How should I hunt this specific spot?

[SquidHC]

At work so I can't post a map for now but here is the deal.

Hunting in Oregon's Coastal Range on private property backed up to National Forest. There is a creek bed running east/west on 1.5 miles of private land. The creek bed is nearly flat. A logging road with a fair bit of car traffic parallels the creek to the south, with about 80 yards from creek to road. The creek is about 20 yards below the road, with very thick cover in between. South of the road is a steep hill that goes up to about 800 feet and is covered in heavy mature timber. North of the creek is roughly the same, but has some very nice open areas and is much flatter. There is so much elk sign in these flats it looks like an interstate highway. At the one mile mark on the road there is a large draw north of the creek that is North/South. I believe this to be the bedding area for the herd. In the highway area there is two very active wallows, easily a dozen flats with significant rubs on the ground, and several fresh scrapes on small trees.

Last weekend I saw a small group of cows that had a spike with them. Two years ago I shot at a nice 5x6 in this exact area but missed. I know it isn't the spike making this mess, and am wondering if it might be the same bull. His hoove prints are softball sized, so I know it is BIG! We here bugling all night, coming from the western half of the creek mainly, but it seems they travel from the berry field west of the creek and head east into that draw.

I am hunting with my dad, who has zero calling experience. I am just learning calling this year, so my confidence is low.

How would you hunt this elk? There is a lot of hunting pressure up high, but we are the only people who hunt this creek and we didn't hunt it last year.

Thanks!

[Lefty]

I had a friend on the coastal range he sat on trails in a tree stand and always killed an elk first or second day

[SquidHC]

Yeah, I have considered the tree stand option. I have one, but was worried about setting it up this late in the game. What are the risks of scaring em off in the set-up process?

[ElkNut1]

Definitely sounds like a great spot for a treestand! Don't worry about calling when you have the elk already living in the area. Find a spot where you have favorable wind as the elk use these trails (super highway) from feeding to bedding or where they lead to the wallows/water source. Set your stand up around 10 am as they should be out of the area & not hear you doing so, keep noises down especially the human voice to an absolute minimum. Don't worry about your scent when you hang the stand it will dissipate in 30 minutes or so. When going to & from your stand location stay off the actual trails, walk off to the sides or enter from another safe direction. Do not allow the wind to head towards where the elk may smell you at anytime entering or leaving.

ElkNut1

[SquidHC]

Thanks. I will try the tree stand. You said they won't be there at 10am. What would you say the optimal hunting times to be in the stand would be? I usually put my stand at about 12-15 feet for deer. Is that height okay for elk?