Ambush techniques for elk

[Michael Arnette]

I thought I would ask fellow Tradgang or's some of their ambush techniques and tools as well as literature that may have helped.

As much as I love calling, glassing, stalking, and hiking all over the high country, I will be seriously putting effort into learning ambush techniques as my primary hunting method.

[lt-m-grow]

Totally agree with your findings and plan...sitting small water holes and wallows, trails, and dusting spots have all been valuable.

For folks that haven't hunted elk, they "dust" like turkeys do and when you find a good dusting spot, they are gold.

Found several great ones in Idaho, and not one in MT.  So a bit challenging to track down.

[lt-m-grow]

Another thing that is always a challenge for us old whitetail guys is to constantly remind yourself that elk are herd animals.  

So be thinking that when you find one of the spots mentioned, that it isn't the water or the dusting spots etc. per se, it is a good place to be social.

[J. Cook]

My cousin moved from WV (where we grew up) to Idaho for a few years cruising timber back in the 90's.  After many failures trying some of the more prevalent elk methods, he eventually went back to "his roots" as a mountain whitetail hunter and became very successful at filling tags using a loc-on style treestand over heavily used trails.  He took some good ridicule from the local guys he hung with, until he started filling a tag pretty regularly with his bow and treestand.

[JimB]

Elk can be tough as often change bedding areas daily as well as routes to and from feeding areas.They use the thermals a lot,too.I have a place where they go up a canyon,in the morning,after feeding all night in irrigated fields.They leave very early and the problem is,you can't set up in the canyon as the thermals are blasting them right in the face.

Now when they come out in the evening,they come late.Usually,the thermals are then,at their backs but often they are coming down after dark.But sometimes,every once in awhile,they come down the canyon a few minutes before legal shooting time ends.I set up a place to sit,near a big fir tree and just have to hope they come on that trail and early enough to shoot.Either way,it will be a short hunt.If anything happens,it will be in the last half hour before dark.These elk are silent too.I'm not sure if calling would work or not.

Where I am,the thermals are the tricky part.I like sitting though.

[highlow]

I'm curious as to why this thread. You have already taken one. Just trying to even the odds even more?

[Michael Arnette]

...already scheming for next year  

[Keith Zimmerman]

Nothing like a good book about Colorado history, some cow calls, and a place to sit for a couple hours.  It works.

My brother talked his hunting partner (a runner and gunner) into it yesterday and he shot a 5X5 at 9 steps with his recurve.

[Tater]

After 30+ years chasing Elk, a lot depends on the terrain that you hunt. Open country above timberline where you can glass and stalk plan your stalk or ambush can work.

   Most of the country I have hunted is thick forest below timberline, I have had better results finding wallows, bedding areas, and feeding areas. Sit wallows in the mid day and trails between bedding areas and feeding areas early and late. Patience, patience, and did I mention patience pays off.
   Tree stands in either of these locations can be a  plus!

[tracker12]

I killed about a dozen or so elk with a gun before taking them on with a bow.  All but 2 were killed while on stand watching trails.  On my first bow hunt I chased elk for 15 days trying to all one in range.  Ended up killing my bull while hunting a trail that led to a water hole.

[joe ashton]

My best tactic is to set a tree stand over water. Mind you that has not worked so far this year....but
It's been productive in years past.

[ChuckC]

I am thinking part of the reason I chase elk is for the walking and glassing and stalking etc.  Formerly the calling and noise making.  

I am pretty certain that well placed blinds would be WAY more apt to produce shots, but getting over the rest of the story is tough for me.
ChuckC

[lt-m-grow]

Originally posted by ChuckC:
I am thinking part of the reason I chase elk is for the walking and glassing and stalking etc.  Formerly the calling and noise making.  

I am pretty certain that well placed blinds would be WAY more apt to produce shots, but getting over the rest of the story is tough for me.
ChuckC

I agree with this sentiment totally, as being in, seeing, and chasing bugles in the mountains is elk hunting to me.  It is great.

But if you want elk killing with the hunting it is also important to note that sitting is a very good technique and often not obvious to some.

The good news is you can do both...I run, gun, scout some and sit some.  Makes for a great hunt.

It is also dang hard to be on your feet moving for two straight weeks.  The first week yeah, no problem.  Come the second week, it can be a grind and loses its luster too.

[old_goat2]

Be in a place with lots of elk!

[Michael Arnette]

Originally posted by ChuckC:
I am thinking part of the reason I chase elk is for the walking and glassing and stalking etc.  Formerly the calling and noise making.  

I am pretty certain that well placed blinds would be WAY more apt to produce shots, but getting over the rest of the story is tough for me.
ChuckC

Definitely agree with this, I love stalking, calling, and especially seeing different and new areas! Like I said lots of shots 40-60 yards. Unfortunately it just hasn't produce shots inside 25 yards consistently enough for me in the terrain I was hunting. I suppose spot and stalk would work pretty good
but in southern Colorado it's rare to see elk out in the open.

[two4hooking]

I'll be watching this thread.  Good tips already guys.    

[Montanawidower]

We have done both... A friend of mine that use to frequent this site, Randy Morin, has killed several really big montana bulls sitting water.  He has given up the run and gun.  

I sit all of November for Whitetails. For elk, I will chase and call as long as I'm physically able.  

Regarding lots of longer shots, I hear you.  I could have killed a semi truck full of bulls in the 40-60 yard range over the last 25 years, but that's just it.   The elk a guy kills on the ground, chasing is a huge accomplishment. You have to do it really appreciate it.  

 I would rather fill my freezer with whitetails (we can shoot 6 a year out here) and go elkless chasing, then kill one every year sitting.  

That's the drug I'm chasing.... I guess my suggestion, is keep chasing.  You'll be old soon enough.

[Michael Arnette]

Chasing elk is fun that's for sure, I like th and physical aspect of it

[KSdan]

Paul Medel aka "Elknut" has some interesting things to say about this.  I talked to him about hunting active wallows all day (blind, stand, etc).  He thinks it can be productive.  One insight he gave me was that when you arrive at a wallow in the AM, you may let out ONE call and maybe even splash some.  HOWEVER- a bull (maybe he means a satellite) will often bed near the wallow during the day.  And at some point that bull wants to come to the wallow ALONE! He does not want conflict. So, during the day at some point he may let out a whistle or other vocalization to see if the wallow is now clear (no other elk around!).  The ONE thing Paul said: DO NOT respond with a call!  If that bull thinks another elk is at the wallow, he will either avoid it or certainly try to come in downwind.  This makes sense.

I have only elk hunted 3 times, run and gun.  Good experiences and encounters like you Michael-but no elk harvested.  So I know little.  But, some fall soon I want to try far more strategic glassing and stand hunting. Paul gave me some interesting insights/perspective.    

Dan in KS