Hello all!

[dmerrio]

Hi everyone.  Intro, my son and I have been trying to elk hunt for 3 years now.  Oregon hunters.  This is our third season and I have to admit we are getting beat up.  I have been researching everything elk for 3 years now, we bow hunt, backcountry, and I just can not locate elk.  We have seen one cow in three years, and had zero bugle activity, period. We cover 8-15 miles a day on foot during a hunt. I have studied calling, packing, locating, you name it. We do the north heavy forested slopes, basins, feed areas, water areas.  I can locate rubs and trails, bedding areas etc.  But the elk themselves elude us.  Can anyone shed some light on what we might be missing as far a just finding elk or getting responses from bulls?
I hate to sayit but we could use a little encouragement in the form of some new ideas to try.
Thanks

 

[DTP]

Welcome to the site dmerrio! 


I definitely think you came to the right place, there is a lot of great knowledge to be shared on this site.


What makes you pick these areas to hunt?
Do you run into other hunters while in the area?
Do you do any sort of pre season or post season scouting?
Is this a general area or a draw unit?


Sorry for the overload on questions, but the more information we have the more we can help!

 

[big44a4]

This was my first season diy otc in CO. We covered 11 miles a day, starting at 9500-10k ft and usually getting up to 12k depending on the day. Day 3 heard first bugles right before shooting light. They seemed a long way away, but hiked a few ridges over to see if we could spot anything. The hike took us 45-1hr and when we got there saw/heard nothing

Day 5, we climbed 2300 feet in the first mile to this timber not too far off from a trail. Saw elk one drainage over during the summer and this was the only way to get near there. About 9:30am heard 2 bugles one in each direction. One kept coming closer and was responding to cow calls. We moved to close the distance and spotted a cow at 45 yards that was walking on a game trail ahead of the bull maybe 75 yards (by the sound of it). Never saw the bull as he kept moving down below on other side of game trail. My guess was they were headed to their bed. My buddy and I decided to try and follow them to their bed and not even 5 minutes later heard a muzzleloader in very close proximity go off. Never heard a thing the rest of the day.

To make matters worse my buddy who volunteered to drive this trip, decided he had many reasons to go home. We still had 4 more days of planned hunting left as I had burned all my vacation for this trip. Talk about frustrating. Should have rented a car and stayed the full trip, but was too frustrated to think of it at the time.

Already planning next seasons trip where I'll be driving myself. Ha. So keep hammering you'll make it happen soon! The ups and downs are what make it worth it. We have all been there no matter what type of hunting. Best of luck.



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[dmerrio]

I wasn't sure how much to post.  So to answer your questions...

I pick the areas based on how far from roads they are, if they have feed, north facing slopes, and beddingareas.  I scout some areas and others we just try based on the above. 
Yes we run into other hunters.  This year, the first week we called in 2 sets of hunters so we moved, third week  we called in 3 sets of hunters, no elk, so picked up and moved to another unit.
All are general area, Oregon units, no draw needed.

And just to make clear, we are at the stage where we DO NOT need to harvest an elk yet, we just want to find them. I think this is our biggest hurdle yet. We haven't been able to try any harvest tactics yet.  It makes a hunt tough when you can't even find the animal to hunt. 

We have spent bundles on figuring out gear, food, etc.  The part of managing in the wilderness we have dialed.  All gear functions as needed, the food we pack works well, so I feel like there is some key I'm missing as to locating elk.  I have friends who have never hunted, go on two day hunts and get bugles.  Seems like we should at least be getting some feedback from the elk.
Ask more questions and I'll try and answer.

 

[dmerrio]

This was my first season diy otc in CO. We covered 11 miles a day, starting at 9500-10k ft and usually getting up to 12k depending on the day. Day 3 heard first bugles right before shooting light. They seemed a long way away, but hiked a few ridges over to see if we could spot anything. The hike took us 45-1hr and when we got there saw/heard nothing

Day 5, we climbed 2300 feet in the first mile to this timber not too far off from a trail. Saw elk one drainage over during the summer and this was the only way to get near there. About 9:30am heard 2 bugles one in each direction. One kept coming closer and was responding to cow calls. We moved to close the distance and spotted a cow at 45 yards that was walking on a game trail ahead of the bull maybe 75 yards (by the sound of it). Never saw the bull as he kept moving down below on other side of game trail. My guess was they were headed to their bed. My buddy and I decided to try and follow them to their bed and not even 5 minutes later heard a muzzleloader in very close proximity go off. Never heard a thing the rest of the day.

To make matters worse my buddy who volunteered to drive this trip, decided he had many reasons to go home. We still had 4 more days of planned hunting left as I had burned all my vacation for this trip. Talk about frustrating. Should have rented a car and stayed the full trip, but was too frustrated to think of it at the time.

Already planning next seasons trip where I'll be driving myself. Ha. So keep hammering you'll make it happen soon! The ups and downs are what make it worth it. We have all been there no matter what type of hunting. Best of luck.



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Thanks!  I know we aren't alone in the struggle dept, I just feel like we should be getting some results like you have!

 

[DTP]

I wasn't sure how much to post.  So to answer your questions...

I pick the areas based on how far from roads they are, if they have feed, north facing slopes, and bedding areas.  I scout some areas and others we just try based on the above. 
Yes we run into other hunters.  This year, the first week we called in 2 sets of hunters so we moved, third week  we called in 3 sets of hunters, no elk, so picked up and moved to another unit.
All are general area, Oregon units, no draw needed.

And just to make clear, we are at the stage where we DO NOT need to harvest an elk yet, we just want to find them. I think this is our biggest hurdle yet. We haven't been able to try any harvest tactics yet.  It makes a hunt tough when you can't even find the animal to hunt. 

We have spent bundles on figuring out gear, food, etc.  The part of managing in the wilderness we have dialed.  All gear functions as needed, the food we pack works well, so I feel like there is some key I'm missing as to locating elk.  I have friends who have never hunted, go on two day hunts and get bugles.  Seems like we should at least be getting some feedback from the elk.
Ask more questions and I'll try and answer.

So here are some things I'd consider to possibly help in your situation. I'm sure you've already done most of it, so I am sorry is some of this seems basic.


First thing I'd be doing is contacting local wildlife biologists, game wardens, ranchers (if they run cattle up there), or forest service workers. I recommend this because you may find you're hunting an area where the elk density just isn't there. One of those units where 6% harvest odds are a good year because the elk are so spread out.
Knowing that information can help you set some expectations for when you're out on the hunt. For all you know, that 1 cow you saw in 3 years could be more than some people have seen in many years. You also may find that your spot is dreadful early season, but come XX date they come in thick!


Next I'd be starting some pre and post season scouting and sticking too it. Im sure you already do plenty, but the more you're able to follow them all throughout the year, the more your chances increase to get into during your hunt.  I love post season scouting because sign is still fresh enough you are able to make note of it for the following year.


Another thing I always say is don't overlook the closer areas. I'm sure you've seen it time and time before, but there is so much information out there these days saying "go in as deep as you can and get away from people." Well... now everyone is trying to do that and you're missing the elk in the first half mile to mile from the road. I'm not saying thats the case of your unit, but it's happened many of times.  I've personally killed two elk that were less than 400 yards from a road and they were in there THICK! This was while people were out trying to get into the nastiest stuff possible and they weren't seeing any....

 

[dmerrio]

Awsome info DTP, here is a little more info that I gleaned post hunt.  Which I admit was my fault not seeing it pre hunt.

The unit we went to has a population (just from odfw site) of 445 elk, with a 7/100 bull to cow ratio.  So that could explain this years results.  That's not a lot of elk when other units post 2000-4000 with 10-12/100 ratio.  ?seem fair to say I was in a low density area?

***and I never though of post season scouting!  that actually makes a lot of sense.  I'm so wrapped up in getting physically ready for the next season that I forget little details like that!

 

[DTP]

Awsome info DTP, here is a little more info that I gleaned post hunt.  Which I admit was my fault not seeing it pre hunt.

The unit we went to has a population (just from odfw site) of 445 elk, with a 7/100 bull to cow ratio.  So that could explain this years results.  That's not a lot of elk when other units post 2000-4000 with 10-12/100 ratio.  ?seem fair to say I was in a low density area?

***and I never though of post season scouting!  that actually makes a lot of sense.  I'm so wrapped up in getting physically ready for the next season that I forget little details like that!

Hunting whitetail is what really got me into post season scouting.
I'd be out looking for rubs, scraps, beds, and other overlooked areas that I had no checked pre season/intra-season.


When I started hunting elk I applied the same principles. Another nice thing is if you bump some elk, you have a LONG time for them to settle down before the next season

 

[big44a4]

This was my first season diy otc in CO. We covered 11 miles a day, starting at 9500-10k ft and usually getting up to 12k depending on the day. Day 3 heard first bugles right before shooting light. They seemed a long way away, but hiked a few ridges over to see if we could spot anything. The hike took us 45-1hr and when we got there saw/heard nothing

Day 5, we climbed 2300 feet in the first mile to this timber not too far off from a trail. Saw elk one drainage over during the summer and this was the only way to get near there. About 9:30am heard 2 bugles one in each direction. One kept coming closer and was responding to cow calls. We moved to close the distance and spotted a cow at 45 yards that was walking on a game trail ahead of the bull maybe 75 yards (by the sound of it). Never saw the bull as he kept moving down below on other side of game trail. My guess was they were headed to their bed. My buddy and I decided to try and follow them to their bed and not even 5 minutes later heard a muzzleloader in very close proximity go off. Never heard a thing the rest of the day.

To make matters worse my buddy who volunteered to drive this trip, decided he had many reasons to go home. We still had 4 more days of planned hunting left as I had burned all my vacation for this trip. Talk about frustrating. Should have rented a car and stayed the full trip, but was too frustrated to think of it at the time.

Already planning next seasons trip where I'll be driving myself. Ha. So keep hammering you'll make it happen soon! The ups and downs are what make it worth it. We have all been there no matter what type of hunting. Best of luck.



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Thanks!  I know we aren't alone in the struggle dept, I just feel like we should be getting some results like you have!

Idk if I'd call it results. I used a combo of google earth and ONX maps to find spots. Found a huge herd this summer from a vantage point I scouted. Then during the season we hit a new spot everyday. Hiked into the spot from summer and burned 1.5 days with nothing but tons of old sign. Then bounced around after camping at truck and hiking trying to find them. Maybe ran into 3 sets of hunters out of 5 days total. Heard 5 muzzleloader shots.

I have a lot more to learn and it would be nice like you said to find them on a more consistent basis. Can't work on the other aspects of hunting them if I can't find them during the season. Seemed to find a ton more mule deer (one 200"+) as they must have known I only had an elk tag.


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[dmerrio]

I always find the species I'm not hunting also.  Just trying to see this as a learning year, again!, and not a failure year.  Tough thing this elk hunting!!!

 

[cohunter14]

Two additional thoughts/ideas for you:


1) Try to locate elk by getting up on a high point and glassing. Cover ground with your eyes. Just because you aren't hearing elk doesn't mean they aren't there. Sometimes elk just aren't vocal for some reason.


2) You didn't mention if you were doing this or not, but when you are out covering those 8-15 miles a day, make sure you are covering different ground each time. That good old definition of insanity where you cover the same ground each day and expect different results applies here. It can take a long time to learn an area and find the elk, but if you keep expanding on your area and continue to learn more ground, you will find them. Keeping your head up and continuing to grind is one of the most difficult things to do in elk hunting, but remember that each day you aren't successful leads you one step closer to being successful.


Good luck!

 

[SheepdogRob]

Dmerrio, another Oregon hunter here and I feel your pain. I'm eating tag soup this year again and it's a little depressing. Just spent some time on central eastern Oregon and although I had a bull bugling, he was cowed up and didn't want anything to do with me. Never did lay eyes on him. Seems to me that the successful guys who fill their tag each year spend time scouting that I don't have. That and I'm a new inexperienced hunter.


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[WW]

If you are covering 8-15 miles a day, chances are, you are moving the elk out ahead of you. Slow down and smell the roses! If that isn't the problem, maybe you should try a different area to hunt. And like Derek said, " Get a good vantage point and spend a lot of time behind your glass" ! And remember, finding sign only tells you where the elk have been, not necessarily where they are. It can be misleading. Learn how to read it.

 

[oregon4wheeler]

Hi everyone.  Intro, my son and I have been trying to elk hunt for 3 years now.  Oregon hunters.  This is our third season and I have to admit we are getting beat up.  I have been researching everything elk for 3 years now, we bow hunt, backcountry, and I just can not locate elk.  We have seen one cow in three years, and had zero bugle activity, period. We cover 8-15 miles a day on foot during a hunt. I have studied calling, packing, locating, you name it. We do the north heavy forested slopes, basins, feed areas, water areas.  I can locate rubs and trails, bedding areas etc.  But the elk themselves elude us.  Can anyone shed some light on what we might be missing as far a just finding elk or getting responses from bulls?
I hate to sayit but we could use a little encouragement in the form of some new ideas to try.
Thanks

Have you seen born and raised outdoors? Or elk101 ?  Both give good info.  Also call the local biologist for the hunt area. He can be very informative as well.

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