What type of landscape do you prefer hunting?

[elkhuntfever]

Viewing pictures that successful hunters have posted, I see some are in the dark timber/aspen and others are in the wide open field. What is your preference when you hunt? Personally I have hunted dark timber only and interested in feedback from the other side.

[Elkhunttoo]

I personally don't care to much as long as elk are in the area. But since my wife started hunting with me she prefers hunting in the timber, because of allergies in the sage brush.

[ElkNut1]

I enjoy open country sage brush & dark timber, both have their challenges. Less calling in open country & more calling in dark timber. Most of our bulls are called in the dark timber. I love calling so prefer a mixture of open terrain skirted by dark timber elk will bed in.

ElkNut1

[Swede]

I have hunted semi-arid open timber for years. It offers me the advantage of hunting over water holes in an area where water is somewhat limited. Going with RJ and company this year, will be totally different, but I have tried wetter areas too. You just have to plan and set up differently.

[Lefty]

As long as Im hunting

[cohunter]

It's hard to beat the classic elk country with open parks and dark timber. That said, I now spend most of my time in what most would consider marginal elk country... because that's where I see elk. Somebody's tagline is, "elk are where you find them" and that's about right. Still though, this has me thinking about spending one of my weekends outside my normal area in the alpine parks.

[dhoey]

Not many options in NE Washington

[twinkieman]

A mix of bot, but anywhere there are elk!

[Indian Summer]

Interesting that elkhunttoo mentioned the reason for his wife's choice is because of allergies. There is no question that physical characteristics or limitations can have a bearing on one's choice. To me there is nothing better than calling in bugling bulls. But my hearing is shot. I mean really bad. An elk has to bump into my broadhead before I can hear him bugle.

So my strengths are my eyes and legs. Even with no limitations nothing beats seeing elk before they see you. So I prefer semi open stuff. I know places where that doesn't help much because elk aren't in the open during the light of day much. But I hunt places where they spend tons of time feeding and even bedding in the open. I can make a plan, cover a bunch of ground fast, and know when to slow down. Since I've started hunting semi open cover even if I had my hearing back I'd stick with it. Spotting elk and then stalking them for a shot is a really high percentage tactic. Getting a bead on where they are going and ambushing them has been an extremely effective tactic for me too. Go with the flow ya know. For comparison if you wanted a shot at me you'd be better of waiting near the refrigerator than to try to call me downstairs to the washing machine.

Semi open baby!!!

[Beendare]

I prefer not to hunt this- grin

There is a bull bugling in there!

blowdown in Weiminuche800pix.jpg (192.67 KiB) Viewed 4567 times

And I prefer not hunting the wide open high sage draws that are typical of eastern Idaho and SW Montana. The elk are using those more and more for security; separation from Wolves. Sure you see more elk...he sent me a selfie with a herd od 200 off in the distance.....but they are harder to call. My buddy that likes taking very long shots loves that stuff...different strokes.