Smelling elk?

[Z Barebow]

When you smell elk, (and they are not there), how long does the smell linger?

I suspect the areas where I could smell them, the elk peed in the area. These were high country open meadows with springs/creeks.

[elkmtngear]

Seems to me it's more "acrid" when it's fresh. I've definitely smelled where they had been feeding the night before when moving through parks in the morning, but it's not as overpowering as walking into a "bedroom" with elk right there, or with droppings that are still warm and steaming.

I don't think it's that strong after a full day; detectable, but not strong.

[Bullnuts]

Most of the time when you smell elk you are actually smelling that urine odor of a rutting bull. If the bull pees all over its bed and/or rolls around in the grass, the odor can stick around for a couple days, sometimes longer. I've revisited night beds that absolutely reeked of urine for several days in a row - the scent does seem to dissipate eventually but it'll generally stay pretty strong until you get some weather in that washes it away.

[Buglemaster]

It does linger, but every time I smell em, I still stop & give a couple cow calls. It can pay off in the long run...

[Indian Summer]

Yes it can sure linger. I have a great nose. I can pick up the slightest scents in the air so even old elk isn't hard to smell. Makes up for not being able to hear a little. Like Bullnuts said weather is obviously a factor in how long it will last. But I'll say this... if you're downwind of a herd, or even 1 lone bull it can hit you like a brick wall. I've sniffed them out and immediately got on them many times when I had been heading the other way. Bulls always smell. Last week they were reeking pretty good. But no doubt they downright stink during the rut when they're rolling in it and peeing on their bellies etc.

I know a guy who says elk meat is the worst thing he ever ate. One squirt of bull pee on our steak or burger and I'm sure we'd all agree with him which is what I'd guess happened. A good reason to take your time and never let hide touch meat.

[>>>---WW---->]

Don't know how true it is, but I was told many years ago that when elk get buggered, they urinate when they take off. This makes since because most predators use their nose. The strong scent the elk leaves can fool the predator long enough for the elk to get a good head start.

I'm like Buglemaster! When I get a good whiff of elk smell I freeze in my tracks, take a good look around, and then proceed very slowly just in case one might still be hanging around.

But to answer your question about how long the smell lingers, well I suppose that all depends on how sensitive your sniffer is. LOL!

[FemoralArchery]

Along with weather, sunlight also destroys scent. One weekend of following hound dogs and you will understand.

In a dark, cool, protected area, the scent can stay a while. In open sunny areas, I don't think it will stick around long.

[Trophyhill]

if i'm smelling them I start looking immediately. I don't know if what i'm smelling is a day old or 3 days old until I start seeing sign. often times I've bumped elk too when the elk were looking at me up close and personal as I was smelling the barnyard. advantage elk

[mandrroofing]

Describe what elk smell like?

[Indian Summer]

I think the most comparable smell is cattle. There have been times where I wasn't quite sure which one it was.

The HS Strut scent wafers etc smell NOTHING like real elk. Never could figure those folks out!

Once you smell them it will be forever ingrained in your memory. Unmistakable and when fresh, very strong and musky.

[Trophyhill]

Describe what elk smell like?

an elk barnyard. you'll know it when you smell it cuz you'll be in elk country;)

[Lefty]

The last rifle bull I smelled his bedroom before I saw him, A old rutting bull, I went back 6 days later the place still stunk and he was the only elk bedding there.

Ive follwed pronghorns in heavy still fog for nearly a mile, ideal smelling conditions

Ive also followed herds that I think most peoples noses would have missed I was minutes to 30 minutes behind the herd of over 50. An hours time the odor was long gone
Conditions have a lot to do with "smelling" game. If you get a chance hunt a few times with a houndsman,.. you will learn more about smells and tracks than most hunters will everknow

[Bullnuts]

I think the most comparable smell is cattle. There have been times where I wasn't quite sure which one it was.

.
Definitely but I think that elk have a muskier odor to them. It's not like the odor you get when you pass a stockyard, but more like the smell of cattle that have been on the open range for a while.

[8seconds]

Certainly a distinctive aroma: musky, acidic, and overwhelming.

Over the years I've encountered this unique smell numerous times. A profile smell; no mistake as to who it belongs too. I've located down elk in heavy brush by smelling first then locating the body; i've stalked and walked where elk have urinated which I rubbed on my boots; and i've smelled their exit from areas i was stalking. I don't know the exact coorelation to strenght of smell to time lapse, but i can tell you this: if it is heavy, it is recent.

I would coorelate their smell to the javelina: rank and unmistakeable.

[Lefty]

[quote="Bullnuts"Definitely but I think that elk have a muskier odor to them. It's not like the odor you get when you pass a stockyard, but more like the smell of cattle that have been on the open range for a while.[/quote]
Most definitely musky,. A rutting bull to me smalls like rank beaver castor
If your new to the game dont confuse it with coyote and fox scent posts, or pee locations

[BFlatlander]

I had no experience prior to last year, but it was unmistakable when I smelled elk for the first time. My first impression was that it smelled somewhat like rotting alfalfa.

[BRazz]

I'll just add that there is an unmistakable difference between lingering elk scent and *fresh* elk scent. In my experience, if it's the latter, the elk are very very close by.

I've been blessed (cursed?) with a large sniffer and I'm often the only one in the group smelling elk - that usually means it's faint or old. But there are times when the scent hits you like a brick wall (as somebody put it), you freeze in your tracks, adrenaline flows into your bloodstream, your heartrate doubles instantaneously, your eyes go wide and your ears perk up - that's the fresh stuff... I'd approximate that over half the time I have that experience I see an elk shortly after.

I get the willies thinking about it now. Only 3 months to go!

[Waygoner]

Like IndianSummer, my nose is better than my ears. To me elk scent is similar to a cow, only sweeter.

[Swede]

I have observed elk scent lingering for 5-6 days around some of the water holes I set stands at. I have only found that strong smell there after a herd came in and not just one or two elk. Sure it is the urine that stays and causes the smell. You can pick up the dirt and check it.

[husky390]

Describe what elk smell like?

To me, a musky house cat piss.

[Swede]

In my opinion the smell of elk and cattle are very similar.

[Gypsumreaper]

I can't explain it but I like it, it's always been a smell that made me feel at home. I love being in the woods and smelling elk, and I have a good sense of smell as well I smell it way before anyone else in the group. So usually if everyone else smells it I know were close

[patdel]

This thread confuses me. I'm by no means an expert, I've never managed to kill an elk. I've been close to a few though, and I never smelled a damn thing. I've been right next to some muddy wallows and never smelled anything. I've been around cattle my whole life and I've never noticed them having a particular smell either. A feedlot smells, but it ain't the cows. I'm tempted to think I'm underequipped in the nose department. Odd, when you consider how big it is. Also I can smell beaver castor and mink musk, and I actually like those smells. Gonna have to actually get one on the ground this year and see for myself.

[Gypsumreaper]

Kill a bull an bury ur nose right into the dark patch on his bellow, this will learn ya of the scent of elk lol good luck in the hunt on e you do smell it you will never forget it

[Gypsumreaper]

Meant belly not bellow sorry haha

[Solitude]

Patdel
I think your nose is letting you down boss.........kinda like my eyes in the partial color blind department. When you are close (shooting distance) and the breeze is cooperating you should be able to smell them in my experience.