mid-day tactic

[WYO_ELK]

so, this year instead of just going back to camp, or laying by a tree during mid day, I want to do some still hunting through some areas I think hold bedded elk. if I get into the thick of things and haven't heard, seen, or smelled anything, should I try a cow mew or rip a bugle to try and get a response?

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[saddlesore]

Most advice is to do what the elk are doing.If they are quiet , you are the same.I haven't heard any bugles during mid day for many years. Chances are you will blow them out of the area and not even know they were there.

Mid day, wind is pretty swirling too.

Best to use the time for a nap to get refreshed or setup in a known elk path.

[WYO_ELK]

I should also stated that I'll be hunting from the 19-25, so they should be in full rut, and this will be my only week to hunt, I won't waste it by napping.

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[Backyard]

I think you answered your own question there. After all what are you saving it for? Next year?
Just do it!

[WYO_ELK]

I am wondering if I should use a bugle or cow call try try and locate one of these bedded Bulls. let's say I have still hunted and got within 75-100 yards, without knowing he is there, if I let out a loud bugle am I going to spook him? or should I try some softer cow calling. these would be cold calling situations.

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[Ryan Conkle]

I would be cautious of hunting through the bedding areas', as you may bump the elk out of the area. If you believe that elk are located in the bedding area, I would stay on the outside fringes' of the bedding area and would do some advertising bugles' and some raking, if a bedded bull is located close by, there is a good chance that he may leave his bed and come by to check out who this intruder is.

[Elkhunttoo]

A good ol wallow for the middle of the day and evening hunt works really good ...my trail cams have taken a lot of pis at wallows/water for 1pm on through the evening

[Charina]

It is my understanding (mostly borne of reading, but corroborated by observations the last three years) that elk often get up mid afternoon to feed a bit. It only takes them a few hours to chew through their cud, and staying in bed all day would be wasted opportunity while calories are readily available and critical to surviving the pending winter. I prefer that most people think they stay bedded all day, and therefore go back to camp to nap. All the less pressure in the woods for me to take advantage of.

I have observed bedding areas I can work, and those I can't. Either wind, or the amount of downfall, or moist/dry conditions will dictate if I try some super slow still hunting through there, or sit outside and try to pique curiosity with a few (very sparing) cow chirps - so that when the bull does get up to stretch his legs, he is likely to wander over to lay eyes on the stranger cow(s). The conditions dictate if I stay silent, or am vocal. So I would say "yes you should", and "no you shouldn't" depending on the specifics of what you are dealing with. There is no reason you can't try both in a single day, every day, and see what the elk in your area and timing are interested in.

I haven't hunted that week of September in 21 years, so my experience is limited. But I do recall one particular bugling match with a bull at mid-day back then on the three-day hunt. If the bulls are riled up, I have a hard time believing they wouldn't respond to a bugle encroaching in on their comfort zone. Two years ago, about 11 am first week of Oct, I did get a response to a bugle about 400 yards away, and about an hour later I was watching from 50 yards as the cows fed from and then out of their bedding area, and the bull bugled repeatedly (it was a spike-only hunt, so I had to let this big boy walk). It certainly can work.

[WapitiTalk1]

There's a lot of folks that say "never" hunt bedding areas. Well, if statistics we're available in a written format, one would soon find out that many bulls are actually killed in or very close to their bedding area(s) each and every year. Elk predominately feed from right before dark to a bit after daylight and are then transitioning to their ultimate day time bedding areas. When we hear an early morning bugle or other elk chatter, they are oftentimes on their way to the bedroom. What do we normally do? Dog the herd if we're close enough (or just move towards them, using their sounds as a beacon, minding the thermals/wind) in the classic fashion, then get as close as possible, and as the situation dictates, try to get a shot (either by the use of calling or ambush). All this said, working into an actual bedded herd mid day has its challenges to say the least. The elk are on full alert in their "secure" area and have chosen that location for a good reason. If you know where the bedding area is, that's one thing and if you choose to hunt it... you have options (sit a nearby wallow, watering spot, feeding area, sit a transition area to one of these close areas, or just sit off of the herd where you have the wind and some shooting lanes to try and pick off the bull when he makes his rounds). Elk don't actually all just rack out in their bedding area for the day but are on full alert for possible predators/danger which makes it challenging to say the least to get in close. Calling when you're in close? Depends on if you've dogged/beaconed in on the herd early/mid morning, or, are working in on an actual bedded group. For a bedded bunch, I think Elknut has mentioned that glunking has worked well for his team in the past. If you're just still hunting an area that "may" hold bedded elk, I'd recommend much, much more listening than anything to locate them. Oftentimes, a bull will stand up, throw out a wimpy bugle (some call it a lazy bugle), and make his rounds (head count) to check his cows for signs of estrus. I've seen a bull stand, do a lap, bed, stand, do a lap, bed many times during mid day. The cows will chatter a bit also while bedded but normally not much (I think they're engrossed with watching the mid day soaps). Regardless of the tactic of the day to get close to bedded elk, one must watch the wind very closely and if its not cooperating with your endeavors, don't try to approach the herd and get outa there right away so as not to send the herd over the next ridge or two.

[Gypsumreaper]

I like to find bedding areas and sit between them and water, I have watched a lot of Bulls use the mid day lull to make a quick trip to the water and back as he knows most other Bulls are doing the same minding their own cows. He's usually up all night moving his cows checking his cows and minding his cows he doesn't get as much feeding and water as the cows do. If I'm waiting and do hear a bugle this is my time to get ready and start making a game plan. He may be coming to water checking his cows and if I am close enough I will wait a bit to see if he is gonna come wandering towards water and if he doesn't that's when I may throw out a couple soft mews or lost cow calls just to see if just maybe he will want to pick up a loner cow. If he bugles back at my mews I know he's interested and will either come at him as if he called me to him or wait it out an see if he will come to me. Depending on his bugle, or sometimes they have done some glunking and that's when I move in on him as he doesn't want to draw to much attention but wants me to come to him. This is when I move in closer set up the decoy when I'm just far enough away that I'm not gonna spook them but close enough for him to come over. I have seen times a bugle will get a rise out of a bull other times he moves out. So can't so do bugle can't say don't bugle. Every situation is different. I'm the same as most guys I don't like sitting in camp at lunch there's less pressure during this time and I may or may not get a shot but I have better chances in the woods than at camp


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