Who doesn't get excited at the sound of a bugle? Hunters and non-hunters alike, can't escape the hair raising excitement brought on by a deep guttural growl of a bull elk. It's what makes September so special in elk country.
The “bugle season” gets all the attention when it comes to elk hunting. We shouldn't forget about the two weeks before prime time though. Bulls that haven't been called too, nor been screwed with since last hunting season are killable, just not in the way we dream of.
Big animals need plenty of water
A good majority of elk country is particularly dry. Elk will travel several miles a day to drink. It may not be at the same place or at the same time but they need water daily.
Hunting waterholes, tanks, springs and creek crossings can be very productive at the start of bow season. If you are hunting public ground, be very aware that other hunters are attracted to water just like fish are. If this becomes a problem, try to catch the elk before they get to water. This may be a mile or more away from the source. It's really no different than patterning a whitetail that's hitting a specific food source.
Generally speaking, elk have bigger home ranges than whitetails. Meaning, if water is not overly scarce, it may take them a couple days to circle back to the original waterhole you found them on. Don't get discouraged if one or two sits are unproductive, it may take 3-5 days for them to make it back. Patience is obviously the key.
Wallows are also good spots to set up on. It is a lot easier to tell if a wallow is being worked verses how frequent a waterhole is being used. You can learn everything you need to know about wallows in my earlier article, Elk Wallows 101.
Active wallows are a torn up mess that you really can't miss. Muddy water, grass thrown about and dried mud caked to vegetation are tell all signs that one or more bulls are in the area. Figure out where they are coming from and hunt on a favorable wind. This is one of the best strategies for early season bulls but again, patience is key.
Agriculture fields
Elk hunting isn't just for roadless, backcountry tracts of land anymore. Due in great part to hunters dollars and conservation groups like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, elk numbers exploded some two decades ago.
With elk numbers on the rise, so too were complaints about crop damage as elk moved into agricultural areas.
Alfalfa, winter wheat, barley and many other crops, became favorites. Irrigated Alfalfa being a preferred feed in early September.
The majority of irrigated alfalfa fields are located on private land and will cost a pretty penny to get access to. If you have the dough, the hunting can be second to none. If you can't afford to pay for access or it goes against your nature, all is not lost. Many of these elk travel several miles a day to get from alfalfa to bedding areas and vice versa. Often times, they will be traveling across public land.
My method for hunting them is to glass from afar to pinpoint travel patterns. After getting a good feel for their daily routine, I will move in and build a couple blinds out of the surrounding vegetation. I don't get very elaborate with my blinds as I don't want to draw attention to them from the elk or other hunters. I also set them up to take advantage of different wind directions. When I feel confident in my sets, I go hunting. Often times, I will have to adjust my locations due to wind direction. Don't be afraid to adjust, it can make all the difference.
Spot and stalk
My favorite type of early season hunting. It combines waterhole and food source hunting but without the sitting around and waiting. As I said, the previous two types of hunting require patience, which I have little of. I do it so my clients can be successful. When I have my choice though, spot and stalk hunting is my go-to strategy.
Spot and stalk hunting has a very simplistic approach. Glass until you spot elk, then move in for the kill. The first part is easy. The latter is extremely tough. If you are lucky, you will be hunting a lone bull that hasn't collected a harem of cows. Fooling one set of eyes is definitely easier than getting by a dozen sets or more.
Start by glassing feeding areas at first light. Obviously, these areas will be different depending on where you are hunting. In one part of the country, you may be glassing a timber cut, alfalfa field or even an abandoned strip mine.
Once you spot a bull, it's time to decide if he's in a workable position.
Will the wind hold? Do you have enough cover? Should you wait till evening?
These are questions you can only answer at the time, as every situation will be different. My best advice is this; if your gut says go for it, then go. If you have any doubt, wait. At the same time, you need to realize that you may do a dozen or so stalks before you get into range, let alone a shot opportunity. Being aggressive while treading lightly is the way to go.
The key to spot and stalk hunting is mobility. Being able to cover country by truck, horse, UTV or hiking is crucial. This also means that you need to be hunting land that is big enough to allow you to move around. That is not to say you should ignore smaller chunks of real estate, just don't become married to one spot.
Final thoughts
I did not mention calling. Truth be told, I rarely make a sound until the 15th of September. Occasionally, I will cow call to try and settle an edging bull down. There have been a few years when I only bugled a handful of times the entire month of September. I believe overcalling is one of the biggest mistakes hunters make, especially in the early season.
Does this mean you shouldn't call at all? Absolutely not. As I mentioned before, every situation is different, as is every area. I'd be a dang fool to sit here and tell you how to hunt an area that I've never been in, from the comforts of my couch.
My advice comes from guiding and hunting in three western states for 20 years. A lot of time in the mountains and a lot of successful hunts later, I can draw conclusions to what works and what doesn't for me and my hunters. Hopefully, one piece of this article will help you be successful in your hunting area this fall. In your preparation efforts, make sure to read Early Season Hunts: Saving the Meat and Cape. Taking these precautionary measures will ensure you get to enjoy that tasty meat while also saving the original cape for your shoulder mount.
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