Despite copious amounts of sweat, worn out boots, and several dawn to dusk days of crawling up and down mountains in search of elk, I still have a tag in my pocket. Truth be told, the hunt should have ended in the first half-hour of opening day. I cow called a nice bull from across the Highway in the Park, who snuck up on us and we only noticed him once he was 15yds away! He stood behind an alder bush lifting his head up and down and we couldn't get a clear view of his rack in order to count 6 points. I was 90% sure he was legal, but before we could get a definite count he winded us and took off down the mountain. Another AO member was driving the highway around that same time and confirmed that a nice 6x6 had crossed the highway
My buddy who has never hunted before, is now hooked for life!
My question is this: Now that the ruts are basically over, should I focus on my mule deer and whitetail tags in another area? Anyone who has hunted 408 knows it can be challenging to hunt. The parks encompass many of the prime areas where the elk seem to rut (not saying all, just many). In full rut it seemed a great strategy to locate them near a park boundary and call out a bull into a legal hunting area. Is it still possible/likely this late in the season? I know alot of hunters sit in their trucks along the highway waiting to get lucky when a herd crosses. I have zero interest in that style of hunting.
I've had a blast hunting there so far. Hiked into many new areas I haven't been yet, and seen tons of nice animals of all kinds. That is a successful season in my books, but it sure would be nice to have a tasty bull in the freezer...
Any opinions/advice welcome! This is my third year hunting, and first time chasing elk on my own.
P.S. Big thanks to Pottymouth for his helpful advice so far!
408 Elk still worth pursuing this late?
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