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.

[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

[dalewig]

Probably drawing 404 this year and this thread isn’t particularly encouraging , thoigh still may do so as it’s maybe my favourite area of anywhere, be hunting it more for scenery than elk numbers.

Looking at harvest stats for 404 show that from 2012-2017 average bull harvest was decent at around 15 a year on average , but then from 2018 onwards on it fell hard to only 3-4 . Actually were more rams (4) then bull elk (3) harvested in 404 last year , which a sad stat for a zone that actually has some great elk habitat

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by bessiedog

WB is correct.
I chase three different small herds in 402. Usually I can tangle close with one group.

But talking to bios…. I think it’s pretty much the Grizz factor.

It’s the same as the Yellowstone Elk when the wolves got reintroduced and then the grizz down there figured out the calving grounds.

Lots of preds in 402. Them damn wolves keep messing up my whitetail patch.

The predator issue is not due to one or the other but the tag team of wolves and bears.

Wolves are the initial cause of population decline, bears keep the population from growing.
Wolves take out the weakest and unluckiest (), regardless of the prey's age or fitness.
Bears clean out the excess of young. To bears, one is too many.

Elk in Alberta are now a species completely dependent upon living in close proximity to humans for safety from predators.

The ultimate predator pit.

[GoneOutdoors]

Predators aside - it is fricking hard to kill an elk with your bow or a gun in the mountains. The numbers don't just mean the elk populations are down, hunting them isn't that easy.

If you ever get into the mountains, and get into a bugle battle with a bull elk - good luck. It a rush and nothing like it. Most addictive thing out there. But one mess up, wind switch and or stall in the moment or he pushes his cows to you to see who you are - he gone!

But it's not every trip and it's not every year. I know where the elk are in my zone - and even then, its a battle. Some years it's over in 10 min of the first day, sometimes it's 10 days... And not one answer. Wolves play a part, too many and they are not vocal at all. Some days it's like chasing a ghost.

One suggestion is to get a buddy who has done it before, or partner with someone who has. My dad and uncle took me to learn the ways. Learn to call, really learn to call, and be ready to chase down the herd bull up and down the mountain. Or like everyone has stated - get the boot miles going. I do lots of e-scouting but it doesn't do much good till you walk it to see if there are elk there, most times there isn't where you e-scout.

Good luck.

Your prairie bulls are bigger than the mountain bulls.. But the hunt is way better in the mountains!!!




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[GoneOutdoors]

It's just different hunting.

The further south you go the more open Hills and seeing elk you'll find. It's to whatever level of difficulty you want. Like hunting any animal.

I have hunted elk in every corner of the province... Depends what style of hunting you like. If you want to see the big herds or sit on a field edge or chase ghosts through the bush - this province has it, took most guys 20 years to figure it out though.


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