Elk hunting advice

Dfbshaw

Dfbshaw

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Regina
Hi everyone,
My brother and I were drawn for elk and as this is only our second year hunting id like to ask for some advice. We scouted out a likely area and found lots of fresh sign--tracks, poop, beds etc. We bought ground blinds, cow calls, cow urine. I loaded up some 180gr Accubonds for my 308 and zeroed my scope for them. Knives are sharpened, back pack stuffed with rope, game bags, bug dope and MREs. My questions...
Do you guys hunt from ground blinds and from what times?
Do you use cow urine wicks, hand them near the blinds or maybe 80-100 yards away?
When do you use calls? When you see/hear elk, randomly?
Gut the elk or use gutless method of butchering?
Is it okay to camp/ have a small fire near your hunting area?
Anyone slept in their blind?
Is it okay to go grouse hunting in the daytime..near or far from hunting area?


Sorry for all the questions but my brother and I have different opinions on all these questions and I thought id ask the board.
If all goes well, I'll be posting pictures soon.
Cheers,
Dean
 
Ground blinds work but tree blinds might give better visibility and less chance of being discovered by them. However you have to build it and too close to season might disturb them without time to get used to it (don't know anybody who's used a tree blind).
Seen elk at all times of day but first couple hours and last hour of daylight is normally when I've found most. Can you hunt before official sunrise and after official sunset like in Alberta? Personally I'm reluctant to take a shot too close to last light in case I have to track it down.
Don't hang scents near your position, you don't want them keying in on you. Also consider wind direction if you can, crosswind might be best but what positions you most favorably?
A few people I know use calls, gotta assume some critters came in/by that they wouldn't otherwise have seen. Plus it could stop a moving critter for a shot, assuming it isn't spooked. Don't call too much, again you don't want them keying in on you.
Gut it. Tenderloins, less hair and possible dirt all over it. In Alberta you must retrieve all edible meat and some Enforcement Officers might include the rib meat therefore ending you up in court. Some expense and hassle involved even if you win.
Define close. I'd suggest no closer than a mile from camp to hunt site but to be honest that's not based on any scientific fact.
The more time you spend in your blind, the more you chance you have of stinking up or otherwise compromising the area and tipping them off. So don't overnight in it.
Sure go chase some birds in the middle of the day but take your rifle/bow along, you never know. But not close to your hunting area.
Good luck!
 
Sept 24 is Go day for me I'll be staking out feeding areas AM and PM as well as using my bugle and cow call, not to mention glassing bedding areas during the day. Key times of day are dawn and and dark as you can legally shoot. Mine will be a mountain hunt, so a little easier to spot the buggars. Find em one night, snuff em the next has worked well in the past. ;)

Grizz
 
In one sense tree stands would be ok, especially setup on a wallow.

I think you need to be on the ground, and be mobile....be set-up and if they are not coming into your calls, move and be setup closer. Randomly call (cow and bull). You get a bull bugling back at you, go in and get setup and cow chirp with the odd bugle back.

We camp right in the middle of prime elk/moose country......sometimes have had animals come right into camp....fire going, chopping wood.

Have FUN !!!
 
Thanks for the advice fellas,
The spot we were going to try has trails all over with a large meadow and water source in the middle. This was the most open and we thought would provide the best opportunity at a clean shot. The meadow measured just under 200 yards across. We were thinking of going out for only three nights(got a 6 wk old baby at home) and thought of camping about a kilometre away, my bro wanted to sleep in the truck.
There is a oil rig nearby and I can smell the petroleum in the air and trucks come and go, but the was fresh sign all over when we scouted it out, so I thought the elk must be used to the human scent.

I think we will lay off the calls the first day or so because we have reed calls and are total newbies at using them. Hunting for grouse certainly appeals but we will head off a couple of klicks before shooting...while bringing our rifles just in case.

We don't have quads but there are trails and service roads all over for the truck, but I will watch a bunch of field dressing videos. I liked the ease of the gutless method but I will not waste any meat from the animal.

We also saw tons of wild boar sign, fresh that day and would love to bust a mobile bacon factory. If you had a shot on one, would you take it or wait until you filled the elk tag? Our goal, besides the fun and camaraderie, is to fill the freezer.

Thanks so much all who replied and please if anyone else wants to chime in, this brand new hunter would surely appreciate it.
Cheers,
Dean
 
Mighty Peace said:
In one sense tree stands would be ok, especially setup on a wallow.

I think you need to be on the ground, and be mobile....be set-up and if they are not coming into your calls, move and be setup closer. Randomly call (cow and bull). You get a bull bugling back at you, go in and get setup and cow chirp with the odd bugle back.

We camp right in the middle of prime elk/moose country......sometimes have had animals come right into camp....fire going, chopping wood.

Have FUN !!!
Click to expand...

Elk are a herd animal. Lots of eyes looking for danger and usually some old cow is a self assumed sentry. Don't let her spot you. ;)

Grizz
 
Dfbshaw said:
...
We also saw tons of wild boar sign, fresh that day and would love to bust a mobile bacon factory. If you had a shot on one, would you take it or wait until you filled the elk tag? Our goal, besides the fun and camaraderie, is to fill the freezer.

...
Click to expand...

I want wild boar, too, but they aren't a game animal in Saskatchewan so no season (i.e. never out of season) and no limit. I wouldn't risk blowing an elk opportunity. Go back later for the boar.
 
If you can get in early, during the day walk the area, find where they cross openings or water. Sit on it.

This has netted me an elk every year for 13 except for when we were in the arctic for 2 years.... Messing with scents and calls just adds in things you can screw up.

The other hint I can add, is if wolves move in while you're camping, move somewhere else. The elk clear out.
 
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