Residents

[Swede]

I have talked about elk I refer to as residents a few times, but it has been awhile. As a tree stand hunter I see some things other may not have opportunity to notice. I look at small areas and trails that funnel elk to spots where I plan to place a stand.
As I recon an area, sometimes I have noticed trails where one bull has been going in and out from a bedding area on a daily or near daily basis. The evidence that shows one bull is going in ant out are the rubs and single size tracks. I have found these bulls and set up and killed them. This situation is not near as common as bedding areas that get used by one or two herds for an extended periods. Still it happens.
Also lone cows may hang around one small basin for weeks. I always remember one average cow that stayed too long. I shot her midweek near the end of archery season.
I have found all of these resident elk by scouting water holes, or going in frequently to my tree stand. The cow I mentioned here could be seen on numerous occasions. It is interesting that I bumped her several times going to my stand, but she never went far or left the area. It is also interesting that she was never with any other elk and did not respond in the slightest way to any call.
Has anyone else ever noticed this peculiarity? What do you folks think causes these critters to become lone bachelors or spinsters? Why don't they leave even after having human contacts on different occasions? To be fair; I have no reason to think the bull I just mentioned ever knew we were set up and waiting for him.

[Roosiebull]

I have seen the same, and the elk I hunt, I have heard the same...Roosevelts are home bodies...Sometimes true, sometimes not even close. Looking back, there was a season a small group of elk never left a drainage, and the herd bull was a stud...only animal we ever named, we called him the triangle bull, he lived in a valley between 2 small drainages, that area was triangle shaped..had I known then what I do now....

He was a typical big roosey, only had about 6 cows, and didn't talk much...last time I saw him was one of his vocal mornings, called him up, but he outsmarted me, and I ended up busting them out...next day, got back on them, but killed a big bear....lost track of him for good, but didn't keep tabs on his drainage...dumb.

[Tigger]

I think you might be killing someone's pet elk!

[saddlesore]

The two areas I hunt contain predominately small resident elk herds,I think it is because they are a family unit.