Hello all, I haven't posted very often, but I'm looking for some input from those that may have been where I am now. I live in AZ and have been bow hunting elk here for about 10 years, but I have yet to bring one down. I don't have any problem finding them, I have successfully helped my soon fill his youth cow tag twice, and semi-guided others to successful rifle hunts. I know about 30 different places in the unit I hunt where I can find elk without much problem. The problem is that I usually hunt the late November archery hunt, because I like to go hunting and waiting to be drawn for the rut hunt is a long, long wait. I know that the November hunt is much harder, believe me I know, I just got back yesterday and covered over 50 miles on foot in 5 days. Still, there is about 25-30 percent success rate on the November hunt in my area, so my question is, how are they dong it, and what can I do? I know how to stalk an elk, I am willing do do anything to get it done. I'm the guy that will hike any distance, sleep out on a mountaintop overnight to be in position before dawn, hike 4 miles in the dark without a light to avoid spooking the elk, I'm the guy that people call insane because of the things I am willing to do to chase the elk, but I just cant get close enough for an archery shot. I have hunted hundreds of hours and have never once hunted when the wind wasn't "swirling" so how do I stalk an elk when the wind in the mountains is never constant. How do you guys do it that have successfully hunted late archery. I want details of how you found them bedded, how you stalked, and how you got within 50 yards (what I consider plausible archery shooting distance). Thanks, I appreciate any input you all have.
There's probably not a lot of folks doing what you're asking. However, since you're not hunting the rut it would make sense to pattern the elk just like whitetails. Study them and then get yourself in position to be in bow range when they go to food/water or to bed. It's your best option particularly since they are really bunched up this time of year and sneaking up on a herd of elk is difficult. Hunting smarter and not harder may pay off for you. Walking 10 miles a day won't help if you're not able to pattern the herd. Swirling wind is always one of the most difficult things you'll deal with when hunting elk...as you know. You might even consider the option of hunting from a tree stand if that is possible in your area. Good luck.
Might want to post this in the big game thread. I'd venture a guess that A) 95% + on here have never hunted elk and B) many of those who have are out hunting and not watching the forum much. I've bowhunted elk successfully but only once and my prob was the opposite- I happened to get there pre rut. I ended up hunting them like deer over food and water. Worked for me.
Figure out where they get food and water. Then either setup somewhere you can get a good shot when they come out or be in a good position to make a stalk from there. I’m all about putting in miles but even for me this year I had to resort to sitting and waiting for them to come to me.
