Wait or Walk

S

Swede

New member
Mar 4, 2014
1,722
It is September 7th. There are elk in the area I am hunting, but they have been quiet, and there is not a lot of fresh sign. Often the elk come suddenly and then go in a day or two leaving behind only a few residuals. I expect more to return at any time.
I started calling just before day break this morning, and have moved ahead about 3/4 mile. At each calling location I have waited about 45 minutes. Birds and squirrels is all I have heard except for my own sounds. I have been on this bench overlooking a long hillside, for about 15 minutes. I have made three location bugles here. On the way to this spot I made several cow calls. Now it is getting near late morning. I am getting anxious. Should I move on or stay? Why? What are the factors you take into consideration?
 
Im moving.
You didnt mention thermals?
In the areas I hunt by 10am the air is mixing and cant be trusted.
 
Looking forward to seeing what answers you get, Swede but before that happens I was wondering if you could answer a few questions on the situation?
If you don\'t hear anything and there is little fresh sign, how do you know there are elk in the area as first stated.
Also you said you expect more to return. Why? Are these observations from previous scouting, previous hunts, word of mouth, or other?
I ask these questions as one that lives too far away to spend a lot of time scouting before the season. I hope i\'m not getting too far off topic but I would think the answers might actually impact the stay or move decision.

hey Brad, isn\'t it past your bedtime? :p
 
There are always at least a few elk in the area I hunt. Sometimes there are not many. Many elk move around on a circuit. They are not like deer. They can leave and be gone for a couple weeks then show back up. Herds are prone to traveling around. I have observed individuals that stay in a small area. They can be very easy to kill as they have a routine. They come an go back and forth, so you can set up for them.
 
I\'d go to another spot, but I only have 9 days to hunt. I\'m not waiting for elk to come back to an area unless I know they were there that day. I\'ll go find where they went, or will find a different group/herd.

We have different hunting styles though. You take stands, and I keep moving.
 
I need help here guys. I speak of patience a lot, but there are times to move on and times to wait. In this scenario what would you recommend? I want to start another thread Wait of Walk 2. It will be another scenario, so after two or three Wait or Walk threads, we will see where hunters are on when to move.
BTW: there are elk in the area now, but not many. I am here now to hunt what is available. I guess I am not asking if I should go home, or to another hunting area. How would you recommend I my use of limited time to hunt this situation?
 
Swede
As I have posted before, I dont wait more than 20-30 min at any on location when Im doing calling setups.
The times Im moving between setups is just as important as calling.
I use the wind and move slow. I have seen almost as many elk still hunting between call sets as I do calling
 
I am not a bowhunter or caller, but based on your situation Swede, I would move on. My reasoning is this: it is 10am and you aren\'t hearing anything. At that time, chances are any elk in the area has probably made its way to their bed and you aren\'t going to pull them from their bed and call them in. With that being said, no reason to wait around for something that might be sneaking in on you. Just my thoughts...
 
For me Swede, I would wait just as long as I could stand it. I have had to many bulls sneak in on me with out making a sound only to find that out when I got up to move. In the area I hunt on public ground most of the elk are call shy but will come in just to check you out. Have taken 3 good bulls that way. But again its what you feel you need to do at the time. Some times it right some times it wrong. Boy have I picked wrong a lot of times
 
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