Elk are big animals and sometimes it requires multiple shots to bring them down. Too often, hunters will make a single shot and then watch the elk. In addition, hunters shooting bolt-action rifles should be able to quickly shoot 4 shot groups. If a rifle is kicking like a mule and you pull every shot, it is probably not the rifle to bring elk hunting. 300 Win Mags that you could clearly see they were uncomfortable shooting. I have seen hunters come in to camp with brand new. I want hunters carrying the rifle they shoot well when pursuing elk. I have seen elk killed with everything from a. Rifle hunters should be able to make shots consistently from 30 yards out to 350 yards. The only way to get those muscles ready for the season is to shoot and shoot and shoot. Elk hunters should be absolutely consistent and be able to pull the bow back and hold it for upwards of 2 minutes without releasing a shot. Archery hunting can bring shots from as close as 5 yards all the way out to 50 yards for bull elk. When I was guiding, the number one reason our hunters were unsuccessful is that in the off-season they did not spend enough time practicing their shooting with their rifles or bows. The bulls get so focused on the caller that they often walk within mere steps of our hunters. Our favorite tactic is placing a hunter or two 50 to 60 yards in front of the caller and then calling the bulls through the middle of those hunters. If you can call turkey, then you can call elk the tactics are very similar. We use a simple locating bugle, an ugly sounding challenge bugle and a simple cow call. I am the first one to admit that I am a terrible elk caller, but I do understand when and how to use my calls to get the most success. Of course, knowing when and how to use those calls is more important than whether you are a championship caller or a rank amateur. Calling to ElkĬalling elk requires only 3 elk calls in your arsenal. Using maps and good ole shoe leather scouting can help you locate these water sources pretty quickly. In talking with respected elk guides, almost half of the bulls they take are often on these water and food sources. Understanding both water and food sources allow you to set up perfectly for evening hunts. Understand Water and Food SourcesĮlk will hit waterholes almost every single day in the early season heat and every few days in colder temperatures. Sitting on a waterhole at night, I have used kids’ bubbles sold at toy or party stores and blown out a few to see where the bubbles travel so I know I am in a location that my scent will not drift into the nose of an unsuspecting bull. Wind checkers that hang in the air can give you a little more insight into where the thermals are going. Quality wind checkers are absolutely essential. Those are critical times for hunting elk so being aware of that fact can help you to be successful. Wind travels up the mountain in the morning and down the mountain once the sun sets in the evening. Hunting in the mountains requires a keen understanding of how thermals and swirling wind will affect you throughout the day. They rely upon scent to keep them safe, so playing the wind at all times is of the utmost importance. Use a Perfect WindĮlk are 4 times larger than whitetail deer and their ability to sense danger is almost always attributed to their nose. The deepest, darkest holes are places that I look specifically for on maps to get an idea of where elk might run once rifle season hits. Using Technology like onXmaps can help to drill down tight on aerial maps to seek out water holes and find access to areas of land that hold elk that other hunters may not be willing to travel into. This knowledge also gives you plenty of options to set up between them and the food or water sources. Understanding where these bedding areas are can help you eliminate walking through them and pushing elk into the next county. These flat outcroppings give elk great bedding areas and close proximity to the feeding areas and watering holes that they like to frequent. Concentrate on shelf spaces in the upper third of the mountain. Topographical maps allow you to look at terrain. Taking the time to understand where you are hunting can pay off in spades when the elk are not bugling and are hard to locate. Elk hunters cannot control the weather or the elk, but they can control how hard they hunt and whether they hunt smart. The following 9 hunting tips can help you to make your quest for a bull elk successful and a little easier. Elk hunting can be one of the toughest hunts you accomplish in your lifetime, but sometimes it can be one of the easiest hunts.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |