North Idaho dry wallow

[Northidahoarcher]

Got a dillemma. Bulls are still fairly quiet where I hunt. I've located a massive dry, dust wallow on a south facing slope that appears heavily used. The area in question is absolutely covered in elk rubs both old and new. Newish anyways. The wallow is near the top of a ridgeline that is covered in elk beds and appears to be heavily browsed over by elk.

I'm looking for opinions on how to approach this scenario. Whether it'd be better to run and gun the ridgeline and surrounding area cold calling or to just sit on the wallow silently or....? I'm hunting North Idaho.

Does anyone have experience with dry wallows? Or what time of day habitat like what I've described is utilized by elk? Any advice or questions are welcome! Thanks!!

[stringunner]

I have no experience with a dry wallow. Have only ever seen one when hunting in Wyoming. Can you place a game camera on the dry wallow and check it every 3-4 days? In the mean time I would probably try hunting the ridge/area with either spot and stalk or cold calling if the animals are not vocal. Assuming the sign you are seeing is fresh, sounds like a good area. Is there a water hole in the area that you know about? If I was going to sit, I would sit on a near by waterhole or major game trail with lots of sign.

I'm hunting an area now on a waterhole that is getting hit every 4-5 days by Bulls, but the trail I access it by has fresh elk tracks nearly everyday. Thinking I should be sitting the trail instead.

[Trumkin the Dwarf]

Is there a way to sneak into it in the middle of the morning? I'd look for feeding areas nearby(up to a mile or two away is a possibility). Plot your best guess at travel routes between the two spots and try intercepting the herd as it moves towards bed in the AM after feeding (calls are a go here). If that doesn't pan out I'd sneak in with the wind in my favor and sit the wallow (silently) from mid morning until 2-3 pm or you hear bulls bugle from their beds on that ridge. If you don't know they are in the bedroom don't go stinking it up. Come evening, get somewhere you can hear/see and try to locate a herd for the next morning.

[Lefty]

While I was hunting the desert water tanks were visited even when dry. I think they are just meeting places

A trail cam is a good start. Is it used daily or does a herd come in and tromp the place down every 2-3 4 days?
One thing I learned from experience elk dont always come in the direction you think they should
My very first close elk encounter. the elk walked past my truck,.. knocking my mirror out of position,. the approach was directly down wind cows and calves rubbed on the box blind while I was in it, the bull kicked dirt on the blind , walked on a "trail I never considered gave me shot opportunities on the side of the blind that didnt have shooting holes