What are the Don'ts of Elkhunting? :)

[Trophyhill]

For the new guys.....do you have a list of "Elk don't do's" logged away?

And for the rest, what have you learned "not to do"?

[Wyo67]

Forget the wind... just hunt.

Check the wind religiously and always have a spare wind check bottle stored away in your backpack in case yours runs empty.

[Swede]

Your whole hunt can change in an instant. Never get discouraged and never give up. I have killed deer and elk when I wondered what am I doing here. I have killed elk after being told it is no use staying, or going back out for one more hunt.

[westaner]

Do not !

Sleep in/ set alarm for pm instead of AM
Forget your release/ tag/ food water/tp/flashlight
Give up on bad blood trail
Give up if you bumped a herd , likely one animal saw you and the herd bull probably thinks your a rag horn stealing a cow . I Always go to level 3

Forget to have back up hunting areas
Think you can get away with movement when bull is close
Think that the bull has spotted you just because he's standing and looking past you
Set up calling for partners if you can see them, move back
Lots of Don'ts but most importantly
Don't take just anybody to your honey hole !!

[Indian Summer]

Don't miss!

OK... don't try to be in camp before or shortly after dark. Even if you don't kill something in that last hour you can learn (hear & see) a lot so you have a better plan for the next day. So many hunters, especially those new to an area, work their way back to camp... which means away from the elk, too early.

[Lefty]

Dont take a job that requires you to work in September

[easeup]

Don't head up to your chosen elk state to hunt with unrealistic expectations like you will see elk behind every other tree.

Don't just select any friend to be your elk hunting partner.
There will surely be malfunctions, bad luck, tough weather and more than your share of hard work. might want to get to know your partner really well before you hunt with him in the Rockies. otherwise they might go home early on you to care for a pet rabbit.

[OS hunter]

OK... don't try to be in camp before or shortly after dark. Even if you don't kill something in that last hour you can learn (hear & see) a lot so you have a better plan for the next day. So many hunters, especially those new to an area, work their way back to camp... which means away from the elk, too early.

I did this last season and it was one of those things that's been eating at me all off season. This year I'm not making that mistake again. They make headlamps for a reason.

[otcWill]

After calling a bull in for an "almost" and watching him get squirrely and trot off, DON'T ASSUME HE LEFT! I've reset and "recalled" more than a couple after they came in once and left.

If ya want the herd bull, toss the cow calls.

[elkaholic]

Do Not!
Rely heavily on your rangefinder. My downfall from last year. When the bull committed I wasn't able to range him and had to do a guesstimation. I guest wrong.

Disregard the wind, EVER. Even if you are as scent free as possible. They will most likely smell you.

Give up. A bad hunt can turn successful at any moment.

Leave camp without emergency supplies: firestarter, first aidkit, extra batteries, food, extra water.

[jmez]

Don't hunt them like whitetails.
If you can see them move in quickly for a shot, keeping them in sight if at all possible
Cover ground until you either hear them, smell them or see them

[one_elk]

Don’t ignore your optics, you carry them so use them. You can cover a lot more ground, more effectively, even in the timber, using your optics than you ever will just hiking and hoping.

[patdel]

Dont waste any time relocating if a sheepherder moves into your drainage.

[Csrbowhunter]

Never talk to loud in the woods no matter if you think there are elk around or not! I've taken a lot of new elk hunters out with me that talk loud as soon as we stop for lunch or to catch our breath and scare away elk! THAT DRIVES NUTS