Hunting Silent Elk

[307]

I'm new here and new to elk hunting.

I spent the weekend in Wyoming chasing completely silent elk. I did manage to call one 4x4 in to about 20 yards (behind a tree) before he became wary and left. Hindsight being 20/20, I should have had my decoy set up in order to give him a visual.

When elk are silent, and you are hunting in timber, how do you find the elk? I found fresh, a few rubs, couple of wallows that I believe to be active. Glassing is fairly challenging as you really can't see very far at all. By the time you can see them, you're already pretty close to bow range. I tried some location bugles and nothing. Cow calling was successful 1x but I am concerned that I may have "educated" this drainage with my cow calls and now they'll know it's not really an elk next weekend (maybe I'm giving them too much credit).

Also, when they are quiet, and you have NO idea of where they might be coming from, is there any way to be strategic about your set up position?

The experience of calling in the bull was thrilling. Thanks to Elknut! (bought a bunch of the info earlier this summer). I was mostly amazed that it actually worked and an actual elk came in to my calls.

I also learned that calling in my truck or in the house where there's no pressure is a completely different experience than when you're under pressure in the field.

Thanks to all who contribute here. It's invaluable for a newbie like myself.

[ctdad]

Your dilemma is what I've struggled with as well. For me, I have found that I must find fresh sign first, then cold call. You can guess where the elk are located and set up accordingly but they will still try coming in down wind. Some will call and then move to get to the down wind side of where the calling comes from. Having a caller and shooter is another popular method. If the elk you are hunting aren't talking much, try calling but call less and wait longer for them to show.

[BRazz]

I have found elk to be quiet early season almost without fail. I rely on finding areas where elk sign is fresh (as ctdad said), and try to avoid calling too much. If you managed to call in one bull then you're doing something right - so keep at it!

I wouldn't worry about "educating" the entire drainage. If your calls are realistic enough you still have a good shot of calling in elk - even the bull that you already called in. And as the rut picks up you should be able to switch up your calling techniques a bit and introducing some more aggressive sounds.

[MountainmanZ]

D,
In my experience with silent elk, many times I simply keep my head on a swivel. However, at times you can use the terrain to your advantage to decrease the likelihood of having one sneak up behind you. Setting up with your back to a ledge, thick downfall, or a wide open meadow can cause them to take a different path and filter around for a more favorable approach angle. Depending on the time of day, calling near established trails or intersections could be another option. Last season I had two bulls come in following the same path I used, so never count that out either.

[wawhitey]

I've been hound dogging my small elusive population of local elk for a few years now. Nobody hunts these guys yet I've never heard a peep out of them. That is until I stuck a poorly placed arrow in one and cow called to it. After I did that it snuck behind me and we had a long back and forth conversation up the mountain. I think if they're silent it just means you haven't given them good enough motivation to speak up maybe? He'll what do I know? But I was shocked how vocal this "silent" bull got under the right circumstance. God I just hope the loggers down below didn't hear it or I may not have this area to myself next year.

[zpd307]

the elk in Idaho were also silent this year. same as Colorado. I had numerous encounters with elk 50 yards and closer and still didn't hear anything. I knew they were there by seeing patches of fur and hearing there hooves hit down falls as they walked over them. I feel weird calling knowing that they aren't talking themselves.....