moving to and from. Elk don't mind some noise, just make noise naturally not sneaking noise. They know the difference.  Plus you might figure out other ways to approach with less chance of being detected.  You are definitely looking for bull sign, but getting started by just searching elk sign is a win and  will  help get you in the ballpark.

[Dark2Dark]

At the OP if your finding elk trails 100 percent follow them in and see where they lead. This will get ya started on learning how they move and where the are moving to and from. Elk don't mind some noise, just make noise naturally not sneaking noise. They know the difference.  Plus you might figure out other ways to approach with less chance of being detected.  You are definitely looking for bull sign, but getting started by just searching elk sign is a win and  will  help get you in the ballpark.

Probably one of the most challenging things about hunting bull elk during modern season is you really want to be hunting where there are not many elk around, just the right elk. The majority of the elk we have killed during Washington modern season have been a) alone and b) in places where there was no real indication elk had been hanging out. You might get lucky and find some sign of the one elk hanging around there but a lot of times you see nothing until you find tracks so fresh that he is standing in them.

Sometimes, you will still find a bull hanging out with a herd, especially young bulls. Even a herd bull will sometimes hang with the herd until they get pushed once or twice and the shooting starts. But once they get separated, the older bulls have lost their drive to stick with the herd. If I went somewhere where I was starting from scratch right now, I would potentially look for any elk sign to start. And then once I found it, if it looked like herds of elk, I would be seeking out the deep, dark and nasty stuff in its vicinity. Actually leaving the signs of many elk to go look for the few.

The last several years it's not uncommon for me to see very few elk or even zero elk other than the one I end up killing. But it can be discouraging to hunt days and days seeing nothing, just looking for that one.

[Badsmerf]

Probably one of the most challenging things about hunting bull elk during modern season is you really want to be hunting where there are not many elk around, just the right elk. The majority of the elk we have killed during Washington modern season have been a) alone and b) in places where there was no real indication elk had been hanging out. You might get lucky and find some sign of the one elk hanging around there but a lot of times you see nothing until you find tracks so fresh that he is standing in them.

Sometimes, you will still find a bull hanging out with a herd, especially young bulls. Even a herd bull will sometimes hang with the herd until they get pushed once or twice and the shooting starts. But once they get separated, the older bulls have lost their drive to stick with the herd. If I went somewhere where I was starting from scratch right now, I would potentially look for any elk sign to start. And then once I found it, if it looked like herds of elk, I would be seeking out the deep, dark and nasty stuff in its vicinity. Actually leaving the signs of many elk to go look for the few.

The last several years it's not uncommon for me to see very few elk or even zero elk other than the one I end up killing. But it can be discouraging to hunt days and days seeing nothing, just looking for that one.

I was going to PM you, but figured some questions I have might help others.

First, I've hunted the west side for the last 5 seasons. I killed a 4 point a few years ago by walking up on the right clear cut extremely early. There had been elk around that area consistently for the prior 3 days, so I just figured it was my best bet and was right. However, this isn't a recipe for repeated success imo. Too many people roaming clear cuts, bulls don't seem to like coming out very often.

So, I've heard the deep and steep discussion, but haven't seen anyone really explain it well. I hunt the timber/nasty areas more than most and have only come across a bull once in an area that was so dark (in mid-day) that I didn't see him until he was running away. That was in a smallish saddle area, old growth without trails. There aren't many places like that in the unit I now hunt, which is private timber with roads everywhere.

Questions!!: is how do you define deep/steep and what characteristics are you looking for as multipliers for process of elimination? Are you hunting creek bottoms, old growth timber, rerod you can't see through... I've found elk in all these areas, just not bulls and rarely would I have been able to shoot one. Are you hunting clear cuts at all, or just getting into these spots early then still hunting mid-day before hanging at your location again late? Without going into clear cuts, what are the bulls eating? Without sign, or trail cam confirmation, how do you know you're not just wasting your time?

[blackveltbowhunter]

At the OP if your finding elk trails 100 percent follow them in and see where they lead. This will get ya started on learning how they move and where the are moving to and from. Elk don't mind some noise, just make noise naturally not sneaking noise. They know the difference.  Plus you might figure out other ways to approach with less chance of being detected.  You are definitely looking for bull sign, but getting started by just searching elk sign is a win and  will  help get you in the ballpark.

Probably one of the most challenging things about hunting bull elk during modern season is you really want to be hunting where there are not many elk around, just the right elk. The majority of the elk we have killed during Washington modern season have been a) alone and b) in places where there was no real indication elk had been hanging out. You might get lucky and find some sign of the one elk hanging around there but a lot of times you see nothing until you find tracks so fresh that he is standing in them.

Sometimes, you will still find a bull hanging out with a herd, especially young bulls. Even a herd bull will sometimes hang with the herd until they get pushed once or twice and the shooting starts. But once they get separated, the older bulls have lost their drive to stick with the herd. If I went somewhere where I was starting from scratch right now, I would potentially look for any elk sign to start. And then once I found it, if it looked like herds of elk, I would be seeking out the deep, dark and nasty stuff in its vicinity. Actually leaving the signs of many elk to go look for the few.

The last several years it's not uncommon for me to see very few elk or even zero elk other than the one I end up killing. But it can be discouraging to hunt days and days seeing nothing, just looking for that one.

I agree. Perhaps I was reading to much into the OP post but it sounds like he is wandering a little aimlessly and somewhat inexperienced in reading sign period.

[Dark2Dark]

Probably one of the most challenging things about hunting bull elk during modern season is you really want to be hunting where there are not many elk around, just the right elk. The majority of the elk we have killed during Washington modern season have been a) alone and b) in places where there was no real indication elk had been hanging out. You might get lucky and find some sign of the one elk hanging around there but a lot of times you see nothing until you find tracks so fresh that he is standing in them.

Sometimes, you will still find a bull hanging out with a herd, especially young bulls. Even a herd bull will sometimes hang with the herd until they get pushed once or twice and the shooting starts. But once they get separated, the older bulls have lost their drive to stick with the herd. If I went somewhere where I was starting from scratch right now, I would potentially look for any elk sign to start. And then once I found it, if it looked like herds of elk, I would be seeking out the deep, dark and nasty stuff in its vicinity. Actually leaving the signs of many elk to go look for the few.

The last several years it's not uncommon for me to see very few elk or even zero elk other than the one I end up killing. But it can be discouraging to hunt days and days seeing nothing, just looking for that one.

I was going to PM you, but figured some questions I have might help others.

First, I've hunted the west side for the last 5 seasons. I killed a 4 point a few years ago by walking up on the right clear cut extremely early. There had been elk around that area consistently for the prior 3 days, so I just figured it was my best bet and was right. However, this isn't a recipe for repeated success imo. Too many people roaming clear cuts, bulls don't seem to like coming out very often.

So, I've heard the deep and steep discussion, but haven't seen anyone really explain it well. I hunt the timber/nasty areas more than most and have only come across a bull once in an area that was so dark (in mid-day) that I didn't see him until he was running away. That was in a smallish saddle area, old growth without trails. There aren't many places like that in the unit I now hunt, which is private timber with roads everywhere.

Questions!!: is how do you define deep/steep and what characteristics are you looking for as multipliers for process of elimination? Are you hunting creek bottoms, old growth timber, rerod you can't see through... I've found elk in all these areas, just not bulls and rarely would I have been able to shoot one. Are you hunting clear cuts at all, or just getting into these spots early then still hunting mid-day before hanging at your location again late? Without going into clear cuts, what are the bulls eating? Without sign, or trail cam confirmation, how do you know you're not just wasting your time?

If you're hunting private timber with key access, most of my tactics are tough.

What I usually am looking for are areas far away from easy road access (difficult when the roads are open and bisect the entire area) and old growth timber (difficult when they log it as soon as the trees are a harvestable size).

I hunt those areas for deer- as when the rut hits, the bucks are where the does are and that usually means in clearcuts at some point during daylight hours.

Don't get me wrong- quite a lot of bulls are shot in those areas out in the cuts, but there are thousands of people competing for those bulls and getting one is like winning the lottery. Again, I know people that spend 150 days a year driving around in the woods there and they do well consistently, but that's what it takes. And so you're not only going up against a bunch of randoms (probably half of them with thermals), you're going up against those people, too.

So, I rarely, if ever, hunt clearcuts. Maybe once or twice every few years I will check one or spend a day driving and checking them but it's usually just when I don't have time or energy to do a real hunt. It's never been my lucky day when I have done it.

I hunt timbered areas from dawn to dusk. Just in little areas where the trees have been blown down there are openings enough that a variety of feed grows enough to sustain an elk or two. But in Western Washington, even in heavy timber, it seems that they don't have much problem finding nutritional feed.

I rarely spend much time in creek bottoms and have not had a lot of luck finding bulls there, but it could happen, probably in certain areas, for sure. I like steep hillisides with lots of ridges. And the bulls can often be found high on ridges where they can watch below them. I used to see rocky cliffy areas and think the elk wouldn't want to be in there. Now, those are some of the areas I'm searching out. Working side hills checking each ridge and the little shelves/pockets they create has worked out well for us. But you're right, if you haven't seen them on cameras or you see ZERO sign, it's hard to know if you're wasting time. We hunt a lot in areas that we have become familiar with over the years and we know where bulls like to hide in season- like I said- close to where herds of elk hang out and breed, but not in those exact areas.   

Reprod definitely holds elk but it's very difficult to hunt it. Same with thicker, younger timber that's marginally huntable. I like hunting in the vicinity of those pockets but hanging out in the old growth, instead. Often, you can catch elk coming in and out of there early in the morning or late in the evening.

I used to see a lot more elk in season based on where I hunted but did not see many bulls or kill many bulls. Now, I see far less elk but we harvest far more.

Hope that helps!

[b0bbyg]

Probably one of the most challenging things about hunting bull elk during modern season is you really want to be hunting where there are not many elk around, just the right elk. The majority of the elk we have killed during Washington modern season have been a) alone and b) in places where there was no real indication elk had been hanging out. You might get lucky and find some sign of the one elk hanging around there but a lot of times you see nothing until you find tracks so fresh that he is standing in them.

Sometimes, you will still find a bull hanging out with a herd, especially young bulls. Even a herd bull will sometimes hang with the herd until they get pushed once or twice and the shooting starts. But once they get separated, the older bulls have lost their drive to stick with the herd. If I went somewhere where I was starting from scratch right now, I would potentially look for any elk sign to start. And then once I found it, if it looked like herds of elk, I would be seeking out the deep, dark and nasty stuff in its vicinity. Actually leaving the signs of many elk to go look for the few.

The last several years it's not uncommon for me to see very few elk or even zero elk other than the one I end up killing. But it can be discouraging to hunt days and days seeing nothing, just looking for that one.

I was going to PM you, but figured some questions I have might help others.

First, I've hunted the west side for the last 5 seasons. I killed a 4 point a few years ago by walking up on the right clear cut extremely early. There had been elk around that area consistently for the prior 3 days, so I just figured it was my best bet and was right. However, this isn't a recipe for repeated success imo. Too many people roaming clear cuts, bulls don't seem to like coming out very often.

So, I've heard the deep and steep discussion, but haven't seen anyone really explain it well. I hunt the timber/nasty areas more than most and have only come across a bull once in an area that was so dark (in mid-day) that I didn't see him until he was running away. That was in a smallish saddle area, old growth without trails. There aren't many places like that in the unit I now hunt, which is private timber with roads everywhere.

Questions!!: is how do you define deep/steep and what characteristics are you looking for as multipliers for process of elimination? Are you hunting creek bottoms, old growth timber, rerod you can't see through... I've found elk in all these areas, just not bulls and rarely would I have been able to shoot one. Are you hunting clear cuts at all, or just getting into these spots early then still hunting mid-day before hanging at your location again late? Without going into clear cuts, what are the bulls eating? Without sign, or trail cam confirmation, how do you know you're not just wasting your time?

If you're hunting private timber with key access, most of my tactics are tough.

What I usually am looking for are areas far away from easy road access (difficult when the roads are open and bisect the entire area) and old growth timber (difficult when they log it as soon as the trees are a harvestable size).

I hunt those areas for deer- as when the rut hits, the bucks are where the does are and that usually means in clearcuts at some point during daylight hours.

Don't get me wrong- quite a lot of bulls are shot in those areas out in the cuts, but there are thousands of people competing for those bulls and getting one is like winning the lottery. Again, I know people that spend 150 days a year driving around in the woods there and they do well consistently, but that's what it takes. And so you're not only going up against a bunch of randoms (probably half of them with thermals), you're going up against those people, too.

So, I rarely, if ever, hunt clearcuts. Maybe once or twice every few years I will check one or spend a day driving and checking them but it's usually just when I don't have time or energy to do a real hunt. It's never been my lucky day when I have done it.

I hunt timbered areas from dawn to dusk. Just in little areas where the trees have been blown down there are openings enough that a variety of feed grows enough to sustain an elk or two. But in Western Washington, even in heavy timber, it seems that they don't have much problem finding nutritional feed.

I rarely spend much time in creek bottoms and have not had a lot of luck finding bulls there, but it could happen, probably in certain areas, for sure. I like steep hillisides with lots of ridges. And the bulls can often be found high on ridges where they can watch below them. I used to see rocky cliffy areas and think the elk wouldn't want to be in there. Now, those are some of the areas I'm searching out. Working side hills checking each ridge and the little shelves/pockets they create has worked out well for us. But you're right, if you haven't seen them on cameras or you see ZERO sign, it's hard to know if you're wasting time. We hunt a lot in areas that we have become familiar with over the years and we know where bulls like to hide in season- like I said- close to where herds of elk hang out and breed, but not in those exact areas.   

Reprod definitely holds elk but it's very difficult to hunt it. Same with thicker, younger timber that's marginally huntable. I like hunting in the vicinity of those pockets but hanging out in the old growth, instead. Often, you can catch elk coming in and out of there early in the morning or late in the evening.

I used to see a lot more elk in season based on where I hunted but did not see many bulls or kill many bulls. Now, I see far less elk but we harvest far more.

Hope that helps!

Solid info!
Have cow tag for late season this year, hope to spend less time in tougher areas. But you never know.

[scottfrick]

Saw that you got your elk. Congratulations! What did you learn/change up? How’d the hunt go??