What does a guy do?

[2011bullyelk]

So I have been hiking hard and deep for 6 days all over the entire unit I have a tag for. I have not seen a single elk yet, what am I doing wrong? Has anyone had this problem? I've tried being silent, tried locators, tried cow calls...... Nothing. I have seen some HUGE bucks though. Anyone have any advice? I am getting pretty discouraged right now....

[Eldonvieira]

Shoot a buck

[Lefty]

Enjoy the hunt

I had been scouting my area hard all of August,.. hmm, I think I spent 13 days where I hunt. one bull, otherwise not much else. Opening Monday; nothing
Friday nothing, Saturday, while I didn't see an elk I found lots of good sign
Oh and I moved over 20 miles away

[Indian Summer]

Not seeing one is no big surprise. Did you come across any fresh or semi fresh sign?

[ElkNut1]

Jim, it sounds like you are in more deer country than you are elk country? We do see an occasional deer in elk country but very few, the elk are generally the dominant feature. Find elk country now & your luck will change! Calling is your best friend in locating elk as the rut gets closer!

ElkNut1

[mjblowers]

What unit are you in, Jim?

[ElkNut1]

Jim, it's nearly impossible to hunt an entire unit or one tenth of it in 6 days? I find that statement interesting! We are hunting the McCall Zone, how about you?

ElkNut1

[2011bullyelk]

No I have definitely not hunted the entire unit, what I was trying to portray was that I have been trying different areas that are a long way apart, on opposite side of the unit from each other . I wish I were in good enough shape to cover that much country I am hunting the smokey/Bennett zone and focusing on unit 48 in that zone. I did find a giant shed today, and actually found a promising lead. Heard a bugle from what sounded like a mature bull. Never got eyes on him, but I think I may have found his bedroom, or one of them at least, it's gonna be hard to get to without being detected. Thanks Paul for the insight on the deer vs. elk country, I honestly thought they shared the same general habitats? Perhaps I should be looking in different areas? I'm still a novice for sure so all this insight will help! Thanks guys!

[2011bullyelk]

This is the shed I found while "taking my bow for a walk". not a lot of fun to carry but worth it now!

[wawhitey]

My advice is to tell me exactly when and where you saw the huge bucks. Especially if they're whitetails

[foxvalley]

Have you seen any elk sign??? Find the fresh elk sign and start there. FYI, slow down.

[Ghost]

Sounds like your getting close, Id hunt that area where you heard the bugle, glassing from afar if possible till I pinpointed that bull, and then I would come up with a game plant to go after him!

[2011bullyelk]

Thanks for the tips guys! I actually changed up a little of what I was doing. I started hunting with my father and his buddy, before I knew it we were in elk every day. My dad's buddy sealed the deal on a cow last Saturday at about 30 yards. Sunday we were in between 4 bulls, unfortunately they had never heard of Paul and the stuff he has available. The big bull was telling the cows to come over and they/we stayed still and was bugling back to him. He was interested for a little bit, but once we didn't commit to getting to him, he bailed out. Lesson learned, however it was an awesome weekend and I can't wait to get back out there!

[Rizzy]

Glad your luck changed!
In general if your finding sheds your in more of a winter/transitional range. Get up higher in elevation to more of the summer range if the Bulls you found don't pan out.

[zpd307]

Glad your luck changed!
In general if your finding sheds your in more of a winter/transitional range. Get up higher in elevation to more of the summer range if the Bulls you found don't pan out.

ron, you are right. I keep my eyes peeled for sheds and then I realize I wont find any. because I am into elk now, not where they will be during the winter. so I keep my eyes peeled for a skeleton....