Elk Hunting Questions

[Smithwess]

Okay, I've been trying to hunt elk for several years now with no success. We've tried a lot of stuff in a lot of areas without ever seeing an elk during the season or even getting a response. Hopefully some of you successful guys can answer a few questions that can help. Hunting in Alberta if that makes a difference.

1. What time of year do you find they start/stop bugling?
2. How long after you bugle do you wait for a response?
3. Have you seen elk that just don't respond in an area no matter if it's peak rut or not?
4. What times of day are best for elk to respond?
5. Do you find them more hunting into valleys or up into hills?
6. Any easy ways to differentiate bull tracks from cows?
7. How far off the road do you go to call?

Last weekend we found lots of older sign of what appears to be herds and wallows and found fresh sign from single elk or two but no response or elk seen. We walked 25km or so over the 3 days into areas we thought they'd be off of sign and also drove and called into valleys and up into hills without hearing a peep or seeing any. Thanks in advance guys.

 

[WhelanLad]

check out born an raised outdoors on youtube.... perhaps hushin, an the hunting public... consume yourself with information, seek what you need, put to use in field, save several more years no sightings....

have you ever visioned yourself shootin an elk? thats a good place to start...

bottom line, is they wont tell you where an what time or day but they do mention alot of experience information that a wiley hunter can pickup the pieces... example, when its "gun season" they aint doin what they were doin in archery season, hunt smarter, not harder my friend

 

[BlackRam]

1. What time of year do you find they start/stop bugling?
Elk will bugle all year long, nit just during the rut. It is just more prolific at this time.
2. How long after you bugle do you wait for a response?
1/2 hr as a minimum, some will not respond, but can still slip in to investigate
3. Have you seen elk that just don't respond in an area no matter if it's peak rut or not?
Yes. In many areas elk are so call shy because guys jump out of their truck or off their atv, call, wait a minute or two and then jump back in/on and drive away.
Many people over call.
If you drove close the area you want to call, get away from the vehicle, or better yet, get someone to drive it away as you hike to your calling area and wait a while before calling. Use the cow call more than the bugle...but do so sparingly. Lost cow calls work great to start with.
4. What times of day are best for elk to respond?
Anytime can work, but if you know the area and the herd, it is better, as you will know where and when to set up for calling. Watch your moon phases, as it can effect the elk movement to/from feeding/bedding areas. A straggling cow or calf can get separated from the main part of the herd, and this is where the lost cow call comes into play. Pre-rut, a locator bugle works better. In the heat of the rut, a rut crazed herd will also make a difference in how you call. Post rut, the lone hot cow can really work on bulls looking for that late cow, and have now left their harems and are roaming in search of that late cow.
5. Do you find them more hunting into valleys or up into hills?
This is really dependent upon the area and where the best bedding areas are, water and feeding areas are in close proximity to the bedding areas. Elk have areas that they move to/from for the various seasons (calving/ summer/breeding/winter), and this varies from region to region, but can be 25-50 miles in their circuit. Terrain will vary according to the region. Watch winds and thermals. Bedding areas that carry these thermals and still provide good cover, and escape routes will be those preferred by the herd. Watch the cows. The lead cow is the one that controls the herd and where they go.
6. Any easy ways to differentiate bull tracks from cows?
Size and length of stride.
Watch for the droppings. A bull's dropping will be slightly pinched/dented, compared to the cow's more uniform pellets.
7. How far off the road do you go to call?
Typically, the further, the better. But this can be dependent upon the area or property you are hunting.

 

[pipeliner]

This time of year I’d only use bugles to locate and to challenge a bull when close to his cows. To lure one in this time of year, cow calling will be your friend.

Your action will most likely be during the first half hour of light and the last half hour of light. If you ain’t getting in early and out late, you’re doing it wrong in my opinion.

I have been in areas where you’d swear there weren’t any elk around if you just went by sound. Wolves and hunting pressure can make them go silent, even during the rut. They rely just as much on scent as they do sound, so calling really isn’t that necessary for them.

I have heard elk bugle as late as November. They could bugle year round for all I know but I haven’t heard a bugle from December to august before.

I’ve personally taken 3 bulls in Alberta and helped get two for friends. There are plenty of elk around, I wish we had as many in Manitoba. Stick with it and I’m sure you’ll get it sorted out. I have killed 11 bulls over the years and only recently did I start calling. Called in 9 bulls this September and saw three go down. Calling is fun but not necessary, the most essential keys to success are figuring out where they are feeding and where they are bedding. Without that intel, you won’t be successful without luck on your side.

 

[guy329]

...the most essential keys to success are figuring out where they are feeding and where they are bedding. Without that intel, you won’t be successful without luck on your side.

This makes sense.

I've never used calling, so I'm no help there, but if you can sit undetected between their bed and their food you will see them eventually. Almost always at dawn or dusk.

They're too smart and there's usually too many of them, to sneak-up on. You might get lucky, but it is unlikely.

 

[jbmauser]

Cow calling is where it's at. Bugling can sometimes be useful locating or challenging a bull with cows but 90% of the elk I've shot have been called in or located with a cow call. Including cows and calves. I do most of my hunting in a pretty remote location only accessible by atv and have shot elk pretty close to the trail but in my experience they avoid the roads/atv trails during the day and head up into thick cover shortly after daylight. Cover ground. If you're not seeing sign in an area, move on and look elsewhere. You might have to hike a lot more than 25km's to locate them. Once you do find an area where there is good sign, spend time learning that area. This can take several seasons but once you know it well and how the elk use it and move through it, you can be successful on a regular basis.

 

[Longwalker]

I don't have much to add to the above, but to say you've received very good advice that matches my experience in East central Saskatchewan, not the mountains. But Elk have basically the same habits wherever they are found. Scout the area thoroughly well before the season, Bugle much less or not at all, cow call occasionally, don't disturb bedding areas, hunt the travel corridors early and late in the day, don't try to drive any kind of vehicle near elk, watch the wind and your scent, etc. I've shot 29 elk over the last 32 years.

 

[jbmauser]

I don't have much to add to the above, but to say you've received very good advice that matches my experience in East central Saskatchewan, not the mountains. But Elk have basically the same habits wherever they are found. Scout the area thoroughly well before the season, Bugle much less or not at all, cow call occasionally, don't disturb bedding areas, hunt the travel corridors early and late in the day, don't try to drive any kind of vehicle near elk, watch the wind and your scent, etc. I've shot 29 elk over the last 32 years.

Nice record! I think mine is 16 in 21 years of elk hunting.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

I've been trying to hunt elk for several years now with no success.

Sounds like you need to go back to square one and study your quarry thoroughly. A lot of the seasons don't open until the rut is over, so bugling is almost pointless, but a cow call works year round. Best chances of success are during one of the late season draw hunts. My neighbor tags out every year , he hunts the farming country of central, northern Alberta.

Grizz