Elk Hunting Methods Discussion

[WapitiTalk1]

I believe the following three methods of elk hunting are the most prevalent in the states that hold wapiti. Most elk hunters use one or more of these methods during a given elk season:

Spot and stalk (locate elk visually and get within effective range for the weapon used; bring one home for dinner).

Calling/Vocalization (locate elk by their vocalizations and get within effective range for the weapon used; bring one home for dinner).

Tree-Standing (locate natural elk movement routes, prepare site(s), hang tree stand, wait for elk to come into effective range for the weapon used; bring one home for dinner).

Now for the discussion. Please… provide your comments/opinions on each of these based on experience and/or research.

1. Which method do you use more than the others?
2. Which method do you feel is the most effective in the area(s) you hunt?
3. Do you consistently use more than one of these methods in each elk season?
4. Finally, what do you feel are the pros and cons of each of the listed methods?

As with all of the WapitiTalk threads, we’ll keep this informative and create some good discussion.

And in 3, 2, 1…… let’s go!

[Swede]

I do a little deer hunting just to spend a little time out with my brother. It is not a serious hunt and usually last for just two or three days. My serious hunts can last the entire 30 days of the archery season. I prefer hunting from my tree stand and have killed 31 elk that way. I do not remember exactly how many I killed from the ground. Tree stand hunting has been very good for me. I don't see very well but it does not matter when I am in my stand. Calling where I hunt can work but to be productive requires as much patience as tree stand hunting. Running and gunning is mostly just running. I posted about a lady that hunts near where I do. She hunts with ten guys that try to call in elk. She hunts from a pop-up blind. She has killed 6-8 elk in the last 10 seasons. Not one of the ten guys has every killed one. And they have the audacity to tell her that they will teach her how to elk hunt.
The good thing about tree stand hunting is that at age 78 I was still able to effectively hunt. It is pretty easy, and I am confident that my tree stand will be productive if I am patient and wait. You see things from a tree that you don't observe when walking around. It is not "rocket science". If you have not tried it, I would recommend reading my tree stand book. There is enough information there that a new hunter should have a good chance to get an elk.
The downside of tree stand hunting is that it can get very boring. It can also be cold just sitting there waiting. I am there alone. If you are not careful and use good equipment and follow good procedure, it can be dangerous.

[>>>---WW---->]

I'm basically a caller. I usually start out with a location bugle. Then close the gap and use whatever it takes to bring them in, But I also like to find a high place to do a lot of glassing from. For whitetails, when I lived back in the Midwest,I relied on hunting from the trees. We usually climbed up in a big old white oak tree and sat on a limb. No one used a tree stand back then. They hadn't been invented back then! LOL!

[Tigger]

1. Which method do you use more than the others? Calling
2. Which method do you feel is the most effective in the area(s) you hunt? all 3 could be effective
3. Do you consistently use more than one of these methods in each elk season? Calling 1st, Spot and stalk 2nd.
4. Finally, what do you feel are the pros and cons of each of the listed methods?

calling: pros: pure excitement. nothing beats it. the adrenaline rush is intense. it generally takes a lot of skill and luck during some very intense encounters. lots of decisions made and strategies implemented, changed, implemented, changed, etc in a short time. very active hunting. cons: call shy elk. lots can go wrong. physically taxing. takes a considerable amount of skill to be consistent. tag availability limits hunting the same area and learning an area well. Largely effective only in the rut, with a few exceptions.

Spot and stalk: Pros: can be active or passive or a combination of both. lots of strategy. Generally see a lot of animals both elk and others. Can be effective in and out of the rut. Good method if you have never been to an area. helps you learn area. Lots of time behind optics can be challenging. Cons: can be physically intense. success depends largely on skill with a big luck component. Requires elk to be active in the open in daylight and can be very slow midday.

Tree stands: Pros: can be very effective if you are in the right place. physically not too demanding in most cases. Can be enjoyable to watch nature if there is nature to watch. Cons: Boring. If there is no nature to watch, really boring. Dependent on elk to show up. Hard to quickly implement change if conditions change. Do not get to see a lot of country.

Tree stand hunting can be really effective (especially given Swede's success given his general lack of talent in anything resembling hunting skills!!! ), but I do that for deer at home. I have no desire to do it on a western elk hunt even though it may be the most efficient way to bag an elk.

[Swede]

Tree stand hunting can be really effective (especially given Swede's success given his general lack of talent in anything resembling hunting skills!!!

I do not think that tree stand hunting requires any special talent or great skill as an elk hunter. I agree with Tigger.
The one skill I and others have, that get elk on a regular basis, is that I learn from what I hear and observe. Every hunter knows fresh poop or fresh urine on a trail means a critter(s) are nearby. What about less obvious things? If you see elk on show on your trail camera every couple of weeks and you know nothing has been down the trail since the last rainstorm over a week ago; what does that means?
I have seen hunters bummed out about no fresh sign when I am relieved, they have not passed by recently. We both saw the same things.
I have learned from multiple instances where I called and waited, then saw an elk come silently into the exact spot I called from. it took a while to register but came into focus after 5 or 6 instances where this happens. This habit appears significant after I observe them stop 50 - 80 yards back and just look at the place I called from. I have learned to make my call from a spot that requires the elk to come close enough for me to shoot them before they can determine no real elk is there.
It is not necessary to choose between calling and tree stand hunting. You can do both, but I don't call from my tree stand. This too is based on what I have observed. I have called elk in from my stand, but I have had to many hang up too far out to get a shot at them. I have observed that if they hang up and turn back, they don't return. Calling or not calling from your stand is not as clear cut as don't sing from your stand.

[Lefty]

1. Which method do you use more than the others?
I enjoy calling, trying to talk to an elk,,

2. Which method do you feel is the most effective in the area(s) you hunt?
There is no doudt stand or tree stand hunting is more often more effective its not that I wont blind or stand hunt I still get too antsy to sit long


3. Do you consistently use more than one of these methods in each elk season?
I havent been able to cover much ground the past years so I like to know there are elk where I m going. So Ill liten and glass,,, then go in. When I hunted the desert that worked incredible

4. Finally, what do you feel are the pros and cons of each of the listed methods?

Spot and stalk (locate elk visually and get within effective range for the weapon used; bring one home for dinner).
I enjoy stalking, for a big ger guy I can get in on elk.. its hunting,,, just need to be stealthy.

Calling/Vocalization (locate elk by their vocalizations and get within effective range for the weapon used; bring one home for dinner). There is not much out there like an elk screaming back at you, or charging in on you ( well maybe 5,000 snow geese putting the spin on us) First one needs to fool them and could be the hard part for many hunters, Anmd archery gear just adds another dimension. My FIL killed over 200 mulie bucks and 21 elk,,,, and he never had interactions like we do nearly every week ( September rut)
Ive watched my grand daughter, daughter and Andrew each loose it on responding ( screaming ) bulls

Tree-Standing too slow for me Ill trade being active before sitting... However many (solo) hunters would be more likely to kill something in a stand every year My balance is poor,,, I dont belong climbing anything anymore.. Ive never been able to stay still long enough



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