Deep timber elk

[Koda_]

Is your season at all close to rut?We have few bugles here first of rifle,ID,has dates for rifle with tail end rut

the lottery tag we have been drawing is the last 5 days of October. Eastern Oregon. From what I know the elk rut is in bow season in late Sept. bow season.
Ive had results using a cow call to bring in a bull but didnt connect a shot, but have not thought to use a cow call with a spike only tag. Im tempted to try a cow call in deep timber to disquise any noise I make trying to get close... not certain if that will work.

 

[sp6x6]

Our Mt is oct 25 and at times youll still catch a bull bugling.Side note I had a bull bugle four times last day of our season,which is end of Nov.Killed a 6x6 that day.

 

[BillLarson]

The wind in your face is most important.keep walking you,ll see elk.

 

[ridgewalker]

As mentioned hunt like you are bow hunting, ie, clean clothes washed in unscented soap, use an appropriate scent (elk urine, skunk, scent killer of some kind), always watch your back for elk crossing your path, take one step and look using 7-8x binos for leg or antler or tan body color etc.
I use a fast handling Rem 7600 in 30-06 loaded with 200 grain Nosler partitions or Swift A-frames. 17 elk in about 35-40 years (Mostly meat cows). At 75 it's not what it was like nor as easy as it was at 35.
Learn your area well! Mineral licks, wallows, passes between valleys, bedding areas, trails to/from feeding areas, etc. Big bulls tend to be loaners or in small groups once the rut is over. They are tired and just want a safe peaceful place to replenish for winter. Cool quiet Northside benches in dark timber with escape routes likely up and over a ridge line.
Just my experiences. Best of luck in your pusuit!

 

[Philward]

More likely than not if they busted out they smelled you. I prefer to hear them first, they always crack stuff while feeding. Some of the herd will bed but a few are typically up and feeding. Just this month while archery hunting I was standing near the end of a road having lunch. Marked a zig zag pattern to check through some timber because I knew elk were in the area. Sorted out road into the timber about 20yds and the elk took off about 40yds away. One or 2 stood there behind limbs and between trees and the RF wouldn't connect. It's all good fun though. If I see them first I usually wait then out because they will always move somewhere when time to feed.

 

[g0cherr]

I live in eastern Oregon and hunt the same season you mention. I archery hunted for years and believe it has helped when hunting this deep timber. I like to cow call as I move thru as well it calms things down. Elk are very noise animals so if they think another elk is moving it relaxes them. Keeping the wind in your face is critical. I will stop in these thick areas and do cow calling sessions like when I'm archery hunting and on several occasions have had elk walk right out of the thick timber to me. Last spike I killed I called right to me. He came in on a string.
Another tactic is to follow the elk after you jump them in a certain area. Learn their travel routes they will use them over and over. This can take time but by doing this you can identify stands to put your hunting partner on. We have several common stands I put my dad and daughter on and I have ran lots of elk out to them. Unfortunately with a spike tag it is usually cows and big bulls but it works. We have 5 elk points going into this years draw so we are hoping for an any bull tag.
We have a stand right on the side of a main traveled gravel road but it is a travel route for elk that move from one drainage to another. My dad has had bull elk walk out in front of him, pause to listen for vehicles then cross the road. He described it like watching a child cross a road looking both ways. Point is once they establish the route they keep using it if you find elk in the same area.
Good luck!

 

[Koda_]

I live in eastern Oregon and hunt the same season you mention. I archery hunted for years and believe it has helped when hunting this deep timber. I like to cow call as I move thru as well it calms things down. Elk are very noise animals so if they think another elk is moving it relaxes them. Keeping the wind in your face is critical. I will stop in these thick areas and do cow calling sessions like when I'm archery hunting and on several occasions have had elk walk right out of the thick timber to me. Last spike I killed I called right to me. He came in on a string.
Another tactic is to follow the elk after you jump them in a certain area. Learn their travel routes they will use them over and over. This can take time but by doing this you can identify stands to put your hunting partner on. We have several common stands I put my dad and daughter on and I have ran lots of elk out to them. Unfortunately with a spike tag it is usually cows and big bulls but it works. We have 5 elk points going into this years draw so we are hoping for an any bull tag.
We have a stand right on the side of a main traveled gravel road but it is a travel route for elk that move from one drainage to another. My dad has had bull elk walk out in front of him, pause to listen for vehicles then cross the road. He described it like watching a child cross a road looking both ways. Point is once they establish the route they keep using it if you find elk in the same area.
Good luck!

The cow call is something I'm going to try next year. We only have 3 points so were not confident we will draw an any bull tag for a while. I know a cow call will still call a branched bull in during rifle season but didn't think it would help on a spike hunt so I left mine at home but this makes sense in a deep timber stand or stalk to help mask the footsteps as if another elk. I will be looking to pattern their routes as well but that will take more time since I'm not a local we only get 1 summer scouting trip in due to the drive but weve learned which deep timber creek draws they forage in when the hunting pressure is higher. Pain in the arse to get in but its where they go.

 

[g0cherr]

The country is great in that you can be in deep timber then walk out of that and have an 800 yard shot across a canyon. The pic of the bull in my avatar was taken during deer season at 675 yards across one of my favorite elk canyons. Would like to find him with a tag in hand.
That spike I killed was with a five point. I could have killed him had I had an any bull tag, I called them in and bumped them. Moved around the hill the direction they went and called the spike in. The wind was perfect that morning so they didn't wind me when I bumped them I think they saw something that didn't make sense.

 

[Koda_]

@g0cherr its awesome country out there and just as you described, I love the open country but the last couple seasons hunting pressure has been higher and so we dove into the draws and deep timber where the majority wont go. Spike tags add to the frustration, my partner and I are having some cognitive dissonance on hunting spike only in awesome country vs. any bull OTC on the coast (where we also know where some herds are). Its just that the coastal topography and brush is equally as frustrating as a spike only tag. I filled my lottery spike tag 2 seasons ago, nothing last year and this year I only saw a branched bull I could have taken 3 different times. Frustrating. But this is fun and why its called hunting not shopping...

 

[P7M13]

@g0cherr its awesome country out there and just as you described, I love the open country but the last couple seasons hunting pressure has been higher and so we dove into the draws and deep timber where the majority wont go. Spike tags add to the frustration, my partner and I are having some cognitive dissonance on hunting spike only in awesome country vs. any bull OTC on the coast (where we also know where some herds are). Its just that the coastal topography and brush is equally as frustrating as a spike only tag. I filled my lottery spike tag 2 seasons ago, nothing last year and this year I only saw a branched bull I could have taken 3 different times. Frustrating. But this is fun and why its called hunting not shopping...

I know what you mean re: coast vs cascades. Your woodsy picture reminds me of parts of Mt Hood NF and a few scarce areas in the southern Siuslaw. The rest are pretty thick brush -- it's some thick jungle.
I've surprised several cows, never came upon a bull or spike. Most of my digging is around Yachats.
I tracked two for 1/2 a day, and rather than go up with pressure, they went down into the brush that was so thick, I couldn't walk in it nor see >5 yards. Later saw them moving up the hill across the canyon above Cape Creek.
This year's tag is Saddle Mountain antlerless, but I've only had one chance to get out to scout, and there were no signs in the Clatsop where I was.
Last time out hunting, my rain gear sounded like a drum with every drop. Changed it out for this year.

The wind in your face is most important.keep walking you,ll see elk.

This can be hard in the Oregon coastal range, where the winds can shift every 10 minutes. One second the wind is coming up a draw, at your back, the next second it's in your face.

Gotta agree, elk are noisy animals.

 

[Koda_]

I know what you mean re: coast vs cascades. Your woodsy picture reminds me of parts of Mt Hood NF and a few scarce areas in the southern Siuslaw. The rest are pretty thick brush -- it's some thick jungle.

The picture I shared is from our spot in far eastern Oregon. Its just the pic I have on hand (I cant remember why I even took it...), but there is worse brush Ive got into out there that can rival the cascades and coast range. I often hunt solo and as I descend into the thick draws I think about watching every step, no injuries allowed.

 

[Philward]

This is typical for me.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

Looks like, good .45-70 Country to me with, a Flame Thrower mounted on, the Bottom barrel,.. to Blaze some Trails !
Loose Lips,.. SINK, Ships,..
You guys are gonna Educate, the Newbie's and I'm not going to have, a NICE Place, to hunt, anymore !
Dark Timber and Finger Canyons, ARE where I go, to get AWAY from, the Long Range,.. "Cannon",.. "Shooters" !

 

[Philward]

That second photo is where they ran into, I'm in their tracks. Followed for a ways but bailed out and tried to get ahead of them. That stuff is actually about 5-8 years younger than the stuff I saw them in first. You can see the thinned trees laying on the ground. Add in the steady rain and it's good fun.