Bullshot
Well-known member
I am looking for some insight from people who hunt elk in circumstances I might soon find myself. Or at least think so based on the ol' google earth review. I'll set the stage, then I am looking for any salt-of-the-earth advice on what elk do and where you would focus during the heavy pressure of a general rifle season which follows the previous heavy pressure of a general archery season.
- A relatively small but long/narrow mountain range with a dispersed low to moderate elk population, surrounded by heavily populated areas that would inhibit an early migration off the mountain
-Prolific road network with few areas more than a mile deep
-Steep craggy spots, but a lack of true thousand-foot deep/high hell hole sanctuaries
-Relatively moderate elevations overall (no alpine/high country)
-Mixed vegetation that is semi-open to very open conifer/aspens, dominated in between and below by low scrub and grass
-Many steep v shaped gullys/drainages off the sides.
First, I am confident there are elk scattered thinly throughout the forest, roughly speaking. Maybe west side is slightly better than east, and north slightly better than south (or who knows, probably only the locals). I also suspect they are not all parked in one isolated sanctuary, and also that isolated in this context will not be by distance, but by slopes and deadfall probably. But will the elk just hunker down and wait the season out, moving only at night, if at all, like heavily pressured deer? Or will there be a lot of random/panicked movement across the landscape in response to hunter activity daily? Mid Oct, will bulls be solo or with other bulls or still with cows? Is it generally better to park on a funnel or a saddles and wait for one to get kicked around. Or better to roll up the sleeves and be the one doing the kicking of the rough spots (i hate the idea of moving the elk out of their holes, just for another guy's benefit... but if NOBODY does this, it could make for a quiet hunt). I just don't expect this to be a glassing/spot/stalk kind of hunt. I expect it to be different than my usual experience which is with elk that have more room to move deep, thus, where I tell myself if I work harder than the masses, I should do well, though stay realistic that I am probably only outworking say 1/2 of the hunters anyway, and not even that far in to do so. In this upcoming case, I think I will just be another number, everyone with relatively easy access, and any thoughts that I am getting in farther than any body else are likely false. So any words of advice? Thanks!
- A relatively small but long/narrow mountain range with a dispersed low to moderate elk population, surrounded by heavily populated areas that would inhibit an early migration off the mountain
-Prolific road network with few areas more than a mile deep
-Steep craggy spots, but a lack of true thousand-foot deep/high hell hole sanctuaries
-Relatively moderate elevations overall (no alpine/high country)
-Mixed vegetation that is semi-open to very open conifer/aspens, dominated in between and below by low scrub and grass
-Many steep v shaped gullys/drainages off the sides.
First, I am confident there are elk scattered thinly throughout the forest, roughly speaking. Maybe west side is slightly better than east, and north slightly better than south (or who knows, probably only the locals). I also suspect they are not all parked in one isolated sanctuary, and also that isolated in this context will not be by distance, but by slopes and deadfall probably. But will the elk just hunker down and wait the season out, moving only at night, if at all, like heavily pressured deer? Or will there be a lot of random/panicked movement across the landscape in response to hunter activity daily? Mid Oct, will bulls be solo or with other bulls or still with cows? Is it generally better to park on a funnel or a saddles and wait for one to get kicked around. Or better to roll up the sleeves and be the one doing the kicking of the rough spots (i hate the idea of moving the elk out of their holes, just for another guy's benefit... but if NOBODY does this, it could make for a quiet hunt). I just don't expect this to be a glassing/spot/stalk kind of hunt. I expect it to be different than my usual experience which is with elk that have more room to move deep, thus, where I tell myself if I work harder than the masses, I should do well, though stay realistic that I am probably only outworking say 1/2 of the hunters anyway, and not even that far in to do so. In this upcoming case, I think I will just be another number, everyone with relatively easy access, and any thoughts that I am getting in farther than any body else are likely false. So any words of advice? Thanks!