Are Elk "more" Killable in the Eve?

[Trophyhill]

"Hunt them exactly like you would in the morning". This statement by John got the elk wheels to turning again. I've killed each of my archery elk in the evening. I have my theory as to why. I've had my share of encounters/opportunities in the morning too.

first off there is no doubt that a ton of elk are killed each year in the morning so you won't hear an argument from me there.

I am leaning towards thinking bulls are more killable in the evening. they aren't in a hurry to go anywhere like the morning when they want to get to the bedding areas. Elk seem to be more willing to respond/come to calls in the evening if they haven't been pressured all day. They feel safe because they are in or around their bedding areas and haven't been pestered all day by hunters. Any merit to this in your view? Care to punch some wholes in this "theory"?

I really can't say that I'd hunt evening bulls the same as I would morning bulls. Educate me:)

[Swede]

I will toss in a theory here. I think elk may be more on the move after they get up from their afternoon siesta. Being more mobile causes more encounters if you are still fully engaged.

[JohnFitzgerald]

Trophyhill - Given your theory, the morning would be the best time to call in elk. They receive the least amount of pressure by hunters during dark time. So morning elk should feel lease pressured. I've taken 17 elk in my life, 8 have been early morning hours, 3 taken mid day, and 6 taken in the evening.

[Trophyhill]

Trophyhill - Given your theory, the morning would be the best time to call in elk. They receive the least amount of pressure by hunters during dark time. So morning elk should feel lease pressured. I've taken 17 elk in my life, 8 have been early morning hours, 3 taken mid day, and 6 taken in the evening.

Great point. It just seems to me that they are on a mission to get to the bedding area in the morning and in the evening more apt to take their sweet elk time to go anywhere. Albeit you have a much shorter window to close the deal in the evening. This being said I will continue to hunt sun up to sun down napping on the mountain when I feel the urge

[JohnFitzgerald]

I'm sure moon phase plays a role as well.

[Trophyhill]

I'm sure moon phase plays a role as well.

Lmao now that's one theory I've never bought into because I've seen the opposite. Hey wait a minute.....I think I just learned something

[Buglemaster]

This one had me doing some thinking! Did a little figuring & it about balances out between am/ pm. But, if you think about it, those bulls are up all night doing what would kill a human dead if he tried...even with a little blue pill! I know I'd be heading for a little solitude & rest after a night like that, & the sooner the better. After resting up a little, bring it on! That said, I've also watched bulls in the morning that appeared to have an abundance of energy left. Amazing what testosterone does to a guy!

[Eric B.]

All valid points to consider. I've never killed in the evening. With the exception of 3 early afternoon kills, all mine have been morning. Usually in the 1st hour of daylight.
Find them in the dark & be on top of them come daylight. Does it work all the time? NOPE

[JohnFitzgerald]

All valid points to consider. I've never killed in the evening. With the exception of 3 early afternoon kills, all mine have been morning. Usually in the 1st hour of daylight.
Find them in the dark & be on top of them come daylight. Does it work all the time? NOPE

Sounds like you've experienced what I have. Usually they will be there in the morning but not always.

[husky390]

Trophyhill - Given your theory, the morning would be the best time to call in elk. They receive the least amount of pressure by hunters during dark time. So morning elk should feel lease pressured. I've taken 17 elk in my life, 8 have been early morning hours, 3 taken mid day, and 6 taken in the evening.

This being said I will continue to hunt sun up to sun down napping on the mountain when I feel the urge

Wait, when did we ever get to nap?

[Harmy]

I am at about 15 total with only 3 in the evening and 2 mid afternoon (a spike at last light and my 6x6 right at first light). The rest were morning (mostly before 10). All but 2 were cows.

[easeup]

I will keep watching for tips here. I just cant say my experience supports this one. you know the old silent elk problem; well it seems more silent in the evening.....

[elkmtngear]

I will keep watching for tips here. I just cant say my experience supports this one. you know the old silent elk problem; well it seems more silent in the evening.....

This is my observation in the areas I hunt as well.

Of course, that often changes right after legal shooting light fades away

[Swede]

I too have killed about 75% of my elk in the late afternoon or evening. That is when I see them feeding along or coming in to water. As a tree stand hunter, I put away my Bible or Sudoku puzzle when the shadows get long. That is the best part of the day for having elk moving around, and hopefully some invariably come by me.
It may be that hunters think the elk aren't moving in the afternoon as they are not hearing them as much. At that time of day I see them feeding more. Just thinking now, I have to agree that I usually don't hear bugles as often in the PM until it gets close to dark.

[Toby]

Our group has had better luck in the morning, we primarily run and gun. My thought is that the bulls are still hot from chasing the previous nite and are still sounding off and more receptive to calling.

[Bow4Elk]

I have been keeping track of our hunting adventures since 1989 with a yearly hunt record. In those 23 years we have changed hunting areas 3 times because of wolves. All in Idaho. Some years were learning new areas and some were after bad winters. Actually one year I drew a good tag in Oregon, so we didn't hunt Idaho and that info is not included. We have hunted a total of 274 morning hunts and 146 evening hunts. Sometimes we packed in the evening and sometimes we just stayed in camp or went to town. We haven't missed a morning hunt. On those hunts we hear 536 bulls bugle in the AM and 156 in the PM. We don't count every bugle that we hear, just if it is a different bull. We have gotten 37 shots in the AM and 23 in the PM. If you add it all up and break it down we hear and average of 1.95 bugles/AM hunt and 1.06/PM hunt. We get an average of 0.13 shots/ AM hunt and 0.15/PM hunt. We get an average of 0.6 shots/bugle in the AM and 0.14 shots/bugle in the PM. If I had more energy after a hard morning hunt, I should be hunting every evening because it is more productive. Usually the morning hunts last and average of 5 hours and the evening hunts 3 hours. We have found the bulls to be bugling good after 3 PM on cool days and 4 PM on warmer days. Our high number of bugles heard in the AM in 2 weeks is 43 and in the PM is 16. Low in the AM is 11 and PM is 2. The bulls bugle more in the AM but we are getting more shots/hunt and bugles heard in the PM. I just love hearing them bugle no matter what time of day it is.