Versatily & Elk

[Trophyhill]

With all the different "styles" of hunting elk such as all the different calling tactics, spot n stalk, treestands etc, where do you fit in? Do you do it all? Or are you a 1 or 2 dimensional elk hunter? One of my childhood hero's was Bruce Lee. Watching an old interview a while back, he talked about being "fluid" as a martial artist. I believe the term "fluid" in the context he used in the interview, fits right in with elk hunting. Being adaptable at a moments notice and willing to change tactics in the blink of an eye. Now I'm certainly no expert at hunting elk, but I do try to adapt as necessary. This all boils down to knowing about elk, why they are doing what they are doing, when they are doing it and "reading the encounter" correctly and having the ability to be "fluid". I'm still learning to "read the encounter" but each year it seems to all make more sense with the pieces of the "elk puzzle" fitting together better each year. What are your thoughts on "reading the encounter" and adapting to what the elk are telling you or not telling you?

[Swede]

I have converted to mostly a tree stand hunter. It was as much from necessity as anything. I still love to call and be mobile, but for a variety of reasons, including successes from a stand, I spend most of my hunting time in a tree.

[Indian Summer]

I'll say this.... with time comes a couple things. One is getting to know your hunting area really good and better every year. The other is learning in general where the elk might be in that area based on weather and pressure. Those two things are what makes the 10% consistent.

But I think there's one other thing and that is learning to think like an elk. It's not something you learn so much as it is an instinct you develop. For example say you are searching for elk mid day. Sidehilling along on a game trail. The game trail comes to a fork... a high road and a low road. Which one do you take assuming the sign on both is equal? I can't answer that question because I'm not there right now. But somehow I either learned how to be lucky or I learned to think like an elk because most of the time the path I pick takes me to elk.

I adapt based on that too. If the weather is nasty I get out of it somewhere just like the elk. If the elk are really active and vocal I'm more aggressive. If things are quiet I lay low. When the pressure is on I follow the yellow brick road. Each encounter is the same when it comes to making the next move. If I can I'll watch or listen to elk for as long as possible before making any decisions. How are they acting? What exact direction are the working to? Has there ben mid day action or are they about to shut up completely for the day? The gears just turn as you look and listen and if you've managed to become an elk between your ears you'll make the right call more often than not. That's what comes to my mind when I think of being fluid.

[Fridaythe13th]

Not fluid here..... After 3 years of archery hunting and 4 years of rifle, I thought I would be a better elk hunter. Rifle in Colorado I am batting 500% not bad. But then I switch to a stick and string, holy crap I have a lot to learn and with 1 maybe 2 chances a year it well take 20 years to be seasoned hunter. I just don't know when to call, when to rake a tree, when to kick a rock down the hill, when to be silent, when to turn up the volume, when run to catch up or get in front, what calls to make in the moment on and on.
This year the elk were silent we walk 104 mile in 7 day to find a bugling elk. Yes, we had a couple of days where we had a chance at a bugle or two, but for the most part it was silent. Day after day we bumped elk and off they went with no shot or even close to a shot. but what are we supposed to do 20 hour away from home with 7 days of hunting, I'm not hunting the morning and sitting in camp the rest of the day, so we walked and chase elk away hoping for that magical bugle.
There is tons of water with streams everywhere the wallow we seen were not being hit. If I could sit in a tree stand for a day I found some good pinch points or ridges that my odds would go up. But I don't think it possible for me to walk in 2 hours sit for the day and walk back out.

For this want-to-be elknut NOT FLUID, but learning, maybe when I'm 60 I'll be more fluid.

[Swede]

Friday, I appreciate reading what you have learned and your thoughts on hunting elk. I get it. I remember the first time I tried tree stand hunting. I got bored after a couple hours and decided it was just not for me. I did not realize at first, the stand was in a poor location. If you are not in a good place you can really believe in, then tree stand hunting is at best boring. That is not the case if you expect elk at any time. The truth is that like everything else; tree stands are tools. They don't fit everywhere.
Ditto to calling. It takes time and practice to learn calling proficiently. I am better than I was, but am still no elknut. Partly it is the area I have been hunting. The person that goes out on his or her own, and starts reeling in elk the first day is very rare.

[ishy]

I do it all, at least a little. Mostly run and gun, but will sit in a tree or anything else if I think it will increase my success.

[Lefty]

I would like to think Im versatile and adaptable. Ive been way more successful in hunting considering Ive lived and adapted to limited elk hunting Washington rain forest, Montana backcountry, Utah mountains, Idaho desert and Idaho,.. ahh,.. other places
Ive always taken advantage of the game and hunt able animals in the states Ive lived in.
But I think most of my adaptations came from my trapping experiences in different states, knowing wildlife biology, and developing a nose on where to go.
I truly believe I could kill an elk with in 3 miles of Pocatello city limits easier than where and how I hunt now, but something about killing too easy doesn't appeal to me. I tend to extend the likelihood of the elk winning the game,.. somehow puts a smile on my face,.. and then I get to hunt more.

I will say I find little more gratifying than making a good stalk. I believe Im proficient with a call,...but not an expert. I can talk to elk, geese and coyotes , but if the conversation is too long, the elk will win. Ive sat in box blind and pop up blinds, along trails and water,.. I could sit in a tree stand as well. Ive had a bunches of elk with in feet. Called cows and bulls close enough I couldnt shoot,smelled their breath
I need work on decoy use and and advanced elk noises

I have lots of puzzle pieces, but many are up-side-down..

[Luckyman]

If I were more fluid, I possibly would have had more opportunities, but the only success I know is from a treestand w/ deer only. I did first elk hunt ever last year and it was everything I could have hoped for even though I didn't get my elk. Solo first week of archery, CO, either sex, OTC just outside of wilderness area 9700', 23 hrs from home w/ my jetta wagon pulling a drz400 motorcycle w/ racks loaded for.. elk!!

Camp-scouted a few days the prior week and heard nothing and saw nearly no fresh sign, but lots of old droppings. But then the evening before leaving the scout-camp, heard one bugle and went skirting the 30 acre park w/ binos to investigate and was startled when looking behind me to see 5 elk, 100 yds away working my way. I snuck to better cover and watched the spike, 3 cows and 6pt. come straight at me in the edge of the trees. @ 40 yds I tried to back out, not wanting to scare them, but they must have caught movement and moved on but not in a hurry. Had my calls and being a newb, I should have tried them to see what kind of response I would get.. but hindsight. Were it season, I might have had an elk! Oh yeah, my camp was less than 100yds away right off a 4x4 rd.

Opening day, I camped in a different spot where I planned to treestand hunt some nice wallow w/ fresh use and rubs in the area. Day 2 another local CO hunter was gonna camp where I was, he moved a few hundred yds to another spot. He packed up his 4wheeler and camper truck the next day to find another spot due to seeing zero fresh sign. And I found out the fresh crap I was seeing was from cattle that were apparently everywhere. HA!
So, I learned, "molten" elk droppings - good, full splatter - not so good, cattle.
Day 3, after seeing nothing, moved back to other spot where I saw the elk. Next day, no sign or sound, but another couple of hunters, came and camp a few hundred yards away. From NM and OK. Next morning still hunted up drainage w/ treestand to sit a nice spot. Ran into other hunter and had a nice chat. Said he was guide for dozen some odd years and normally hunted NM private ranches and said this was this was the hardest thing to hunt besides a mature muley above timberline. "This" being, CO elk that aren't talking on a soaking wet mountain full of timber w/ a scattering of small parks. He said you gotta hunt them like whitetail....Huh. They packed camp and left that afternoon saying the sign they saw wasn't at all compelling.
With no luck in the timber doing a couple cold calling setups, I decided to sit the place where saw the elk on the scout. Then, on the edge of the huge field 30min before dark I heard a bugle (I only heard 4 the whole 7 days), a minute later I saw elk entering the far edge of the field and at the end of the 40-50 strong heard was a brute who let a 2nd bugle go..needless to say...AWESOME!! I got to watch them some 3-400 yds away and thought damn I wish this was win mag season. but then again it would be way more crowded and this was great. A few started looking my way, then running right to me. (I was on the point o timber at a field pinch)
2 stopped dead in their tracks, they caught my wind, 1 at 50 yds, 1 at 70. Stood like statues looking right toward me for over a minute, I was 30 feet up in a tree. I never drew my bow b/c the 50yd was a cow with her calf right behind and 70 was nice 5 pt. ....arggg, even though I practiced at 70, I've chased more than one wounded to never be found animal in my life and figured the rest of the herd was coming anyway, and usually letting the moms w/ fawns in tow go, works out in the end...nope, that was my chance.

Having an opportunity from the tree made me kinda think that was the way it was gonna happen. Next morning, I heard what sounded like raking. I should have been FLUID and gotten down and gone after him. Stubbornly stayed in my tree. Later that day saw some 15min before 1st daily rain shower @ 11am, feeding and rolling in a dry wallow. No time before rain to get after them. Next morning I was set up on the wallow 35' up. Saw a nice buck come through the field at 120yds. Then heard 2 more bugles, 1 distant, one closer where the raking happened the prior day. Should of gotten down and gone after him... doh.
It's hard to be brave and go after them when it's so easy to be busted with the swirling wind when you know eventually you'll get shots w/ the treestand. BUT, lessons were learned for next time. Maybe one day it will be like deer, where I always seem to get at least one.
Thundershowers every day like clockwork, even some ice pellets, but at least could hunt every morning and evening. One of the best experiences ever!

[ElkNut1]

Versatility in most cases for me! I try to adapt & adjust to the days needs. I may start on the ground or in a tree but have no ball & chain to restrain me there! (grin) Besides calling & getting after them is too much fun!

Luckyman, I enjoyed your post!

ElkNut1

[CurlyTail]

I am still evolving as an elk hunter. I think a bag of tricks is always better than being one dimensional.

My best luck to date has been cold calling, hunting bedding areas and challenging the herd bull with bugles, and sitting game trails or saddles.

I have yet to pull off a true "spot and stalk", or one of Pauls "Call and Stalk" situations - but I plan to keep trying.

90% of my area is burned, so I have yet to find a tree I would feel safe sitting in.

Every year that I hunt the same area, I get a little more efficient. Spend more time in the likely areas, and less time looking for the likely areas. Every year, I discover a new trail that the Elk take, and it is always easier than the direct route or the route that I would have predicted. Every year, I find an easier route to where I want to go, and discover new potential bedding areas. Can't say enough about getting to know one particular area very, very well.

Lastly, I have had much better reaction to excited, higher volume calling than to more subtle "realistic" sounds. I am finding that calling Elk, for me, is the funnest and most satisfying way to hunt. Sitting is highly effective, just not nearly as fun.

[Trophyhill]

I am still evolving as an elk hunter. I think a bag of tricks is always better than being one dimensional.

My best luck to date has been cold calling, hunting bedding areas and challenging the herd bull with bugles, and sitting game trails or saddles.

I have yet to pull off a true "spot and stalk", or one of Pauls "Call and Stalk" situations - but I plan to keep trying.

90% of my area is burned, so I have yet to find a tree I would feel safe sitting in.

Every year that I hunt the same area, I get a little more efficient. Spend more time in the likely areas, and less time looking for the likely areas. Every year, I discover a new trail that the Elk take, and it is always easier than the direct route or the route that I would have predicted. Every year, I find an easier route to where I want to go, and discover new potential bedding areas. Can't say enough about getting to know one particular area very, very well.

Lastly, I have had much better reaction to excited, higher volume calling than to more subtle "realistic" sounds. I am finding that calling Elk, for me, is the funnest and most satisfying way to hunt. Sitting is highly effective, just not nearly as fun.

Man you and me both. Not having the experience that a lot of guys on this site have, "evolving" is a perfect term!

[mongopino915]

I am still evolving as an elk hunter. I think a bag of tricks is always better than being one dimensional.

My best luck to date has been cold calling, hunting bedding areas and challenging the herd bull with bugles, and sitting game trails or saddles.

I have yet to pull off a true "spot and stalk", or one of Pauls "Call and Stalk" situations - but I plan to keep trying.

90% of my area is burned, so I have yet to find a tree I would feel safe sitting in.

Every year that I hunt the same area, I get a little more efficient. Spend more time in the likely areas, and less time looking for the likely areas. Every year, I discover a new trail that the Elk take, and it is always easier than the direct route or the route that I would have predicted. Every year, I find an easier route to where I want to go, and discover new potential bedding areas. Can't say enough about getting to know one particular area very, very well.

Lastly, I have had much better reaction to excited, higher volume calling than to more subtle "realistic" sounds. I am finding that calling Elk, for me, is the funnest and most satisfying way to hunt. Sitting is highly effective, just not nearly as fun.

I like your style. Where we hunt, it is pretty wide and can be super thick and steep in certain areas. We are still finding smaller hidden crevasses, where elk have the tendency to hide when pressured, in the same surrounding area. I think elk hunting is a never ending learning lesson and always evolving.

Elk calling is what I look for every season and is what I do 90% in the field.

My favorite is in your face bugling show down with herd bulls at close distance but will not hesitate to sneak in silently for the shot when presented.

Blind cold calling has worked well, especially when the elk are quite.

I love shooting the bows and elk calling and practice them all year round.

For now, I do not tree stand, wallow, and/or trail hunt. I know they can very effective but I just prefer to be on the move and call them in.