Tree Stand Locations for Elk

[Swede]

What do you look for when you are considering where to locate your tree stand?

Lefty needs to find a place that has a tree large enough to hold a stand and himself. I prefer semi-arid areas where water is not everywhere, but regardless, I look for locations that elk frequent. Where I hunt now, the elk come around sporadically. If it rained a week age there may not be any sign of elk being there for a long time.

Knowing the elk habits in your area helps a lot. A trail camera can be useful, but even they can give you a misleading picture on what you will find during the hunting season when elk habits suddenly change. Fresh sign may only tell you that elk were around very recently. They may have moved on.

So, what will you do?

The first season in an area is just as much about getting acquainted as with your chosen location, and the habits of the elk in the area, as it is about getting an elk. When I arrive in a new local, I am prepared to move my stand some. I start off looking at places, usually near a small water hole or pond, where several game trails converge. I also like saddles that show sign of frequent activity. I like game trails in pinch points that elk use to go from one area to another without being seen. In any location I consider for a tree stand, I like to hike around a little to find possible rub trees. Ruds were what I considered a lot before trail cameras. They are still a good indicator for checking if you have a bull coming around. Multiple rubs have always indicated there is a bull frequenting the place and not multiple bulls going there. I use the word "always" reluctantly knowing other people may have had a different experience.

So, what are your stand locating secrets?

[Elkhunttoo]

When i first started tree stand hunting i had a few locations in mind where we were already hunting. We placed 3 tree stands that season. 1 in a bedding area, and 2 at water. Now we only use 1 of those 3 locations. Some of the things i have learned.

1. The walk to and from your stand matters almost as much as your stand location.

------ The 2 locations that we don't use anymore are just to far to walk in and out in the morning and night. This is not due to laziness but strategy. Elk like the canyon but i felt like i was bumping elk in the morning and evening at these 2 locations. In my mind i have decided to let elk be elk in that canyon and if run and gun hunters hear them and want to chase them that is fine by me. If they get bumped in the early morning one of the areas they head to is a saddle with timber on the back side of it. We now have a stand in that saddle. This saddle is way easier to get to from a different road and to my knowledge i have only bumped elk once in the dark on my way in. The bull i was able to harvest this year was about 100 yards out of this saddle on traveling trails in the timber.

2. I thought it would be easier than it is.

------ Put up a tree stand, sit in it, wait for elk, shoot elk....Yes, that is correct....BUT NO!! Sure anyone could set up a stand at any location and shoot an elk the next day. But it is a complete mind game to sit in a tree with thousands of miles that elk can be in, and stay with your strategy after a few full days of ZERO activity. Also when elk are around you for a few days in a row to stay with your strategy and not go after them or want to move locations daily. I have had elk within 100 yards of my stand for a few days and never saw one. This can play with your mind. Then on like the 4th morning i had a decent 6 point come down one of the trails and get about 20 yards away from where i would have a shot and completely lock up. He froze because the elk up above my location had the big herd bull and he could see him and was scared of him. He spun and headed out. It was 2 days later that i got a shot at the big herd bull. IT IS A HUGE MIND GAME to stay at the location you have chosen

3. Water? Bedding area? Travel trails? Saddles? What one is best?

----- I still ask myself this question as i am learning more about tree stand hunting every year. When i stared i felt that water and bedding areas were best. Im sure this can be true. In my area im starting to kind of change my mind. We have started sitting saddles and traveling trials more and our encounters have went up. Im still torn on what is best and if you have the answer for me just let me know .


I guess with this said my answer to Swedes question of my Stand location secrets are this......Stay patient.... it may take longer than you thought and you might not pick the best location when you start. But if you stay with stand hunting you can be successful season after season, or at least give yourself a chance to be.....it will up your odds

[Swede]

OH, my goodness, Elkhunttoo! I wish I had said just what you just wrote. You nailed it exactly. Thank you.

What Elkhunttoo just wrote is excellent, but I would like to read what some others have learned from their experiences.

[Swede]

Hiking into tree stands in a canyon can be problematic. How and when you approach a stand may be critical. Usually, the biggest problem is filling the canyon with your scent in the morning is the #1 issue. If you must come from the top drop straight down to your stand. Do not walk along the rim then drop in. Often, it is better to wait until the diurnal winds are coming upslope in the mid-morning through the mid-afternoon and go for an evening hunt.
Another problem is going in mid-day and moving elk out of their bedding area. When that happens, it rarely turns out well that day, so be careful.

[Lefty]

My snow goose hunting partner is a tree stand white-tail hunter, Now I learned the hard way,,,like many easterners( Minnesota for me) elk are not whitetail. I maybe learned as much with bear trail cams as I have chasing elk in the woods.
Like white tail there are places elk can be consistent travelers and water where they can be consistent too.
My buddy showed me some of his tree stands on his property.. His biggest concern is overhead cover

[Swede]

His biggest concern is overhead cover

That is one of my concerns too. I have a lot of seasons hunting tree stands. I have never found the perfect tree to place my stand in. I like to be close to tree cover, especially when the elk come in straight at me or from above. I hate pitchy trees!