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| Advice for Elk Hunters Photography by Bill Kinney |
Assuming you have an idea of the area in which you are hunting, begin scouting as soon as possible. Hunting begins around September time, but scouting can start as early as you want it too, and we recommend EARLY. Early August is a good time to begin because the thing about elk, and most animals for that matter, is that they are a creatures of habit. They get used to using the same path, traveling to the same grazing area, and even the time of day and year that they do it. So, start early so that you can begin to understand what it is you are hunting, that way by the time hunting season comes around you will know exactly what it is you are attempting to do and what you are looking for.
The first thing to realize is that elk have different grounds for feeding, breeding, the seasons, etc. In summer the elk will be on high, open, grazing fields because they are cooler, but still a good source of grazing. In the fall season, rut, they tend to move around for breeding purposes and to find food. When searching for these "Elk Parks" look for a high elevation meadow on the mountainside. This open field will be green and surrounded by trees. (Think of them in the sense of cattle and their grazing and migrating habits, it may help you to better understand their movements.) The reason you will want to be looking for elk in the late summer months is because they will soon be travelling down from the mountains and you need to make sure there are elk in the area to be travelling to find. If you aren't able to find them in the summer there is a good chance they aren't going to be there in the fall either. Another advantage of scouting is that you can also get a good idea of the number of elk in the area and the count of bucks and does.
As the time draws nearer to the hunt and the elk start to move down from their "parks" begin glassing and looking for sign. Start by searching for water sources. Every animal needs water and elk are no exception. If you begin finding rubs or wallows around the area you are headed in the right direction! Rubs can be anywhere along the paths and are a definite sign of bulls. Wallows will be dust and mud pits and mean that the elk use that area often enough to leave some sign. Scouting elk involves a lot of foot work, so be sure that you are prepared to go hiking through the mountains. it is recommended that you train for elk hunting because it is a very strenuous activity and requires you to be in shape. If you are travelling to the mountains to hunt, but live in a lower elevation, work out by running hills and give yourself a couple days to become acclimated to the mountain air. Elevation sickness is real and can be serious if not handled correctly.
When glassing and scouting a very important thing to do is simply sit and listen. Many you just want to run around like crazy until you spot something, but although this covers a lot of ground, you can also lose some vital information if you do it too quickly. Find an open area where you are able to observe a large area of land. Survey with your binoculars searching for clearings, potential paths, water sources, and elk. Most importantly as you sit take the time to listen. Elk will bugle in communication with other elk and this is important to hear so that you know there are elk in the area and that they are active. You can bugle on your own as well and listen closely to see if they answer, but DO NOT overdo it. This is probably one of the biggest mistakes people make. An elk does not continuously bugle and will not answer if you do. Keep bugling to a minimum and be sure to listen for any faint noises you may hear. Also be aware that if you know there are wolves in the area the elk tend to bugle less so don't be discouraged if you aren't hearing anything.
When out scouting remember to be aware of the wind. Take the wind into account, because it is one of the most important factors when out hunting. Screwing up the wind can ruin your chances, so don't forget about it! Regularly use a wind tester to determine direction. Wind tends to swirl through the mountains and frequently changes direction making it difficult to follow, but try and stay down wind of any elk you may find. Upwind from them will immediately alert them to your presence.
Another important thing to remember when out hunting is to reference a map of the area. It can give you a good idea of where they may be and what areas to look. You can also utilize it to highlight their paths and where you found sign. Make two copies, one kept as reference and the other to be drawn on and marked. Also remember a compass and to pack an emergency pack. This is essential and part of the being prepared stage of hunting. Never leave for a hunt with out first knowing what you are expecting and having a plan. The most enjoyable and successful hunt is one where you simply hunt, not worry about all the problems you just encountered. Do research and know what you are getting into...(Of course you are already reading this so it is assumed you know this! Best of luck to you!)
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