Elk spot and stalk

archerman · May 20, 2007

Hey all.
I have not been fortunate enough to have my hunting partner draw the same tag as me last year, or this coming season (cow elk). With this in mind, I will most likely be hunting alone again, at least for some of the days of the season.
Last year, I was able to put on 2-3 stalks per day. I was able to get within 80 yards about 20 times but was not able to close those last few yards with out getting busted, scented (wind swirls really bad here in az), or the herd just simply hanging up at 80 yards. Calling them in to 80 yards was awesome but they just wouldn't come in the last few yards I needed. I got the bulls in range pretty easily, but not the cows.
My question to you is this......what tricks do you use to get cow elk in to within 50 yards using the spot & stalk technique? I also will sit trails, water sources, etc., but the S&S is quite thrilling!
Thanks in advance for the help.
Archerman - Archery hunting addict!

Silentstalker · May 20, 2007

Trail the herds and then when the wind is right get ahead of them and ambush them. Usually the cows are in the lead and you can take your pick. The other option is to glass the herd's activity for a few days and learn their habits, then set up in their path. Lately I have been hunting them silently and have had good success.

Waterholes are another great way to shoot an elk. Find a good remote water source and sit it for 3-4 days. If there are elk in the area, you should get some to come in. Good luck! Elk are a blast with a bow. And spot and stalk is my favorite way!

Chad

usa · May 20, 2007

When they hang up at 80 yds wait until they move on a little then get into the area that they hung up in and start calling again with a different call . they have already been thru the area so they may come back at least to where they know it was safe.

ABOVETIMBERLINE · May 20, 2007

I've had luck several times doing this. When you spook a herd go to where they were set up and wait a few minutes then let out a few lone cow calls one of them might come back looking for a member of the herd. I did this last year shot nice yearling cow at 5 yards.

elknut1 · May 21, 2007

http:www.elknut.com

Using the Lonesome/Lost Cow sound is the ticket to bringing in those cows close in the situations you described! The more open the country the slicker you need to be. Calling elk/cows where they can easily look over your way & see nothing but know they should will stop them in their tracks! But put some cover between you in any form where they must come look for this cow who is asking for aid will bring them to you.

One of my favorite things to do is have the needed cover then use this sound where I can't be seen, then as a lone hunter sneak back quietly & look at the cows I'm calling to see their body language & if any are coming my way. If called correctly you should get their attention. Slip back to where you last called & continue calling & walk away from them putting some distance calling & snapping branches & shuffling as you're on the move away from the group. After 1 minute of this hurry back to where you first started calling or a little closer to where the oncoming cows should appear from.

I've called in literally 100s of cows & spikes with this method. Trick is not to call at all where they can look over to where the sounds are coming from & see nothing!!!

When giving these Lost Cow Sounds, each sound, (mew/whine in sound) shall last 1-2 full seconds long for each mew. Give 5 long mews then stop for 5 sec & repeat a total of 15-20 sounds in those 5 sec intervals. As I get towards those last 10 mews/whines I get pitchy with them showing urgency, your odds are 70%-80% a cow or more will show!

Too, for a sidenote this sound sequence works great when you've busted elk accidenally when they're enroute to bedding or feeding or you've accidentally bumped them from their beds. If this happens watch the way they leave, setup with the wind in your favor & wait 5 minutes then start hammering this Lost Sound Sequence right from where you busted them. If it was in their beds, stay right there & really work up those sounds even getting demanding in your calling, it works like magic at times, elk will show from the direction they left, be willing to wait up to 25 min after your sequence. Rarely do they come in vocal, so be ready! This is a very high percentage method for the patient hunter!---Good Luck!

ElkNut1

mmwb · May 21, 2007

Some have had luck with decoy's, but they seem a bit of a hassle to carry around. Try a bit higher pitch on the call call and be a bit obnoxious. Try to imagine sounding like an excitable lost calf.

archerman · May 22, 2007

LAST EDITED ON May-22-07 AT 10:57PM (MST)[p]Those are some GREAT ideas all!
I especially like the idea of going to where the herd was at and calling em back. They tend to like to travel into the wind, so that would feasably put me downwind of them......no? (if it's not swirling too bad that is!

)
Thanks for the info and please keep em coming!
Archerman - Archery hunting addict!