Hunting a new area, Advice needed

[TJH24]

Hey guys,

My buddy and I will be hunting a new area this upcoming year and I would love to hear thoughts and opinions. For the past few seasons, we have hunted NW Montana. The terrain there is pretty thick. We would rely most on location bugles and calling. You could easily be within 100 yards of a herd and never see them. We did very little glassing. This season we will be hunting in SW Montana, around the Dillon area.

From what I have heard from a few very experienced hunters, calling usually does not work, and most of the hunting is done by glassing a ton of country and putting a stalk on them. This area is much more open and we will be able to glass a lot. How would you approach this type of hunt?

Thanks
Tim

[Wapiti]

I would employ both tactics together. You hear time and time again that calling doesn't work !! If you say the right things at the right time calling does work. Like I always say to you guys try to think outside the box and don't just follow what everyone else is doing.

Have you ever tried cow calling to locate elk or smashing a tree with a branch ? Have you ever done a Lip bawl and got an answer when nothing else has worked ? Maybe just sit out all night and listen the elk will tell you things !! Try 3-4 chuckles instead of a location bugle...........Elk have a lot of meanings in their language and when one thing doesn't work try another.

Try that for starters. All I can say is think like an elk and not as a hunter and you will have success. I'm not great at glassing as I need to be moving or I'm bored but there is a time and a place to sit and watch and listen. You'll know when you get out there ! Trust me.

Trav

[elk.addict]

I live/hunt SW MT. 80% of my bulls were called in. I do a little spot and stalk too, but it's fairly timbered where I hunt. I'd use both techniques depending on the area and how the elk are behaving.

[elkstalker]

I used to live in Dillon, there is a lot of pressure in most areas, however, calling can still be very effective. Like Wapiti said use both tactics, locate elk by glassing when in open country, and don't be afraid to throw out a locator bugle every once and a while. Also, call at night to locate elk. Get out there and off the beaten path and you will do fine. Good luck!

[Lefty]

Always reconsider information anyone gives you. ( outsdide of this forum; of course )
Ive rifle hunted SE of Dillion years back and have ATVed the area a few times this year.
Find the tough stuff the cowboy/ horseman wont be in