I’m probably going to try for an early season elk with my brother this fall. He has a bow so we’re going to try early september in a place we always hear them bugling in the night.
Do you guys have any tips, tricks or resources you care to share?
HuntingBC Champ
I’m probably going to try for an early season elk with my brother this fall. He has a bow so we’re going to try early september in a place we always hear them bugling in the night.
Do you guys have any tips, tricks or resources you care to share?
If you don't read the newspaper, you're uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you're mis-informed.
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Bushwhacker
Bushwhacker
You will like the above thread I'm sure...
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Where to start. Always watch the wind, and know that elk understand the air currents better than we do. They'll draw you to one side of a basin, because the wind might be in their favour there. Wind is important.
For myself, I want to know where the elk are before the hunt. So getting there early is important. In the early season, you have 2 or 3 days to pattern them in their summer routine, once they get a bit stirred up, the hunt can shift to a run and gun style. Which, is a ton of fun. Creating "elk chaos" is a longer term plan. The bulls will often have their own small territory and generally want to leave each other alone. But pushing them, finding them and moving them around can cause a ton of fun over a few days.
I like to hike in, in the dark. Once I'm in location, an hour before daylight, I'll do periodic cow/calf calling. Bulls may come in quietly, so listen carefully. Set up and be ready.
Close to daylight, if you 'want' you could let out a short bugle, just a "time to move ladies" call and add a bit of cow / calf calling with that. A bull may think he can slip in and steal a cow from the bull.
If it's evening, you can hike high, and call with a long soul searching whistle. This can help you locate a bull. Generally, where the elk are in the evening you will find them nearby at daylight. Finding them, and putting a plan together around the fire, keeping the approach and wind in mind, is the excitement of elk hunting.
Elk can move quietly through the bush, but it isn't like Whitetail hunting, you don't have to be a quiet as a mouse. If you step on a branch, just let out a quiet calf call. When you have a bull reply to your bugle, the general rule is, quickly, cut the distance in half before you bugle again.
Camo is less important than smell. Watch the coffee, garlic and alcohol consumption. Your piss will stink and give you away.
HuntingBC Champ
Sounds great. We’re hiking in quite a ways and will be camped out woth backpacking gear, everything on foot.
If you don't read the newspaper, you're uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you're mis-informed.
HuntingBC Champ
Sounds like JT has given you excellent advice. The only thing I will add is sound control. A big mistake guys make is driving in early on a quad. You can get away with this when deer hunting. Not with elk. As soon as they hear that quad they usually head for the timbers up high. Bottom line is drive in quietly with vehicle (truck or quad) and park quietly a good distance away and then walk in.
I don't drive in to my area of hunt. I will camp out fairly close to my hunt area, usually up higher and be quiet as a mouse my entire hunt. You will be surprised how elk will get accustomed to your camp over a few days as long as you are quiet. My last bull I took just 15 yards from my camper as he walked by. After that is when I start the quad.
Always EXPECT the UNEXPECTED!
HuntingBC Champ
""I like to hike in, in the dark. Once I'm in location, an hour before daylight, I'll do periodic cow/calf calling. Bulls may come in quietly, so listen carefully. Set up and be ready."" Keep in mind calling elk also can call in predators like bears and wolves....in the dark too.
Member
Listen to a few podcasts featuring the ElkNut. Most valuable resource when it comes to call in elk.
Bushwhacker
All good advice, great writeup JT, and this is a very good point; elk become educated when guys are driving around and bugling or calling - I've seen guys do it without even shutting off their vehicle or quad..Originally Posted by hunterdon
HuntingBC Champ
Do you guys have any advice on calls? Brands or what to look for?
If you don't read the newspaper, you're uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you're mis-informed.
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