Mountain Archery Elk

[STIHL]

Hey I'm looking for some insight into a world I know nothing about.

I've shot my fair amount of 300 class bulls of prairie elk and now I'm looking for something harder and more of a adventure. I know I'm leaving good elk hunting for not many elk.

I'm not looking for someone's honey hole of elk but the mountains are so vast I'm having a tough time even narrowing my search where to start.

I plan to bring my truck and outfitter tent, dont have enough days off for a scouting trip, set up camp, stay for 7-10 days, 🚶*♂️ in a for a day or a night or two.

I guess my questions are
Are elk everywhere just need to find them?
What features are holding elk early Sept, Food ? Cover? Water?
Is E scouting of any value?

Any advice to point me in the right direction would be much appreciated

[buckman]

Check the harvest reports.Mountain Elk success is low even on rifle. Pick a zone as close to where you live as possible.You will be very fortunate if you find Elk to hunt without scouting.

[freeride]

Originally Posted by STIHL

I'm not looking for someone's honey hole of elk but the mountains are so vast I'm having a tough time even narrowing my search where to start.

Elk101.com will help with your questions.

And check the success for the mountain units.

[Knotter]

Unfortunately much of Alberta is not a great place to hunt the mountain elk. Forest management practices, fire suppression, predator populations have turned our mountain zones into red squirrel pasture. Looks nice but not a supportive habitat base for large, grass depending, ungulates. Not saying elk don't exist in these zones, just saying you will have to work for it. I'd recommend you have a conversation with the managing biologist to direct you. With your investment of time you are more likely than most to have success. For that kind of commitment you might want to broaden your search. I wish you all the best in your search and that you have the success you hope for.

[3blade]

The reason you are having a tough time is because it is by far the toughest hunt in Alberta.

”I don’t have time to scout” ….then you won’t kill anything. Take the time away from the rest of your life to do it right, or hunt grouse, or kill more “300 class bulls” wherever you are Wandering the mountains like a fart in the wind for a week wont net you an elk TRACK in most zones.

[STIHL]

Thanks for the imput guys
Sounds like maybe sleeping in the truck and bouncing around would be a better strategy, at least gain some info for future years.
I understand I sound like a brat wanting to leave my alphalfa field that the elk often frequent, to go find elk that barely exist haha .
Along with talking to the Bio, any advice on some tips of E scouting that would help, with my job I have some nightshift hours to burn haha

[3blade]

Meh there’s lots of spoiled azz farm kids that fancy themselves big hunters, when daddy is telling them where to sit. At least you’re willing to give something harder a shot. Just gotta adjust how hard you are willing to go.

[dalewig]

In the general hunting forum there is currently a good thread on 402 , some decent information within it

[freeride]

Elk101 and rokslide have info on E-scouting.

I don't want to burn anyone's honey hole describing exactly what to look for.

My advice is to look at harvest records, pick a spot. All mountain zones contain elk, some are better then others. Go for a hunt this year and learn the area. The more you learn an area and what it contains during the season the better you will do.

I know some areas well that contain next to no elk during the season but after its booming with winter herds. Just looking at sign you would be mislead. But heading out during the season will tell you more. Plus if you find an elk you can make a play on them.

[Knotter]

Originally Posted by freeride

Elk101 and rokslide have info on E-scouting.

I know some areas well that contain next to no elk during the season but after its booming with winter herds. Just looking at sign you would be mislead. But heading out during the season will tell you more. Plus if you find an elk you can make a play on them.

Understanding their needs cycle helps a bunch. The 101 is a good source for base info. I wish our aps in Canada had better tools to help narrow down hot spots. Upside of that is getting out and seeing it for yourself. The mobile and flexible
approach is the ticket till you get the formula.

[KBF]

Originally Posted by STIHL

Hey I'm looking for some insight into a world I know nothing about.

I've shot my fair amount of 300 class bulls of prairie elk and now I'm looking for something harder and more of a adventure. I know I'm leaving good elk hunting for not many elk.

I'm not looking for someone's honey hole of elk but the mountains are so vast I'm having a tough time even narrowing my search where to start.

I plan to bring my truck and outfitter tent, dont have enough days off for a scouting trip, set up camp, stay for 7-10 days, 🚶*♂️ in a for a day or a night or two.

I guess my questions are
Are elk everywhere just need to find them?
What features are holding elk early Sept, Food ? Cover? Water?
Is E scouting of any value?

Any advice to point me in the right direction would be much appreciated

Sweet! I love seeing pics of prairie elk. Have some pics to share? The mountain huntng can be alot of fun. Still trying to figure them out myself.

[STIHL]

Here are the last couple years, all archery.

[STIHL]

Last 5 years of archery all together.

[KBF]

Wow STIHL, thats a pretty good resume. Looks like ya know what you are doing. Its a matter of time and you will have them figured out in the mountains. Those are nice bulls.

[STIHL]

Thanks haha, that's why I'm now leaning into "the hunt " rather then the score, I guess my last question how scared of grizzlies do I need to be haha I have plenty experience hunting black bear but never seen a grizzle in my life

[Fwee6]

Originally Posted by STIHL

Thanks haha, that's why I'm now leaning into "the hunt " rather then the score, I guess my last question how scared of grizzlies do I need to be haha I have plenty experience hunting black bear but never seen a grizzle in my life

How "aware" do you need to be of grizzlies? VERY. They are everywhere now in the foothills and mountains of Alberta.
- Just search this forum for some great (and terrifying) accounts from some forum members.

How "scared" you are is up to you. Personally, I don't like the damn things one bit. Bear spray and a high power rifle whenever I leave the truck.

[3blade]

Originally Posted by STIHL

Thanks haha, that's why I'm now leaning into "the hunt " rather then the score, I guess my last question how scared of grizzlies do I need to be haha I have plenty experience hunting black bear but never seen a grizzle in my life

The big problem with our grizzly bears is they have lost their fear of humans, because Ralph cancelled the hunt. So we have several generations of bears that have been not been pursued, but have been allowed to chase, harass, maul and kill people with no consequences, and even worse they know hunters mean free food.

The old ideas of look big, yell, shoot the dirt etc etc don’t hold up anymore. Some will run away, some will try to eat you. If one comes toward you he’s not kidding, so you shoot him.

I would NOT return to a carcass in the dark. When I was hunting k country I quit every day at noon, because I did not want to be blood soaked and looking down a flashlight beam in the evening. I have gotten a mulie out in one load. For elk, you need to have enough buddies, horses, etc to get the meat out in one trip.

[buckman]

Originally Posted by 3blade

The big problem with our grizzly bears is they have lost their fear of humans, because Ralph cancelled the hunt. So we have several generations of bears that have been not been pursued, but have been allowed to chase, harass, maul and kill people with no consequences, and even worse they know hunters mean free food.

The old ideas of look big, yell, shoot the dirt etc etc don’t hold up anymore. Some will run away, some will try to eat you. If one comes toward you he’s not kidding, so you shoot him.

I would NOT return to a carcass in the dark. When I was hunting k country I quit every day at noon, because I did not want to be blood soaked and looking down a flashlight beam in the evening. I have gotten a mulie out in one load. For elk, you need to have enough buddies, horses, etc to get the meat out in one trip.

Exactly,I killed a bull with my bow two seasons ago.It was 1 hour before dark,did the gutless method and got 90% of the meat out.Went in the next morning to trim off any remaining and the grizz was on the carcass.

[Sooner]

It's been a lot of years now but we used to hunt way back with quads and a wall tent in 429. Way past all the other camps to the furthest valley. Elk sign everywhere you went but they were ghosts in the early season.

One year we could not go early so went first week in Nov. All other camps were long gone, early snow and the elk came out of the hills and were feeding in all the cut blocks. Amazed at seeing all these elk now when they were holed up in the hills early on due to pressure. If your seeing sign in the early season and can hunt it in Nov, might be worth going back after some snow.

I am not a true elk hunter but like all game, if the sigh shows they are there, start looking in the hard to get places. No sign, keep looking. One time in 429, we cleared an old line over a cut block and dropped into a beauty hidden valley up there. You would expect herds of elk that far back. Nope, only wild horses. We never went back to that area and concentrated where the sign was.


We were charged by a grizz that was protecting its calf moose kill in 429 one time. Interesting story but it was our only encounter after a few years of hunting there. Keep your wits about you when walking and watching and do the proper safety concerns in camp and you should be ok.

Good luck.

[buckman]

Originally Posted by Sooner

It's been a lot of years now but we used to hunt way back with quads and a wall tent in 429. Way past all the other camps to the furthest valley. Elk sign everywhere you went but they were ghosts in the early season.

One year we could not go early so went first week in Nov. All other camps were long gone, early snow and the elk came out of the hills and were feeding in all the cut blocks. Amazed at seeing all these elk now when they were holed up in the hills early on due to pressure. If your seeing sign in the early season and can hunt it in Nov, might be worth going back after some snow.

I am not a true elk hunter but like all game, if the sigh shows they are there, start looking in the hard to get places. No sign, keep looking. One time in 429, we cleared an old line over a cut block and dropped into a beauty hidden valley up there. You would expect herds of elk that far back. Nope, only wild horses. We never went back to that area and concentrated where the sign was.


We were charged by a grizz that was protecting its calf moose kill in 429 one time. Interesting story but it was our only encounter after a few years of hunting there. Keep your wits about you when walking and watching and do the proper safety concerns in camp and you should be ok.

Good luck.

429 is not what it was,Elk are very wary now.Wolves seem to be the biggest issue,Grizz not far behind.

[st99]

Originally Posted by STIHL

but never seen a grizzle in my life

as a comparison, last year I was seeing 3 to 5 griz per day

[DirtShooter]

Originally Posted by Fwee6

How "aware" do you need to be of grizzlies? VERY. They are everywhere now in the foothills and mountains of Alberta.
- Just search this forum for some great (and terrifying) accounts from some forum members.

How "scared" you are is up to you. Personally, I don't like the damn things one bit. Bear spray and a high power rifle whenever I leave the truck.

Grizzlies are in Leduc county now.