Tree line strategy

[tmaggie50]

I am currently hunting tree line meadows in North Central Colorado. The elk are silent. We have been working through the meadows starting at first light, and sitting certain meadows in the evening.


Would you walk below tree line throughout the day and cow call with the occasional locate bugle? Any other thoughts/tips?

 

[cohunter14]

Would you walk below tree line throughout the day and cow call with the occasional locate bugle? Any other thoughts/tips?

Yes, I would certainly do that. Are you seeing anything at all for fresh sign? If not, I would keep covering ground and using location bugles until you find a vocal bull or some fresh sign.

 

[tmaggie50]

Would you walk below tree line throughout the day and cow call with the occasional locate bugle? Any other thoughts/tips?

Yes, I would certainly do that. Are you seeing anything at all for fresh sign? If not, I would keep covering ground and using location bugles until you find a vocal bull or some fresh sign.

We are seeing fresh rubs throughout the woods but not much for really fresh droppings. Plenty of droppings, but most seems to be a little older. They are either a light black or already turned brown. We have about a 1.4 mike stretch of really nice meadows that we have been pushing through at first light and then dropped lower mid day

 

[tmaggie50]

Also, how much distance would you try to cover in between locate bugles?

 

[cohunter14]

If you're not on elk, I certainly wouldn't keep going through the same area every day hoping for a different result. As far as the location bugles, I'd throw one out any time you are hitting an area where your last one wouldn't have been heard.


One other thing to keep in mind is the thermals and wind. If you are traversing just below tree line and the elk are already in the woods, your scent is going to be blowing downhill right at any elk that has already headed into the woods.