After I was younger, I believed an elk was an elk. Over many moons of elk searching and after chasing totally different species of elk in numerous states, I’ve realized that an elk is an elk however that the assorted elk species are as totally different from one another because the totally different deer species are. After I begin geeking out on the totally different species of elk, indubitably somebody will say one thing alongside the traces of, “They’re nonetheless elk… Are they actually that totally different?” My response, to place it in perspective for them, is at all times, “Mule deer and whitetail deer are each deer, are they the identical?
For this text, I’ve chosen to put in writing about probably the most prevalent species of elk, the Rocky Mountain elk. The opposite two species that I’ll delve into extra element in future articles of this Tremendous Slam sequence are the Tule elk and the Roosevelt elk.
Species Rundown
Tule elk are the least populous and are solely present in elements of California the place searching is restricted. Looking choices are a tough, low-odds draw with the state or personal land hunts for which landowners are allotted a sure variety of tags that may be bought.
Roosevelt elk are discovered alongside the western coastal states, together with elements of California, Oregon, Washington, and even Alaska the place some have been relocated. They are often present in elements of British Columbia the place they had been relocated as nicely. Tags are a lot simpler to accumulate and archery is over-the-counter in lots of areas of those states. Some areas additionally supply OTC rifle hunts.
The Rocky Mountain Elk are probably the most populous and due to this fact probably the most generally hunted. They’re present in 28 states, close to as I can determine in my analysis. Solely California has all three species of elk. An fascinating, but complicated notice is that some record-keeping organizations and even some recreation departments use issues like roads or rivers to usually separate the totally different species ranges. So, you might have an elk that’s designated as a Tule elk, Rocky Mountain elk, or Roosevelt elk cross a highway or river and be thought-about a special species primarily based on the place it’s discovered. Luckily, like totally different deer species and turkey species, you possibly can normally discern the traits of 1 species or one other.
So far as bodily measurement, Rocky Mountain elk are within the center. They’re bigger than the Tule however not as huge as Roosevelt within the weight division. Rocky Mountain elk have the most important antlers and due to this fact have a better minimal to get into the Pope and Younger or Boone and Crockett file books.
I took my first Rocky Mountain elk with a bow over 30 years in the past. It was a cow elk on public land in an space I had backpacked into. I’ve since taken bulls and cows in a number of states on each private and non-private land. My most popular weapon is a recurve bow, which I used to take all of the species included within the Tremendous Slam, however I take pleasure in all of the challenges related to totally different weapons. I additionally information for Rocky Mountain elk and spend portion of the autumn serving to shoppers get inside vary of them on public in addition to personal land I’m permitted to entry.
Looking Rocky Mountain Elk
Though calling is probably the most enjoyable technique for searching these animals and, in my view, probably the most thrilling, if I’m being trustworthy, it’s oftentimes probably the most tough. When it really works it may be superb, and I’ve referred to as in bulls efficiently for myself and for shoppers throughout each archery and rifle seasons. The robust factor is that a whole lot of elk on public land have heard calls and are cautious as a result of they’ve been educated. I’ve seen elk actually flip and go the wrong way like a sensible previous gobbler that has been there, achieved that, and been shot at or spooked one too many instances.
I’m not discouraging anybody from calling elk. I’ve simply realized that it’s usually rather more tough than what some name firms or elk movies would have you ever consider. When an elk is coming right into a name, it’s in search of a struggle, to breed, or for firm, even when it’s not educated to, due to this fact each sense is on excessive alert. It’s attempting to see, scent or hear the whole lot, and the percentages of us getting smelled, seen, or heard are excessive. It’s tough to arrange correctly for an elk coming right into a name. It appears regardless of the place I believe the elk will are available in from or how a lot I attempt to use pure funnels and obstacles to assist predict how they are going to come right into a name, they usually appear to come back in the place I believed it could be unattainable or unlikely.
Upping the Odds
I’ve discovered that, on common, I’ve to name 10 elk in to get one with a bow. I’ve talked to many different elk guides who say their odds are very comparable. As compared, for each 10 elk that stroll by a stand or come right into a water gap or wallow, we harvest seven. The explanation, in my view, is that it’s usually a relaxed elk that I can normally higher predict. I can have the wind in my route and arrange with the solar to my again or the place I’ve cowl to attract my bow or make a shot with a rifle with out being smelled, heard, or seen.
The issues I do this assist my success embrace small issues that I really feel assist tip the percentages in my favor. When calling, I really feel much less is manner higher. I additionally have a tendency to provide the elk loads of time to come back in. Many individuals get impatient if a bull doesn’t reply to their cow name or bugle and have a tendency to maneuver on solely to bump one which was coming in slowly and quietly. I make a number of mushy cow calls (4-6), after which I wait 30-45 minutes. I’ve had so many elk slip in with out making a sound after I was simply ready quietly for half-hour or extra.
I really feel many hunters would profit from being extra affected person, particularly on public land. I may also usually use a decoy if I’m searching extra open terrain the place it could be unnatural for an elk to come back right into a name and never see one other elk. A decoy has helped me immensely in sure calling conditions. I like a light-weight Montana decoy, however there are lots of in the marketplace to select from.
Play the Lengthy Recreation
When potential, I like searching areas which might be dry, even when these areas might maintain much less elk. Water is vital when it’s sizzling and dry prefer it usually is within the West, and I’ve taken benefit of well-liked water holes to reap elk. I’m additionally an enormous fan of wallows whether or not I’m searching in moist or dry areas. Wallows that rutting elk frequent to roll in and infrequently urinate in are sturdy attractants for bulls and cows to swing by and take a look at through the rut. In the event you arrange with the wind in your favor, these might be nice locations to reap a bull in archery, muzzleloader, or early rifle seasons.
My different go-to for achievement on elk is utilizing the whitetail technique of sitting generally used trails. It might not be probably the most thrilling method to hunt an elk, however it may be one of the vital efficient methods of getting a shot at a relaxed elk. When potential, I’ll arrange on a excessive spot, relying on wind patterns, the place I can cowl a number of trails or intersecting trails with a rifle. With a bow, I’ll search for intersecting trails and can usually arrange a tree stand or floor blind inside 20-30 yards. This technique can take some endurance, however the odds of getting an ideal shot at a relaxed elk are excessive in case you discover some energetic trails which might be being frequented.
Lastly, one of many different strategies I’ve had success with is still-hunting. By that, I imply strolling tremendous slowly by means of good elk habitat. With both a rifle or bow, this may be a good way to slide up on elk undetected. The important thing for me is to at all times slip by means of the terrain with the wind in my favor. I put on quiet clothes and cease to glass incessantly, letting my optics assist me spot elk earlier than they spot me. This could even be efficient mid-day, as even when elk are bedded, they’re continuously getting as much as reposition, stretch, urinate, and so forth. By shifting tremendous slowly and glassing rather a lot, you possibly can usually ease up right into a capturing place. All elk are enjoyable to hunt, however in the case of probably the most populous elk present in bigger numbers in additional states, in my view, the Rocky Mountain elk is the only option
