What would you have done

[PrairieElk]

This last November I had the opportunity to take a new Hunter out for an elk. we began our climb up through the timber to an area where I knew there were some decent sized meadows that I knew held late season elk. Elk sign was sparse and old up until we reached the edge of a clearing about 30yds by 20. It had been snowing lightly and we came across about a dozen beds. No snow in them. I told the young guy, they are right here close. The wind was ripping pretty hard all morning.we studied the beds for a bit then slowly made our way following the tracks North. Leading to the larger meadow. But as we went into the trees tracks began to split up into 3 different groups filing through the trees. I put he young fella in front of me and continued on following the set that went high through the trees. Wind was horrible, at our backs and following the high set I hoped that the elk were skirting lower and wind would miss them.after 100 yds into trees, hell broke loose. Crash bang boom. I looked backs see the elk doubling back through the bedding area. We managed to get back in time to meet the last cow as she came in through on a slow walk looking for her friends. A good encounter to sit and watch her for a few minutes before she walked into trees.

What do you guys normally do in those situations where you find fresh bedding areas? Will they typically use same bed area?
I understand there are so many variables that come into play.

I had thought quite a bit about sitting back in timber and waiting for them to come back to bed.
The reason we pursued tracks was that the wind was hard enough I figured it was blowing them out of bed into the thick timber to the north.
I put the young guy ahead of me as I did not want him shooting me or shooting an illegal bull. Must be at least 3 points in this area.
Had I been with someone with more experience we would have split up on different tracks.

What to do, sit and wait bed area, or pursue?

[Indian Summer]

I'm not one to sit and wait for elk to come back. Quite often they don't so you're left regretting not being more aggressive. I hate that feeling.

But it's not easy sneaking on elk so I would have led the way being sure of every step and telling the other guy to stay right on my heels and used my binoculars every step of the way looking for patches of fur, ears or antlers. I killed a bull or three in that exact situation. You made a good call in my opinion by taking the high road. But I think I'd have circled even higher or wider so I wasn't in their tracks. Elk are pretty slick about watching their back trail.

If I knew the area well enough that I had a hunch where they were going to stop... once I got downwind or crosswind I'd move back in toward them very carefully with one finger on the safety ready to rock. And... in no hurry at all.

Live and learn Prairie. Encounters like that are great to learn from. I never get too upset about getting busted. You walk away smarter, knowing your area and the elk better and so you're more prepared the next time. I bet next time you see that they are in that spot you'll smile with confidence and say ok let's get it right this time... and there's a good chance you will.

[PrairieElk]

Thanks for the reply. On the way down I actually told him I learned something there. And that it was to use my glasses and I wasn't. Can't wait for spring bear to go up there and try and get a lay of the land better and be ready for next year. Also Google earth has revealed all sorts of good things.

[Indian Summer]

It's not easy to creep along as slow as the shadows. Just keep telling yourself there's no such thing as too slow. Especially if you know they are there.

If there is enough elevation change I'd suggest looking at topo maps too. I think they will show you way more than Google Earth.

[GoldToyBox]

I had some luck using a calf call when on a 'hot' track getting a cow or other calf to call back and give away their position. Be careful not to over do it and GO SLOW, check wind, listen, GO SLOW, use your bino's to see into the brush ahead, GO SLOW, use you bino's to check tracks/trails ahead of you.

As a general idea, if the tracks are all in a row following one another, you can move pretty quickly (they are on the move) but when the tracks spread out in the timber or brush ... get ready, they are feeding or bedding down.

[PrairieElk]

I had some luck using a calf call when on a 'hot' track getting a cow or other calf to call back and give away their position. Be careful not to over do it and GO SLOW, check wind, listen, GO SLOW, use your bino's to see into the brush ahead, GO SLOW, use you bino's to check tracks/trails ahead of you.

As a general idea, if the tracks are all in a row following one another, you can move pretty quickly (they are on the move) but when the tracks spread out in the timber or brush ... get ready, they are feeding or bedding down.

Very good to know. What you just described is what was actually happening. There tracks did split up as they headed into the brush. The meadow they were bedded in had the wind blowing in hard and nasty on them. That's why I suspected they were moving, was for better shelter. Wishing I had followed there tracks further now to see exactly how far they got before they doubled back.

So much to learn

[Gselkhunter]

Was it a cow or bull tag? When you find a bunch of beds like this it is normally cows and maybe a young bull. The bulls tend to be in small groups in Nov. recovering. We don't see them in the bigger groups until Jan.

[PrairieElk]

Was it a cow or bull tag? When you find a bunch of beds like this it is normally cows and maybe a young bull. The bulls tend to be in small groups in Nov. recovering. We don't see them in the bigger groups until Jan.

We had licenses for a bull. Did catch a glimpse of antlers on one as they faded through the trees.