Early morning elk question

[mark-edmonton]

How early are you guys out in your spots before legal light? Last year I would leave camp extra early to quad to where I would start walking! But found I had to leave really early to beat the clock and be off the quad an hr before sunrise!

Just curious as to how long before legal light are you in the area?

[Kurt505]

I usually get into my spot about 45min before legal light, but it's also a 1/2 mile deep in the woods by their bedding area. I usually come in from the south east as the prevailing winds are generally out of the north west. I find during the rut that I can never be there early enough to beat them all though, seems there are always satellites roaming around the area. If it's an area your not familiar with I'd suggest even getting in there a couple hours early so you can locate them.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Half the time the elk are there before me...so to beat them I set up a tent just off the travel route so I am there before them...

I can listen to them all night and instead of trying to follow them I can head them off.

My biggest elk I shot on my way into my blind...they were between me and the blind so I had to improvise...that's when I knew to be successful in this area I had to be there before they were.

LC

[mark-edmonton]

Thanks, I was successful last year sitting at a water hole at first light! I had a spiker bull walk to 10 ft behind me, then he saw me a spin around! 20 min later a nice 5x4 started meandering towards the water hole. Nailed him at 105 yds. 3 shots with 7mm 150 gr and down he went!

[Mike_W]

It all depends on your location I usually like to be out of the truck an hour before legal light but depending on location and circumstance I might be out of the truck 90 min before legal or 10 min.

[TBark]

I will quad out near legal light as we can be into the elk within minutes or have to walk a few miles.
Leaving the quad on our deeded boundary to be within the rules.
But theres always the fear of quadding and scattering the elk too.
So ya, you never know, almost better to walk.
Many different scenarios.

TBark

[oldgutpile]

We quad in, to be in our parking spot exactly 70 min before sunrise. After that, its a one mile, up-hill climb to where we actually hunt. We're slowly walking in to my prime area, listening for bugles and cow talk. Once I hear the first one, its out with the cow call, and I'm just one of the girls!

[3blade]

If they are pressured, they are gone hours before sunrise and do not stick around if they hear a quad. I found that there is little point in trying, as they are headed in certain direction and won't slow down for anything. In the evening, they will get up and water, rut, wander and browse, slowly moving towards a main feeding area. This gives a lot better shot opportunities, though I haven't managed to connect yet.

Hint: You might want to pay attention to what LC says, he's one of those annoying old guys who kills elk consistently and makes the rest of us jealous.