Guerrilla Tactics for Elk

Don’t leave the success of your hunt to chance. You can be prepared for success no matter the season or weather.

Weather always plays a role

Excessive heat during the early archery season or lack of snow during the general rifle season goes a long way in determining success for many hunters. Hunters don’t have to leave success up to the fickle weather, though. Through proper preparation and pre-season scouting you can have a successful hunt despite what Mother Nature throws at you.

Dealing with excessive heat during archery season

All the research into elk mating behavior shows that the rut is fueled by decreasing daylight. So why does it seem that bugling heats up at different times from hunting season to season? The simple answer is that during years of excessive heat in September, most mating activity occurs during the night. Elk have no more desire to be running around the mountains in high heat than you do. Many hunters are lost if the elk aren’t hot into rut. You don’t have to be.

Try these tactics which are proven to be deadly when the weather doesn’t cooperate.

Hunt timbered north slopes early and late in the day

Elk will bed on cool, moist north slopes when the weather is hot. Try to move close to bedding areas to catch elk moving to and from their beds. Calling should be toned down. Try cow calling and some grunts. Calling action will usually die down quickly after sunrise and won’t begin until just before sunset. Don’t get discouraged because the action can be fast and furious but it will also be over just as fast as it began.

Set up an ambush on active wallows

Wallows are frequently found near known bedding areas also. Setting a ground blind or treestand overlooking a trail leading to an active wallow can be productive when nothing else works. This type of setup is closer to whitetail deer hunting than elk hunting but is a proven technique in the right conditions.

Lack of snow ruins many hunters General Season

Every year hunters look for early snow during the general season to drive elk out of the high country. Many rifle hunters won’t take to the field without the snow. Unfortunately, there seems to be an increasing frequency of seasons without adequate snowfall to move the elk.

Locate elk with a spotting scope or binoculars

This is an effective technique during rifle or archery season. I harvested a cow elk with my longbow on the last day of the season a couple of years ago by spotting and intercepting the herd along their travel route. If the elk are moving you can get in front of them and intercept them with careful planning and some luck.

Spotting and Stalking

Spotting and stalking stationary elk is also effective. Last year found no snow and extremely low numbers of elk harvested in the Bitterroot National Forest during the general season. My hunting partner spotted a band of elk on a steep slope feeding leisurely. We knew of a road above the elk and proceeded to try and drop down on them. We missed our mark that day and backed out due to oncoming darkness. The next day we were down below in the location where we spotted the herd the previous day. It took a while but we found the small herd about a half mile from their location the day before. We were much more careful this time in planning our stalk. Several hours later we were at a rock outcropping about 150 yards above the feeding elk. We each picked out an animal and both harvested mature cows.

You can’t be successful if you aren’t hunting

No matter what “Mother Nature” throws at you this season, you can have success. Don’t be afraid to try new tactics and think outside the box. If you encounter any of these situations try these techniques and you may be dining on some fine elk steaks this winter.

Good Hunting!