Mt^Boy

Hey boys, it's been a while...Anyone have much experience with wallows? This is my second year attempting to hunt elk. I scouted all summer an have been hunting hard for several days and I've finally found a big bull's core area with three big wallows and several rubs. Hunting at 6,000+ feet...the bulls started bugling two weeks ago, but the weather has been hot - high 70's...and the elk haven't been moving much during the day. It's just starting to cool off now...

>>>When do you think would be best to hunt this area - when it's hot or cool, and in the morning, afternoon or evenings??? My wife just gave birth to my new hunting partner but he's not quite ready for the high country yet...time is limited these days...

I'd rather be out there!<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>
<font color=blue>Mt^Boy Photos: http://community.webshots.com/user/mtboys</font id=blue>

Edited by - mt^boy on 09/27/2002 00:54:53

gleninAZ

Mtboy- OH BOY!! I would set a tree stand or ground blind up on the wallow with the biggest bull tracks. Hunt it early morning from dark to ten then afternoon from three to dark. Check the wind for placement and stick a big dude. They will bed in the heat of the day. Congrats on the new baby/hunter. Need a como backpack carrier for him. Good hunting.

BeaverJack

When its hot, they won't move outta the dark timber durin' the day. 'Round here, the biggest bulls don't move from their beds til 6:30 PM when its hot. You can set your watch by it. The liller bulls will wander out a bit, but the last hour of shootin' light is magic hour. I like to still hunt some broken timber with small parks durin' the late mornin'. They kinda feed back to their beds an' are usually settled in by 9. The bulls here ain't comin' to the call now. They'll still answer a bugle, an' if you get real close, they'll peek out to see you if you cow call. Did have a nice 5x5 come to a cow call Tuesday when he was followin' a herd thet was spooked by some hunters. Guess he thort I was the herd. Anyhoo, he ain't followin' nobody now.

BJ

Mt^Boy

Thanks boys! I was up there last night, but all I saw was a muley buck and a couple of does. I saw fresh some tracks lower down heading into a different drainage. No responses to my bugle...I'm going up on Sunday to learn the area and find some bedding areas...

I've heard that elk move a lot, within their big territories and are much harder to pattern that deer?...

Right on Beaver'!! Got any pic's? How did you get him out?

Duffy

Where you at Mt^boy???
I am near Rocky Mtn. Hse. I am hungery for some elk steaks but have not been able to get away for some serious hunting for one yet.

Robin.

Mt^Boy

Hey Duffy, I'm on the other side of those little hills (Rockies) that you live beside. I hope you get a chance to get out there...maybe I'll see you over in the valley...

It snowed last night up on the summits...thanks God, I needed that!! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

I'd rather be out there!<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>Mt^Boy >>> Photos

rather_be_huntin

Mt Boy, my experience is that deer will stay in a somewhat small area unless they are really pressured but elk like to roam. Its almost like they get bored with scenery and move on. However they are very sensitive to pressure. I was on a photography hunt a couple of weeks ago and literally followed a herd over a distance of 5 miles in two days. That was with zero hunting pressure and plenty of the essentals (food, water, and cover) along the way. They were in no hurry but they were moving constantly. But there was another herd that was in the same area for 3 days and then moved on. You never know with elk, but if they are not there even with fresh sign there is a chance they have moved to another area.

trmichels

I'm on my second year of elk research. Here is what I've learned. Because elk roam a lot, you never know which bull will use a wallow at what time. However, bulls do like to wallow (sometimes dry wallow) before they leave their bedding ares in the morning, before the cows get up to feed. The also like to wallow when its hot, when the cows bed during mid-day, and before the cows get up to feed in the evening. So, you can hunt wallows 1. when it's hot in the morning, at mid-day, or in the afternoon, 2. near daytime bedding areas at mid-day, 3. near early morning areas, 4 near afternoon bedding areas in the evfening.

If you have more questions on elk, deer, turkey, duck or goose behavior and hunting fire away. I'll try to snswer.

T.R. Michels

T.R. Michels