Elk Hunting mid day.... A question by a rookie

[NebrCatMan]

Ok guys. I admit I am a rookie when it comes to elk hunting. Have chased them a few times in Wyoming and Colorado with a bow. Came close but could not close the deal. I probably never will have the knowledge most have on here, but I still have the urge to head to them Rocky Mountains and just enjoy a hunt... and the scenery!!!. Also elk camp with my buddies. That is really a great rewarding experience. My question is since we are going to hunt the first week in Colorado I am pretty sure the elk won't really be into the rut thing or even pre rut ( ??). I just want to ask if it does any good setting all day over a trail or water hole. Do the elk move mid day? Or should I just sit or still hunt early and then late in the day. We'll be on public land so I would think just sitting on a trail could be productive as some other hunters could bump some bedded elk and move them around. Any comments would sure be appreciated. Thanks!

[Swede]

If you are out hunting and are prepared, you have a chance. Sitting in camp, and yucking it up with the guys may be fun, but it won't help you bag an elk. Yes, elk move in the mid day. I would set up, down wind near a bedding area. A water hole may get hit at any time. If you have a trail to wait near, stay alert. A tree stand is a good option.
A trick I like to use is to get in a good location near a bedding area, and rake a small tree and make a few small bull (2 note, 1-2 second) sounds. Quickly move away from where you called and wait. Have your waiting location preplanned. You can go back and call/rake every 15-20 minutes. You never know when something curious will appear to check out that little bull. Remember watch the wind and have a good place to wait.
Good Luck

[Lefty]

I enjoy hunting. Some days a I take a short nap,... some days a longer nap. I hunted 4 Friday evenings and 4 Saturdays, 1 Monday: I hunt through out the day I just dont push hard and sort of rest up for the evening hunting.
first Saturday, 12:30 I called in a spike (21 yards)and a big bull ( 70 yards ), 1:30 a cow trotted past under 25 yards
2nd Saturday after my nap,,..1:30a 6x6 walked past at 70 yards I think he walked up from behind me , winded me? then slipped off
3rd Saturday starting about 2:00 after a nap and sitting on a trail for a couple hours I was in a herd for 30 minutes had a cow at 8 yards the bull ran off with the cows
4th Saturday Only had early am action, nothing in the afternoon


Yes I continue hunting

[twinkieman]

Close to what Swede said, if you are in the woods, you have a chance. Only I do advertising bugles for a setup, watching, listening, and bugling. It doesn't always work, but sometimes bulls will sneak in trying to get a look at the new kid on the block. I don't have the patience that Swede has, so I still resort to calling as opposed to waiting. I will wait up till 30 minutes after a cold calling setup. The other thing I have done is to go to wallows, bugle , rake , splash the water with a big stick, and then sit back and wait. I've had little bulls come in , and one monster, that I had let my guard down, and blowing, what would have been a great shot opportunity, and I ended learning from it instead

[WapitiTalk1]

NebrCatMan, the first/second week in SEP is certainly a significant part of the elk rut. It is at this time herding up action begins in earnest! Many elk are taken during the first week in SEP as the bulls are moving to and from cow locations looking to establish/gather a harem. Although there are not that many cows coming into estrus early in SEP, some are (and the bulls testosterone level is rising) which causes the early stages of the rut to occur. An advertising sequence (see Elknut's DVD) or even just cold calling can reap rewards. Dependent on the terrain, sitting a waterhole, a trail intersection, a cross over saddle, or even an active wallow can certainly produce (and as Swede mentioned, tree standing can work well). Bear in mind that mid day is bed time for the majority of the elk, so, you'll want to find locations to sit (if you choose to do so) closer to bedding areas. Continue to glass and listen during mid day as those bulls who have established a small herd will periodically get up to do a "head count". They'll stand and oftentimes physically walk the circumference of their group and ensure nobody is tardy, and, they'll smell the air and ground for signs of one of their gals coming into estrus. These bulls will also sound off on occasion. Elk will move to nearby water spots on occasion from their bedding areas (particularly during arid weather), or, swing over to an active wallow to splash around a bit and whizz in the water. If elk are bumped/spooked from their bedding area(s) or get a solid whiff of hunter stench, they oftentimes will move post haste to the next draw over or the draw after that. Once they're spooked, there isn't a lot a person can do to slow them down. So yes, elk can be taken mid day. It doesn't occur as often as elk taken in the early morning or late evening, but, it is a possibility. Good luck this fall!

[saddlesore]

I have taken quite a few elk mid day. Bulls generally will get up move a little bit, whiz and then bed back down. Sometimes I find them in lodge pole pine stands just standing around, not bedded. Usually mid day they are not as wary, it seems to me. I have done a lot of thick timber stalking and have been able to walk up on elk during the day.
Except for recently I did all my elk hunting still hunting thru the timber. Health and bad joints now keep me sitting more than walking

[NebrCatMan]

Just back from Colorado. I hunted all day the first 3 days of archery season. First day I sat all day and had a bear come to within 20 or 25 yds behind me around noon. He was pulling bark off of fallen logs and overturning logs and downed pieces of wood. I think he was looking for grubs or bugs. But the second day I sat all day and saw elk moving right at noon or a little later. The 3rd day I sat all day and right around 12:30 mid-day I had a spike come out where the elk had come out of the timber the prior day. Then a big cow came out..... then 3 more cows came out. I was thinking about waiting to see if a respectable bull would show but one of those cows came to within 8 yards of me where I sat on the ground next to a tree. I was locked on her with my crossbow ( have a Colorado disability waiver) and when she stopped broadside @ 8 yards I was scared she would sense or see me and bolt...... taking all the other elk with her. I released my bolt and after a short trail job I had my first elk with a crossbow. I learned first hand the benefit of still hunting or just setting and waiting ALL DAY, especially mid day!!

[Ryan Conkle]

Awesome...Congratulations' NebrCatMan! I too take advantage of the mid-day hunting hours' and am happy to see that it paid dividends for you!

[Elkhunttoo]

Congrats.... I always say it just takes the patience of a trail camera

[WapitiTalk1]

Nicely done sir. Patience is your middle name!