Hunting Bedding Areas

[Swede]

I want to start a conversation here and read what other here have to say on this subject.
Every year I read on forums, folks talking about hunting bedding areas. The tactics discussed, including mine seem quite universal. It is like one size fits all. As with all of elk hunting that is rarely true. Every bedding area is different. Some are very large while others are relatively small. What I have never read on any of the discussions is the fact that within bedding areas there are bedding spots. Where I hunt there are many bedding areas with multiple spots where elk may choose to bed, and sometimes the elk may not all be in one location. The bulls may be in one spot while the cows may be in another . Satellites may be in one place while the herd can be somewhere else. Certainly they don\'t go to the same spot every time. Some bedding spots get used more than others.
In addition there are areas where the bedding grounds are contiguous and may be several thousand acres and elk can bed on hundreds of spots. In other areas it is an isolated stand somewhere, that consistently gets used when elk are around. It is easy to say I stay out of bedding areas, or this is how I approach them, but due to the vast variety of size, shape and varying terrain, \"bedding areas\", the one size fits all is for rookies. I usually answer the, how I hunt bedding areas, with some particular place in mind. Certainly that is not the vision anyone else has, but I try to give advise that is conservative, yet universal enough to give you a shot at being effective and to not risk blowing elk out from the place.
Ok, what have you folks observed, and how would you advise others to hunt bedding areas?

 

[cnelk]

Ok, what have you folks observed, and how would you advise others to hunt bedding areas?

Very, very carefully.
First, many dont even realize they are near or in a bedding area until its too late.
Bedding areas are like wallows, sometimes they are in spots where the advantage goes to the elk, not the hunter.

 

[Tdiesel]

along the lines of brad I see on a few other sites everyone is trying to push hunting bedding areas I will start by saying yes I do hunt bedding areas but maybe not everyone should hunt them(there are days where I won\'t hunt them conditions matter). If one chooses to make sure all your I\'s are dotted and T\'s crossed then go carefully and methodically. By I\'s and T\'s I mean general stuff (wind in favor ect.) I agree also in the point that most don\'t realize it is a bedding area until after the explosion of elk. I too have been on that end but really try my best to avoid that at all costs. One might think of it like playing with explosives, it can be a pretty big gamble sometimes if there are not a lot of elk around. Hunters choice

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

A lot of times I stumble upon bedding areas where you wouldn\'t expect them. Many think elk bed in one spot but what I found is that elk usually bed in two different spots. Daytime they like the more secluded thick stuff and at night they like the open country. My theory on that is its easier for elk to see predators at night if they are out in the open.

 

[Jaquomo]

If I learn that another hunter is hunting the side of a mountain that I know is a bedding area, I\'ll loop around and start hunting the micro-habitat a mile away.

An experienced hunter hunting very carefully can hunt the edges of bedding areas successfully for more than one encounter. An inexperienced hunter who reads to much from forums can blow the elk out quickly.

Personally, I leave them alone and hunt the transitions, sometimes calling bulls out if the wind is good. I\'d rather hunt the same elk for multiple days than one herd one time.

 

[Swede]

An experienced hunter hunting very carefully can hunt the edges of bedding areas successfully for more than one encounter. An inexperienced hunter who reads to much from forums can blow the elk out quickly. Personally, I leave them alone and hunt the transitions, sometimes calling bulls out if the wind is good. I\'d rather hunt the same elk for multiple days than one herd one time.

Very, very carefully. First, many don\'t even realize they are near or in a bedding area until its too late.Bedding areas are like wallows, sometimes they are in spots where the advantage goes to the elk, not the hunter.

There hunting friends is some excellent advise. Lou and Brad nailed it. When we read any differing advise, we would do well to remember these two old dogs know what they are talking about, and have the elk kills to prove it.