Elk Hunting Top Ten Tips
TOP TEN ELK HUNTING TIPS
1. SCOUT SCOUT SCOUT
All the tricks and tips in the world won't help unless you have a game plan and some bulls picked out for your season. There is no worse feeling to be at your truck at noon and can't figure out your next step.
We've all had that wasting time feeling and it can be prevented with enough scouting. Scouting can be done all year long, especially if your going after park bulls. You don't need to see the big boys to know that they will be there, you just have to learn the surrounding herds and what they are used to doing.
2. LEARN THE ELKS ESCAPE METHODS
You can't always assume the wind is going to stay the same, especially in september on those warm days with the east and west wind fighting eachother. Elk that are used to the same area, and in September they stay pretty close to that area untill they are pushed hard. There is always that brushy timber patch or swamp or the dreaded 8ft reprod patches that they go to for cover.
These are usually the same places they go to bed during the day. I know many herds and exaclty where they would run in the moring if i were to even go in and intentionaly jump them, i also know how to get in the back side of it to ambush. This is something that takes years of watching and hunting the same elk to learn, and be patient, it can't be done overnight.
3. PREPARATION MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY
Nothing will cut your hunt shorter than not being in shape physically and letting the elk woods intimidate you. We've all been there, you bump the elk and you see them heading up two ridges over.
So you either spend half the day trying to drive around and hope you can get close(and sometimes you can), to make it easier but if you are convident that a little stamina and shortened breath really won't kill you, then by all means stay on the tracks, and as for mentally, don't be scared to think you won't find your way back or feel like you are lost.
4. EQUIMPMENT
That brings us to proper equimpment, don't be silly and get yourself lost and put your self in danger. I can't stress enough the importance of the GPS. I use the delorme waterproof GPS and i've tested it in every situation and it has never let me down, even in the dense old growth.
It will make chasing elk a whole lot easier when you know that you will be able to come out of the woods, because not all elk live around road systems. Spend the money on good boots, good clothes, and light gear like packs. Us as elk hunters think about out 2 week season and if it truly what you love to do, then spend the money on it. People dump thousands into racecars or boats because it is their hobby, and if hunting is your hobby, buy the best..
Good optics will make you want to spend more time using them, and when elk are rutting, most of the big bulls will spend time away from the herd in the midday and bed down, unless it is the peak of the rut, and even then they still have you on their mind a little.
5. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS
Don't sit there and be scared to make a move, trust your insticts, and if you have the chance to move 5 feet closer, then by all means make those 5 steps, and don't think the elk might jerk up and see you. Too many times i see people just sit there scared to death because they are finally on the elk and now they don't want to risk anything to spook them.
If they can't smell you, they will let you in the circle. You can let one see you and if you can take all the big bites as you have the stare down, you can fool them, and one more thing, none of the elk believe anyting a spike has to say so you can almost ignore them. Once again, IF YOU CAN MOVE...MOVE!!!!!
6. DON'T LOOSE TRACK OF THE WIND.
A wild animals nose is the only thing they fully trust. Elk have great hearing and great eye sight and granted if enough of them hear or see you, they will run, but not very far. I get made fun of by my buddies because they say i abuse my wind checker but better safe than sorry and each one is only 5 bucks. (and only use the primos brand) better spray and they last longer.
If the wind switches and heads towards the elk, RUN. Even if they see you running it is still better than them knowing what the heck you are for sure, and if they hear it, they dont know any different from a bear running or another elk.
Don't sit there and keep walking into your favorite spot if the wind is blowing where you expect them, find another spot for the day or know how to come in with the wind in your face, some of my best honey bucket holes has the most swirly wind and most the time i can't hunt them untill the rain comes and wind stays steady. Don't cross your fingers and go, it won't work and you'll only make them smarter and ready for you when you can get it that special spot.
7. KNOW THE NONO'S
My last sentence is the number one nono. Don't just shove in there with a hope and a prayer, be smart about it. Another nono is stalking on a bedded herd, I've done it, i've been succusfull at it but the odd's are against you.
When they are bedded they aren't laying there sleeping, they are on high alert. Take your time, be patient, watch them with the wind in your face and wait till they start feeding again, and remember, they never all lay down at once, there are always a few standing around spoiling it all for you.
8. LEAVE THEM BE
I know elk hunting season is short, and backing out quietly takes alot of will power, but if it's late or they are just in a spot that you don't think will work, don't loose patience and try it anyway.
Those elk won't be far the next morning or even that afternoon and if you push them, They won't be even close to where you seen them, then the game starts all over again. Now if it's the last evening of your hunting season then nevermind the rules.
9. PATIENCE IN CLOSE
When the stars have finally aligned and it is about to happen, don't loose your patience, don't rush the shot because it took 5 long days to get in this close, or it will be 5 more days. It takes alot coming together for the good shot to happen and if you get to telling yourself it's now or never, your gonna be wishing you'd of waited and let things happen.
One of my best tricks i've learned in close and still use it every time i am withing shooting range and that is to loose the boots. That's right, take your boots off. especially when it is that vital twenty yards or more to close the distance.
You'll be amazed at how many little twigs you can feel through your socks, and ya know what, you waited and dreamed about this for 345 days now, a few thorns will only be pro-longing the hunt when you get home, your family might look at you crazy when you have them digging at you with a needle but if they don't elk hunt then don't bother explaining yourself and just know you did everything you could.
I've killed most my elk a hundred yards away from my boots, And you really only notice after the elk is down and you see what you have to go back through to get your shoes, but with good friends coming to help, just go to the elk and laugh as you ask them to grab your boots on the way up.
10. ETHICS AND RESPONSIBILITY
Especially us as archery hunters already have all the high powered hunters thinking we just go fling arrows and hope it hits its spot. I unfortunatly know archers who do this and still can't wait to catch them in the act of being unethical and disrepectful to what where are privilaged to be hunting.
Elk hunters and any hunters for that matter have a responsibility to ethically harvest game. We owe it to the animal and don't need any reason for the anti hunter to think we are all a bunch of wild animals ourselves not caring about the animal we hunt. We owe it to the animal and our forfathers to make good, ethical shots, not the last day hundred yard quartered away walking bow shot.
Not shooting your 300 at the bull behing cows as they are almost in the timber, and especially not the "well i can only see his ass and that should slow him down a little" kind of shots. Practicing ethical hunting will make us all a stronger brotherhood and make us better people also.
It is a good feeling to look back at your elk season empty handed and think well shoot, maybe if it'd of just tried that shot i might of got him, but being a strong willed person, it is a better feeling knowing you didn't get a elk but you did'nt wound one either. That's something to be much prouder than maybe killing one.
After you do make the shot, be responsible and get the meat taking care of asap, those hot september days don't allow for lifestories being told over a dead elk, and if you can't get it out asap, find a creek, because if you let the meat spoil, you might of well as gut shot it and not of found it.
I hope my personal tips will help you see things different and help those young hunters better understand what this is all about. It's not always the kill that makes us good hunters.