Hunting Forum

Here is what happened on my elk hunt this year. Saw several bulls and about 30 cows. We didn't get closer than 300 yards to them with the ML so no elk in the freezer this year. Lost 2 days on a 5 day hunt to swirling 30 MPH winds. This is what I learned.

Opening morning I was by myself, picked up the daughter at a half way point from the wife later in the afternoon. The wind was non-existent and it was before sunrise. I wash all my clothes in scent killer and spray down all my gear with scent killer. I was walking up a road without a light. I was letting my foot go down softly and feeling for loose rocks and twigs that might give away my presence so I was quiet as could be.The coyotes were yapping about 400 yards from behind me.

I was standing next to a tree waiting for the sun to come up and start still hunting. I had about 20-30 minutes until it would be legal shooting light. I had been there about five minutes when about 20-50 yards from me I heard a bark. I was thinking should I cow call if it was an elk and if it wasn't an elk will I call a coyote pack into my lap in the dark? I stood there like that thinking what should I do. About 5 minutes after the first bark there was a second bark about 50-100 yards from me in the same direction as the first bark. So I stood there thinking do I cow call if it was an elk or possibly call a coyote pack into my lap in the dark.

Five minutes later I had my answer on what I should have done. ee-ooo,ee-ooo,ee-ooo and I could hear the elk lining out up the hill through a saddle. I think in the dark they might have seen movement from me but since I was behind the tree they could not tell what I was. I also have camo clothes that blend in really well with the terrain I hunt so I think they could not see my outline. Since I do use scent killer and there was no wind they could not smell me. The first bark was a question and I should have cow called to put them at ease that I was just an elk. The second call they still did not know what I was and was trying to get some reaction. Since I had not moved or answered them they decided it was time to get over the mountain. Next time I will cow call and coyotes be damned if you come into my lap in the dark.

Once known as 3does,1buck pre-"upgrade" : It is better to rule than to serve.

When the elk barked they were already alerted to danger. Either you another hunter you didn't know about or some natural predator. Not the coyotes. Coyotes do not prey on elk other than maybe new born fawns, to do so would be suicide for the coyote. It wouldn't have hurt but I doubt that the cow call would have put the elk at ease. It certainly would not have called the coyotes into your lap. Not that that is a bad thing, coyotes don't prey on people either. I almost never pass up the opportunity to call coyotes into my lap. I just love seeing how close I can get them to come.

 

It doesn't sound to me like there was much you could have done to change the outcome. Every encounter is different though and you have to decide what you should do in each instance. With me, it is usually the wrong decision but that is what makes it fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big Lance... If you feel the need to lie in order to support your cause then perhaps it is time to reconsider your cause.

I think they knew something was there but not what. If I had been fully busted by smell or sight it would not have taken them 15 minutes to clear the area. At least that is my past experience when fully busted by elk, they gone in seconds. In the past in full daylight I have put a herd back to rest when they heard me. They were on the other side of a ridge from me and heard me. Seems like they are always on the other side of the ridge from me. On one occasion I cow called and stopped. I slowly worked my way to the top of the ridge about 20 minutes later and they were bedded about 50 yards from the top.I watched them for about 30 minutes through binos and could not find a bull so quietly went back out the way I had come. Another time I raked trees during the rut with a squeal bugle and some grunts. About 10 minutes later I had a small 5x4 come over the hill to investigate. Never got the herd bull but they did not leave the area.

Other hunters were not in the area. This is a spot most hunters don't think to look but elk are there. Imagine a 3 pointed y. The tops of the y are all saddles over a mountain range. The bottom of the y intersects with a major paved highway and the road from the highway only goes about 400 yards to a water tank. You are on national forest land but only about 1/2 mile from private land. I never would have looked at this for elk but heard about it from deer hunters in there the previous week. I can hardly wait to go camping this summer and learn the land better. Hopefully I can get drawn for this area again next year.

 

Once known as 3does,1buck pre-"upgrade" : It is better to rule than to serve.

I think Lance is right, once they bark, they are on to ya.  Cow call might have helped???  Anytime I've herd em bark, it's like you said; they know something is wrong, just not what it is.  I've seen them bark, stomp their feet, and false charge, trying to get whats bugging em to move so they could identify it.  Pretty sure they knew it wasn't Elk.  Every time I've heard em bark, I could not move because their eyes were on me, and they ended up hualin ass without me moving.  Might try a cow call, I've never tried it.  Never been able to get one to my mouth with them watching me and all.

Don't know how much light there was, but my guess is they saw ya.  Might have just been your image going between two trees.  Something they recognized as not being Elk, something wrong and they were just trying to get you to prove em right.  After a bark, they're leaving, even if you don't give them the proof.  JMO

Dean
H2O

Hunting Elk in a rainforest; ya haven't experienced it till ya had rain running down the crack of your *** 30 minutes out of camp. Formerly a Roosevelt Elk hunter on the Washington coast, now hunting them Rocky Mtn. ones, in Wyoming.

I guess I'm in Todd's corner on this one.  I doubt they were real alarmed in the dark like that if he was standing against a tree for five minutes before it happened and another 15 minutes before they headed over the hill.  A cow call may or may not have been the ticket, but I don't think it would have hurt a thing to have tried it.  I think you can fool them just like a whitetail if they think something is wrong and can't pinpoint it.  However, let them or a deer get a whiff of human scent and it's a whole different story.  I also think that if you make a little noise when you are still hunting that you can get away with it, as long as you don't expose yourself or get up wind of them because they make a lot of noise as they travel along.  An occasional cow call seems to settle them down and I think it might have done that in Todd's case, but it is all just conjecture now!

 

NAHC LM (1991), NWTF, NRA, SPC 5 Army Vet Corp 68-71

It was about 30 minutes before legal shooting light. We can start hunting 30 minutes before sunrise so sunrise was around 7 am and legal hunting started at 6:30 so it was around 6am. The moon was in the first quarter and setting about 9 pm. It was dark with stars that remind me of why I like to get out of the city. Like I said I was going up the road without a flashlight and feeling what was under my feet before putting weight on them so I would have lost a race against a snail.

I have my diaphragm calls, reed calls and the Hoochie Mama call. It was about 15 degrees so my hands were in my pockets with the Hoochie Mama call set on lost calf and I would not have to move to use it. The other thing was this was opening morning and after listening to the coyotes I was caught off guard by the bark, especially after standing still for five minutes. I was questioning myself it it was an elk or a coyote that had barked. It was a learning experience and next time I will cow call and see what happens. I still don't think they knew exactly what I was as they were still in there the rest of the hunt. I tried going in from the west and they were on the east side. I tried going in the next day on the east and they were on the west side. This summer I will see if I can find a way to come in from the south to the saddle they usually go over.

Once known as 3does,1buck pre-"upgrade" : It is better to rule than to serve.

Alright I know I'm a little late on this post, BUT....

BOGUS! I live in Reedsport and hunt up near Allegany.... I'm sure you know the area since I believe you're in Coos bay? Elk will run in ANY direction that allows them to get away from danger. I've used a Hoochie Momma cow call and another one that I can't remember the name of, but its a lip call. And you can bugle during that time, and I do quite a bit in the second half of the season because that's when the rut is picking up! I had a 6pt bull at 80 yards this year hollarin at me with 6 days left in the season, but he never gave me a shot. Hunt them hard but quiet, and be extremely careful about your scent. These elk around here spook really easy due to the amount of pressure they get during rifle season. Keep at it and good luck! I've attached a picture of my cow from last year. She was pretty good size, dressed out over 360lbs.

A buddy of mine here in Wyoming shot one close to that.  They called her Elkzilla!  Congrats, and good info!

Topgun 30-06
Agree with that!  The fewer spooked, the less distance they travel.  If you just bumped one or two, and the rest don't know what's going on (maybe, even the one ya bumped don't know?), they often won't go far.  300, 400, 500 or maybe 600 yards.
Dean
H2O

Hunting Elk in a rainforest; ya haven't experienced it till ya had rain running down the crack of your *** 30 minutes out of camp. Formerly a Roosevelt Elk hunter on the Washington coast, now hunting them Rocky Mtn. ones, in Wyoming.

Thanks for the congrats! I was really happy to get her. Primarily because it was my first big game kill... and the thrill of how the hunt went down... it was an amazing prize. I had the pelt tanned with the fur on and use it as a throw on my couch, and a blanket on my bed during the cold winter nights.

Happy New Year to all!!!
Well it's been close to a year since I posted this thread. I believe it has helped some that have replied here.  And I hope it has help others that are merely reading!  I also know that there are many here on the NAHC board that have savvy info about Wapiti hunts both successful and lacking, they can share.  We all learn from the kills, the misses and passed shots.
Step up and let us hear from ya!  Share your Wapiti knowledge!!!  I challenge all those of you that have hunted them regularly, to share your Savvy, and those who have yet to enjoy the work, challenge, and rewards, to ask away to those who have.

  I re-state the savvy question.

Savvy:   To understand or know; comprehend. (Second College Edition,  of the American Heritage Dictionary)
  I invite each of you savvy Elk hunters to share your knowledge here.  And all those seeking answers to your questions, ask them here!
  I'm not talkin about where to apply for your next tag, I'm talkin about huntin em.  Callin, stalking, glassin, getting around them, tracking, or out smarting them.  Water, feed, escape, migration, cover, camouflage, scents. glassing,.  Or anything  else about hunting em, ask it here!

Thanks to all that have shared what they know to those that read and post here.  I’ve learned and I’m sure others have too!  Happy New Year and full freezers in the fall, to all!!!

 

Dean

H2O Elkaholic

Hunting Elk in a rainforest; ya haven't experienced it till ya had rain running down the crack of your *** 30 minutes out of camp. Formerly a Roosevelt Elk hunter on the Washington coast, now hunting them Rocky Mtn. ones, in Wyoming.

Read a post in another Elk forum that got my attention.  Would give credit to him here but don't remember even what web site I read it on.  Had to do with Elk bedding areas.  And that Elk bed in different areas during the day, than at nite.  After reading the post, it became clear to me that I have seen the same behavior.  I have seen Elk bedded right out in the open, in clearcuts, and meadows.  And yet most times, during the day I have found them bedded in thick (dark) timber, on benches or soft sloping north and east facing slopes.  The post made me think!  When I viewed bedded Elk, when did I see them, and the circumstances that I encountered them.

In my experience, I've encountered bedded Elk in the open when they where undisturbed.  I believe that when undisturbed, Elk will feed and bed down an chew there cuds, in or very near where the were feeding often out into the morning hours.  Commonly, elk hunters will find these beds and believe they are onto something hot.  As stated above, Elk will usually leave a lot of sign behind in bedding areas.  But hot at night, is not an Elk hunter goal!  Undisturbed Elk may return to these areas after day bedding for many nights.  The majority of the time, once the sun gets high in the sky (even undisturbed), the Elk are headed for dark more protected areas out of the sun.  When preasured, Elk will often be long gone from these areas before daylight.

Two, totally separate bedding areas!  One night time close to where they are feeding.  The other daytime, often miles away on close, dark, and north or east facing slopes.  Or on the closest, dark, benches.

Anyone else observe this?

Dean
H2O

NAHC Life Member 02/01/81 Hunting Elk in a rainforest; ya haven't experienced it till ya had rain running down the crack of your *** 30 minutes out of camp. Formerly a Roosevelt Elk hunter on the Washington coast, now hunting them Rocky Mtn. ones, in Wyoming.

In my experiences you are right on the money about bedding areas in timber country. Near where I live in WY the elk are migrating back to the plains and living there year round. They still bed on hillsides in the afternoon but seem to be 10 times more wily than antelope. They know where every two track is and watch them like a hawk. Long range stalk and shooting skills are a must.

Couple yrs ago I covered this for Dean on the old board. So far I haven't seen it here yet. Though I haven't read very far. There's a lot of great info & advice here. For those of you that don't bone out in the field and while field dressing find splitting the briskets on elk to be such a major job. This is how I was taught by the old time elk killers in our camp in the 50's & 60's. Instead of splitting the briskets. Skin along side the ribs, find the rib joints & Cut thru each one of them from the belly end to the throat on both sides. Then pull the whole thing out & toss it away. There's not much meat there anyway. --------- I like to cut 'em up in the snow because you can cool the meat down fast & thoroughly. Skin the top side off , then cut the qtrs off, back straps etc. Each hunk you cut off. Lay it out in the snow. Each time you take another piece to lay out. Flip the first one's over each time. By the time you finish cutting off all the meat sections the animal down to skeleton. All the meat hunks are so cold you can't hold 'em w/bare hands. Fill the cooler with snow. Layer the meat in it, cover with snow, more meat, then when it's full. Pack the holes & top with a layer of snow & then seal the cooler. I've kept meat like this over a week in fairly warm weather. Good luck to you, hope this helps, George

Boning out an elk is the only way to go if you have a long way to pack. Especialy if you are by yourself. A pack frame and canvas meat sacks are a good investment if you hunt elk in the back country where they like to hang out. I you have bagged a trophy that you want to mount, start by caping the animal.( I do not gut the animal, as that puts alot of stuff in your way that is unplesant and not nessesary).If not, just skin out the top half and start removing the backstrap from the spine. starting at the top of the neck back to the hip socket. Keep it clean and put it directly into the meat sack, or hang it in the shade to cool if it is warm out. Remove the meat from the shoulder and ribs, then the back leg. Keep the weight managable in the sacks. Turm the animal over and  repeat. When this is complete, you can go into the body cavity behind the ribs near the back bone to remove the tender loins.

Good info again.  Thanks to all that replied and those with questions.

Roy said;  "I you have bagged a trophy that you want to mount, start by caping the animal.( I do not gut the animal, as that puts alot of stuff in your way that is unplesant and not nessesary)."

Can you be more descriptive; capping the animal?  Where do you begin?  Skinning and capping a Wapiti without gutting it?  How?

Thanks again for posting, welcome to the club!!!

Dean
H2O Elkaholic

NAHC Life Member 02/01/81 Hunting Elk in a rainforest; ya haven't experienced it till ya had rain running down the crack of your *** 30 minutes out of camp. Formerly a Roosevelt Elk hunter on the Washington coast, now hunting them Rocky Mtn. ones, in Wyoming.

Dean,

        to start caping make a cut through the hide at about the end of the sternum (beginning of chest cavity) up over the back and down the other side to the point where you began. At the point you cut over the spine, make a nice straight cut up the point of the spine to the base of the skull. Start skinning from this cut down over the shoulders. At this point you can either tube out the front legs, or make a cut from the end of sternum (where you began) to the back of each front leg. There is kind of a line here where the fur comes from two directions. Cut down this line to the knee and cut the leg off. Continue skinning forward to the head. Try to cut the head off as close to the base of the skull as possible to reduce weight and have less meat to cool out. Strech the cape out in the shade to cool. If it is very warm out you might even cut the toungue out and prop the mouth open.

Dean,.. check out this link:

http://www.sagebasin.com/images/guide.doc

. There's room for all Gods creatures,.. right next to the taters' an' gravy! ,.........
. Shoot Straight & Stay Safe ! ,..........
. Terry Webster,...
. NAHC Life Member,.
. NAFC Life Member,
. RMEF Sponsoring Member,..
. SCI Member,..
. Michigan Sportsman's Assoc.,
. NRA Life Member,..
. US Army - Nam' Veteran SGT E-5 1970-72 1st/327th /101st AB

7mm Mag,

               wish I had known about this link. As Uncle Ted would say "Perfect". I am planning on doing a video on caping and boning out an elk this fall. Will post!

I want to thank everyone that posted or just read this post.  So much knowledge and advise about huntin the monarch of the timber and plains.  I personally can't thank those that contributed enough!!!

I've had complaints that the thread has become to long,  I disagree.  But I have started a new one "Savvy II".  I would hope anyone with Elk huntin questions would read through this one.  More raw Elk savvy in these pages than I have read anywhere else!  So many Elk savvy hunters have replied here,don't think we'll get much from a Savvy II, but it's up there.  If ya have a question, ask away!  Hope the Savvy hunters jump in as they did on this thread.

Thanks again, everyone!!!

Dean
H2O

NAHC Life Member 02/01/81 Hunting Elk in a rainforest; ya haven't experienced it till ya had rain running down the crack of your *** 30 minutes out of camp. Formerly a Roosevelt Elk hunter on the Washington coast, now hunting them Rocky Mtn. ones, in Wyoming.

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