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Elk Hunting
Elk are where you find them.
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<blockquote data-quote="TopGunner" data-source="post: 536663" data-attributes="member: 34629"><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">Youngbuck makes some excellent points.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">Most of my experience is in Western Montana. I doubt there is a universal rule book of elk behavior. Even in the same drainage I find that different groups of elk behave much differently. Our season runs from early September through the end of November. During that time period the behavior of the elk changes a lot as they enter and leave the rut and according also to the weather and the hunting pressure. In this area there are also extremes of elevation from bottom land at around 3500 to ridges at 7-9 thousand feet. Tie that with the different slope aspects and you have many different conditions of cover, forage and water supply.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">What I have noticed is that there are hunters who consistently hunt for days and never seem to see a thing and there are those who seem to always come back with sightings. The first group seem to say that the elk hunting is really bad and the second seem to consistently bring home the bacon. What I am trying to do here is try to get a bit of a discussion going as to what the difference is between the two groups. What can we share that will help each other improve our skills.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">Elk hunting is, by and large an individual sport. What works for one person, does not necessarily work for another. I do believe, however, that there are some things that will help most people improve their chances of success on the trail of the Elk. Many times it comes down to water, forage and cover.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">I have observed hunters spending days searching for elk on dry south aspects that look like perfect elk country. You can find their Winter droppings and their spring droppings but search as you like there are no elk there- upon examination you find that the watering holes of spring and early summer have dried up and the elk have moved on to more suitable areas.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">Elk are also creatures of habit, I watch the elk from my bedroom window as they visit a mountain side to the west of me. I can count on seeing them in a certain opening, grazing in the evenings about every 2 weeks during the fall months. Often there is a lead cow that guides them in their circles of habitual activities. If that cow gets killed, often it changes the pattern of their activities as another takes the lead.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">For me, success is tied to LUCK and how much I discover about when and where they eat, drink and sleep. In addition it is good to know where they go to hide out when the pressure gets tough. My own success seems to be dependent upon how well I observe and interpret the many signs of elk behavior.</span></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TopGunner, post: 536663, member: 34629"] [SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Youngbuck makes some excellent points.[/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Most of my experience is in Western Montana. I doubt there is a universal rule book of elk behavior. Even in the same drainage I find that different groups of elk behave much differently. Our season runs from early September through the end of November. During that time period the behavior of the elk changes a lot as they enter and leave the rut and according also to the weather and the hunting pressure. In this area there are also extremes of elevation from bottom land at around 3500 to ridges at 7-9 thousand feet. Tie that with the different slope aspects and you have many different conditions of cover, forage and water supply.[/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]What I have noticed is that there are hunters who consistently hunt for days and never seem to see a thing and there are those who seem to always come back with sightings. The first group seem to say that the elk hunting is really bad and the second seem to consistently bring home the bacon. What I am trying to do here is try to get a bit of a discussion going as to what the difference is between the two groups. What can we share that will help each other improve our skills.[/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Elk hunting is, by and large an individual sport. What works for one person, does not necessarily work for another. I do believe, however, that there are some things that will help most people improve their chances of success on the trail of the Elk. Many times it comes down to water, forage and cover.[/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]I have observed hunters spending days searching for elk on dry south aspects that look like perfect elk country. You can find their Winter droppings and their spring droppings but search as you like there are no elk there- upon examination you find that the watering holes of spring and early summer have dried up and the elk have moved on to more suitable areas.[/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Elk are also creatures of habit, I watch the elk from my bedroom window as they visit a mountain side to the west of me. I can count on seeing them in a certain opening, grazing in the evenings about every 2 weeks during the fall months. Often there is a lead cow that guides them in their circles of habitual activities. If that cow gets killed, often it changes the pattern of their activities as another takes the lead.[/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]For me, success is tied to LUCK and how much I discover about when and where they eat, drink and sleep. In addition it is good to know where they go to hide out when the pressure gets tough. My own success seems to be dependent upon how well I observe and interpret the many signs of elk behavior.[/FONT][/SIZE] [/QUOTE]
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