bucksnbulls25
New member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2019
- Messages
- 8
So, as we all know, a bulls whereabouts are going to change throughout the year depending on it's needs during that time of year, as well as external factors such as weather and hunting pressure. Being somewhat new to western hunting (about 5 years experience), I haven't been able to experience a hunt during the rut, or to observe elk behavior this time of year.
So my question would be, in map study preparation for a rut hunt, what kind of areas do you like to target? For example, on post-rut hunts, you look for sanctuary areas where they can recover and escape hunting pressure, late season hunts target open south and west facing feeding areas, etc. Being that they have one thing and one thing only on their minds during the rut, are you solely looking for areas that you believe to hold resident cows? For me, that would simply mean finding the best grazing meadows, regardless of direction orientation, elevation, and other factors, and calling above and below these meadows, but I don't have any experience hunting elk that time of year. What are the distinguishing factors of a good rut area that set them apart? How do slope direction of orientation and elevation play into the picture during this phase of the season?
So my question would be, in map study preparation for a rut hunt, what kind of areas do you like to target? For example, on post-rut hunts, you look for sanctuary areas where they can recover and escape hunting pressure, late season hunts target open south and west facing feeding areas, etc. Being that they have one thing and one thing only on their minds during the rut, are you solely looking for areas that you believe to hold resident cows? For me, that would simply mean finding the best grazing meadows, regardless of direction orientation, elevation, and other factors, and calling above and below these meadows, but I don't have any experience hunting elk that time of year. What are the distinguishing factors of a good rut area that set them apart? How do slope direction of orientation and elevation play into the picture during this phase of the season?