what would you do

[Viking]

Hi there.
I live in corner of bc that is literally a narrow valley with a river in the middle and forestry roads on either side. The forest is dark and thick with limited galssing and being in the rocky mountains, the weather is unpredictable. It has a high density of grizzly bears and wolves and also cougars(second one i called in this morning this week). On top of this it has a huge local hunter population supplemented with hunters from far and wide. Needless to say i have never so much as had a bull bugle back at me. I resort to still hunting and hiking many miles a day. Ive had my chances but still dont have anything i would consider a go to plan for action. The elk are for the most part silent and unresponsive...for the reasons listed. I exaust myself every year and end up eating deer meat haha. How would YOU hunt this type of area?

[redtop]

Since you are already exhausting yourself you might as well find a spot that is just to exhausting for everyone else to get to. There's got to be a pocket somewhere that the elk think is safe. Look for a bench in the timber on google earth maybe?

[Viking]

That's what I do already, which is how I've had the encounters so far. Most have been too close, like where weve bumped into each other too close in the thick brush and they spooked or been just out of reach where I could not count 6 points fast enough (point restriction in my neck of the woods too). Basically is there anyone with similar habitat that figures I should keep on keeping on and hike all day or maybe my calling sucks and im telling them to move on or just wait in one spot all day? Its very frustrating for me For instance I spotted a bull a few nights ago..went there before dawn heard him bugle went after him and cow called a few times...he shut up and would not speak again...tried a bugle and nothing. Tried to find him and nothing. Havn't seen him since.

[Indian Summer]

I have a suggestion. It sounds like at least there are elk in the area. you are just looking for the right tactic. Thick. Non vocal elk. I think instead of trying to get close to the elk you need to let them get close to you. Sounds like a place to try hanging some tree stands for sure.

[Viking]

Yes exactly, I am searching for the best method of hunting them for sure. Treestand hunting is not something I have ever tried. For rocky moutnain Elk would you consider along a trail, on the edge of a christmas treed opening or chain of openings that consists of one side a straight out clearcut with miscellanous trees and bushes over my head mixed with devils claw leading to the bedding area ringed with a 25 yard u shaped tree ring or the adjacent higher wallow in a clearcut that looks like a staircase above a very dense, thick forest with an avalanche chute on the right side. Both in the forest and chute i have seen many grizzlys. I have seen elk in the past in all 3 areas but blew a chance on a bull when i was busted by a cow in between the bedding area and staircase last year. And would you still consider calling from the treestand or stay silent?

[Indian Summer]

My first suggestion would be to get your hands on Swede's book Treestand Hunting for Rocky Mountain Elk. Really good and easy to read.

Things like wallows and rubs are in my opinion long shots. I like travel routes with a few special features. Obviously catching them on their way to feed or bed is what you're looking for. But I like either bottlenecks where cover gets narrow forcing them into your shooting zone. Or better yet some land feature that really gives them no choice. Like above or below a cliff or some other impassable thing. Those kind of places are where several travel routes come together increasing the odds that they will pass by at close enough range.

The other thing about stand hunting is you are up high giving you better shot opportunities where cover is thick, or anywhere for that matter. Plus you see them before they see you, if they ever do, and shot opportunities are usually pretty good quality shots. You can let animals pass by you to get the best possible shot angle. It's just a really good way to seal the deal anywhere but in your case maybe the only way. I might add that with the griz around I think I'd feel a lot safe than stomping through thick cover. Can you hunt those grizzer bears up there?

Have you ever considered coming down to our neck of the woods to hunt a little? I love BC. Maybe we could do a swap hunt. I'll let you hunt elk and you can let those bears hunt me!

[elkmtngear]

Jim,
Hunted a population of elk that, although there was some vocal activity, it was primarily silent due to hunting pressure.

I primarily opted to sit some old existing tree stands in the evenings on my 7 day hunt...mainly for scent control (to get my scent up over them). I hunted well used routes from bedding areas to feeding areas...the trails were heavily rutted. I ended up getting two different shot opportunities from the same treestand, which says a lot about location.

Here's my 2014 story, there is a lot of info about my methods here. http://elkmtngear.com/blog/the-good-the-bad-and-the-lucky.html

I was inspired by Swede's book that Joe mentions (I have them on sale on my website).

[Viking]

@ Indian Summer
That is some good advice right there. I maybe am being to impulsive and needlessly killing myself chasing after them. I will have to invest some time on some treestands. I actually never knew Pennsylvania had elk there... I always pictured rolling grassy farmland haha. If I hunted in the States it would probably be in Oregon or California (bleh i know ; ) where my wifes from..although if the cost is anything like here for you guys I would have to pass lol.

@ Elkmtngear

That was a good story! It seems like I will have to pick up that book as well. I like the slip system as an actual umbrella..I could have used that a few times already haha. Good shot btw .

Thanks guys

[Indian Summer]

Rolling farmlands... that is funny. That's more like Ohio. Pa is known for it's mountains. I guess I should be more clear... drawing a Pa elk tag would be like winning the Powerball lottery. I meant Montana or Wyoming.

I'm impressed by your interest in elk when there are so many options in BC. I have a friend in Smithers. Never know what picture he's going to send me. Moose, Stone Sheep, Caribou. Makes me drool. Funny thing is him and another friend Shawn Raymond who owns Coal River Outfitters, are still batting zero on elk.

Here's Dave and his best friend Ketza from Smithers. One of my all time favorite pics. I think I could get over an unpunched elk tag if I could run up and have days like this! I always say if I had to pick one place to live it would be upper BC.

[Viking]

haha I was thinking about the amish parts...I looked at some pics of the other land...its beautiful..like vermont..picturesque in the fall. Although to be fair im used to these as mountains...this ones literally in my backyard

british-columbia-canada-mountains-a4131871d19337b4591cdc3f85130440.jpeg (75.91 KiB) Viewed 4034 times

I love hunting rocky mountain elk just for the fact that its hard. Im bloody stubborn and i usually take an animal and hunt it till I feel confidant to be consistant. i also think elk tastes the best, even better than whitetail. Blacktail deer were the hardest to hunt till now haha. Ive made tons of mistakes, especially comparing them to rosies which Im familar with. My family lived off moose and are not much of a challenge to me but i wont turn down a roast Black bears and grouse are about the easiest thing to hunt for me...except for here, where the grizzlys and wolves have damn near eaten them all(bbs). Goats are not hard to come by and never had a chance to go for caribou yet. Whenever im proficient at elk and have a strategy that works every year then ill move on to sheep. Only had it a couple times and it was really good.

Honestly I hate failing and I just need to solidify the game plan. I didnt have a lot of time this year to prepare but for next year if I eat my tag this year, I will be ready. Need a new hunting parter too...i keep burning them out lol. I would love to hunt idaho or montana seems very cheap in comparison to what we charge americans...like 6500 and up for an elk

PS nice wallhanger there.

[Duck-Slayer]

Elk are Elk, doesn't matter where you are, I used too think that elk are different from area too area, but there not, they need too eat, sleep, drink, and mate..... they might not be as vocal from one area too the next, but at some point they will bugle and come too calls, even in heavily hunted area's, I hunt an area just like that, and i'm 4 for for, my wife is 2 for 2 with the rifle, I hunt during the week alot, that helps, Tues.-Fri. morning seem too be great, but they don't bugle much if at all when the 4 wheelers start driving all the roads..... I would suggest being in the area of the elk, keep the wind in your face and do some really light cow talk with maybe some low grunts in the area's the elk frequent, you will most likely have the elk come too you, the treestand deal is an option as well, make sure and setup where the elk have too come into a semi clear spot, I hunt alot of really think brush and I pick the spots that have had snow slides, there are usually lightly brushed areas on either side of the slide and I setup close too those spots, the elk come too the little less thick spots too see if they can spot movement..... good luck...
Matt

[Viking]

Ya thats pretty much what ive been trying this year and its been my worst for action so far. Ive had my chances over the last couple years and ive been foiled mostly because of my stubborn blacktail hunting ways. Basically i get way to close without knowing where they are in the thick brush till.its too late. Ive actually never had anything come in to any call at all. But seeing all the predators that came to my calling i can see why they stay silent. Its also 6pt or better here so even though i could have a semi full of 5 pts after the years..nothings helped me with the big old boys here. I think the treestand and light calling may be the ticket. Thanks.

[Viking]

Well I glassed some elk and mae it up the mountain to them and actually called in a couple bulls a 5x5(antlers still prettty much white...weird) and a small not sure if it was legal barely 6. I took Ducks suggestion(thanks!) and got up high and just did soft cow calls. The 2 bulls let out the wussiest single note 2 second bugles one after the other lol. The 5 then came right down and the possible six was in and out of the near vertical steep brush. It was pretty sweet. The 5 when he saw me didnt run..just sauntered when i tried some estrus calls...and made what sounded like a cow call mixed with a bark...but didnt leave really weird haha. All in all a good learning experience, even though my binos were fogging up in the rain...so kleer vuing them now .