Planning a Western Elk Hunt
Story and photos by: Jared Bloomgren
One of the most sought after hunts in the United States today is the pursuit of the Rocky Mountain Elk.
Planning a Western elk hunt can be very confusing at best when you stop to think about the whole picture.
The following are tips and tactics that have worked great for me in the past on various hunts. It all starts with homework. You may be thinking, “I hate homework!” Right? Well this type of homework can bring you a lot of satisfaction.
The process starts with thinking from big to small: State —> Area in the state —> mountain range —> sections.
Which state to hunt elk?
There are various states that offer amazing elk hunting. States like New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado offer tags that aren't hard to get and are good for superb elk hunting, possibly the key to your next dream destination.
When I decide on a state to hunt, I like to dig into the regulations and find out the most I can about their seasons. I look at dates, hunt areas, past drawing success, biologist studies and weather patterns over the last couple of years. Looking back at history can be a great tool to help you locate a promising area.
Next, I will begin searching the internet for information that applies to the area. Remember, not everything you read on the internet is true! One of the best ways to learn about the state you choose to hunt is to do some research simply by talking to people. State game and fish websites, talk forums, firsthand accounts, wildlife biologists and wardens are a huge source of information
Talk forums especially have a wealth of knowledge that can be very useful. Rokslide.com has been known to help hundreds of people become more successful on their hunts. It’s no secret.
Call Fish and Game offices and get names and numbers of the wildlife biologists that work in the area you are interested in for their opinions and information on any herd studies done in the past. Game wardens are always a wealth of information if they are willing to share. The first 30 seconds of a call can seal your fate in this so be cordial and respectful, introduce yourself and let them know what you are looking for. This can go a long ways!
Look for areas that have the best weather and precipitation, both past and present. This can drastically change where elk may live. They will always be located in areas that provide good food, water and bedding areas. This information can be gained from the wildlife biologist or by searching various internet sources.
What to look for on maps
We would all like to be able to scout an area before a hunt is to take place, but this is often not reality. Most hunts of mine are in areas I have never stepped foot in but when I get there, I already know the lay of the land. How is that so? Map recons. Looking over maps is a huge asset. I prefer to use tools like Google Earth to help me learn about an area. I can locate all the prime ingredients for good hunting country by scouring through maps. You can locate feeding areas, water, bedding and travel areas fairly easily. Another program proven to be extremely useful is OnXMaps. You can purchase the app to use on your smart phone or buy the cards to plug into your GPS. You can purchase the state in which you want to hunt and the program breaks down the public and private land and even shows all known land owners. Included are also all other features you would expect such as section lines, roads, water ways, hunting units, etc…This is hands down the best software I have used to date!
Look for long sweeping ridges that offer good dark timber for elk. They like the dark timber that offers plenty of shade and a breeze from prevailing winds. This is generally an area where the elk will spend much of their time during the day. There will often be water or wallows close by that offer a herd bull a chance to sneak away to get a drink or to wallow without having to worry about his cows wandering off. If you can find a place like this, you are in for a real treat.
Look for active streams that offer fresh water for elk when they move about at night. These low lying areas also offer ample vegetation due to the abundance of moisture. Elk water daily so these can be great transition areas to catch elk when they are moving from a bedding location to a feeding location.
Look for open meadows that are easily accessible from a good bedding area such as a ridge-line with dark timber as mentioned above. Elk like to spend time in open meadows that offer feed during darkness. Meadows are also frequented by cows, and the big bulls know that as well! Think of it as an all you can eat buffet with sniffers row in the same venue. You get the picture.
Look for areas that make travel easy for elk. This can be sparse forested areas or abandoned or closed logging trails/roads that allow the elk to move about freely. They can be quite lazy and will often take the path of least resistance. That is not to say I haven’t seen them in the middle of a deadfall area as well; usually only because there was good feed in the area.
So, we have talked about the areas to look for and how to go about finding them, as well as the best ways to learn all you can about the area. But what about the style in which you should hunt? Should you plan to pack in away from the trailhead and set up camp or should you return to the trailhead each night and have a camp there? Let's weigh the pros and cons.
The Pack-In Hunt
This style of hunting allows you to get in and away from other hunters. Elk often like to move around away from roads and trails so getting back in off the beaten path can prove very successful. You will need to take into account the added things that go along with this style of hunting. Deciding what to carry in your pack is very important. Having enough food, water, clothing, a sleeping bag/mat, bivy/tent, etc… The list can get quite long. You can plan for just a couple day trek or a week long excursion. If you know where the elk are and you don’t have the option of packing in daily, this is a very rewarding hunt and my personal favorite.
Trailhead/Basecamp Hunt
This style of hunting allows you a bit more luxury if you will. You may have the option to sleep in a tent or camper each night or the ability to cook a hot meal and take a shower. All obvious pros to this style. Each morning, you decide what you want for the day and you set out with the idea you will return each evening to regroup and repack your pack. Keep in mind this is for when you are hunting elk that aren’t far away from the trails and roads and only require a short hike to get to them. This also means that usually you are hunting higher pressured elk that know hunters are in the immediate area. Big bulls are smart and often become very quiet once pressured. Hunting elk located farther off the beaten path can be easier to hunt.
Both worlds
Combine both styles if you will. I once hunted an area that had high pressure and the elk moved around a lot during the day. Going back to a camp each night meant I had to wake up even earlier to get to the elk. It took me longer to locate them each day which also meant less time to actually try to harvest the big herd bull. He became quiet after he had seen me the second day of the season and over the 10 days I hunted, I threw everything I had at him. Nothing would bring him in for a shot. Either I wasn’t doing anything right or he was just smart enough to know better. I like to think the latter half of that statement was true.
I decided to get radical. After a couple days and realizing I was losing time hiking in and out, I decided to bivy each night. I would locate the elk by sounds throughout the night and early in the morning and move in on the herd as it became light. Throughout the day I would shadow the herd, just hoping to get a crack at the big bull. When they would bed for the day I would remain close by keeping a watchful eye and hope to catch the bull leaving to wallow and get a quick drink. I was never in the right spot it seemed. When the winds would begin to switch, I would move my position so as not to blow them out of the country. I knew I’d only get one chance at this big bull and I didn’t want to ruin it. When it got dark, I would find a place to get some shut eye and set up a quick bivy camp and grab a bite to eat. After about three days, I would head back when the herd bedded for the day and restock up on food and water and return back before they were up and moving. This technique eventually led to getting a shot at the bull, only to watch my arrow sail right over his back. Gotta love those branches that always seem to jump out and deter your arrow. Despite the miss, I would have never gotten the shot on the bull if I wouldn’t have used these techniques. Adapt and overcome!
When planning your hunt, you just need to ask yourself a few questions, “What kind of experience do I want? What do I need to do to get the opportunity I am looking for?” The many other styles of elk hunting may be the answer to those questions. Hanging a stand over a well used wallow early in the season can be beneficial and has proven effective for me. In the early part of the season, the bulls are not very vocal and can be hard to find. Locating active wallows can be easy to find if you are in the right area. Hanging a stand or building a blind works very well. Take into account the thermals and wind directions and set-up accordingly. I like to be settled in before 3:00 PM in the afternoon and call sporadically with a cow call to simulate a lost cow looking for a herd.
This can bring a bull in to take a look. He already knows the wallow is there and he may be thinking about taking a mud bath. Hearing a lonely cow near the area can pull him right in. I remember settling into my stand last year and after a few mews, I heard the first bugle of the year. Fifteen minutes later the bull bent his neck down to smell the wallow. Mere seconds later, a 438 grain stick punched right through his boiler room! Why? Because I took advantage of the weather and what the terrain had to offer at these times.
Solo or Partnered?
This comes down to each individual. I like to hunt on my own as I am only responsible for my actions. I can make the decisions I want to make without having to worry about other people. But if you can find someone that hunts much like you, it is a great thing! I have been fortunate to find a couple of people I can relate to and I am very fortunate! When it comes to calling, it is always nice having someone with you as one hunter will call while the shooter positions himself ahead where the bull will likely come from. When the bull arrives, he is looking beyond the shooters position for the sound of the calling, often times pulling that bull right into the shooter's lane. Nothing beats being there and doing it alone, but it is also nice to have others with you to help call and help pack out.
Plan for the Pack Out?
You also need to have a plan for packing out elk meat. A mature elk can carry more meat than four big mature mule deer and even more whitetail! Be prepared to take care of the meat as soon as the elk is on the ground. Use good game bags to help keep the meat clean that allow the meat to cool. Use good packs that can carry plenty of weight and also have plenty of room! Be cognizant of the weather. The warmer it is the faster you will need to act to take care of the meat to prevent spoilage. A rule of thumb I have used is if it is less than 40 degrees, generally a downed bull’s down side meat will be fine overnight. If it's warmer, then you have the risk of the meat on the bottom side spoiling. That is why, if at all possible, get the meat taken care of right away. Quartering the elk and hanging the meat from trees to cool overnight and returning the next morning is a great idea if possible. If you have access to horses, mules or llamas, I am jealous!
