A Few questions

[mandrroofing]

Hey guys/gals!
This comeing season will be a little different from the prevous 4 season.First,at this point im not planning on any of my hunting buddyies joinning me on this years elk hunt.
S00o my family I decided to all go out to Colorado this year together (wife and 3 kids- 11,7 and 5 years old).The plan is to go about 10-12 days early or so and for us all to go and explore the area together.fish hike camp and what ever elce and have a great time (there first time out west! ) My Wife said we arent going unless i hunt, so of course im cool with that! (I thnk she likes Elk in the freezer lol) so i plan on haveing about 12 days or so to hunt solo.we will have a camper by the way.Ive never been out there PRE season and i was hoping to work this to my advantage. # 1 would it be a good idea to set a few cams ? maybe by water holes, saddles and heavy trails? #2 I was also thinking of sneaking out and Using my Thermal scope and trying to spot anaimals. Is this legal ? #Any other preseason scouting tips would be great.Thanks guys/gals in advance

[ElkNut1]

Archery hunt?

ElkNut1

[mandrroofing]

Yes sir always [WINKING FACE]

[Swede]

I would set up trail cameras. Where you place them depends on how you plan to hunt. I would be reviewing Google Earth and topographic maps before that. If you can walk in to the Ranger Station or talk with someone in the field, you might get some more useful information.

[mandrroofing]

Thanks swade.i hunted here last season and killed my first elk,cow. I know the area fairly well but certainly not great I have areas in mind where there are secluded wallows / watering holes. I also have my Lone Wolf and sticks treestand available if needed to sit these areas that are being hit by elk especially if it's hot.last year i did not hear any elk untill the second week of sep.i saw elk every day last year and it was the first time i have hunted the first 2 weeks of the season. Usually I hunt the third week of archery until the season ends for archery. Back to the discussion I should be prepared to either cover a lot of ground or hang a tree stand if the cameras tell me elk her hitting a watering hole regularly or a saddle I definitely have no problem setting up a stand

[Swede]

I think I would have my tree stand where your trail cameras, and evidence on the ground show significant use. Depending on what is revealed on the cameras, I would plan on hunting evenings in the Lone Wolf. Just don't hunt and call any time or anywhere near your stand. Just slip in quietly and leave the area undisturbed the rest of the time.

[mandrroofing]

Where are areas that you guys set up trail cameras with the areas I mentioned above good areas for early archery?

[Russel Reed]

Maybe I'm reading this wrong , but!!!!! You are going out 10-12 days early before season? You plan to hunt 12 days? Does this mean you will be taking you three kids out of school for approximently 24 days? What am I missing here??????

[mandrroofing]

Haha my kids home school,thats what ypur missing

[ElkNut1]

Your top priority is Finding Elk! Some of the best & quickest ways are to locate elk through bugling 1 hour to 1-1/2 hour before daylight, find areas during the daytime where you can utilize night calling off roads where areas look good or sound will carry afar! You could drive one mile or 20 miles, doesn't matter, keep going until you locate them. Once elk are located or respond back, quit bugling to them, you can now grab your gear & head their way while still dark. Get as close as possible without alerting them, watch the wind direction, you do not want your scent going to the elk! It's tough to say exactly what to do next as situations can vary, either slip in silent with no calling if possible as soon as it gets light or prepare to setup & call them your way with a low volume low intensity breeding sequence.

Another way to locate elk is getting to elevated areas where you can see a fair distance & sit & Glass with 10X42 optics. Many glassing areas can be had right next to a road, dirt or paved, while other areas are best found through hiking to such areas. Do not be committed to only using trail systems as entrance points, actually I rarely use them because of all the hunter activity on them. Instead I like focusing on areas most hunters would not stop to park at & start their hunt. I prefer to rambo through country void of roads or trails towards destination areas I have pre-marked out on my topo maps such as parks, basins, draws with water in them etc. If hiking trails are found with little to no use then they can be considered as entrance points & you can branch off of them as you attempt to locate elk or head to one of your pre-determined spots on your map. Do not feel you have to be 3+ miles deep to find hunt-able elk, it's not the case! It's not uncommon to find elk to hunt inside a mile from roads in many areas.

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Many wonder if they should Call or Bugle for elk as they rambo through the woods. I prefer bugling with a location bugle one to three times every 1/2 mile or so, sometimes more often if the country is thick & sound isn't traveling far or if it's very windy. I do this to find elk before they see or hear me. It's best when near Sept 10th or later as the rut starts to pick up. If a response is received or I'm in fresh elk sign such as droppings or urination I'll look the area over & find a good setup spot where I can now go through a Breeding Sequence. If setting up on a vocal bull I will try to get within 150 yards & setup. This is a mixture of cow & bull sounds along with light stomping , rustling brush, branches & light raking to heavy raking. The level of intensity to this method can fluctuate, start lightly as if a small group is entering the area then slowly escalate your chosen sounds as they gather. On your setup do your best to have enough cover & the wind in your favor, pick areas where incoming elk cannot see where calling is coming from because of obstruction, this can reduce elk hanging up. This puts them in search mode & will generally come to your bowrange, in most cases they come in silent so slow down calling every minute or so & watch & listen intently for them slipping in. You never know what will show up? It could be cows, spikes raghorns & an occasional herd bull, it can be exciting & fun nonetheless!

Note, this sequence can also be used on elk that you've glassed up or bugled back to your bugles & you can get over to them before they leave the area in the security of the timber. You want them in the timber so you can do a proper setup. Try to get ahead of them so they are already heading somewhat in your direction, your calling can cause curiosity in them since they are herd animals & come over to check you out! This sequence is best utilized once elk are in the cover not out in the open.

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As you Glass, Call/Bugle & burn boot leather during your hunts you'll stumble on to waterholes, wallows, freshly used trails, bedding & feeding areas, escape routes, places you didn't think elk would be, etc. Take note of these areas as it's things as this that will lead you to becoming familiar with your area & where elk may be found year after year. On return trips you now have areas to consider for a Treestand or ground blind in these newly found gems, these are very effective ways to hunt elk that are using the area! A trail camera in place on a few of these spots during your hunt can help to see if elk are using them right then & at what times! It's an education & a process that will lead towards your success at becoming a more complete elk hunter who knows his surroundings well! I like pulling out my 7.5 minute Topo Map & marking these various areas & spots of interest, in time you will get a pattern & an appreciation where elk are & why they are there. Having these topo marked maps for refreshing your mind during Summer prep for following years can prove invaluable.

ElkNut1

[Mike_Parson]

Great advice from a great guy!!! thank you ElkNut from all us still newbies out here.

[CurlyTail]

In my area, the Elk seek out areas with lush grasses for feeding areas, then bed on adjacent wooded slopes. I also would check out any area that has burned in the last 15 years or so. Check for rubs indicating Elk rutting in that particular area in past years. Elk also seem to like Aspen groves. Find some Aspens off the beaten path to check for sign. Get off established trails and look for fresh sign. Sometimes overcoming an obstacle close to the vehicle such as a stream/river crossing, a steep uphill scramble, or such will put you into Elk surprisingly close to the road. Consider parking your vehicle in a small pull off, rather than at an established trailhead.