What do you guys think?

[82ndreddevil]

So my archery elk hunt starts on the 15th of September, looks like its going to be a full moon. Instead of starting out low and working my way up to the high ground I am thinking this time I am just going to be on top of the ridges by sun up. I know there are some that are against hunting bedding areas but if I find a vacant bedding area early in the morning should I just sit and wait to see what shows up? If you guys found a vacant bedding area real early in the morning how long would you sit and wait to see if anything returns? Thanks guys.

[Mike_Parson]

im a very newbie at hunting elk but ill give you my thoughts.

I might consider your tactic if the thermals and prevailing wind wont hurt my chances of anything coming up from the bottom to the bedding area. maybe sitting on a trail crossing or saddle that leads to a bedding area would be in order. i wouldnt want my scent blowing a good thing thats for sure.

I do think in the right situation, your ideas are sound and i just might even use them myself this year once i get out there.

[WapitiTalk1]

Whenever possible, I like hunting uphill in the AM to assist with keeping the thermals in my favor but that is not usually possible where I hunt. I'll start high, locate a vocal bull (or bulls) and then game plan to move below them while the thermals are still moving steadily down. This may take more than an hour or longer to make happen. At any rate, don't worry about the full moon, that usually just equates to the elk feeding like heck all night and perhaps tucking in a bit earlier in the morning (not always the case though, pressure dependent). Many, I would even guess the majority of elk harvested during the vocal rut, are taken very near their bedding areas so if you hear anybody say "I don't hunt near bedding areas in September", they are probably mistaken. Unless you kill an elk right at daylight or right before dark, they are probably moving to/from or very near their bedding areas. So, is sitting a bedding area a good plan? It's probably not a bad plan if you can get there before the elk do in the morning . Bear in mind that even un pressured elk will not always hit the exact same bedding area each morning. If you can locate a well used transition route between feed and bed, or, a water point/wallow near the bedding area, that may be a better option that actually sitting the physical bedding area. Elk are on high alert as they approach a bedding area, and, are on super high alert once they arrive as they are on guard duty against predators from all directions. Just a few thoughts. Best of luck whatever you decide!

[Wyo67]

I'm with Phantom. We cannot hunt the bottom of the mountain we hunt (private), so we walk the top, and send out locator bugles until we get a response and come up with a game plan to get close while trying to avoid the thermals from there. That's our plan regardless of moon phase. Hopefully you know the area well enough by either boots on the ground or at least a good session on Google Earth to find potential bedding/feeding areas. If you find a bedding area that reeks of elk and have not had any luck getting the elk to respond, I'd position myself between there and feed/water source. Keep checking the wind. They will.... Good luck!

[BRazz]

I have a similar-ish predicament in one of my day-hunt spots. I hike clear up to treeline, expecting the elk to be near that elevation at first light (feeding). If I don't hear anything or have any better options, I continue up to treeline and glass, usually getting there around first light. It makes things tricky if I see or hear one from there since I'm now above and upwind. But I don't really have any better options, since getting up and glassing is so valuable - especially early in the season.

If you're going on the 15th+ hopefully you'll be able to rely more on bugling than glassing, so it may not be an issue for you once you start hiking and hear some elk to chase well before you get up on top (fingers crossed).

[82ndreddevil]

Thanks for the info guys, all good considerations for me to take. Phantom, I guess that is one thing I should have asked. Do elk return to the same bedding areas, and I see what your saying on how they may not. I do have a ton of water holes within the area, the only issue is that the closest water hole is a mile away. So I am not sure if that will be a good spot to sit at midday or even in the evening considering that they may not get there till after dark. Now this ridge is a mile away from the nearest water but its only about a 400 foot difference in elevation. This area has a lot of very gradual peaks and hills which makes glassing hard with the tall pines. If the elk are not vocal then they will be hard to locate. I have this area memorized by Google earth. I have not had as much boots on ground there as I would like this year since I just had a baby recently. Thanks again for the info guys.