Aggressive Tactics. Are you Pressuring/Educating Elk?

[Trophyhill]

I'm thinking there is a fine line between being aggressive and educating elk. It's inevitable that hunting aggressive will educate a few elk. What can we as hunters do to minimize educating the very elk we seek to make a meal out of? And also not make them feel pressured?

[Swede]

I think it comes down to numbers. If you bump an elk or two and they run off, it is no big deal. Most of the elk have no idea. If time after time they get that unpleasant experience of seeing or smelling human when you call, then you have just given them a doctorate in bow hunter. If you chase after them after you bump them, then the pressure mounts even more, and they are likely to leave you to your hunting with no elk. They think you should be a squirrel hunter and it will be just you and the squirrels in your hunting area.

[ElkNut1]

"Aggressive action" can be a pretty broad term. Everyone has their personal definition of it. There's a difference between being aggressive & running elk around because ones do not know better & being aggressive & the elk are still sticking around once you're through for the day. Calling itself rarely runs elk off, it's what accompanies it in most cases that does this. Such as a hunter spotted, winded, both, talking, moving around when they feel the elk cannot see them, etc. We've all been guilty of it! (grin) Avoid the elk knowing you're a human/predator & only use aggressive action when aggressive action is required. Not all elk encounters require it, you must know the ins & outs of reading each specific encounter & adjust accordingly! This will dictate the need for aggressive action or not! I'll take aggressive action over subtlety as whole anyday & take my chances with it when unsure what's best for a specific bull. This doesn't mean I will allow a bull to see or wind me, it means I may try to get him to "commit" to a set of circumstances.

So to answer the question, it's possible & yet it's still possible not to! Hunt smart & not impatient like I do sometimes! (grin)

ElkNut1

[elkmtngear]

What can we as hunters do to minimize educating the very elk we seek to make a meal out of? And also not make them feel pressured?

When using "aggressive tactics"...do everything you can (both vocally and visually) to convincingly "become an elk"...you've got to sell it!

[Indian Summer]

" I'll take aggressive action over subtlety as whole anyday & take my chances with it when unsure what's best for a specific bull.

So to answer the question, it's possible & yet it's still possible not to! Hunt smart & not impatient like I do sometimes! (grin)

ElkNut1

yep. Like Paul and Swede mentioned... getting flat out busted as in winded in the end makes or breaks you. It defines whether they just got a lesson in survival or not.

Every thread ands up with a few sentences that stand out I all of our minds as words to remember right? That's why it doesn't matter what your skill or success level is.. if you can learn just one thing from one post in a thread here or there you're no different than anyone else. The first sentence is one worth writing down. Yes there are times to lay low. But all in all my motto is I'm not waiting for things to happen, I'm making things happen. There are always other elk to chase. Going for it and getting busted by one little group of elk isn't the end of the world.

Don't get me wrong now... if there was an evening where I decided to sit in a spot for various reasons then sit I would. Like a rock. But when I'm out there trolling around for elk I'm making my luck not just sitting there hoping for it.

[Swede]

We have all heard of the person who is passive-aggressive. I think that describes an elk hunter who is likely to be successful. Laying back all of the time and never going for it, leaves too much to chance unless you are one to wait at a destination like a tree stand hunter. Charging ahead as soon, or even every time you get a response to your call, is likely to end in frustration more often than anything. Hunt smart. Check the wind, terrain and cover, Watch out for other animals that you did not get to respond to your call. Being aggressive is all about timing.
Paul said something about how we have all messed up in pushing ahead and getting busted. I have found that with my poor eyesight, it happens more and more. I just don't see the elk in the brush like I should. That may seem insignificant to people with good eyesight, but it reminds ne that if you have good eyesight, then you need to use those eyes, or you are no better off than me.

[Indian Summer]

That's me with my ears Swede. Many a guy has said to me hit the dirt didn't you hear that. It's really hard for me to judge the distance of something I hear. If I do heat it that means it's probably close. Too close! I really have to use my eyes when I'm on the move.

That said I do love a tree stand in September. I just know too many guys who kill bulls from them every year not to give them credit. They don't have the be the main plan but there are tons of times when you're back to camp earlier than expected, beat up and need a breather etc when a tree stand is a way to add some high quality time out hunting. That's never the case in gun season obviously but during archery it's inevitable that you'll have windows of opportunity where a well placed stand can be the ticket.

Maybe the question is do you want to perform the work involved in getting it there and setting up. Usually work is the best way to help kill elk so it's probably a good investment if you have the spot. Another way of going the extra mile to try to be in the 10% who kill elk.