hunting wallows?

wawhitey · Feb 20, 2013

LAST EDITED ON Feb-20-13 AT 04:55PM (MST)[p]i plan on doing my first archery hunt for elk this year if i can get the time off. thinking about posting up at an active wallow and just waiting one out. anybody ever have any success this way or would it be a waste of time? this would be sept 4-15th and the weather would most likely be pretty dry and warm

325wsm · Feb 20, 2013

I honestly think that is the best way to kill a big bull. I have had the chance to hunt utah twice and arizona once for big bulls and I was successful on all hunts hunting over water. Do your homework and pattern the bulls, if you find a big bull using a wallow or water source he will keep using it. When the rut kicks in the bulls seem to change their daily pattern and it becomes a guessing game on what they are going to do. The only bad thing about hunting over water is it can be mind numbingly boring when your not seeing much.

wawhitey · Feb 20, 2013

boring is not a problem. i can sit in the same spot out in the woods all day and be prefectly content with it. ive got a few wallows that im going to post cameras on and see if i cant find which one is being used the most. and being as how ive never hunted archery before ill be happy taking any elk, antlers or no. also there are whitetail, some mule deer, bear and cougar where ill be hunting the wallows and all of them will be open during the elk season.

Cutbow · Feb 20, 2013

Probably your best chance before the rut is over water. If you find an active wallow you should get them coming in if you sit long/quiet enough.

Cutbow

Utah400Elk · Feb 20, 2013

I have had great luck on wallows. The key for me is finding one in the trees near dark timber.

elkmtngear · Feb 21, 2013

Put a trail cam up beforehand if you get the chance...it will let you know in a week if you should hunt the wallow, or move to another.

Best of Luck,
Jeff
http://www.elkmtngear.com

wawhitey · Feb 21, 2013

thanks guys, thats enough positive feedback for me to go for it. i have 3 wallows im going to be putting cameras up at a while ahead of time and ill sit whichever one has the most activity. anybody ever have other critters come in to drink at wallows? like i said the elk season ill be hunting will also be open for muleys whiteys bear and coug.

travishunter3006 · Feb 21, 2013

If you are hunting a "well hunted" area just do your best to find a wallow/mud hole/water that doesn't already have 8 trail cams set up on it.

Good luck and let us know (in 6 months) how your hunt was!

elkmtngear · Feb 21, 2013

LAST EDITED ON Feb-21-13 AT 03:08PM (MST)[p]I have had all three come in on a sit (bear, deer, and cougar). But I think the cougar came in because I was cow calling every 15 mins or so (he snuck up 5 yds from me).

Make an elk gutpile near that wallow, and you'll tag your bear in no time!

Best of Luck,
Jeff
http://www.elkmtngear.com

wawhitey · Feb 22, 2013

one more wallow related question. ive never hunted wallows before as ive only done late firearm elk seasons in the past. do cows use wallows with any frequency or primarily just bulls?

Utah400Elk · Feb 22, 2013

I have a lot of trail camera photos from wallows of both cows and bulls. The cows water while the bulls wallow.

wawhitey · Feb 22, 2013

ya ive seen a couple trail cam photos of cows wallowing too, but never put up a camera of my own at wallows. thats about to change this year tho. just curious if the cows will hit the wallows as regularly as the bulls, especially if there is another water source present.

littlebighorn · Feb 22, 2013

Two years ago my son tagged a heavy 320 Utah bull over a wallow. We hunted every way we could, but ultimately catching one coming to a wallow was the surest bet. For sure you need to know a good bull is coming with some regularity. (cameras) The wallow has to be somewhat isolated or you will have others trying to sit it as well. Ultimately patience is key. Good luck

Gator · Feb 24, 2013

Take your climbing stand in and set your camera up high to keep the camera safer, Placing your camera out of reach is a plus.
sometimes you can make a wallow by daming up a trickle of water, we did it and that wallow is still there years later, and it gets hit alot by good bulls.
Good luck.

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