Tag Archives | Elk Hunting

Elk Hunting Mindset

When you are preparing for an elk hunting trip, it helps to get into the right mindset. When you get your mind in the right place the hunt is far more rewarding and usually more successful. If you are from a region that is at or below sea level (often called a lowlander by the locals) you may not be accustomed to the thinner air and steep mountains. You need to be ready for the mental and physical requirements of elk trips.

Real elk hunting means actually getting out there and tracking the animal. You will climb over mountain and through canyons. You will track the elk on foot through wooded areas and clearings, up steep buttes and through deep valleys. You follow tracks, look for droppings and even think like an elk. If you want to be a successful hunter, you have to anticipate which way they are going to go. Keeping your focus on the ground can cause you to miss out on a good kill.

Before the Hunt

Before you go on the hunt, learn a little about the area you will be hunting. Elk hunting is very physical and demanding. It helps to know the lay of the land. If you can walk the area beforehand, that is even better. Become familiar with the land if you can and get to know where the elk like to bed down, where they like to sun, where they prefer to eat, the location of their watering hole, anything that you can learn that will help make your tracking easier.

It also doesn’t hurt to prepare physically. Cardio exercise will help your body handle the thinner air of higher elevations. You will be doing a lot of walking, so exercises that increase your stamina will help too.

Tracks

When you are tracking elk, probably the first thing you will look for are the tracks. You can identify an elk track by its size and shape. The hoof is cloven and looks like a dairy cow or deer. The main difference, though, is that the bull elk track is about four inches long or longer and it is wider. Also, when elk walk, they step in or very close to their front tracks with their back hooves. The thing is, if your mind isn’t in the right place, you are likely to miss a good set of tracks. You have to be aware of what is on the ground and what is around you at all times.

Droppings

The droppings are a sure sign of elk. When you are elk hunting for bulls, look for droppings that are in a pile as opposed to scattered. Cows tend to scatter their droppings while bulls leave it in a pile. This is not for the squeamish. If your mind is on the hunt, you have to be prepared to check the droppings to see if they are fresh (warm). And how do you do that? You feel a pellet with your bare hands. Get in that hunter mindset and it won’t be a problem.

Think like an Elk

Always be prepared. You never know when you are going to round a bend and come face to face with a prize bull elk. Always be ready because things can happen quickly and you could miss a great shot.

When you start out, often it will be before day break so that you can find a butte or area to settle in to and wait for the sun to rise. Thinking like an elk will help you find a good spot so that you can catch the herd on their way to feed or to bask in the early morning sun to keep warm.

As you are tracking, you may lose the ground tracks. In that case, you need to be able to continue the tracking by thinking like an elk. Keep a sharp eye for likely areas that they will bed down or places they may be drawn to for feeding.

If you have your mind on the hunt, your elk hunting mindset will bag you that prize bull.

Elk Hunting Equipment

You have seen other elk hunters having their trophy hunt displayed on the wall.
The pair of beautiful antlers that forms a display so magnificent that it stuns
you with the threatening looks from the head of the preserved bull. You have
been deeply inspired by the very rifle that your hunter host showed you that
killed the elk that is hanging on the wall in front of you. Your blood is
rushing under your skin, and you asked your host when the next trip to the
grounds is so that you hope he will bring you along too.

Before you knew it, he agreed to bring you on the next trip, but insisted you
to follow him along the whole preparation process so that you will enjoy the
most of the overall hunting process. Everything to start off hunting for elks
is best shown by guides or seasoned hunters to the beginners. Let’s see what is important to prepare before your first trip to the hunt.

The most important piece of equipment is of course your rifle. For a beginner
in hunting, buying a rifle is as simple as stepping into a fishing, game and
hunting shop to get your license done and you are off to choose the rifle that
suits your gaming needs. There are so many choices available, each with its own
unique properties that allows optimum performance throughout your hunt.

Rifles are graded by calibers, which will give both the bullet weight and speed
of the bullet to bring your kill down in the lowest number of shots made.
Popular choices for elk hunting are the .270, 7mm, .308, .300, and the .338
magnum. These caliber choices are a good combination of performance,
effectiveness, and user friendliness. There are choices of firing mechanism too
but the recommended still is the single bolt action rifle, which delivers more
power and the ease of use by beginners.

A good scope is also needed to sight your prey. When buying a rifle, make sure
that it is paired with a good scoping sight so that the bullets can really hit
the animal at a distance. There are choices like the variable scope, 2×7, 3×9,
or 4×16, which, choosing the best one is the only choice. Sighting in during
target practice is a must to calibrate the weapon of your choice. Taking
consideration of the weapon’s weight, a heavy gun like the .338 Magnum will not be a good choice for
hunting on foot as it will strain you all day.

Alright, now you have got your rifle ready to go to the out into the wild, it
is time to grab some clothes to protect you form the external elements. Proper
clothing plays an important part throughout the hunt. It is essential to keep
yourself warm and comfortable to make yourself concentrate on the hunt more.
There are also special camouflage patterns on clothing to avoid being detected
while stalking your prey.

Last but not least, is a set of outdoor tools that every hunter will prepare
when they go hunting. That will be their maps, compass, sleeping bags, mess
tins, and so on. These are the essentials for outdoor activities and especially
for hunting elks. A set of butchering knives is equally important as it will be
used to field dress an elk. A frame pack to carry your kill back is a must
otherwise you will need to divide the kill into multiple parts to lighten the
load then.

Equipment preparation is as important as to prepare your skills to hunt for
elks. Many newcomers did not prepare themselves well, often complains about a
bad experience of elk hunting, thus making them a one-time participation in the
game only. Take some time to prepare nicely and it is a guaranteed enjoyable
game of hunting.

Elk Hunting – The Ethics Issues

As with any modern-day hunting activity, there will always be ethical issues
attached to it. Elk hunting is not spared. The debate on this has spawned as
long as some form of legislative body has been in place and will definitely go
on as long as there are differing opinions on game hunting.

One key issue is the hunting season itself. Avid elk hunters are aware that
seasonal hunting gives the best opportunity for a good hunt, whether for meat
or for trophy. However, in recent developments, all-season hunting has been
made available, meaning hunters are able to choose the time that suits them the
most and go hunting at any time of the year. This is the result of game farms,
where farmers allocate hectares of land to breed and raise elk and other game
animals, for the sole purpose of allowing hunters to pay and hunt within these
encroachments.

Activists believe this has made elk hunting too much of a sport without taking
into consideration the biological needs of the elk population. This includes
interfering with and manipulating of the natural breeding and birthing cycle
and process. This in turn will result in less superior elks, more prone to
cross-animal diseases and other genetic implications.

The other pertinent issue would be the purpose of hunting them. Different
hunters are into this activity for different reasons. Apart from the lean meat
that wild elks provide, there are hunters who are in it for the endurance-like
challenge, with end-result of either taking away with them the meat or just the
trophy, which ultimately are the head and antlers. In some cases, such as in
“research captures”, the elks are tranquilized and only the antlers removed.

The age of the elks hunted also varies. This aspect may be an issue among some.
The meat-hunters will go for elks that have just matured into young bulls or
cows and occasionally yearlings or calves are hunted as well. For trophy
hunters, the more matured bulls provide the best yield. Occasionally, hunting
for cows means that the yearlings’dependent upon them will lose their provider, for nursing and protection.
Weakened calves or death among the still-nursing, abandoned calves will be
almost eminent.

Another issue raised by many is the method of hunting or killing of the elks.
While it is well known that primitive weaponry is no longer used, it is often
debated whether modern-day weaponry such as rifles and tranquilizer guns are
more humane. Reality is, a hunt means stalking and immobilizing it, or ideally,
killing the elk the fastest possible way. However, in many cases, injury not
resulting in instantaneous death of the hunted elk does occur. In many cases,
the use of high-powered rifles results in a direct hit of vital organs.
However, the elk is either still able to move about, resulting in the hunter
having to hunt for a wounded, suffering elk. In some instances, where terrain
and weather may hamper the hunter, it may take hours or worse, days before a
wounded elk is found. By then it would probably have died a fairly agonizing
death.

Other concerns raised by certain parties are the ecological impact of such
activity. This includes the trail of human litter, where irresponsible hunters
may leave behind gear or rubbish brought along into the wilderness while
hunting.

Elk Hunt Preparation

The growing interest in elk hunting is making it’s way to your circle of close friends. Ever since your friend went to hunt for
elks in the mountains, and back to share the unforgettable experience that he
got from that hunting trip. Hunting for elk has been a popular sport among
outdoor sportsmen, usually going after the prized antlers, meat, or for that
preserved bull head that hands in the living room’s wall to show how good you are in hunting elks, like your friend did after his
return trip from the mountains.

You have decided to join him on his next trip up to the mountains for your
first hunting trip. Being new in the game, you followed your friend’s uncle whom is a seasoned hunter for your trip’s preparation and setup. A simple read up in the internet provides you with
information you need to get yourself started and pretty much an overall story
of what you will and will not do while you are preparing for your first ever
outing.

Purchasing your weapon of choice is a crucial part, whether selecting a rifle
or a bow is a choice to be made by you yourself. To purchase a rifle, factors
like one shot killing, lightweight rifle body, ease of use, plays an important
part of preparing your gears to start hunting. Different weapons suits
different hunters, and this, must be considered by you yourself as a hunter.

Following your guide (in this case, your friend’s uncle) to the shooting range is a good way of learning how to shoot. Proper
calibrations have to be done to your newly bought weapon and the scope has to
be calibrated to suit your gun. Learning how to shoot may be a crash test
course for the first few times, and then it is all up to how frequently you go
to the range to practice your shooting skills.

Going on a hunting trip requires great body condition and good stamina. You may
be out in the wild for almost the whole day, and without a good and healthy
body you cannot withstand the cold, heat, wind, stuffiness, and many more
situations where hunters spent most of the time keeping still waiting for their
prey. Keeping yourself fit is as simple as a daily evening jog or heading to
your local gym for some light workout now and then to maintain your body
condition to avoid passing out due to the hot weather in the grounds instead.

Learn more about elks is an essential in knowing your enemy better. Learn about
their habitat, what they like to do, their herding patterns, and so on. Reading
up about elks gives you an idea of what you are dealing with. Elk calling is a
good topic to start reading and to practice as it may appear to be your best
selling trick to lure the big bull towards you.

Know more about the surroundings that you will be facing. If you are heading to
the mountains, warm clothing is a must. Apart from that, prepare to face
mountain sickness, and other injuries related to high altitude environment.
This is also same if you are heading out to the meadows for hunting. Proper
sturdy boots to keep your feet from cramping, plenty of water but not as much
as it will slow you down while you are chasing your bull, and even plan to
bring a horse together to ease moving around.

Now that you have prepared well enough, a guide is always recommended to bring
you out into the grounds. Without forgetting the important elk license from
your local game and fish department, you are then fully prepared to step out to
the grounds to bag your first ever trophy elk.

Elk Calling

Elk hunting has gained it’s popularity over the past years as a good sport that offers a satisfying result to beginners. Hunting for elks are legal in most countries provided you have the approved documents that were assigned from your local government agencies. The growing numbers of elks in some region threatens some local ecosystem such as elks competing for food among other herbivores. Hunters are allowed to kill a certain numbers of elks each year, commonly with the limits of a license system that identifies them as an approved elk hunter.

To hunt an elk, one must have their equipment ready beforehand. Rifles or bow and arrows are the main weapon of choice for most hunters. Getting them correctly set up before leaving for a game is very important. Now, having every piece of equipment ready, a good location is chosen, and you have bought your license, it is then all up to how you attract the elks to you.

When you are out in the wild, you are basically stepping into a world where only the elks know where it is, but not you. To say it in a simpler manner, you are simply out hunting in a new environment because the elks know the landscapes more than you do. You are disoriented out there and unless you have a guide that understands the ground more than you do, you are pretty much going to be left with an empty game bag just like any other beginners. And this is when the elk calling technique steps into the picture.

Elk calling is a simple way of attracting elks towards you for you to kill them easily. To find an elk is not easy, calling them over proves to be easier than nothing done. Hunters mimic the sound of barking and bugle of the cows and bulls. This is still not enough to attract them; they include squeals and grunts too as most of the hunters often missed out.

Hunters practice bugling and calling at home based on audio tapes and so to get the ultimate sound that any bull, cow or calves will pay attention to it. It is a technique to put into the overall hunting experience too and to know how good your hunting skills are, your elk calling skills are taken into consideration in judging how good you are. Getting to shoot the elk down is a matter of technique, where calling the elk towards you is also a technique to be paid attention to.

Elk rutting season is one of the most active season for elk hunting. This is when bulls are actively searching for cows to copulate. In this scenario, if a hunter is to hunt a prized bull, he will succeed by mastering the cow talk technique. Rut crazy bull is known to be very sensitive to cow’s call. Often being missed by hunters to learn how a cow squeals, those who have tried will definitely know the effect of cow talking.

With technologies advancing fast, there are so many elk hunting aids available. Apart from being able to record the way elks communicate with each other, then selling them in the form of tapes or media to hunters to learn them, there are also equipments made to mimic the elks vocal properties. Elk whistles are made specifically to give out the correct pitch and sound waves other elks are giving out. Elk whistles are just an example, not missing elk whistles, and also sound producers as simple as pressing a button or two to emit the calling sound you wanted.

No matter what ways you use to hunt an elk, calling them to you is an art, while mastering them will bring you good results in your hunting experience.

Choosing the Right bow For Elk Hunting

Many of us are hunters; we hunt for sport, hunt for the sheer fun of it, or hunt to provide for our families. Archery Elk hunting is an old form of hunting that comes with many risks and advantages. All forms of hunting can be dangerous if you don’t pay attention to what you’re doing but Elk Hunting can be especially dangerous. These animals are one of the largest species of deer in the United States and Asia, failure to take them seriously can lead to injury to your person.

Just because you’re the one with the long range weapon doesn’t always guarantee that you’re going to win the fight. The outcome of an Archery Elk hunt is often determined by the skill of the hunter themselves. While a good weapon never hurts relying on it alone won’t net you many kills. Elk Hunting is as much about skill as it is about patience, remember this when looking for a bow.

Bows are used in hunting more than guns for a few reasons. A bow does not make a loud sound when it is fired so it doesn’t scare local wildlife away. A bow doesn’t take as long to reload as a single shot rifle therefore it has a faster rate of fire. Bows don’t leave residual shot residue in the animal therefore you don’t have to worry about literally biting into a bullet. Finally bows feel like a more personal weapon and require considerable more skill to use.

Anyone can get within 300 feet of an animal and take a shot with a rifle. Archery Elk hunting requires that you get much closer whilst being immensely quiet. Then once you’re within range you have to take the animal down in one shot. Failure to do so results in the animal running away. People have been making a living with Elk Hunting for generations and most hunters have tremendous respect for the animals that they hunt.

While Archery Elk hunting is a trade of skill you do need a good quality tool. Light survival gear and hunting vests are essential but without a good bow you won’t have anything to hunt with. You can buy bows on websites, online auctions, wildlife stores, and specialty shops. In the end the choice is up to you but make sure to get one with enough penetrating power. Elk Hunting can be rough at times as well so make sure that you get a durable model.

The last thing you want to do is break your weapon because you bumped it against a rock unintentionally. Some of the best brands of bows are Mathews, Hoyt, and PSE. Each makes a unique bow with discernable features so there is room for preferring one brand over another. Some have increased strength and others have better range.

In the end the choice is yours but remember that your weapon says a lot about you. In many cases it is also your livelihood so make sure that you take good care of it. Archery Elk hunting requires that you be patient when hunting so you may have to be outdoors for a long time in order to get the best shot. Remember that Elk hunting even with a high powered bow can still be dangerous and you should respect your prey at all times.

Choosing the Right Rifle for Elk Hunting

Choosing an elk hunting rifle is as personal as choosing a good pair of boots or a good coat. The “fit” is important, how it fits to your body, its optimum shooting range, caliber and other factors. This isn’t like going out back with your trusty 22 and shooting a couple of rabbits. This is a whole different ball game and you need a good rifle. Elk may be rather large targets, but that doesn’t mean you will necessarily get near one. You should count on long range shooting instead of banking on the off chance you are going to get up close and personal with one.

You should also keep in mind that elk are large animals with a strong survival instinct. Bull elk are known for traveling pretty good distances even after taking a lethal shot. Because of this, you really want a rifle that you can get two quick shots out. Ideally, you want to take a lung shot first and a quick follow up (even if it is just a meat shot, better to lose a little meat than have your bull disappear after the first shot). You need a rifle that can handle that quick action. So, as you shop, keep these things in mind.

Caliber – When it comes to what is best for elk hunting, everyone has their own opinion. It really comes down to personal preference. The 30.06 is probably the most popular because hunters have more choices when it comes to ammunition and, well, it has proven itself in the field. Other calibers that are good choices include the .338, 7 or 8 mm as well as the 340 Weatherby Mag and 338 Remington Ultra Mags.

Stock Length – Stock length is another important factor to consider. The stock length is particular crucial for larger men or women. If a stock is too short, on recoil the person could wind up getting smacked in the face with the stock or hit with the scope.

Check the “drop” which is the distance between your cheek and the stock. You want your shooting eye to fall in line with the sites when your cheek is against the stock. If the drop is too great you won’t be able to get your cheek where it is supposed to be and not only will your shooting be compromised, you could get hurt.

Weight – Most rifles that are used for hunting weigh in at somewhere between six and nine pounds. While the guns that fall to the lighter side may be easier to carry, a heavier gun is going to be easier to hold steady, they tend to be more accurate for long range shooting and have less recoil.

Barrel – If you are using a shotgun (some areas do not allow rifle hunting), choose one with a rifled barrel as opposed to a smoothbore shotgun. They are more accurate. A rifled barrel causes the slug to spin, stabilizing it so that you can get more accurate shots as far as 100 yards.

Sights – For elk hunting, choose a good scope or special sights designed specifically for deer and elk hunting. Your sights will help you lock in that kill shot and the follow up. Sight it in at about 200 yards.

Construction – Construction is very important when it comes to your rifle. Elk hunting and tracking animals, is tough not just on you. Your rifle also takes a beating. It gets banged around on your horse or four-wheeler; it is exposed to the weather and even strapped to your back. While the wood stocks and blue metal are still popular among hunters, synthetic and stainless steel are hardier and stand up better to the abuse that elk hunting puts them through. They may not be pretty, but they do a heck of a job.

Bringing an elk down is possible only with the best elk hunting equipment

While hunting elk can be a wonderful experience, your hunt will be successful and safe only if you are equipped with the best equipment that your money can buy or rent. Bringing an elk down is possible only with the best in elk hunting equipment and you might need advice from experts if you want to end up with an ideal bow, arrow or rifle, among other equipment in your hands.

An elk is not only large at around 350 to 1000 pounds but is also quite fast when it is nervous or angry. You will need hunting equipment including a rifle or bow that can bring a big bull down with a single bullet or arrow. While elk hunting equipment does involve an excellent rifle with long-range sights or a bow with an excellent rest and sights, it also involves other equipment that can help stalk a herd of elk or beckon it towards you. You will require a matching sling to keep your .300 or .338 or any other type of rifle snug across your body. You will also need powerful binoculars to spot a grazing or moving herd.

If you plan to use a bow or a crossbow then you will need matching sights and rest so that your arrow flies accurately towards the intended target, i.e. the lungs of a bull elk. Your archery equipment will also involve carbon or aluminum arrows and a quiver that does not swing around when you stalk or run towards a moving elk. Your elk hunting equipment should involve tents and sleeping bags that are matched to the surrounding temperature as you will have to bed in high up in the mountains, usually at around 7500 feet above sea level. If your excited children are accompanying you then adequate equipment including their food and water filters to convert river or stream water into drinkable water will also be required.

Acclimatization is also important when you move higher into the mountains. You will need to stay put for a day at a particular height so that your body gets used to the lack of oxygen at that height. A first aid kit should form an integral part of your elk hunting equipment with enough medications, splints and bandages to take care of any untoward incident. Sturdy and high leather boots should also form part of your equipment to avoid spraining your foot when stalking elk. You will also need a heating stove to heat up water and even cook food when you are on your hunting expedition. All the equipment needs to be sturdy but at the same time should also be light in weight since it will either be you or your horse that will end up lugging it up those mountains. Your rifle, bow or crossbow needs to be the best that your money can buy since ultimately it is the accuracy and dependability of these products that will help you to down a fleeing elk or one attracted by bugling or cow calls.

While hunting elk can be a lot of fun mixed with adventure for you and your children, it is your elk hunting equipment that will ultimately keep you safe on those mountains and ensure that your shot downs an elk in the intended manner. You should conduct a checklist of all your equipment before and after each elk hunt.

Becoming a Successful Elk Caller

Sometimes, it simply is not enough to find a good spot and wait or even use a game camera. Elk are spooky creatures that will leave an area at the slightest provocation, even if it is only to find a preferred food source somewhere else. At times like that, you may need to start elk calling, so here’s how to do that successfully.

First, know your quarry and it’s habits, sounds and seasons. Knowing whether or not the elk are mating or rutting or just lounging around is key to success on the hunt. So, on that note, there are four distinct basic types of elk calls. The squeal, the mew, the grunt and the all out rut bugle. You need to know which one to use and when to use it effectively to draw the bull or cow you seek to take down, so here are a few elk tips for using elk calls.

Mew type elk calls are good for calling cows that may be looking to join a herd. A mew can signify either contact, distress or can be a young calf in search of it’s mother. They are also effective in calling bulls searching for herds or dominant bulls during the aggressive rutting/mating season.

Squeal type elk calls, especially a fighting squeal, are known to draw just about any elk nearer. Just as much as elk are skittish and nomadic, they are also curious and will investigate. The use of a fighting squeal elk call has been used to win competitions in the sport, so it does work.

Then there are the bugle and grunt elk calls that are very effective to draw bulls in for that ever so important bow shot. Only bulls make grunts and bugles, so you may find yourself looking at a dominant male or challenging male using these elk calls. These are extremely effective during the rutting and mating seasons, when all of the deer family like elk, white tail and moose are aggressive and will run to a fight. Dominant bulls are also territorial at this time, so these are good elk calls to use then.

Unfortunately, it is not possible for humans to make these calls naturally. So we invest a few bucks in an elk call that can be carried in the pocket or backpack and used when the opportunity presents itself. Many of the calls available will perform most of, if not all, of the calls you need to be successful on your hunt. You just need know what the calls actually sound like, so read on, great white hunter.

To learn the accurate sound of elk calls, there are videos and audio tapes available. These serve a dual purpose to both show you how the proper elk call is supposed to sound and how to use the call you bought so it sounds like that. Working the lips, tongue and proper breath control are all factors in successful elk calling.

By using these elk tips to call your quarry, you will have a freezer full of venison in no time.