How to hunt elk on benches

[americanbwana]

Ok, I\'ll ask. What are your favorite / worst ways to hunt elk on a bench?

Here is my take. This is probably a bedding area. I\'ve read on a ton of forums NOT to hunt bedding areas, so I\'ve generally avoided them.

However I\'ve seen a few here that do it all of the time.

AB.

 

[cohunter14]

One way to do it without actually getting into their bedding areas is to hunt the edges of it on the route that they will take to get in there. You can set up a stand or a ground blind and try to ambush them when they head into or out of their bedding area. One thing to keep in mind with the bedding areas is that elk will get up from their bedding areas during the day to get water. So if you find the water that the elk will use while bedding in a certain area, you can hunt that area as well.

 

[OldMan]

Not a lot of hunters put much time into still hunting. That\'s why the majority say to not hunt bedding areas. It\'s because when they tried it didn\'t work for them.

I don\'t recommend anybody tries to hunt bedding areas by still hunting unless they have years of experience still hunting. There\'s a lot more to it than walking slow.

Spot and stalk, and calling are very effective ways to hunt elk. The majority should stick to those methods.


When someone says hunting bedding areas shouldn\'t be done. What they\'re saying is it doesn\'t work for them.

 

[cohunter14]

Pete, this might be an idea for another thread or maybe it could go here, but could you give us some pointers on what makes you successful when still hunting, outside of walking slowly? I would love to hear how you would teach a newbie to still hunt.

 

[OldMan]

The only reason I haven\'t got more involved in talking about still hunting techniques is i\'m writing a book on it. I don\'t mind doing it one on one in person, but i\'m hesitant to do it on a public forum.

One thing I can say is that still hunting elk bedding areas is not something I recommend for those new to still hunting. I\'ve been still hunting for 60 years, and just started to do it into bedding areas 15 years ago. I\'m sure I would have failed before that. it took me that long to figure it out which was done in scouting trips. I never take risks while hunting.

I don\'t mean to be evasive on this subject. I\'d just like to save it for the book. I won\'t hold anything back in the book, and will even give some of my hunting areas as examples, because I figure i\'ll be retired from elk hunting when the book comes out.

 

[cohunter14]

Well hurry up and finish writing it Pete! I know a great place where you could sell it too

 

[mainebrdr]

Pete, when you say \"just started\" along with,\"fifteen years ago\" there may be some reading this thread that will not be able to relate to that! I however am one that can!

 

[OldMan]

Yes, it\'s quite awhile, but seems short to me. It took me quite awhile to build the confidence to go into bedding areas. I practiced forever while scouting. I usually scout with the same gear I hunt with. Including an empty gun. The goal being to sneak up on elk, and take an imaginary shot at one. It was actually harder to do scouting, because after the imaginary shot i\'d have to get back out without be detected. I didn\'t have to do that while hunting. I learned a lot during those scouting trips. When I finally applied it to a hunting trip it worked perfect. I had rehearsed it hundreds of times. I didn\'t have to think. I just reacted. The whole experience is so rewarding.

One advantage of hunting benches is they\'re mostly flat. Traction is never a problem like hunting climbs up or down. I made up a set of slippers that slipped over my boots. They would be too slippery on anything but level. Especially, in snow. i experimented with a lot of different materials, and finally settled on buffalo skin (Bison) with the hair still attached. The hair side would go on the outside. I can walk over almost anything and be quiet. I would slip them on as I entered the bench.

I planned on saving that small tip for the book, but what the hell. It\'s not a new idea, except maybe the material.

 

[Swede]

My favorite way to hunt benches is to be above them mid day and silent call to see if I can entice something to come and inspect. I call and rake then move of 20-25 yards and wait. Another thing I like to do is find a nearby spring and hang a tree stand there. I don\'t like walking into them when I believe elk could be bedded there.

 

[OldMan]

Well, you got to do what you do best.

How boring would it be if we all did the same thing?

 

[cohunter14]

i experimented with a lot of different materials, and finally settled on buffalo skin (Bison) with the hair still attached. The hair side would go on the outside. I can walk over almost anything and be quiet. I would slip them on as I entered the bench.

I planned on saving that small tip for the book, but what the hell. It\'s not a new idea, except maybe the material.

Pete, forget the book...how about selling some of those slippers! Sounds like you might be on to something there