You’ve filled your elk tag. Now what?

[Tuffcrk14]

My priority over everything is always harvesting an elk first. Now that I’ve accomplished that during archery, I’m onto the next thing. NW Montana whitetails have become my next target. I’ve had some cameras out and have a target buck that I’ll be pursuing in the rut. What’s everyone else do once your elk tag is filled?


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[Swede]

Good question. For me the answer varies.
I also prioritize my hunting to maximize the likelihood of getting an elk. I have killed them on the first morning and at the last hour on the last day. I have killed them when I was hunting with several other hunters in camp, so I stayed out until they were finished, and I have killed them when I was free to do anything I wanted or go anywhere after filling my elk tag.
My preference, if there is plenty of time left in the season is to go back to a tree stand and watch for another critter so I can fill another tag. At the same time, I can observe elk movements. Also, I can look at other locations to place a stand in the future.

[RanchoSueno]

Whitetail! One tag down, one to go for the 2024 year

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[Lefty]

RanchoSueno put that on the meatpole!!!

I didnt fill it,,, yet. I have quite a list of "now what",
I had to take care of the year, pasture and orchard, canned 24 jars of plums
My sister in law started a big projet at the family cabin, new floors, paint and light fixture's,, thats taken too much time
A few days deer hunting
I started putting fishscale scale siding on my daughters hose gables
Thinking I should set some coyote traps
Maybe chase some ducks and geese before it gets too cold
And yesterday my lab Daisy had 6 puppies, so no Texas crane hunting
Muzzleloader elk Then more ducks and geese, maybe coyotes this year

[2MANY]

Well I guess I'll get back to making adult movies for senior citizens.

[Lefty]

getting ready to head up for Thursday and Friday for a muzzleloader cow or spike

[Tuffcrk14]

getting ready to head up for Thursday and Friday for a muzzleloader cow or spike

Sounds like a good time!


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[Lefty]

getting ready to head up for Thursday and Friday for a muzzleloader cow or spike

Sounds like a good time!
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Seems like so many other "stuff" gets in the way, and now it seems the weather may be a problem, 24-36 inches of snow predicted..
My wife said I couldnt take the camper,,,,,,she wants me to motel it,,,a one night trip instead of a week trip she knows Ill put a bit more effort in to killing something instead of "dragging out the trip...So no Christmas tree cutting, no coyote snaring

[Tuffcrk14]

getting ready to head up for Thursday and Friday for a muzzleloader cow or spike

Sounds like a good time!
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Seems like so many other "stuff" gets in the way, and now it seems the weather may be a problem, 24-36 inches of snow predicted..
My wife said I couldnt take the camper,,,,,,she wants me to motel it,,,a one night trip instead of a week trip she knows Ill put a bit more effort in to killing something instead of "dragging out the trip...So no Christmas tree cutting, no coyote snaring

That should hopefully put them in more concentrated areas I would think… hopefully on public and not private. Best of luck!


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[Lefty]

I had to cover a lot of ground to see how much ground the elk could covered.
For whatever reason this morning. The elk made 9 Mile trip to a piece of private ground., in Montana

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Holiday inn at the cafe ran into a couple locals that I know.
The one guy said I could use last year's tag if I went up there and shop and chased the elk off that ground.
(Last year I had a Montana tag)

On the Idaho side I ran into some guys who were about 50 ft down 200 yd out from the road I think they were in big trouble

[Tuffcrk14]

I had to cover a lot of ground to see how much ground the elk could covered.
For whatever reason this morning. The elk made 9 Mile trip to a piece of private ground., in Montana

20241121_144255.jpg

Holiday inn at the cafe ran into a couple locals that I know.
The one guy said I could use last year's tag if I went up there and shop and chased the elk off that ground.
(Last year I had a Montana tag)

On the Idaho side I ran into some guys who were about 50 ft down 200 yd out from the road I think they were in big trouble

I swear it’s always a day late and a dollar short trying to catch elk moving/migrating before they get to untouchable ground.

The movie quote “Damn boys, we’re in a tight spot.” From Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? comes to mind! I have been put in and put myself in enough of those types of scenarios that I’ll get out and walk or go home before I take risks like that again if I don’t have to.


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[Lefty]

The movie quote “Damn boys, we’re in a tight spot.” From Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? comes to mind! I have been put in and put myself in enough of those types of scenarios that I’ll get out and walk or go home before I take risks like that again if I don’t have to.

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Friday morning
6:00 AM Looked like the fellows with the 3500 and 30 foot trailer were able to get the truck and trailer out the night before,, with the help of bit UTV's

A great morning, light wind 30 degree,
The Montana Elk hunters were roaring out of the motel.

Whew all those elk came back through into my part of Idaho, I love the sight of a trashed road and kicked up snow from elk,,,As I headed up the forest service road I saw lights behind me a mile or so..,,, bummer.
6:30-Parked on a good overlook waiting for enough light to glass the elk, Then a text came through from my wife she had a not so good night, and being on puppy (6 ) duty made it worse.
7:10 I put the spotting scope out the window,
7:20 Elk on the "Green spot". I glassed for ten minutes
If those elk bed in the quakies I ll call my wife to see if I could chase those elk and follow where they were going.
head back down the hill I met the other hunter who had been coming up the hill. 70 head ran in front of him when he was trailing me up the hill an hour before sunrise., he had a bull tag, and was only looking for a mature bull. Those elk were headed back to their hidey hole somewhere in Montana
I was able to glass the canyon where I hope the elk I had been watching would bed,,, The elk got a pass, they headed up the wrong canyon for me to follow them into the timber abyss

A couple hours later I was raking leaves and taking care of the puppies, 59 degrees and sunny