A first timer\'s elk hunt - help!

[cnelk]

This thread is for anyone to contribute with information or questions.

The scenario is two peole are going on their first archery elk hunt.
Even tho it\'s archery, i know rifle hunters will also have something to contribute
The hunters know where they will be hunting, but have never been there, hope to scout it this summer.

Lets make this real informative, objective Q & A

How can we hope these two hunters \'Leave Successful\'?

What\'s first?

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Pre-rut or rut? Do the hunters want to call?

 

[cnelk]

Lets cover both.
They may hunt and experience both situations

Yes they want to call. They are hunting for \'any\' elk

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Newbies are Oregon hunters and hunting the Rocky Mountain Toads. Unit is bull only.

Newb: Should I call all season?

Answer: No! Imitate what you would naturally hear. First part of the season is very quiet. Best odds are to get a tree stand and hunt over well traveled game trails.

 

[Swede]

A very few hunters are getting bulls in the early season with cow calls and short bugles. I believe patience is the key.
More hunters are finding success from a tree stand. A tree stand can be good the last week or so also, but calling can be productive also.
In the early season you might do well to call in the morning then go to your stand and wait for the remainder of the day. In the late season, I have not observed a great advantage to hunting from my stand in the morning or evening.

 

[cnelk]

Over the summer I would tell the pair to learn basic cow calls and a locator bugle.
I would recommend they do their scouting in late July, early Aug and look for fresh tracks and scat.

During their scouting trip, they should look for at least 2 places to set up camp, in one area in case one is taken and look for a backup spot for a Plan B area.

More to come

 

[timberland]

I would tell them to not be afraid to be mobile. Split up and cover ground the first few days hitting all the spots you found in the summer. Don\'t burn up your hunting time sitting on mediocre sign. Spend time sneak/scouting through saddles, benches etc., especially the first year in an area. The information gained for future use is worth more than cost of bumping a few elk. Use your head when it comes to wind, travel speed, etc., but don\'t be tentative about putting yourself in position for a shot to develop.

In our group of 5 the only one that hasn\'t killed an elk in the past two trips is the guy who saw a couple on a ridge and was bound and determined to kill one in that spot. He\'s still trying while the rest of us pushed on until we got ourselves in a shot situation.

 

[Baby Huey]

First, I would tell them to get into the best shape they can over the summer. Their scouting trip will let them know what it is like to hump up and down in elk country and then get a gauge on their fitness level.

Then, prior to their scouting trip, they should print out topo maps of where they plan to hunt. Then look at Google earth or other programs and correlate what they are seeing on the topo maps to the computer screen. When they go scouting, then they will have a firsthand look at what the actual topography and terrain look like, and then they can use that to help in letting them know if that is what they expected to see, or how actual eyes on the area may be different that what is on paper/Google earth for future reference in scouting. Then they can take photos of other potential areas they see off in the distance or on their drive in, in order to analyze those other potential areas when they get back home.

On their scouting trip, they should bring the gear they plan to use on their hunt to test it out and make sure it is up to their expectations.

 

[F M]

Depending on the area they are hunting if they can get to a good glassing area you can learn about your area and possibly locate some animals to go after. I use mine quite allot while hunting too.If I see something I am not sure of I use my binos and have found some elk that I could not see with my eyes alone.

 

[cnelk]

During the scouting trip, bring a wind detector and check the breeze throughout the day.
It will be very similar a few weeks later when you are hunting.
Nothing worse than having the wrong wind at the wrong time

 

[cnelk]

Wear a watch.
Time yourself when you leave your truck to where you want to get to.
This is important so you can be where you want to be in the dark, waiting for shooting light.

If shooting light is 620am and it takes you 40min to get to that spot, your better be leaving the truck by 520 or you\'re gonna be late.

 

[BTL]

Learn to read a topography map if you cant yet. Understand the contour lines and what they mean. Steams that are there now and may now be towards the end of the summer. Are they dashed on the map? or solid all the way through....?
Benches, Saddles, Springs, ect...

Start to cross reference maps. Using trail access maps can show you what vehicle restrictions are in your area. Most of these will also show you trailheads and camping areas. You can start by marking or highlighting these out on your map. If you want to avoid other hunters....avoid these areas. Understanding where the most pressure is from other hunters can help you understand where pressured animals will go. Most of this needs to be learned but taking note of it will certainly help.

 

[Lark Bunting]

LAYER UP! You will be chilly in the morning and hot in the afternoon or while hiking up that \"hill\" that didn\'t look like much on your topo map.

Spend as much time as possible together in the woods before the season if you are going to hunt together. Learn some basic hand signals to communicate while in sight of each other. This cost me an opportunity the first year when my son was calling in a small bull and I turned to give him a thumbs up and he moved up hill... :crazy: I meant \'keep it up you\'re doing a great job\'...he thought it meant to move...seeing that bulls rear end running away as fast as it did was something I\'ll never forget.

If your hunting partner is young, make sure to have plenty of high energy foods, fruit, jerky, CANDY!

Be prepared to see an elk even when you least expect it. For us it was when we decided to take a break for lunch, bows hung on a branch, packs on the ground with contents spread out. :mrgreen:

Don\'t forget to take in the moment. It\'s easy to get caught up in the micro-moment and forget to appreciate your surroundings.

Visualize! I spent hours daydreaming about the situation of encountering an animal, ranging, taking the shot, tracking, skinning, processing, etc. I\'ve only ever killed one big game animal (deer) but my mental preparation helped during the moment when she stepped out in front of us from her bed.

Be prepared to not come home with an animal. As disappointing as it was to eat tag soup on elk again, I realize it\'s only my second year of hunting and I was prepared to deal with it.

Be nice on forums and don\'t be afraid to ask questions. You\'ll be surprised how generous people from the innerwebs can be.