calling elk and the wind

[patdel]

Let's say I'm doing a little cold calling, or even calling to a bull
I heard or saw. If he comes, can I expect him to show up
Down wind of the spot he heard those calls? Solo this year.
Thinking about calling then immediately moving down wind 40 yards or so.
Wondering if this makes sense to you guys.

[WapitiTalk1]

Pat, yes. Whether cold calling or working an already vocal bull, your on the right track. Calling and then moving downwind and off to one side to position yourself at a good angle for a shot is the right play. A 40 yard re-position may be a bit too far if you're working in relatively brushy terrain. Even a farther move may be warranted if in more open terrain. Check out potential shooting lanes, try to visualize natural obstacles that may guide bullwinkles path, and remember to set up in front/not behind cover/concealment.

[Swede]

Elk will usually try to get your wind if they can. I try to select cold call points where it is more difficult for them If they go down wind they must expose themselves before they see or smell me. Clearings, meadows, bluffs, even roads and such can be used to your advantage. If you can call and draw a bull over a ridge it can work to your advantage. Where I hunt there is a rock rim along the sides of a wide ridge that keeps elk from coming in from behind or down wind. I use it to my advantage quite often. As RJ just mentioned moving downwind to reposition yourself can help.

[JohnFitzgerald]

Elk will always try to wind you, but rarely have I experienced them going out of the way to check. Example, their nose will be up and checking and possibly pacing or hesitating. But rarely have I seen them swing out and circle around down wind. The thing to remember is that during cold call setups, elk can come in from any direction. When I cold call elk in, they usually always surprise me in the direction they come from.

[elkmtngear]

Elk will always try to wind you, but rarely have I experienced them going out of the way to check. Example, their nose will be up and checking and possibly pacing or hesitating. But rarely have I seen them swing out and circle around down wind.

My experiences are contrary to this, I have witnessed it many times over the years, both when decoying and calling. Larger/ older bulls seem warier, and more apt to use wind as a confirmation in my experience. I always keep that in mind on a setup. Just my 2 cents.

[Swede]

To be fair, I am not sure if the elk coming in from downwind is just coincidence or if it is by design. It does happen. Since there is a good chance they will come in from downwind if you are not set up in the right area, then it is easy to move away from your calling location to help ensure you are not detected. I normally do this as a matter of routine, so when an elk comes, it will not immediately spot me. By being off a ways, I can draw my bow and shoot without being detected. There are two advantages to not staying right where you have done your cold calling.

[Toby]

Are elk as sensitive to your ground scent as Whitetails are. I have seen a lot of Whitetails turn tail when they cut my boot tracks.

[stringunner]

As far as ground scent is concerned, I'm not sure. I have seen elk walk right over my tracks and never give it a second look, and yet this past year I had a bull walk into the stand I was sitting in on opening morning just 15 minutes after being on the ground getting my stuff put together before I climbed up the tree, this bull walked to within 10 yards of my tree and then turned and ran off. I know he didn't scent me in the moment as my scent was traveling up the hill and he came in from below but I think he scented the area I was staging my stuff in.