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Elk hunting is a specific and challenging form of hunting, and being prepared for the challenges you will face is the first step to an enjoyable and successful hunt.
The first step to consider is the gear you will be bringing along. Daytime temperatures in elk country can vary wildly during elk season, from sub-freezing temperatures in the early morning to over 70 during the day. Dress in layers, and keep in mind that walking will generate body heat. Wool is a good bet, as it is warm and will shed snow. Wear boots that are warm, waterproof and will grip on snow and ice. The Air-Bob sole is a good bet.
When hunting elk, you will need a rifle of sufficient caliber to bring down the big game. A smaller caliber will likely take days or even weeks to kill the animal so most areas require a rifle of sufficient caliber to take down an elk quickly. Choose a rifle with a caliber of .270, .308, .30-06, .300 mag, .338 mag, or the 7mm mag.
One overlooked aspect of elk hunting preparation is physical conditioning. Elk usually live in higher country where the thinner air can be a problem for less conditioned hunters. Also keep in mind that, unlike white-tail or mule deer, an elk is unlikely to come to you. The only way to get an elk is to go out and find it, and that means hiking. Many elk hunts last for up to a week, so make sure you are able to hike long distances, carrying gear, in altitudes of up to 10,000 feet above sea level. Total body strength and endurance is needed for the elk hunt. -
Elk are an elusive prey, so hunters use any advantage they can to even the playing field with one of nature's most intelligent beasts. Calling to elk will have a big impact on the number of elk sightings you experience.
There are two popular types of elk calls: imitating a bull, and imitating a cow. Bull elk are very territorial, so the sound of what they think is a trespasser on their territory will likely draw them in as they try to confront the trespasser. Cow elk often mew as they feed to communicate with the herd, and when a cow is in heat she will mew for extended periods, which is what you should strive to imitate.
One technique is to give a bull bugle followed by a cow mew. This has the effect of fooling nearby bulls into thinking that another bull is stealing his cows, which will cause him to seek out the source of the noises to investigate. By using this technique it is possible to get quite close to your quarry. -
While calling can give hunters an edge, as elk hunting gains popularity the effect of a call on wild elk is beginning to diminish. This is where stalking, or getting close to an elk on foot, comes in.
The best situation is if a hunter is able to observe a herd for long enough to figure out three locations: the herd bedding area, the herd feeding area and the herd water hole. Elk herds will usually pick one location that provides one of these three crucial elements and return to that location day after day. Setting yourself up on the path between two of these places is another way to get close to your goal. It is a good idea to figure out these areas in advance and set yourself up well before the herd arrives, as getting close to an entire herd of eyes, ears and noses is no small task.
Tree stands are an underrated aspect of elk hunting. Unlike the white tail deer, an elk will look up as it travels. But so few hunters employ the tree stand that elk are not used to looking for them. If you own land or can get permission to set up a tree stand and can do so near one of a herd's three essential resources (food, water and bedding), and can set up the tree stand while the herd is away, a tree stand can provide ideal cover for a hunter while they are lining up the prize winning shot.
