New Elk Hunter Thread, Ask a Question. Round 2

[WapitiTalk1]

Got a question on hunting the elusive wapiti? Throw one out here. First five questions get a bag of Cheetos (economy size). Give the old codgers something to post about

[Lark Bunting]

Colorado regulations state minimum draw weight for big game is 35#. My son turns 12 (legal age to hunt big game) in May. He is right under 35# currently, what do you think he should be at for hunting season? Obviously the more he's pulling the flatter the trajectory but I want him to be able to pull straight back and not strain. We can practice to 19 yards at home and he is shooting 4-6" groups. Do you think 35# is sufficient or should he be at 40#...45#?

[ElkNut1]

Not sure of what bow your son is shooting but 40# + would be a great goal for him to consider. He would be deadly to 30yds no problem if need be, closer is better! (grin) A Slick Trick Standard or Viper Trick would do well out of his setup, of course there are other very good heads such as magnus stinger or buzzcuts in 4 blade that would do very well or any similar quality head. An arrow wt of aprox 380grn to 400grn would be a solid choice as well for his lighter draw wt.

My son took his 1st bull with a 40# draw wt with a 400grn arrow, it buried the arrow to the fletchings with a razor sharp 3 bladed head. Definitely have him shoot a lot & hit a few 3D shoots if possible to bolster his confidence & have fun at the same time! Good Luck!

ElkNut1

[Swede]

Personally , I would take the kid hunting. Regardless of the draw weight, he needs to know what it takes to make a clean kill. Distance is huge, like Paul mentioned, but so is shot angle and a host of other things. Whether the bow is 35# or 80#, he needs to exercise good judgment in shooting big game. That is were you need to work with him.

[Mofarmboy]

40-45 would be my goal elk are big animals and wounding one would be a bad start to a young hunters career. Like elk it said a 400gr arrow and a razor sharp 125gr fixed braodhead will greatly help penetration. Also make sure the bow is tune properly an arrow not flying true eats up a lot of energy!!!

[Mofarmboy]

Now for my question.
Having zero elk hunting experience what type of terrain would you prefer. Rugged wilderness area with steep terrain and alot of dark timer with a few mixed small open meadows and brush oak. Or a more open terrain with big park like meadows leading into more gently rolling timbered hills. I'm sure the elk would be more visible in the second type of terrain but the hunting pressure is much higher in that Area.

[elkmtngear]

Now for my question.
Having zero elk hunting experience what type of terrain would you prefer. Rugged wilderness area with steep terrain and alot of dark timer with a few mixed small open meadows and brush oak. Or a more open terrain with big park like meadows leading into more gently rolling timbered hills. I'm sure the elk would be more visible in the second type of terrain but the hunting pressure is much higher in that Area.

The area I normally hunt would be closer to the first area you described.

That being said, I have always wanted to hunt elk in an area I could glass for them, and make a planned stalk to get into them.

[msd1228]

Now for my question.
Having zero elk hunting experience what type of terrain would you prefer. Rugged wilderness area with steep terrain and alot of dark timer with a few mixed small open meadows and brush oak. Or a more open terrain with big park like meadows leading into more gently rolling timbered hills. I'm sure the elk would be more visible in the second type of terrain but the hunting pressure is much higher in that Area.

I personally look for areas with big stands of aspen and poplar with heavy timber nearby. Around here the elk love hanging in the poplar stands during the mornings and evenings/night and heading to the dark, heavy stuff to bed shortly after sunup. If you can find areas where the poplars are low and as they move up the hillside gradually turn into heavy stuff then you've really found yourself a nice spot.

[Mofarmboy]

Now for my question.
Having zero elk hunting experience what type of terrain would you prefer. Rugged wilderness area with steep terrain and alot of dark timer with a few mixed small open meadows and brush oak. Or a more open terrain with big park like meadows leading into more gently rolling timbered hills. I'm sure the elk would be more visible in the second type of terrain but the hunting pressure is much higher in that Area.

I personally look for areas with big stands of aspen and poplar with heavy timber nearby. Around here the elk love hanging in the poplar stands during the mornings and evenings/night and heading to the dark, heavy stuff to bed shortly after sunup. If you can find areas where the poplars are low and as they move up the hillside gradually turn into heavy stuff then you've really found yourself a nice spot.

Is there anyway to tell popular/aspen from dark timber via google earth? Will it show up lighter colored than the pines which make up the dark timber? Our biggest disadvantage is not being able to scout before we hunt. I'm thinking high gas prices are saving a lot of elks lives!!!

[Moose-head]

I have been setting a trail cam this winter and, while no elk pictures yet, I have found some rubs and scattered areas with a few elk prints in the snow. I am trying to apply what I have learned here and replicate areas described here when I set my camera. I know that the rubs are good to remember, but are the areas where I am currently finding tracks in the snow going to be of any value during hunting season?

[msd1228]

Yes, the poplar stands will be lighter in color and won't look quite as dense as the heavy timber. In this picture you can see the center area is primarily composed of poplar and as you move further south and east (up the hill) you can see the color change to dark and the texture gets very dense - that is the heavy timber. This is a spot that I've called tons of bulls in. Even though the poplar doesn't look really dense, it actually is. That's just how it appears on aerial views.

[Mofarmboy]

[quote="msd1228"]Yes, the poplar stands will be lighter in color and won't look quite as dense as the heavy timber. In this picture you can see the center area is primarily composed of poplar and as you move further south and east (up the hill) you can see the color change to dark and the texture gets very dense - that is the heavy timber. This is a spot that I've called tons of bulls in. Even though the poplar doesn't look really dense, it actually is. That's just how it appears on

Thanks for posting the pics! Looks like I'll be spending some more time on google earth.

[WapitiTalk1]

I have been setting a trail cam this winter and, while no elk pictures yet, I have found some rubs and scattered areas with a few elk prints in the snow. I am trying to apply what I have learned here and replicate areas described here when I set my camera. I know that the rubs are good to remember, but are the areas where I am currently finding tracks in the snow going to be of any value during hunting season?

Dana, what part of the state are your game cams deployed, and, at what elevation? Winter grounds vastly differ from where the wapiti will be during the hunting season(s) in 'most' situations dependent upon the area in WA.

[Moose-head]

Unit 388 on the east side in the Simcoes right around 3,000 feet near Satus pass. There are not a ton of elk, but I think that I can get away from the majority of the people by burning a little boot leather. There has been almost no snow this year so nothing has made them move down. I may start looking on the west side near mt. Adams, but that is a longer drive I can throw my dog in my truck and be scouting in no time when I look closer to home

[WapitiTalk1]

Unit 388 on the east side in the Simcoes right around 3,000 feet near Satus pass. There are not a ton of elk, but I think that I can get away from the majority of the people by burning a little boot leather. There has been almost no snow this year so nothing has made them move down. I may start looking on the west side near mt. Adams, but that is a longer drive I can throw my dog in my truck and be scouting in no time when I look closer to home

In that area, with a high elevation being only 4K or so, there may very well be elk in the locations you have your cams now come next fall. The rubs are encouraging but not really a guarantee that that's where the cows will be late next summer. Bulls will seek the ladies locations starting late august. Would recommend you keep poking around now with your cams and log what you're seeing at various spots/elevations but I'm thinking you're seeing some transition sign more than where they are. What you record on your cams later next summer will be more revealing for your prospective fall 2014 hunt. I've hunted the west side of Adams off and on for quite a few years. Not as good as it once was but there are elk there.

[Moose-head]

The problem with where I'm scouting now is that that area is a walk in hunting area owned by a timber company and is likely to get closed down for fire danger during the summer next year and possibly into hunting season. That is what happened this year and seems to be typical. If I buy a west side tag then I can scout and hunt the mount Adams area without all of the restrictions as it is in the Gifford Pinchot national Forest.

[rowdycwby1]

Here's another question
Have anyone used noise jammer while elk hunting or what scent eliminating sprays if any do y'all use. I wash all my stuff in scent away and keep it in a scent lock bag with a dirt and pine waffer ib the off season and dead down wibds spray as we enter the feild when hunting.This past fall I was introduced to Noise Jammer and it semmed to work I got busted by a whitetail doe down wind but I know she cought my movement getting my bow of the hanger. Then this January I used it and had two muley buck's at 50yds down wind of me and they never spooked until I stood up after watching them for 30 minutes and taking pics.

[Lark Bunting]

Thoughts on bug spray, chewing gum, sun screen, bubblegum lip-smacker, etc. while in the field?

[msd1228]

Here's another question
Have anyone used noise jammer while elk hunting or what scent eliminating sprays if any do y'all use. I wash all my stuff in scent away and keep it in a scent lock bag with a dirt and pine waffer ib the off season and dead down wibds spray as we enter the feild when hunting.This past fall I was introduced to Noise Jammer and it semmed to work I got busted by a whitetail doe down wind but I know she cought my movement getting my bow of the hanger. Then this January I used it and had two muley buck's at 50yds down wind of me and they never spooked until I stood up after watching them for 30 minutes and taking pics.

I'd think that unless you are planning on setting up and not moving all day this would be a pretty tough product to use. If you are running and gunning and get into a herd you aren't going to have time to spray the stuff around, also, if you aren't already downwind wind you get to the herd they are gonna be gone by the time you want to spray anyways. Might have its application in cold calling setups you are planning on sitting at for a long period of time, but seems like a lot of effort for little gain.

[msd1228]

Thoughts on bug spray, chewing gum, sun screen, bubblegum lip-smacker, etc. while in the field?

I wouldn't go out of my way to bring a bunch of foreign smells into my hunting area, but you could be covered from head to toe in garlic butter and kill elk if you stay downwind

[DMiller6868]

How do you know you're hunting elk and not somebody really good at calling?

[WapitiTalk1]

How do you know you're hunting elk and not somebody really good at calling?

Yes, it happens sometimes but for the majority of situations, the location and time of the bugle you hear tells a lot. If you're walking into the only access trail well before daylight and there are no human tracks in the dirt in front of you, and, you hear a bugle on a far hillside or down below you in a deep draw, it's more than likely a bull. Same thing near or after nightfall... if you hear a holler way, way down in a deep dark draw below... it's probably a bull (most hunters are well out of the deep holes before darkness hits). Sound quality of the elk calls you hear are an indicator also. Yes, some hunters can make pretty darn realistic elk sounds but for the most part, you can tell as much by "what" they're doing or not doing, and, where the bugle is coming from. If you hear calling coming from the vicinity of a road or major trail during late morning to early afternoon, it's probably a hunter. If you hear bugling coming from an oddball spot, i.e., the top of a rock cliff.. well, you know. One dead giveaway is excessive calling. A lot of times I'll run into two guys working as a team that seem to be honking out every elk noise they can muster (bugles, cow/calf noises, etc.) in the span of a few minutes. After you've gotten to know an area after hunting it for years, you'll know for the most part where the elk hang, move, feed, bed, water, etc. and elk sounds coming from those areas will ring true.

This said, you "will" be fooled by a bull(s) that sound just awful. Again, back to location, time, and where the call is coming from. Nothing wrong with getting fooled once in a while by very good human callers but you definitely will kick youself in the pants if you say "that's gotta be a hunter, he sounds like crap" and it ends up being a bull.

Edit: Here's a thread from last DEC that has some very good discussion on this exact topic. viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3381&p=39655#p39655

[ishy]

Colorado regulations state minimum draw weight for big game is 35#. My son turns 12 (legal age to hunt big game) in May. He is right under 35# currently, what do you think he should be at for hunting season? Obviously the more he's pulling the flatter the trajectory but I want him to be able to pull straight back and not strain. We can practice to 19 yards at home and he is shooting 4-6" groups. Do you think 35# is sufficient or should he be at 40#...45#?

I shoot a fixed two blade broad heads and would definitely start the youngins on them to get more penetration. I'd think for elk you'd probably want a minimum of 40 lbs.

[elkchaser]

Going on first elk this year in CO pagosa springs area. Going third rifle season. Would calling do any good? Like soft cow calls while walking. Anybody have any info or advice they would want to give out?