where and how?
- Thread starter muzz
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B_BOP_A_LU_LU
Guest
Come on Muzz!
My young son released several raghorn Bulls in 2 days!
Of Course the Big Boy gave us the slip!
I do know one thing,if you're hunting them like you hunt Deer you might wanna change your tactics!
It is aggravating to know LAZY ASS road hunters will always shoot a few Bulls but just think,if it wasn't for people like us going back in a ways & stirrin stuff up them road hunters would be helpless!
God is Great!
Life is Good!
And People are Crazy!
I love not acting my age,
Damn I love my NASCAR race,
And Hell yes I love my Truck!
My young son released several raghorn Bulls in 2 days!
Of Course the Big Boy gave us the slip!
I do know one thing,if you're hunting them like you hunt Deer you might wanna change your tactics!
It is aggravating to know LAZY ASS road hunters will always shoot a few Bulls but just think,if it wasn't for people like us going back in a ways & stirrin stuff up them road hunters would be helpless!
God is Great!
Life is Good!
And People are Crazy!
Damn I love my NASCAR race,
And Hell yes I love my Truck!
"I do know one thing,if you're hunting them like you hunt Deer you might wanna change your tactics!"
...and visa-versa.
Make sure you are hunting in an area with elk. One thing I did learn from deer hunting to apply to elk is that glassing at dawn and dusk is rewarding. I'm not a great elk hunter but usually fill the tag. Hunt all day. Take breaks throughout the day, have a snack, take the boots off for 20 minutes to let your feet breath. Drink LOTS of water. Sunup to sundown hunting can be very rewarding, but you need to pace yourself. During a time of year when there are a lot of hunters, they will moving around a lot so cover a lot of ground. AND.... hunt where the other hunters aren't willing or don't think to go. Pick your way through those thick north slopes, hit those little patches close to the roads, look for those little areas that you've not noticed anyone hunting for the last couple of years. This can be both simple and rewarding. I look for little areas, maybe a square mile--often within site of heavily hunted areas where no one seems to go. They aren't always the steep hell holes either. Elk will move to where they feel the least pressure.
...and visa-versa.
Make sure you are hunting in an area with elk. One thing I did learn from deer hunting to apply to elk is that glassing at dawn and dusk is rewarding. I'm not a great elk hunter but usually fill the tag. Hunt all day. Take breaks throughout the day, have a snack, take the boots off for 20 minutes to let your feet breath. Drink LOTS of water. Sunup to sundown hunting can be very rewarding, but you need to pace yourself. During a time of year when there are a lot of hunters, they will moving around a lot so cover a lot of ground. AND.... hunt where the other hunters aren't willing or don't think to go. Pick your way through those thick north slopes, hit those little patches close to the roads, look for those little areas that you've not noticed anyone hunting for the last couple of years. This can be both simple and rewarding. I look for little areas, maybe a square mile--often within site of heavily hunted areas where no one seems to go. They aren't always the steep hell holes either. Elk will move to where they feel the least pressure.
elkhunterUT
Very Active Member
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- 2,862
Muzz,
Where are you hunting and how are you hunting? Any bull units or spike/LE units? I don't know if you are being literal when you say you haven't seen a single elk, but I honestly don't see how that is even possible if you are hunting a spike/LE unit (I can definitely understand if it is on a general open bull area as elk #'s are much less dense and get the crap hunted out of them).
No insult to you, but I can't even fathom going out pretty much anywhere on the Wasatch or Manti unit and not seeing elk. Maybe hit one of those areas and find you a good high vantage point to glass and listen from or find a good, long, dark canyon with thick pines on a north facing slope and SLOWLY work your way through the area with the wind in your face. You are bound to trip on an elk at some point. If you are not seeing fresh elk sign in the area you are in, you need to move on until you find fresh sign. Hunt where the elk are or you will just be out for a hike with your gun in hand.
Good luck - I hope you find one!!
Where are you hunting and how are you hunting? Any bull units or spike/LE units? I don't know if you are being literal when you say you haven't seen a single elk, but I honestly don't see how that is even possible if you are hunting a spike/LE unit (I can definitely understand if it is on a general open bull area as elk #'s are much less dense and get the crap hunted out of them).
No insult to you, but I can't even fathom going out pretty much anywhere on the Wasatch or Manti unit and not seeing elk. Maybe hit one of those areas and find you a good high vantage point to glass and listen from or find a good, long, dark canyon with thick pines on a north facing slope and SLOWLY work your way through the area with the wind in your face. You are bound to trip on an elk at some point. If you are not seeing fresh elk sign in the area you are in, you need to move on until you find fresh sign. Hunt where the elk are or you will just be out for a hike with your gun in hand.
Good luck - I hope you find one!!
muzz
Long Time Member
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- 3,281
LAST EDITED ON Oct-13-10 AT 01:54PM (MST)[p]I hunt any bull units, I have hunted Monte, flaming gorge, and around lapoint and white rocks, and this year soap stone basin area. I honestly dont see elk. I see fresh sign but dont see them. I have no idea what the hell I am doing wrong but i dont see them. Hardest damn things I have ever hunted. I admire the ones who can kill them, and the ones that kill them or see them every year just blow my mind. I can see them and find them before the hunts and after the hunts but when i have a tag and gun in hand I am screwed. Very dissaponting.
O--one
B--big
A--ass
M--mistake
A--america
O--one
B--big
A--ass
M--mistake
A--america
one_dryboot
Long Time Member
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- 5,045
LAST EDITED ON Oct-13-10 AT 03:01PM (MST)[p]my first few years hunting elk I went many days, even hunts without seeing an elk. They kicked my butt. I kept trying new spots, moving, hiking until I finally found elk. It takes time and luck to find a good spot on an any bull unit. The few spots I have found are out of the way and very few others hunt there. Its an area that I feel I can kill an elk every year and have done so when I hunt it. Once you find a good area stick with it and it will pay off for years to come.
E
ELKHUNTER66
Guest
well iam not sure where you hunt and how you hunt but if you are like the 90% of the uinta basin elk hunters my suggestion would be get up early drive to where you hunt and shut the truck off and sit there till 8 or 9 or better yet get out of the truck. i cant figure out where theses hunters think a pickup running or bouncing through the trees is going to call elk to them but over 70% of hunters i seen this week pull out right where someone is setting and sit there with there truck runnig i can promise someone dose it to me i will burn my tag on a dodge,ford or a chevy they might not eat well but it will get good fuel milage
swbuckmaster
Long Time Member
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- 5,004
LAST EDITED ON Oct-14-10 AT 11:28PM (MST)[p]It sounds like bad Karma. Some people have bad Karma and just dont see a dang thing.
I have bad Karma but at least i can see them. I can get as close as 30 yards but can never get a shot because the stinking brush is always in the way.
Maybe one of these days ill just shoot it in the eye or neck. I could hit its eye at 30 yards and maybe end my bad Karma of not getting a shot!!
There are no big bucks in Utah! LOL
I have bad Karma but at least i can see them. I can get as close as 30 yards but can never get a shot because the stinking brush is always in the way.
Maybe one of these days ill just shoot it in the eye or neck. I could hit its eye at 30 yards and maybe end my bad Karma of not getting a shot!!
There are no big bucks in Utah! LOL
M
Muleymonster
Guest
If I didn't know better I would think I was the OP, I cant find those damn things either, 8 years and nothing, I'll stick to deer hunting.
BLooDTRaCKeR
Very Active Member
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My advise...Once you find an area that shows good elk sign, go to that spot every morning or evening until you fill your tag. This has worked for my dad and I for the last 8 years. I just got back today from my general season elk hunt here in utah and was successful yet again. Not just me but my dad too. We both shot our bulls this week. Yes it was a tough hunt. It didn't help that the hunt was pushed back a week this year either. I'll post pics and story shortly on a new thread...
M
moose
Guest
it all starts with the type of year, and where the elk might be on there migration..you need to learn where the elk like to be in july,august (pre-rut), september (rut time, and pre-migrating time), october , november, etc..... take for instance this year it has been a really wet june and july, and a bone dry august and september, lot's of feed up high, lots of bugs, take for instance, you talked about the basin..the fish and gut's flew last month for there mt. goat count, and mention the bollies (mt. tops) were covered with elk..this year on the open hunt, very few success, even the ute tribe, why because they have not came out yet, really warm fall, no snow, lot's of feed, why leave the high country..you will always have elk the live pretty much same area year round, but the majority have a migration route.....hopefully this helps
