Now What Should I Do #3

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

Swede

New member
Mar 4, 2014
1,722
You are tree stand hunting. It is 4:45 PM on the 4th day of hunting season. You place the book you have been reading for the last 2 1/2 hours in your pack and get a drink of water. Just as you put the water bottle back you hear elk. All of a sudden you see about a dozen elk including two spikes and one good 5 point on the hillside about 110 yards across from you. They are walking side hill and down, but they are not coming to where you are waiting. RATS! What can or should you do?
Here is a bonus question: Where are the elk going?

The person with the first correct answer for the second question gets 1,000 extra points. Of coarse 1,000 points just gives you bragging rights. :D
 
They are heading to the creek to get a drink. Not much you can do but watch or maybe a few calls to bring them just inside of bow range.
 
Move your treestand. Seriously, I wouldn\'t bother them. They are heading to feed or were bumped (what can I do with my 1000 points? :). If they are already moving away you won\'t catch them and you\'ve got almost no chance to turn them. Bank all the information you can from the experience and be thankful.
 
They are heading toward a feeding area.

Soft cow call...if the 5 point screams/ chuckles at you...hit him right back with a spike squeal. Then, get ready...this could unfold quickly!

If no response...so be it. Wait for more elk to show up.
 
I assume you\'re bow hunting, and it\'s Sept? So, moving to feed at 4:45 is kind of early. No idea where they\'re going. I\'d have to be there, and know the area.

As for the first question? Get out of your tree, and follow them off to the side of their trail.
 
Otcwill gets the thousand points. I guess you can write \"1.000 POINT WINNER\" somewhere along with your name and avatar. :dk:
 
Hmmmm...... Not really enough info to say Will was right. What if the feeding area is 1/4 mile away?
 
\"Still Hunter\" said:
Hmmmm...... Not really enough info to say Will was right. What if the feeding area is 1/4 mile away?
Click to expand...

Thanks Pete. This gives me a chance to explain. Elk spend a least 90% of their time either foraging or bedded. They move around mostly foraging or going to or from a bedding area. Sure they move around in their bedding area and to places to escape something, but that is not a major part of their normal daily travel. Escape could be from predators or things like deep snow.
In the late afternoon the elk have most likely left their bedding area and are moving towards their night feeding area. The likelihood this is what is occurring in this scenario is good, because they are walking along steadily. It does not matter if the feeding area is 1/4 mile away, or some miles away.
 
Sure it does. If it\'s only 1/4 mi away you could just track them to there.

I would have tracked them even if it was much farther. You won\'t catch them, but you sure will when they\'re at the feeding area. It\'s really easy to track an elk. Even easier when there\'s more then one.

That\'s why I said I needed more info. I\'d know where the feeding areas were from past scouting. I\'m sure you would too if your put up a tree stand.
 
Pete, the elk are most likely going to their night feeding area regardless if it is 1/4 mile or 2 miles. It may make a difference to you in what you do, but most likely they have left their bedding area and are going to where they will forage that night.
 
\"Swede\" said:
Pete, the elk are most likely going to their night feeding area regardless if it is 1/4 mile or 2 miles. It may make a difference to you in what you do, but most likely they have left their bedding area and are going to where they will forage that night.
Click to expand...

I understand that. I\'m saying if you knew the area, and knew where they fed at night. Why wouldn\'t you go there? It\'s only 4:45. You still have at least 3 hours to hunt.
 
Pete, I am only addressing the 1,000 point bonus question at this time. The 1,000 points went to the first correct answer, so I was acknowledging that answer. Now what should I do, will be answered after everyone interested has an opportunity to post. Thanks for asking. :D
 
Now, what should I do #3. I liked Elkmtngear\'s answer best. Stringunner did something very similar last season and brought in his bull.
 
Not sure.
When Swede posted and asked the question, I noticed it was locked.

I just unlocked it hoping it would help.


Swede?
 
So if the wind is right, you know the area, (I would assume you do if you have set a stand in the area) and know of a small meadow they feed in a short distance away, would you follow and check it out? Would it make a difference if you were on a 7 day hunt and you don\'t have all month to sit in a stand? It\'s already day 4.
 
My last post was not intended to be a question. I am sorry about the confusion. I was giving my opinion on what the best answer was to the original question.

This series of threads, as discussed with Brad and John, are planned to be up awhile then closed. The thread was not commented on for over a week, so I locked it. I plan to leave it up for awhile then archive it. Hopefully by arranging these in the archives, they will be a resource for people interested in what possibilities are available in real hunting situations, and what works at least sometimes.
I do not want to be a final authority, but these are situations I have encountered over time. As long are the threads are unlocked I appreciate any and all comments.
If anyone has a comment they feel should be included with any of these threads, after they are locked, please PM me. I will probably unlock the thread. Sharing thoughts and ideas for being better hunters is what we are all about. If you have a question or good idea to share, I would encourage any member to start a thread. I don\'t think we can get too many.

Thanks
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 28 (members: 0, guests: 28)

Latest posts

Share this page

Back
Top