Top 10 Most Common Mistakes in the Elkwoods?

[Trophyhill]

So as you see it, give us a few mistakes to avoid. I know the topic has come up a gazillion times over the years but wanted to bring it back to the forefront.

I'll start with your bow. Don't be "that guy" who waits until a week before the season and decide its time to site your bow in. Any number of things could potentially need attention that may need more than a day to get corrected. Especially if something needs ordered or you rely on a bow shop to do your work. Most shops are slammed this time of year. Next?

[Lefty]

Only thinking/planning about the elk season in August and September

[welka]

Good starter post Trophy. Always a good subject at this time of the year. My reminder is that you always need to remember that on a cold calling sequence, bulls know where the caller is within a foot of reality. Especially important if hunting with a partner and the caller needs to turn into the shooter. In that scenario, the caller MUST remember to move towards the elk if at all possible and not stay at his original spot. Been there, done that, and it never ends up good if you don't move from original calling spot.

[WapitiTalk1]

Forgetting ample TP for the day's adventure

Good thread David. I would say not being aggressive enough is a very common mistake. "Most" bulls will not come running in to calling (although it's happened more than a few times in my adventures). Once you've gotten an answer or hear one bugle unsolicited, use the terrain/cover/wind and get close, determine what's going on and react accordingly to the situation as it is unfolding.

[elk.addict]

I've mentioned this several time, and it's a bit of a no-brainer, but pick a spot to setup where you have some flexibility! I watched a friend of mine make this mistake several times by setting up behind a bushy tree. Elk rarely cooperate by coming in to your calls in the direction in which you expect (at least for me). Always pick a spot where you can move quickly and shoot from multiple directions.

[Trophyhill]

I've mentioned this several time, and it's a bit of a no-brainer, but pick a spot to setup where you have some flexibility! I watched a friend of mine make this mistake several times by setting up behind a bushy tree. Elk rarely cooperate by coming in to your calls in the direction in which you expect (at least for me). Always pick a spot where you can move quickly and shoot from multiple directions.

10-4 on that! I'll never forget my very first encounter. It just so happened to be a herd bull I called in with of all things a hoochie mama. So I think I have a perfect set up with a wide elk trail in front of me and open shooting lanes on all sides accept behind me. I fully expect this bull to come waltzing down the elk trail. This bull circles in from behind me thru the thickest stuff on the mountain. Needless to say, even though I went back to camp with a great memory, this encounter is the one that got me hooked for life. I came off the mountain shaking like a leaf lol. He came in from the spot I expected least.

[chipick]

My buddy and I are still learning and trying to be more patent with calling setups, and this year we have learned to start getting in shape early. Funny you mention last minute bow work, one of our buddy's bought a new bow, release, sight, rest, and arrows. The whole setup, a week before opening day, because he told a coworker that he would sell his current bow setup he had 6 months prior.

[Swede]

The mistake I see most often, is quitting too soon. If you have a full week to hunt, give it all you have. Always stay as long as you reasonably can. You may need to make adjustments to your hunt, but going home is not going to satisfy you for the next year. Several times I have killed elk very late in the season. Several times I have killed elk right after everyone else left camp and returned home.

[elk.addict]

The mistake I see most often, is quitting too soon. If you have a full week to hunt, give it all you have. Always stay as long as you reasonably can. You may need to make adjustments to your hunt, but going home is not going to satisfy you for the next year. Several times I have killed elk very late in the season. Several times I have killed elk right after everyone else left camp and returned home.

This past season on the last day of my vacation, I was on my way out of the backcountry, headed for the truck. Right before it got dark (and was only about 20 minutes away from truck) I let out 1 final bugle. I had a bull respond and quickly came in following a short cow calling sequence. Got him packed out, went home and took a nap, and made it back to work for the evening shift. Talk about gettin' lucky!

[Indian Summer]

In line with Swede's post: I have a saying I've repeated to clients over the years. It goes like this: I know that on day one you are positive you're going to kill a 6 point bull. I know that on day 7 you're pretty damn sure you aren't going to kill anything. But the fact is that the elk don't know... or care, if it's the first day of your hunt or the last. So even though it's natural for your confidence to go downhill.. you would serve yourself well to hunt every day as if it were day 1!

The other thing, since I'm always looking at the big picture is this: You're only human. So don't tell yourself you are going to hunt like a machine for 7 or 10 days straight. Then in the middle of the hunt when your body says you can't do this boy... get down on yourself because you needed a break. Instead plan for it. Maybe a day to sleep in and regroup. Don't actually pick out a day in advance but just play it by ear. Tell yourself and your partner that at some point you can plan on a day where you'll do your mind and body a favor and give them something other than just food and water. Enjoy it when the time comes. And then get back to giving it hell.

[Fridaythe13th]

Tell your hunting buddy to bring more than 2 pairs of socks for a 10 day hunt. Man did his feet stink for 21 hours on the way home.
It seem like every year I have a crabby day. (out of shape, tired, hungry, what ever it is) I just need to let it go, after all I'm not at work.
Not learning from mistakes, and doing all over again time after time.

[elkaholic]

Great post!

Mine would be to test all of your calls before going into the field. Pretty funny and frustrating when getting set up and the caller sets up pulling a brand new reed out. Then finds out the reed wasn't stretched right or for whatever reason he can't make it work while making some very unelkish sounds..

[otcWill]

IMO the number one reason for lack of success is failure to pick a good spot or failure to leave a decent one in order to find a good one.

Once in the woods, poor setup, taking the wind for granted, lack of determination/perseverance are probably the biggest reasons for tag soup.

If you do your homework, call local businesses, pm every guy who's opinion you respect, call biologists, scour maps in the off season, and plan accordingly, you'll end up in a good spot. This coupled with wanting it bad enough is a recipe for regular success.

[twinkieman]

I could probably think of more than ten, but here's a couple, one from me that I have made repeatedly, another that I think applies to others, who I have hunted with.
#1 Leaving a cold calling setup too soon.... Patience is not my strong suit, I hope I will be able to overcome this in the upcoming season.

#2 Do not pass up a slam dunk shot on the first day on a small bull, you would give your left testicle for on the last day. I've seen this countless times, including last season. Someone I had not elk hunted with before, arrived in camp on our 3rd day. I took him out in the late afternoon, called in two bulls, a decent 5 point he wasn't ready for, and 10 minutes after that encounter a spike to within 10 yds. The spike hung around for a good two minutes, perfectly broadside, and was seen coming in. Needless to say, he went home without punching his tag.

[Trophyhill]

I think a huge mistake made by new elk hunters is "looking a gift horse in the mouth". In other words, if you haven't killed an elk yet, and a cow or a raghorn suddenly appears broadside at 30 yards, kill it!

A guy I know from A/T (slickstalker) once told me that killing is a process. Get that experience. Whether a cow, raghorn or whatever but learn how to kill, quarter and pack. Don't be picky because eventually you will have an opportunity at a nice bull. I took that advice and though I've blown my share of opportunities on big bulls, I've managed to kill some great tasting cows after blowing those opportunities. Part of that is because I never give up.....ever. believe me when I tell you that when you are cooking a cow elk steak in February and your hunting buddies are stewing tag soup because they passed on a cow, you will be smiling from ear to ear.

[Huntrgathr]

. Oops

[Wapiti]

Be Patient on cold calling set ups ! If no elk have shown after 30 minutes wait another 30 and if still nothing wait longer !!! If you call they WILL come !

Another biggie is be HONEST with yourself. If you have never shot an elk then take any you call in no matter the size. If you have shot elk but want a bigger rack then you must put forth the effort and scout for the bigger bulls. The big bulls are there but you must find them before the season to give yourself time to hunt them properly. Don't get me wrong we are always scouting as we hunt but at that time we are hunting average bulls for the freezer !!

Believe me guys I have shot my fair share of small bulls and just because I have a call company does not mean I shoot huge bulls every year because I simply do not !! Be Honest with yourself and good things will happen.

Trav

[Wapiti]

Oops sorry I made a new post but it came up on this thread sorry guys I deleted it and will repost it as a new topic again...

Sorry guys

Trav

[Elkduds]

Travis, suggest you post this fitness question as its own thread. It will be easier to find, you'll get more responses. I've put on some # this winter that have to go! My excuse has been that bad weather kept me off the walking/hiking trails. Just that, an EXCUSE. I am reducing serving size, backing off sweets. My exercise partner is my dog, so that doesn't get me to the gym. I think a workout partner is essential. As for motivation/state of mind, daily I remind myself it took work to put this weight on, I'd rather do the kind of work today that takes it off.

[Trophyhill]

Travis hit on a huge mistake made by many. And that is guys heading to the rockies and being out of shape. Believe me, the elkwoods are no place to find out you are not in shape!

[Ironman]

I'm just learning about Elk hunting I don't have a lot of experience with this critter. But I have been a serious bow hunter for many years.
A few mistakes I have seen and done are. As said above, be in good shape don't book a Doll sheep hunt if you the only exercise you do is walk to your truck.
check and recheck and recheck your gear, Bows, rifles scope, clothing, camp gear, lisc.and tags. thing get bumped and damaged all the time, pack gear for a worst case scenario. weather man/woman are rarely right. and always bring more food then you think you need, all that hiking you will burn two or three time the calories.

For example I set up a hunt in Alaska for Moose and Brown Bear(archery). This trip was planed for almost two years I had all my ducks in a row. Bow sited in with 650gr. arrow I had been shooting for almost a year. everything was good to go. then I checked my gear and equipment again.

It was time for the hunt, all my gear was packed neatly and safely for the plane ride to Alaska I check my Bow and Handgun with TSA and everything went fine. My gear bag went on the belt as baggage. All was fine.

Then at the hotel In Anchorage I decided to look things over one more time, come to find out that TSA had opened my gear bag, and taken my waterproof matches. If I hadn't looked I would have been dropped of in the middle of nowhere in Alaska for a week with on Matches.

[Brendan]

The mistake I see most often, is quitting too soon. If you have a full week to hunt, give it all you have. Always stay as long as you reasonably can. You may need to make adjustments to your hunt, but going home is not going to satisfy you for the next year. Several times I have killed elk very late in the season. Several times I have killed elk right after everyone else left camp and returned home.

This. I was ready to quit and start the drive home at the end of 10 days. Convinced myself to go out for 2 hours on the 11th morning before hiking down and starting the drive east. Called in and killed my bull with an hour to go after not seeing or hearing anything for the prior 3-4 days...

Also - my calling was great sitting in my living room or in my car listening to the Elknut CD's, but it was a lot harder in the field and my cow calling left a lot to be desired. Break in multiple reeds, and practice when you're out of breath or out for a hike with your pack.

And - if you're driving down very dusty USFS roads - make sure you close all the windows in the back of the truck.... I'm still cleaning out that damn dust...

[CurlyTail]

I have screwed up several encounters by getting to hasty. I would finally find the elk, and think that I had to take action right this moment or maybe never find them again . Sometimes it is better to sit back and observe their daily pattern - learn where they are bedding, what route they take to the bedding area, what time they are getting up in the evening, and use that information to be in the right spot at the right time the next day. Elk are habitual, and will repeat the same daily activities unless disturbed and pushed out of a valley. Learn to back out if conditions or the set up is not ideal. Just locating the elk is huge progress for your days work.

[TRDHUNTER]

Lots of great advice so far. I want to expand on what Indiansummer was saying about resting,regrouping or whatever you need. I have tried to just push through without taking a break and made lots of mistakes. When I was frustrated,tired,whatever, I would forget the wind, forget to walk quietly thinking there were no animals around,etc and thats when I would find the animals as they leave the area.

So what im saying is keep your head in the game and if you find yourself making dumb mistakes, bad attitude, tired, etc do what you need to refresh so when your hunting, your all in and can give it your all.

Oh and have fun, if you start getting frustrated, remember this is better than work and we wait all year for whole hunt, which includes the good,bad,difficult,heartache, thrill, pain and joy.

[Gselkhunter]

There is a huge difference between being in the woods and being part of the woods. Learn the difference and you will progress. Everything elk do is done for a reason but they don't think like you. So stop thinking like you.

[Trophyhill]

How bout talking when you should be stalking?

[mandrroofing]

I would say also not giving up after you either miss a bull/cow or shoot an elk and not recover the bull.This happened to me last year,Called in a bull,made the shot and in the end could not recover him.I was mentally dead and it was hard not give up.Things can go through your mind like"that was probably my only chance and i blew it".Do not get mental low to the point that you basically stop hunting.You wait all year for this time!never give up, Do not let the elk woods beat you!

[Elkduds]

It isn't giving up if you consider your tag filled when you lose a wounded animal. Several posts here RE spending the rest of the season, and even after, following up on a wounding shot.

[mandrroofing]

.

[bald9eagle]

Great thread for noobs.

Maybe this is best place for it....maybe not. I tend to pace myself so as not to wear out before the end of turkey season. On a 7-10 day hunt...would you say pacing yourself is a good idea?

Does this make sense....there is always a turkey on the next ridge or in the next hollow so I push myself to that next spot at times just knowing he 'might' be there. On an elk hunt do you say..."There's a bull in that next draw" or do you ease back and save that draw for the next day?

[foxvalley]

Great thread for noobs.

Maybe this is best place for it....maybe not. I tend to pace myself so as not to wear out before the end of turkey season. On a 7-10 day hunt...would you say pacing yourself is a good idea?

Does this make sense....there is always a turkey on the next ridge or in the next hollow so I push myself to that next spot at times just knowing he 'might' be there. On an elk hunt do you say..."There's a bull in that next draw" or do you ease back and save that draw for the next day?

This is a good question......I would say yes...and no. If you have 7-10 days to elk hunt,I think the most important thing to do is find the elk,or find fresh sign.Run and gun,cover ground,and find em,then,when you do find em, slow way down,pace yourself as you hunt the general erea,and the elk should be somewhere close by.If the elk are not presured,they should stay on there feeding/bedding routine,and a good place to be.