I am sure we would all agree that an elk is an elk, but they are not all the same. Adaptation has taken place so that elk in one area will not react to different things in the same manner. John Fitzgerald and I have discussed, on several occasions, how elk in our areas, behave very differently to calling, than elk in other parts of the elk range. Stringunner has observed the same thing where we hunt.
The problem is that we all see elk from our limited experiences, with supplements from narratives on forums like this, or books, videos, etcetera. Some have written much, from what they learned trying to interpret, what they saw and heard on You Tube videos. I know of some pretty big name elk hunters that can not kill an elk outside their home area unless the elk in tied up for them. Probably they could get on in a very limited entry unit. These same hunters couldn\'t be told anything, even by experts like Troy Bungay.
Calling some guru\'s way is trumpeted as the universal, fun way to get elk. The truth is that calling can work in all, or nearly all elk areas, but we can\'t use the same sounds and presentations everywhere.
The bottom line is that all elk are not the same, and maybe saying an elk is an elk in only a half truth. We need to learn elk behavior, and characteristics, in a given area to be more effective. Or, like Chuck Adams, we need to adapt universal hunting techniques, and be physically prepared to go all out for them. For most of us, it is best that we learn an area and the elk within it and stay with it as much as reasonably possible.
Don\'t get me wrong. There are some very good elk hunters out there. There are some very good hunters that are wrong in preaching their \"my way of hunting\". without narrowing it down so that you know \"my way\" works well in my area and places like it. The truth is that I believe they can\'t get you to buy their formulas and to worship at their shrine if they tell you the whole truth. This forum, and others, is dedicated to helping hunters improve their elk hunting skills. Lately we have been rather slack on that aspect, and have been doing more social threads. What do you think? Has Swede fallen out of his tree stand, and landed on his head again, or can you add to what I have said with points of your own?
P.S. Don\'t worry too much about Swede falling from his stand. Swede is a Swede and they are known for having very hard heads. :lol:
The problem is that we all see elk from our limited experiences, with supplements from narratives on forums like this, or books, videos, etcetera. Some have written much, from what they learned trying to interpret, what they saw and heard on You Tube videos. I know of some pretty big name elk hunters that can not kill an elk outside their home area unless the elk in tied up for them. Probably they could get on in a very limited entry unit. These same hunters couldn\'t be told anything, even by experts like Troy Bungay.
Calling some guru\'s way is trumpeted as the universal, fun way to get elk. The truth is that calling can work in all, or nearly all elk areas, but we can\'t use the same sounds and presentations everywhere.
The bottom line is that all elk are not the same, and maybe saying an elk is an elk in only a half truth. We need to learn elk behavior, and characteristics, in a given area to be more effective. Or, like Chuck Adams, we need to adapt universal hunting techniques, and be physically prepared to go all out for them. For most of us, it is best that we learn an area and the elk within it and stay with it as much as reasonably possible.
Don\'t get me wrong. There are some very good elk hunters out there. There are some very good hunters that are wrong in preaching their \"my way of hunting\". without narrowing it down so that you know \"my way\" works well in my area and places like it. The truth is that I believe they can\'t get you to buy their formulas and to worship at their shrine if they tell you the whole truth. This forum, and others, is dedicated to helping hunters improve their elk hunting skills. Lately we have been rather slack on that aspect, and have been doing more social threads. What do you think? Has Swede fallen out of his tree stand, and landed on his head again, or can you add to what I have said with points of your own?
P.S. Don\'t worry too much about Swede falling from his stand. Swede is a Swede and they are known for having very hard heads. :lol:
