Idaho Elk Hunting Tips:
An impressive trophy Idaho Rocky Mountain Elk is the
dream of many hunters. Your Idaho elk hunting guide
usually lives in and scouts the elk herd in his given area,
so they are the best source for elk hunting insights for a
successful hunt. As grandpa said, PPPPP (Prior
Planning Prevents Poor Performance) These are just
some basic pointers to keep in mind:
- Off season scouting is imperative to a successful
Idaho Elk hunt. If you are unable to scout your
hunting area, you may be dependent on your Idaho hunting
guide to make sure they know the elk herd's feeding
areas, bedding areas and travel routes. Make sure
they have this covered!
- Spot and stalk is usually the method of hunting for
Idaho Elk. Spot and stalk hunters should be in
reasonably good physical condition. Even if you
are a fit person, hiking in higher altitudes can be
quite taxing. Prepare for your Idaho Elk
hunt by getting in peak physical condition, hiking
outside and up an incline if possible. (Check with
your physician before engaging in strenuous exercise).
- Using a Bugle Call or cow call is oftentimes used to
attract the largest bull Elk. Study the most
effective Elk calling techniques used in the area you
plan to hunt. Your Idaho elk hunting guide should
be able to instruct you in this. If your hunt is
fully guided, your guide may have this detail covered.
When a bull elk bugles, he is advertising for a
sweetheart, not a fight. Sometimes he may bugle if
he has been rejected by a potential mate. And
other times, bulls answer each other, attempting to show
dominance. It may seem that a large bull elk would
sound off with a echoing bugle, but that not ALWAYS the
case. Sometimes larger, older bulls don't sound
the way they look.
- Just as you should be in good physical condition,
your hunting equipment should be also. Put careful
thought into what gear you will need. Start at
your head with proper binoculars and go down to your
feet, considering lightweight and protective footgear.
And remember to be in good practice with your weapon.
Shoot often and from various distances, whether you plan
to use a gun or a bow, so it is like second nature to
you. Traveling with your rifle can effect your
scope and accuracy of your weapon, so sight in and
practice before leaving for your hunt.
- Never hunt alone, especially in unfamiliar
territory. Take a GPS if you have one, but for
backup, take a compass and topo map.
- Drink a lot of water. Not cokes or coffee, but
water. This will not only keep you hydrated, but
also cut down on altitude sickness and headaches when
Elk hunting in Idaho.
- A successful Idaho Elk hunt starts with daily habits
you may not have thought about. First, address the
phenomenal ability of a Rocky Mountain Elk to 'wind' a
human. NO SMOKING, and some people even avoid coffee
prior to a elk hunt. What are you washing your hunting
clothes in? Is your deodorant scented? Do your hunting
boots, well, smell like hunting boots? What did you eat
for breakfast at camp (Hopefully nobody decided to cook
bacon for breakfast!) Perfumed washing powder, scented
shampoos and soaps can be a killer for your elk hunt. In
addition to covering your scent, there are hundreds of
products designed to attract the elk to your area. Find
out what works best for the time of year you are
planning your hunt. Store you hunting clothes in a
large plastic bag to protect them from camp cooking
odors. Some hunters actually put a small amount of
dirt in the bag, and a few apples, to disguise the
scent.
- Leave the camp early, and stay in the stand late.
Beat the competition to the hunting area, and don't be
in a hurry to get back to camp. The hunters
arriving later than you may serve as a driving force,
moving the elk to your area. Elk travel through
the day, so don't assume they are done moving early.
If they are feeling pressured, the will be traveling to
safety to bed.
- Following the elk rut and before deep snows move
into the high country, look for big bulls up in higher
elevations. A rule of thumb is "the higher the
elevation, the bigger the bull". The reason for this is
that mature bulls are very solitary animals following
the rut and will seek out secluded areas where they can
recover, feed, and be left alone. Younger bull elk are
often found lower down the mountain and may even be
found on the fringe of a herd of cows.
- If it is extremely cold while you are hunting, that
may increase herd movement. The elk require more
food when it is cold, and they will need to move around
to find it.
- Caring for your trophy elk - Your pro guide will be
knowledgeable in this area, but talk to your local
taxidermist about how much cape (hide) you will need if
you plan on mounting your trophy elk. You will
actually need a lot more cape than you think you'll need
to get a full shoulder mount. If you are planning
on tanning the hide, the cuts will be totally different.
Know what you want to do with the elk before you bust
out your knife. Always keep the animal as cool as
possible while transporting. Elk is a healthy and
delicious meat to eat. Check into recipes and
marinating techniques from chefs experienced in how to
properly prepare elk.
All About Rocky Mountain Elk
(Cervus elaphus nelsoni)
Physical Description
Coloration of the Rocky Mountain elk, which is also known as
the Yellowstone elk, varies from deep copper brown to light
tan depending on location, season, and gender. The rump
patch is light beige. The legs and neck are often darker
than the body. At birth, the calf is a rich brown color and
the head will have darker brown hair covered with white and
light tan spots, which serve as camouflage for the calf. The
coloration of brown is lighter on the bull’s body compared
to the cow. Elk average four and a half to five feet at the
shoulder and six to eight feet from nose to tail. The Rocky
Mountain elk has the largest antlers of all the subspecies.
Average Weight Range
Mature Rocky Mountain elk weigh 500 to 700 pounds.
Reproduction
Peak elk breeding season usually occurs in mid-September.
Bulls become very vocal during breeding season (bugling),
and battles among competing males are common. Bugling marks
the onset of the breeding season and usually begins the
latter part of August. Not all cows come into heat at the
same time. After bugling starts, the herds break-up and
bulls will begin collecting harems of five to 15 adult
females.
The average gestation period of elk is about eight and a
half months. The main calving period extends from about the
middle of May to the middle of June. The number of young is
usually one. At one month of age, elk calves eat grass and
other vegetation. Weaning does not take place until October
or even after the rutting season. Sexual maturity in females
is usually reached in the second year. Bulls do not enter
actively into the rut until they are about three years old.
Food Usage/Selection
The food elk consume varies with season and location.
Generally, elk are grazers and eat grass and forbs
(low-growing, soft-stemmed plants). An elk must eat about
three pounds of food per day for every 100 pounds it weighs.
Range
Rocky Mountain Elk number close to 1 million in North
America and are found from New Mexico to north central
British Columbia along the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat
Habitat for this elk includes forests, alpine meadows, dry
desert valleys, and snowy mountain ridges. In the summer elk
live at high elevations in semi-open forests and mountain
meadows. In winter elk migrate to lower sheltered valleys
and meadows.
Common Hunting Methods
Elk have an excellent sense of smell and should be stalked
upwind. Scent can also be covered using a scent eliminator
spray.
Elk can be harvested using archery equipment, a high-powered
rifle, a muzzleloader or a pistol. Many states offer a
special muzzleloader elk hunt. Some pistol enthusiasts hunt
elk during the general rifle season. Elk can be called into
range with a wide variety of calls. Bull calls include the
bugle and the squeal. The cow call can be most effective in
drawing out a bull. Elk are also hunted by the spot and
stalk method.
Hunting Challenges/Values
The wilderness where the elk live and the size of the animal
can be intimidating and awe-inspiring for the first-time
hunter. The thrill of hearing an elk bugling early in the
fall is something that cannot be described; it should be
experienced. If one is fortunate enough to harvest an elk,
the hunter finds the meat to be nutritious and low in fat.
Leather from elks has been used in footwear and clothing and
is strong and durable. Hunters proudly display the elk’s
majestic antlers.
Interesting Tidbits
Elk can run long distances at 28 to 29 miles per hour and
for short bursts can reach speeds between 35 to 45 miles per
hour.
There can be up to 14 feet between one track and the next of
the same footing by a speeding elk.
Bulls, cows and calves are all excellent swimmers. |
