How often should I use my cow call? I’m new to bow hunting elk, and I want to know how often I should use my cow calls.
Don from Dallas killed an elk at 295 yards with a Kimber Montana 325 WSM. His elk didn’t even move once. He was dead when he hit the ground.
325 WSM is worth considering, Palmer Lake,CO: I believe that the .325 WSM is the ultimate elk caliber…
30-30 for Elk? : I have a 30 30 with 170 grain round nose bullet. Will this work to shoot an elk ? .
In the middle of the night, a group of elk came walking through the drainage and right past my tent. This is a unique elk talk by Idaho Steve (Hailey, ID).
Smelly Elk Areas? by Jimmy (New Mexico), Ive come across many areas that just stink of elk, literally. I have heard two somewhat contradictory stories.
Must-Have DIY Gear List! by Craig (Florida) “These are some of the things I bring with me on my own hunts in the backcountry of Colorado.” “.
The book Elk and Deer Hunting and Mountain Bikes is written by Skip Shepherd (Tucson, AZ). I’m 67 years old and really want to buy a mountain bike so I can go back to exploring remote areas.
Idaho Steve from Hailey, ID: I hunt by myself a lot. Any tips on how to call or set up an archery bow? Id love to hear your thoughts on strategic set-ups when solo hunting and calling.
Non- Lead Bullets for Elk?, by Dave, Elk Hunting Tips. This story says that non-lead bullets can be used to kill elk. What do you ballistics guys think about this?
Rage Broadheads by Chris, . I shot it with a tip from a friend, and you couldn’t tell the difference between the broadhead and the field points. I was sold.
Finally filled the freezer. “I was disappointed when I got to the property and saw no elk tracks or hoof prints in the snow,” I pulled each of the elk into shade then started gutting. “.
Joshua FL wrote, “Wounded Veteran Elk Hunts.” I am a disabled veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and have always wanted to hunt elk. I am posting this to see if anyone would know of any elk hunts free to disabled vets.
First Elk with a Bow, by Ryan H. (Colorado), . Finally after many years of hunting with a bow “I got er did”!.
Tater (Sheridan, Arkansas) wrote, “First Elk! I took the advice I got from this website and was successful. I wanted to thank you and your forum and the people who share on here for the knowledge and information that helped me find an elk I was quite happy with.”
Any luck with Unit 14?, asked Dave (MI) “I’m planning to do a do-it-yourself in Unit 14 for 2012 ” .
To call in a herd bull, you need to get to where he sleeps and threaten his herd, as written by Swiltbank (Az). Start off sounding like….
“Best Rifle Caliber?,” by Buglemup (Superior, MT), “I’ve been reading what other people have written about rifle calibers, and here’s what 16 years of guiding elk has taught me.” “.
7mm Remington Magnum, by Dean (Helena, MT. USA) I use my Liberty Ruger M77, 7mm Rem. Mag. for antelope, deer, elk. “What do you guys think about my plan to hunt elk with a 270? I know someone who does it with a 243.” “.
338 Marlin Express, “Light, fast shooting, hard hitting, manageable recoil, and for a lever gun – very accurate.”
Guns I like for Elk, by Mountain Walker (Kootenays east B. C. Canada),”I think the gun you shoot Elk with should be one you shoot a lot with. “.
35 Remington, by Bill Smith “. my . The 35 Rem seems to have killed a medium-sized deer perfectly, but I’m not sure if it can kill an elk now. “.
How do I find a place to hunt in Arizona Unit 3B?, asked Cliffjumper of Tucson, Arizona: “I got a late bull muzzle loader hunt in Arizona Unit 3b.” Does anyone know how to hunt bulls in the late season?.
First time elk hunter in Arizona unit 6A, by Rob Marchio (Omaha, Ne): This is my first time hunting elk in Arizona unit 6A. Im planning on staying in the Pine Grove campground.
Need Help with My First DIY Hunt with My Son, by Patrick (Parker, CO): “I need some help with my first DIY hunt in Colorado with my 13-year-old son in 2014.” I have countless hrs going over stats, topo maps & Google Earth”.
By William (Midland, TX): “I want to go on an elk hunt in Colorado next year and I was wondering if Gunnison National Forest was a good place to do it.” “.
Unit 60 Elk 4th Rifle Season Nov 13-17 Either Sex 2013, By Chester “. Any general advice about the unit would be appreciated!”.
This is my first year really trying to find some elk. I’m hunting in Idaho Unit 8 8A 11. Does anyone know anyone who has hunted in any of these areas and could give me some good advice?
Cameron (Pocatello) asked, “Where is the best place to hunt elk near Pocatello, Idaho?” I’m a student at Idaho State University looking for a place to hunt next season.
Terry (Richland Center, WI) asked, “How is the elk hunting in unit 30A in Idaho? Has anyone archery elk hunted in unit 30A in Idaho? What can you tell me about the area?”
I did not draw a tag for Missouri breaks where I have hunted in the past. Having to start over and try western Montana.
Unit 28 is north of Road 506 and south of the Lincoln National Forest boundary line. I finally got drawn for a late elk hunt there.
Grilled Venison Roast with a Spiced Crust: This recipe for a grilled venison roast with a spiced crust works well for any red meat roast, like elk, deer, or beef.
Corned Elk Recipe You can easily make corned venison and elk, moose or corned beef from these instructions…
Tracking elk in the wilderness can be an exciting adventure, but determining the direction of their tracks takes knowledge and practice As a longtime elk hunter, I’ve learned to read subtle signs in the terrain and understand elk behavior to decipher which way they are headed In this article, I’ll share tips that any outdoors enthusiast can use to hone their tracking skills.
Look For Feeding Areas
Elk are primarily grazers, so they seek out open meadows and parks to feed, especially at night. Look for signs of fresh digging in the snow, overturned dirt, and chewed vegetation. Elk paw at the ground to get to tender roots and shoots. If you find a recently disturbed feeding area at daylight, chances are the elk have already moved on. But their tracks will lead away from it, giving you a direction.
Move Back Into Timber
Open feeding zones can be trampled with chaotic tracks. To make sense of them, move back into the trees. Trails will converge in timber as the elk follow game paths. This filters out individuals into small groups. Now you can focus on one band’s tracks at a time.
Note Track Size
An elk print is larger than a deer’s or moose’s – about 4 to 6 inches long and slightly oval. The two-lobed shape is diagnostic. This size differential helps confirm elk tracks versus other hooved animals sharing its range.
Don’t Just Follow Obvious Tracks
Elk aren’t dumb. They’ll often backtrack or loop around, especially if being stalked So don’t assume obvious trails are the main route Look for less defined tracks veering off. Be prepared to change direction.
Pay Attention To Wind
Wind directs elk movement. Morning mountain winds tend downhill as cool, dense air settles. Elk follow this breeze to water and meadows at night. Afternoons, breezes reverse uphill as air warms and rises. Now elk walk into the wind back to bedding areas. Midday, swirling winds provide cover to bed at high points.
Look For Signs Of Antlers
Bulls leave telltale signs of their antlers scraping bark off trees and breaking small limbs. Knocked-off pine needles overhead also indicate a bull passed underneath. These clues point the direction the elk was traveling.
Keep Detailed Notes
Record details like the number of animals, where they fed or bedded, reactions to your presence. This documentation builds understanding of elk patterns over time. It provides insight into their next possible moves.
With patience and practice, anyone can learn to decipher subtle signs of elk movement in the backcountry. Carefully observing tracks and sign along with understanding elk ecology will reveal the direction they are heading. Before long, you’ll be able to effectively track these magnificent animals through their terrain.
Understanding Elk Habits and Habitat
To become a truly skilled elk tracker, it helps to understand their habits, habitat preferences and daily routines. Elk are highly adaptable animals found in diverse regions, but most live in the Rocky Mountains. Here’s some background on their behavior that aids tracking efforts:
Habitat
Elk prefer forested areas near open meadows for feeding. They bed down in thick timber where they feel protected. Forest edges where woods meet grasslands or wetlands provide ample food within cover. Elk use moist riparian zones but don’t stray far from water sources.
Herd Patterns
Elk form large herds, moving together to feeding areas in mornings and evenings. But they splinter into smaller nursery groups of cows and calves the rest of the day. Bulls form bachelor groups or live solo. All reunite at night.
Diet
Elk are grazers, browsers and foragers. Grasses comprise the mainstay year-round. But elk also feed on shrubs, trees, berries and mushrooms. Diet varies by season – grass in spring, tree bark in winter, forbs in summer.
Daily Needs
Elk spend their day bedding, feeding and drinking based on wind, weather and terrain. They take direct routes between these resources in repeated patterns. Understanding these travel corridors helps predict elk locations.
Noticing key habitat features and observing herd dynamics provides valuable context to determine elk movements from their tracks.
Identifying Fresh Elk Tracks
Many factors determine if elk tracks are fresh or old. Here are tips for identifying recent prints:
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Edges should be sharply defined, not eroded. Fine details visible in dirt or mud.
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Snow tracks show clear hoof prints, not yet melted out or drifted over.
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No debris or leaves inside the track. Fresh ones are clean.
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On firm ground, prints should be dark with little wear, not lightened by weathering.
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Soft soil should be compacted but not dry and cracked.
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No water puddles collected inside the print.
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Vegetation disturbed along the trail not yet wilted.
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Dirt kicked up onto rocks and logs along the path.
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Scat piles are moist, warm, and have obvious odor.
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Urine patches feel tacky with no crusting.
Seeing tracks with these qualities indicates elk passed through recently. But always consider conditions like rain or snowmelt that can degrade prints fast.
Reading the Direction of Elk Prints
Determining which direction elk tracks are headed takes careful observation. Here are tips for reading the prints:
Toe Position
The pointed front of the track indicates direction of travel, while the rounded heel marks the rear.
Straddle
Look at the distance between left and right prints. Elk have a consistent straddle width. A wider gap means the track is headed away from you.
Track Overlays
In muddy areas, look for overlapping prints. New tracks on top point the direction. Old bottoms indicate the origin.
Trail Drag Marks
Notice scuff marks in the trail drag behind prints. They will slant away from the track if the elk is walking away from you.
Trail Width
Trails widen over time with more tracks added. Following the direction it widens implies their path.
With practice, you can learn to read subtle track and trail details to determine which way elk were moving. This information allows you to pursue them efficiently.
Consider Wind and Weather Effects
Environmental conditions affect elk movement patterns. As a tracker, always factor in wind, weather and seasonal impacts when deciphering elk prints:
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Monitor wind direction routinely. Elk travel into the wind to scent danger ahead.
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Note topography. Hills, mountains and canyons alter wind flow.
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Expect elk to seek shelter and food in severe weather events.
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In fall, elk move to lower elevations ahead of snowfall. Reverse migration occurs in spring.
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During hunting season, elk grow skittish and alter patterns.
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On hot days, elk limit mid-day movement, staying in shade near water.
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Full moons find elk more active at night when feeding areas are illuminated.
Considering both tracks and environmental context will enhance your ability to determine elk direction.
Tips for Tracking Elk Successfully
With the right approach, you can track elk skillfully. Here are tips for success:
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Study elk behavior so you can anticipate their movements.
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Look for feeding sign in snow at dawn when elk have moved on.
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Backtrack from chaos in open areas into timber to read purposeful trails.
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Note track details like size, straddle width and symmetry.
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Don’t just follow obvious trails. Elk often loop back.
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Factor in wind direction and let it guide your search.
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Watch for antler sign like scraped trees and broken branches.
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Consider how weather and seasons impact elk movement.
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Record details to refine knowledge over time.
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Remain quiet, patient and persistent.
Developing tracking expertise takes time in elk country studying sign. But armed with the right knowledge, you can learn to effectively determine elk travel patterns from their tracks.
For hunters, wildlife watchers and hobbyists alike, tracking elk can become a lifelong passion. But it takes knowledge, dedication and practice to correctly interpret their tracks. Key tips include understanding elk habitat, movement patterns and needs. Identify fresh sign through subtle track details. Factor in wind and weather to anticipate their direction. With time in the field, you’ll hone skills for reading elk sign and determining which way they went.
Tracking these majestic animals connects you intimately to wilderness. As your expertise grows, you’ll find increasing success locating elk purely by the story their tracks tell. You’ll come away from the experience with a greater appreciation for elk and the environments they inhabit. So grab your gear, study their patterns, and hit the trail. Before long, you’ll master the subtle art of tracking elk on their terms.
Cow or Bull Elk Track?
A mature bull elk track is larger, four inches or more, than a cow or young bull track. They are broader in relation to the length of the track than a cow’s track.
Cow elk tracks are more slender and pointed than a big bull’s. The track in the picture to the right is probably a cow elk track. You can see that it was walking through clover, a nutrient rich elk food.
There were just a few minutes of fresh cow elk tracks in the thin snow to the right.
The next picture shows tracks that a spike bull made just seconds ago. I took the picture after watching him make the tracks. There are actually four tracks in the photo. Elk nearly or completely step in their front tracks with their back hooves when walking slowly.
Every step, these spiked tracks showed up again and again, with the left rear hoof track almost touching the left front track and the right rear track almost touching the right front track.
A short time later, I saw a big bull elk blaze, but I was suddenly too busy to take pictures!
When they get mixed up on the same trail, it can be hard to tell the difference between elk tracks and tracks made by young cattle. A young cow track might be the same size as an elk’s, but the ends of a cow track are rounder. Mature cattle make much larger tracks than an elk.
Wallows are Unpredictable Elk Sign
Wallows are great elk sign that means the bulls use the area to drink and feed. The problem with wallows is that it is impossible to predict when they will “wallow” in it. They could do it at anytime, night or day. Sitting in a tree stand over a bog to hunt might teach you to be patient, but it might not pay off.
Bulls use wallows to leave their scent for the next guy or gal, to keep their own scent stronger (they often pee and roll around in it), or just to cool off on a hot day.
One frequently used wallow that we hunt often brings bulls to a cow call during the rut. Most others do not produce the same frequent results for us. Wallows are hit or miss. They are however, good elk sign to add to the list of evidence.
Wallows can appear in strange places when there are springs on a side hill or as expected next to a creek.
Elk Track | Tracking Wildlife | Video 1 of 2
How do you know if a Elk is running?
For example, feeding signs and antler rubs high up on trees. But, if you do come upon some large tracks in the mud or snow, this is hard to determine whether they are elk tracks. Tracks and dewclaw marks become very obvious when running. Elks have an alternating walk pattern and a step length of 1.5 to three feet.
Are elk tracks rounded?
Compared to moose or deer prints, elk tracks are more rounded. In addition, the spacing between the toes is also a good way to identify elk tracks. For example, if the gap between the toes is further apart at the tip than in the center, it is more than likely an elk track. Cattle, moose, and deer all have even gaps between their toes.
Where can I find elk tracks?
Open parks and other sunny clearings in the timber are great places to find tracks. Elk feed and bed in these exposed areas only at night, pawing through light snow to search out sedges. The animals will be gone before dawn, but you will have a good chance of finding fresh tracks at first light.
How do you know if a Elk eats a track?
If you cut tracks in fresh snow or mud, take note of the size, shape and texture of the track. A bull’s front hoof tracks are rounder, wider and bigger than a cow’s, whose track will have a thinner, more pointed front. If the tracks are meandering or circling back it means the elk are looking to bed down, so you should slow down.