How Would You Hunt?

[OldMan]

I\'ve noticed in all the threads on this forum about how you\'d handle certain situations that calling is always used. Even when I think it\'s the worse thing you could do. So, I have a different kind of question for all of you.

Less say just for this experiment that you couldn\'t call at all. You have no calls on you, and you\'re going elk hunting. It\'s bow season, and right in the middle of the rut. How would you hunt? The second question is how would you hunt if the rut was over?

A two part answer should be given. Rut, and post rut.

 

[Deertick]

During the rut, I\'d depend on sitting water holes or chasing bulls that were bugling on their own, then ambushing them if possible.

Post-rut ... it\'d be difficult, but I suppose \"still hunting\" would work. :crazy:

To be honest, though ... if I didn\'t have calls, I may still try to call with ground noises, raking, etc.

One of the reasons people call, though, is not just its effectiveness, but because it\'s fun!

 

[OldMan]

Hmmm..I wasn\'t going for still hunting. I didn\'t think anybody would say that, and I got it on the first post. Very few rifle hunters still hunt, and they\'re in post rut.

 

[razorback]

x2 Deertick

 

[BTL]

I would position myself adjacent to feeding areas before sun up. If the area allows it, I would be glassing other areas as a back up or the evening hunt. I would only hunt them when they were on the move..on their feet. Playing the wind and landscape to gain the distance I would need to take a shot. I wouldnt hunt bedding areas at all, unless I spotted one bedded and could approach accordingly. I did this a few times my first year out. I was able to sneak up on three spikes bedded on a hill side and then only to back out undetected.
Spot and stalk would be my go to in either of these situations. Rut wouldnt matter. Bugling would help out for me to locate the elk and that is it. Glassing would be the name of the game for me post rut. Make a plan of attack after watching where they bed and feed and try to ambush them in their transition areas. Out feeding...ill sit back and wait. Bedding areas....sit back and wait. A lot more down time in the day which isnt always bad thing.

 

[cohunter14]

This is what I deal with every year, hunting post rut. It is all about finding the elk first and then making a plan to hunt them. If I were hunting during the rut and they were vocal, it would make things a lot easier. But otherwise, a lot of what Brent said rings true. Spend a lot of time glassing the areas and I would also try to cover some ground looking for fresh sign. Find them first and then put together a plan of attack, and this rings true regardless of the weapon of choice.

 

[Swede]

I would go with either ambush, including tree stand hunting, or spot and stalk.
I suspect if all of the bow hunters who have killed elk by still hunting let out a yell here, all I would hear is a peep or two if that. I suspect that explains why so much is said about calling. I have run into more people hiding behind root wads or downed trees in the woods, than still hunters.
Calling is a tool. If done well it can be very effective. Done well, does not mean you need a PhD in calling either.

 

[OldMan]

If you run into a still hunter. He\'s in the wrong place.

 

[Swede]

If you run into a still hunter. He\'s in the wrong place.

There are very few acres in my hunting area that I have not been in over the years. Where, prey tell are all of those still hunters? :lol:

 

[bowhunter]

If you run into a still hunter. He\'s in the wrong place.

I still hunted and was in the RIGHT place last year. I had walked to a couple places in mind and called with a few responces. I was on a peak of a ridge with the wind in my favor. I had the choice to sit and wait or still hunt back toward camp. I dropped off the west side into the thick stuff. Sloooowly moving along. I spotted a bull feeding at 35yds. When he raised his head I stopped. When he fed I moved. I closed the distance to 25 yds and deflated his lungs with a sharp broadhead as he fed. He didn\'t know I was there. I didn\'t call once. Most of my hunting is walking to what I think is a good spot then stillhunting. I have tried adding in a few calls and sitting awhile before moving to the next place to sneak into.

I will be honest more times than not they see me before I see them. Maybe I am not still enough :? I try my best thats all I cam do till I read the book from the master.

 

[OldMan]

If you run into a still hunter. He\'s in the wrong place.

There are very few acres in my hunting area that I have not been in over the years. Where, prey tell are all of those still hunters? :lol:

If the area is small, and has other hunters. It\'s a poor area to still hunt. I wouldn\'t bother with it. I don\'t hunt anywhere that has other hunters. You need to be alone with the elk, or it won\'t work.

I don\'t mean for this thread to turn into a still hunting thread. I just want to see what you guys would do if you couldn\'t call? My goal is to show that calling isn\'t always the answer to all the situations presented on this forum. I think some guys look at the problems presented, and think...........how can I call in this situation. Instead of thinking.............what\'s the best approach to this problem.

 

[timberland]

I wouldn\'t call what I do stillhunting by any means, but what would you call it? I\'m on my feet when the elk are, moving to intercept them. Where I hunt elk move down in the evening and up in the morning for the most part. I cruise(?) travel areas trying to get ahead of them if I know where they are. If not I move on to the next ridge, saddle, etc. I have never killed an elk that I\'ve called in, although my success is 75% (archery). I have never dogged an elk to get a shot, my opportunities have came when I have been moving fairly fast through travel areas and slowing down in bedding or feeding areas or pinch points where it is stand-worthy. Yes, I have been busted and I have gotten close to herds without getting shots. I\'ve called to elk with mixed results but I\'m pretty sure I\'ve never even called one towards me. My area is fairly open compared to many I\'ve seen pictures of. I can see 100+ yds almost anywhere I hunt. I guess when I think about it, I basically walk myself into sight of elk then either post up as they move toward me or put the sneak on fairly stationary elk. If they\'re walking away the only way to I\'ve been able to create opportunity is to swing around them and hope they slow down or stop and try to head them off at the pass...literally.

 

[OldMan]

Kind of a close range spot and stalk Barry. A very good way to hunt as you\'ve proved with your success. 75% is my average too.

 

[Swede]

My goal is to show that calling isn\'t always the answer to all the situations presented on this forum. I think some guys look at the problems presented, and think...........how can I call in this situation. Instead of thinking.............what\'s the best approach to this problem.

I sure agree Pete. Again calling is a tool just like a tree stand is, or spot and stalk is. Like in other areas of life, use the right tool for the job at hand.

 

[cnelk]

Back in 2006, I was slipping thru the woods in a place that holds elk.
I had the thermals working to my favor in mid-morning, and I happened to smell elk.
I nocked an arrow and began to \'still hunt\'.

I happened to see this bull bedded less than 10 yds away, He wasnt sure what I was, didnt move and I quickly drew and shot him in his bed.
The trees were thick enough to disguise my approach and thin enough to see him and shoot.

 

[OldMan]

It\'s almost like cheating huh Brad? I bet the elk wish they didn\'t stink so bad. It gets them busted everytime. Nothing perks you up like sneaking though the timber, and catching the stink of elk.

 

[elky McElkerson]

i\'d find a commanding position way up high. big binos, big spotter. find them and drop them on the spot with a 338 Lapua.

i\'d wear regular clothing, and sit on a fold out shooter\'s bench..i pulled out of my truck.

 

[elky McElkerson]

for me, personally.

i think the rush of sitting and watching an animal come to my calling would be the BEST experience ever. during the rut, i get myself to my truck, drive to town and buy some damn calls.

it is my favorite thing..to get an animal to come to me, to fool it.

your scenario in the original post, just begging us to chime in..\"i guess i\'ll still hunt\"

338 Lapua

 

[OldMan]

Nope, I didn\'t want anybody to say it. It\'s not something you do, because you have no choice.

 

[cohunter14]

Nope, I didn\'t want anybody to say it. It\'s not something you do, because you have no choice.

I don\'t know if it\'s something you do when you have no choice, but I\'d say for a lot of people it\'s something you do when you believe it\'s the best choice. If you know elk are bedding in a certain area, you can either still hunt them or try to guess which way they will go when they leave their beds and ambush them. Depending on a lot of scenarios including wind, time of the hunt, etc, it might prove to be the best choice.