The mid-day hunt for elk

SteelieP17 · Aug 1, 2006

I was just wondering what other people thought about hunting elk in the middle of the day, specifically with a bow. Over the last three years I have become a huge believer in the mid-day hunt. About 85-90% of my encounters with elk have happened between 10:00am-3:00pm. We all know the old advice about hunting early morning and late evening, which of course works. But I'm finding I "get into 'em" more as the day progresses and I find it hard to resist sleeping in some days

. Part of it I suppose is that the thermals change from downhill to uphill at about 10 am everyday in the West. And the fact that a mature elk has to eat for something like 13-15 hours a day during the rut. And, I suspect (mere opinion), even with heavy pressure, bulls will rut heavy all night, rest in the morning, and get back after it in the late morning. I think they move a lot more during the day than most people realize. I was just curious what other people thought and what their experiences have been because my friends and I debate this a lot.

Cowboy · Aug 1, 2006

I agree with you. I have found bulls cruising bedding cover regularly during the rut late morning and mid-day. Ridges above north slope jungles are great locations to cow call.

AZBULLS · Aug 1, 2006

This is interesting... It has been my experience the bulls do quiet down at the times listed, but I am one who has been taught those times are bedding times. Curious to see the responses to this post.

rackem406 · Aug 1, 2006

I would say that there is a lot that goes into determining the times you should be out hunting and a lot of people who used to take a nap at noon are now saying that you shouldn't be sleeping. Weather, moon phase, thirst, intensity of the rut and other things all play a factor in when they will be out and about.

Then it is all thrown out the window when a cow has peaked and is nearby. If you smell that stench be ready to chase bulls, cause it don't matter what time it is.

***************************************************************
?Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!?
~George Carlin

RockyMtnOyster · Aug 1, 2006

Mid day is naptime for me, I need my beauty sleep

lifeisgood · Aug 2, 2006

The wind is so unstable mid day in most places I hunt youre better to leave the elk alone or youll do more harm than good. Encounters? Yes, lots of em mid day. PRODUCTIVE encounters? Very low ratiow comparative when the wind is stable and the bulls are more vocal (early morning and late evening). Mid day hunts CAN be productive, but they can also chase the elk you'r hunting to the next state.

life IS good

ELKMASTER101 · Aug 2, 2006

(2) 6 POINT BULLS happened in mid day hunting.
I spend the whole day hunting.
though there are times i sit and waite durning the noon rush,
seams like every cow and bull get u streatch their legs grab a bite to eat.
maybe hit the drinking fountion, then it back to their blankies.
good bet is if you come across a watering hole that is muddied up,
in a couple hours it will have actiion again.

Wailing4Wapiti · Aug 2, 2006

I like to take a nap by a water hole or crossing point during mid day. (Or in my saftey harness in my tresstand) I don't bust through likely bedding areas as I do believe it will move the elk out of an area. However, I have had many positive encounters during the mid day by sitting in strategic places. In fact, I have a theory that the really big and smart bulls often water and etc. during the middle of the day when most hunters are back at camp.

With that said, mid day is also a great time to take a shower, take care of some camp chores and etc. However, if I'm going to take a nap, I'd just as soon take it in the woods with an arrow nocked and my bow beside me. Who knows how many elk have laughed at my snoring, but I've also woke up to the sound of hoof steps and water splashing.

http://gilaguide.com/snuffer.html

AWHOLELOTTABULL · Aug 2, 2006

I'm not really into hunting the bedding areas because it is so hard to get in on them and, in my experience, more difficult to call away from the cows. I do however hunt mid day from a tree stand over an active water hole or wallow. Bulls will use these things several times a day during the warm months and rutting times. I have taken several bulls over water/wallows at high noon. Try calling in the morning to locate the bulls and then find the water they are using and sit it out. You will have elk come into you. Whether or not it's the bull you want is another story.

www.awholelottabull.com

schmalts · Aug 2, 2006

I nap in area they may be bedding and make an occasional cow call. Or if i hear a bugle i will work on it but otherwise i nap. Dont want to bump them out if they are silent.

PleaseDear · Aug 2, 2006

I've found that the late morning--mid-day---early afternoon to be a good hunt time becasue alot of guys are going off the mountain at that time and seem to 'bump' animals when they really are not as focused to be hunting but more so to be getting back to camp for lunch ect...

You will never get an animal if your not out on the mountain area... any time of the day.

Legolas · Aug 4, 2006

I agree with PleaseDear. You won't catch me in camp during daylight hours. Take advantage of whatever is going on. But one of the biggest factors in how I hunt through the day is what the other hunters are doing.

So I think everybody should stay in camp during the middle of the day. Absolutely DO NOT hunt then. Be back in camp by 10:00 am and stay there until the sun sets. Thank you.

SteelieP17 · Aug 4, 2006

Yeah, I shouldn't have started flappin' my soup cooler about the middle of the day. I just wanted to know what others thought about it. I stay away from bedding areas and hunt the benches above and below where they bed, depending on the wind. I find them feeding in there sometimes, rutting, hanging out, etc. But I agree with Legolas. DO NOT go into the woods after 10 am. It's dangerous. There's sasquatch and grizzlies and cougars and stuff that eat hunters during the middle of the day. I lost a couple of friends that way... {sniff, sniff} Poor buggers should've stayed at camp napping and drinking Mirror Ponds.

AWHOLELOTTABULL · Aug 9, 2006

Steelie - just wondering if you had any GPS coordinates to go along with the daytime advice. ;-)

www.awholelottabull.com

SteelieP17 · Aug 10, 2006

Of course. They're over by that big dead pine by the blowdowns, right by that one big rock. You know the place, there's a bunch of tracks and poop there.

proutdoors · Aug 10, 2006

Thanks now I know where to be at high noon, under a dead pine! I agree with the saying you can't kill if you're not on the hill. I usually stay way away from bedding areas and hang out by wallows or areas that the bulls will cruise once the cows are bedded up. My best elk to date was shot at 1:00 pm on Sept 8, the bull was just chumin and I let out a little chirp and he came right in at 25 yards. He had put his cows away and then went looking for singles and got a little greedy. Hard to miss a nice broadside shot at that range with my trusty Hoyt.

ELKMASTER101 · Aug 10, 2006

LAST EDITED ON Aug-10-06 AT 03:29PM (MST)[p]dangnabit I'm getting excited.
four weeks from to day i'll be sitting on the high side looking down.
camp that night on top,
and glass all day friday,
and be in the killing zone on sat, morning.
That the dream i've been having and i'm sticking to it.

tracker12 · Aug 10, 2006

I for one do not like tramping around bedsing areas. You will have more elk encounters but not the ones I want. Agree with hunting water/wallow areas mid day. Napping nearby is what I do. See no sense in walking back to camp to have to just walk back out as evening comes around.

AZtrophyhunter · Aug 10, 2006

I would agree, dinking around in an elk's bedding area is bad. You can still hunt during the day using numerous other methods mentioned here but stirring them up during nap time isn't a good idea.