Wapiti Talk "It's Your Move", Episode #4

[WapitiTalk1]

Date: Early September
Hunt/Tag: A Mountain State archery elk; either sex tag, 3 point minimum bull

Hunter status: Good physical shape; proficient with archery gear out to 45
yards; possesses proper clothing/boots for the terrain and weather; has
studied and can recognize most elk noises, and, can make the following elk
calls/sounds (locator bugle, cow mews and calf chirps, nervous or popping
grunt, challenge bugle, and is pretty decent with chuckles). Hunter also
understands and can make effective non-verbal elk noises (brush/tree raking,
ground stomping, wallow splashing, twig snapping). Hunter is also proficient
with map/compass and has a working GPS
Timeline: Day 4 of your 7 day hunt.

This afternoon you are taking a break from run and gun archery elk hunting
by sitting in the one tree stand you brought along for your hunt. It is
4:45PM on a hot and sunny September 9th. There is a steady breeze up hill
and to the south, with a few gusts mixed in. You are waiting over a good
looking water hole and wallow. There is fresh sign there, several good
advertising rub trees (fresh) nearby, and three trails into the spring. All
this looks pretty good. There is still the scent of elk where they have
drank and wallowed before over the previous few days. There is also a dry
yarding area where you see that the elk have laid in/rolled around. You are
munching on some granola when all of a sudden you hear a bugle off to your
left and up in the timber. The bull is about 150 yards away and out of
sight to the northwest. This is really the only spot of this type (water
hole/wallow) in the general area you're hunting.
Now what do you do?

[CurlyTail]

Nock and arrow. Make sure you have a diaphragm call in your mouth in case you need it. Remain silent - the water hole/wallow is your draw, not your calling in this instance.

[slick trick]

if he brought a tree stand he should of had a Montana Decoy too , to bad he didn't cause this is when it could of really worked....... I would hit one assembly call and sit still with bow in hand , hoping he don't swing down wind to scent me. If he is any kind of bull worth his salt he will circle, that's where that visual would of been nice to cut down on his circle route and come in closer and change his line of travel to bow range. But what do I know never killed a bull elk, but have killed the crap out of whitetail with this same set up, only difference is iam 20 to 25 feet up and there down wind circle is not a problem, but they never tend to circle much once they see the deek.

[Lefty]

I dont want him walking in down wind
I heading up hill all the time looking for him. Ill let him walk towards the water if he wants, but he bugled 150 yards from the wallow. As soo as I get above him keeping the wind in check, moving in quiet as I can

I sat above the wallow this year and listen to the herd bull walk away, He had a lot of cow. I caught up to the herd 2 hours later,.. One bugle,,, he bugled back a number of times ,... as he pushed his cows out faster than I could follow ( sept 12)

[Indian Summer]

I'll get out of my tree and run to the truck because it is way to early for my season to end!

[Osprey]

I don't have any experiece tree stand Elk hunting however I have a ton of experience hunting heavily pressured whitetails out of tree stands some of which on water sources so I would use my knowledge of that to try and approach it this way which may or may not work but thats the fun of hunting. Your there to hunt the wallow, be quite not matter how much the temptation and let it produce on its own merits at least for day one despite what you hear if the bull doesn't think its coming into an Elk it will be less likely to try and wind the location of that sound. If it comes in relaxed on its own your probably going to get it. If the shut up tactic doesn't work hunt it next day and then try making sounds but maybe cheat a little and set up more downwind in timbered areas to avoid hangups out of range. Also with tree stand placement you really need to see the oppottunity before it happens at least try and picture the areas likely where they will come and how they will get there. this includes wind etc it sounds simple but its one of the hardest things IMO especially for rookie treestanders many mistakes happen on this learning curve I've done my fair share and relearn some too at times grrrr. I'd also try not walking through areas where the elk might go through or at least limit the amount you do as much as possible keeping the area as unscented as possible since its an area that you may get several sits in a row if a bull is using it. By this I mean don't touch anything, don't disturbe it, don't walk through this area daily, always approach and leave in a way not intrusive to the area and for don't use a light in the area ever until your well out if it. You can see light for a long ways I use red lights with my hand cupped over always pointed at ground when I need to use a light close to hunting areas once well away I use my whitelight.

[Swede]

I will sit quiet and wait quietly unless I am positive he is going away. It is rare for me to be sure the bull is not coming in. Often bulls bugle before coming to a water hole. I cannot be certain what their motives are, but I believe, bulls with cows don't want to bring them to where another bull could be waiting. Lesser bulls don't want to expose themselves to a larger bull either. They have been down that trail and don't want to do it again. If you are at a good water hole or other well traveled location, just be patient.
Another point is I never use a decoy at a tree stand location. I have selected the best, most likely place in the area for an elk to come. Some elk are ok with coming around a decoy, Others are nervous, and others leave and won't come even close. I have called from my stand and I have used decoys. They both work at times. They both have adverse consequences too. My experience tells me to call only after I have shot an elk, and to leave the decoy in the truck or in camp.