Cow Elk Hunting Thoughts and Recap

[williaada]

I have been chasing elk for the last few years, learning how to apply, plan, and actually go hunt. After this year, I finally felt like I had something to share, and I also have a question for the members who have been at this longer. This question will be at the very end.

Last winter, I started planning my possible hunts for the year and applied in four different states to hunt elk. I did not draw an elk tag in any of the original draws, so I decided to choose a leftover tag in Wyoming. Having done a couple of these tags in past years, I have learned the following:

• The unit will seem small until you are actually in the field.
• Learn the access points and spend a day figuring out how to navigate to different locations.
• There are a select few people who regularly kill elk on public land, bull or cow.
• Plan on hunting longer than a week, with a couple of rest mornings or days built in.

I came out for my hunt the week before Thanksgiving, excited to be back in Wyoming and hunting elk. I left later than planned because I had to stop at the range and recheck my rifle after removing my suppressor. I had put the suppressor on my other rifle so my son could deer hunt with my brothers and dad back in Michigan.

The drive out seemed to take forever. While traveling west, I was speaking with my wife about her and my three oldest flying out to take part in some of the elk hunting. We decided they would all fly out, and I would meet them after I finished hunting for the day.

After arriving in the town I planned to hunt from, I checked into my lodging, pulled out all of my hunting gear, repacked my pack, and made a plan for which access points I wanted to locate. A local friend gave me some intel on where a few elk had been seen earlier in the week, and this became the first location on my list to check.

I arrived at the spot before sunrise and spent about 45 minutes locating the access points between public and private land. I geared up and went on a four-mile hike to see if I could locate any elk in the area. The only animals I was able to locate were mule deer in the rut.

Will continue to post as time allows.

 

[williaada]

The rest of the day was spent driving to different locations, checking parking areas and access points. As I worked my way along the roads, I took notes on how many vehicles were at each spot, whether hunters were near their trucks, and how many parking spaces were available. From this scouting, I was able to narrow down a list of places I wanted to hunt the following morning. I eventually made it back to my base camp and checked in with both home and work.

While I was scouting, an issue came up at work that required my attention. I had a meeting scheduled for the following day at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time, which meant I had to adjust my hunting plans to ensure I could attend the team meeting.

The next morning, I arrived at my first location to find three other trucks already in the parking lot. I geared up and started hiking toward the spot I planned to glass from. As I moved farther in, I could hear additional vehicles pulling in and people unloading at the trailhead to start their hunts. Hiking in the dark took about 45 minutes longer than I had anticipated. By the time I reached my glassing spot, I needed to turn around and head back toward the truck to find cell service for the team call.

Back at the trailhead, I noticed three more trucks and several additional hunters beginning their hike in. After eventually finding cell service, I checked in with my wife to let her know I was safe, then spent about 90 minutes on the call—effectively ending the remainder of my morning hunt. Frustrated that work had consumed the morning, I headed out for the next spot.

When I arrived at the next parking area, there were two vehicles and a couple of guys finishing their hike back to their trucks. As I passed them, I asked if they had seen any elk. They said yes—about 20 bulls and spikes bedded in a small bowl. I geared up and headed in, stopping frequently to glass for elk. When I finally reached the bowl, I couldn’t locate any animals. I continued on until I ran into a property boundary, then chose a different route back to the truck.

I needed to get back into town to meet another HT at one of the local restaurants. We met up, had a beer, and finally put a name to a face. I really enjoyed the evening and left excited about the prospect of having a full day to hunt.

 

[undercover]

This is how I’m visioning my first cow elk hunt will go. Fellow michigander(I hate that name) and following

 

[williaada]

The issue with work reared its ugly head again and this time I had to make at least two calls in the morning. I decided Thursday night I was going to stay in town and make sure I had the cell service and treated myself to a Starbucks Americano, and got comfy for the call and the subsequent calls as well. I did not have anymore calls left to make, but my mind was elsewhere, focused on the work issues. I don’t think I hunted really the rest of the day. I ran the roads and tried to glass up elk. Instead I found antelope and mule deer. By the time I made it back to my camp. I was getting more excited about my prospects for hunting Saturday, and learned from a couple of other hunters the location I had been there the day before had produced a couple of cow elk. Thinking the area was pushed from the shooting I should try another place. With a plan in mind I went to my spot and found the BLM road was passable and got further into the area with a truck. On my exit and walk up the 2 track I spotted 6 different elk legs. Elk had been there with in the last 4 days and some people killed a couple. Hiking into the area I kept looking for elk, and then eventually I spotted what most public land hunters spot. Two other hunters about a mile away crest the ridge and walk down the draw you had planned to glass. I spent about 30 minutes watching the two people walk down the draw and not push any animals. Then a little further up the another person crested the same ridge. I packed up and made a beeline for the truck. First spot was a no go and I started to make my way to the second spot. After what seemed to be about 45 minutes I come to the end of road and was getting ready to head north when I noticed a herd of about 50 cow elk bedded on a private draw with a meadow on public land! I had service and texted my wife I found elk! About a mile away I pulled off onto BLM and made a plan to get up on top and wait for the elk to feed down onto the public meadow. Parked my truck and started the 400ft climb to come up through a rocky saddle and come down onto a bench over looking the meadow on public. I take my time and am continually checking the wind. Just as I am ready to crest the ridge into the saddle the wind changes and it starts blowing right over to where the elk are bedded. I cross my fingers and get the last 30 yards and look. The elk are gone, not sure where they went, but I could not find them. I wasn’t discouraged by not getting on the elk I had found some and tried to get into position. Exicited I got to the truck and went further down the BLM road, and I ran into a gate starting on BLM extend on to private with road and gate latch clearly on private property. The rancher/outfitter had it posted opening the gate and driving back onto BLM would be considered trespassing.

Not wanting to mess with trespassing I backed up and went back to the main road, and started back down the public road as I crossed the one lane bridge I was stopped by the Fish and Game. The Wardens checked me and everything was in order. As I was getting ready to get back into my truck on of the wardens mentioned he had just spoken with the rancher/outfitter, and they were having a hard time locating elk for their clients. I responded back, “there was herd of cows that just took out a fence up the road on the ranch/outfitters land.” The wardens then asked if I had a track to prove where I had been. I told them I have a pin of where I parked my truck on the BLM. If I had permission to hunt the private property I would still be up in the draw breaking down a cow elk.

With the day light burning I went and tried a new spot all together where the biologist mentioned elk would hide on the backside of the ridge in the rocks. I hiked up the ridge and into the rock and found a nice meadow in the bottom. Across the bowl I was certain there were a couple of elk feeding. As I moved the spots didn’t move, turns out I was glassing up some elk looking rocks. The sun had started go down and I was getting a little chilled I broke out my backpacking stove and enjoyed an apple and cliff bar with a a cup of tea. I made my hike back to the road, and I as I was coming to the road I came upon two packs hidden in the sage brush with elk quarters. Turns out these guys had killed a cow elk in the same bowl I just glassed 12 hours earlier. This story would replay itself 2 more times. Happy I had found a spot where elk had been was encouraging . Having hunted elk for multiple years, I still wonder if I can pick out or locate where elk are likely to hangout.

After I made it to my truck I headed back to base camp to regroup and pick out a new spot to try since I had the morning to hunt. I had to head to the airport and pick up my wide and three oldest children so they could. Hunt with me for at least one day maybe a day and half before we drive back to Michigan.

 

[williaada]

Knowing my wife and our three oldest kids were flying in and planning to join me for at least part of the day—and that I’d be picking them up from the airport—I decided to make one last push that morning. I chose a final spot to hike into and see if I could locate a few cow elk before heading out. I left early enough that I needed a headlamp just to load up and get on the trail. About fifteen minutes into the hike, the sun began to crest the horizon. I came to a Y in the trail, with waypoints leading both east and west. I chose to head west—there were noticeably fewer boot tracks from previous days. After another twenty minutes, I reached what I thought would be my first glassing spot. No luck—the trees were too tall to see over. I kept moving and eventually reached an area where public land met private. Still no elk. With time starting to run short, I turned back toward the truck so I wouldn’t risk being late to pick up my family.

Driving past the area where elk had been found recently, I counted seven different trucks and saw at least one guy hauling an elk quarter on his back. Turns out the elk had been in a meadow the night before and returned again that morning, and multiple groups had gotten into them. I checked the map—almost three miles in and three miles out. It would be tight, but possible. I decided to go for it. I covered ground well, moving fast, until I had to stop and gear down—sweat was pouring. Still optimistic, I texted my wife that I might be late getting to the airport because I was out where elk had been killed. Her response: “Kill an elk and meet us at one of the airport hotels.” That was all the permission I needed.

From a small hill near the meadow, I could see three different groups loading elk quarters. I stayed high on the south side of the drainage, crossed over to the north, and remembered what the local biologist had told me—that elk like to hide up in the rocks. With no rush now, I slowed down and started glassing carefully. All I found were magpies and a couple of coyotes.

I pushed farther into the rocks and climbed up onto a bench just west of a point. There, I found the remains of three cow elk. As I moved down the ridge toward the private land on the south side, I found even more elk bones—evidence of kills from years past. From a spot where I could glass the private flat below, I climbed back up the ridge on the north side and finally found where the herd had been. At least three different parties had been successful. Each cow elk had been broken down differently. I took note of the contrast between fresh kill sites and older ones—recent versus historical years killed prior. With no living elk located, I texted a friend from HT asking what my next move should be: sit, glass, and wait for the elk to come back. The phrase “DON’T LEAVE ELK TO FIND ELK” played over and over in my head. This 1.5-square-mile area had seen at least ten elk die in four days.
I set up again on the bench and realized I’d made a mistake—I had no tripod, no snacks, and no Jetboil for tea or coffee. I continued moving and glassing different angles. Looking back south, I spotted a guy hiking in to grab one last elk quarter from the rocks.

I spent the rest of the day glassing, then hiked back in the dark. I’d hiked out after dark before—on familiar land, with a buddy, or while packing out an animal—but this time was different. I was completely alone. Using my phone to navigate back to the truck felt unsettling in a way I hadn’t experienced before.

I finally reached the truck, geared down, and started the six-hour drive to the airport hotel—ready to see my wife and our three oldest kids.

The first shows an area where the elk herd had been, and other two show where the elk had been over the last few days.

 

[williaada]

I’ve been trying to get my wife to come out west on a hunt with me for six years. This was the first time it finally happened. She comes from a family who didn’t hunt or fish. Marrying me introduced her to both hobbies…or obsessions, depending on who you ask.

From past trips, I’d learned some lessons: don’t push getting into the field, don’t rush to the next ridge, take things slow. Stop for coffee in the morning even if it means being thirty minutes late. Pack extra snacks. Be patient.

Monday morning we left the hotel, grabbed breakfast, and tried to make a game plan. Some friends I’d met earlier were back in town, and I wanted my wife and kids to meet them. On the way, we stopped at Scheels and bought hiking boots for my daughter and son. They even convinced their mom to ride the Ferris wheel. She’s afraid of heights, but by the end of the trip I think we may have cured that.

We got back to the town where I’d stayed earlier, walked through local shops downtown, and ate at a local diner. It was simple and enjoyable. Later we decided to drive through one of the mountain ranges to a neighboring city. Somewhere along the way, one of the truck’s tires started shedding tread.

We made a beeline to a tire shop in a small town—only to find they didn’t carry our size. We enjoyed the neighboring town, then headed back to the original town where I’d booked a room. On the drive back, we called another tire store and made an appointment. Every western hunting trip I’ve taken, my trucks have had tire or rim issues usually leading to a $200-$2200 bill. This one stayed on theme.

New tires mounted, we were set for the morning. We planned to head back to the same area where the elk had been.Thanks to the time change, getting everyone up wasn’t hard. The kids raided the hotel breakfast bar before we drove to the parking area. The weather had turned overnight—wind chill made it feel like ten degrees out in the open.

My oldest carried his deer hunting pack with water and snacks. I loaded mine with snow pants, my puffy jacket, and extra mittens. Our pace was slow—about one mile per hour. We made it to the meadow and glassed, but didn’t see any elk.

At that point my oldest was struggling. He was cold, moving slow, but toughing it out because he wants to join me next year. Between the lack of elk, the Wyoming wind, and him not acting like himself, I made the call to head back to the truck.

With everyone back at the truck. I made coffee, tea, and cups of soup. After eating, my wife and the two younger kids perked up. My oldest didn’t. We drove to a spot where I’d previously taken work calls and phoned my sister, who’s a doctor. After a quick telemedicine visit, she diagnosed him with altitude sickness.

That made the decision easy. It was time to head home. I still had two more locations I wanted to check, both near a main highway, and one other option—paying a local rancher a trespass fee for a cow elk opportunity. As we drove the gravel roads, we crested a few hills where you couldn’t see the horizon until you were on top. My wife may have yelled some words not fit for a hunting forum. Heights were no longer her biggest fear by the end of the trip.

As we headed east, I kept turning over the idea of paying that trespass fee. Eventually my wife looked at me and said, “It’s time to turn east and get back to Michigan.” So I did.I turned the truck around, backtracked forty-five miles south, and started the long drive home—no elk killed, but a lot of memories made with my wife and our three oldest kids.

Even though this hunt was over a month ago, I’ve tried several times to get back out west to fill a cow tag. Family obligations, work, and especially the travel time to and from Wyoming have made it difficult. That hasn’t bothered me in the past, but it has with this hunt.

I’ve found myself asking:

• Was this hunt a success because I went out on my own and tried? Or was it a failure because I didn’t kill an elk?

• Would paying the trespass fee have made it better—or would it have robbed the hunt of its struggle?

I’m already planning for 2026 hunts. My oldest daughter and son have both told me they want to come along

 

[Addicting]

Killing an elk is hard, even harder when you have family along. But the enjoyment of killing an elk with them is priceless.

What I did when mine were littler was to get a nice place to stay with a pool and restaurant nearby. It makes a big difference in how much you can push them when it’s time to hunt.

Being willing to call it early is absolutely a good thing. Not every tag has to get filled. Family and friends first if you want to have them go again.


Those herds you were hunting are big moving blobs on the landscape. The move around getting bumped from one familiar spot to the next. Could hit all the spots in one day. Once you know a spot stick with it, then it’s just a timing thing.

I would say from my experience and where I’m at now with my kids you are absolutely on the right track. Congrats on a successful trip.

 

[TOGIE]

Learning more with each trip. You'll connect. It's all time well spent.