Archery timber tactics

[usmc99]

Well I'm gonna head out west again this year. Going to try OTC elk in CO. I've got my areas narrowed down to about 3 and I'm going to get in a quick 4 day scouting trip this summer to see the areas first hand rather than just on Google Earth. From the looks of things this is going to be more of dark timber areas. I'll take the spotter along but I don't really think this country is going to be glassing as much as just still hunting through the timber. So with all that said, you guys that have been successful in the past, what's your favorite approach? Do you primarily move around all day? Morning and evening only? My hunt is going to start at the end of ML season and continue through the next week so I hope to see some runtting action. Thanks for any input guys.

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[FitToHunt]

I've always been a guy that's hunted mostly heavy timber, and I usually cover a lot of ground. Probably too much ground to be honest. I'm really working on being more patient in general. I've had good luck in the past by getting up high and listening for bugles in the middle of the night. Then making a mental map of their movements to plan my first and last light stalks.

 

[ivorytip]

timber hunting is great. keeps you and the elk cool. find some elk and observe. I have a buddy that hunts strict timber with a tree stand and does great, but he isn't picky, first elk that walks past gets an arrow.

 

[usmc99]

timber hunting is great. keeps you and the elk cool. find some elk and observe. I have a buddy that hunts strict timber with a tree stand and does great, but he isn't picky, first elk that walks past gets an arrow.

Never would have thought of using a treestand. Is he doing that on private ground where he can haul it in with an atv or what. I can't imagine hiking one back off the beaten path and setting it up.

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[ivorytip]

PUBLIC, He packs it in on his back. only goes in about a mile at the furthest. deff not a ladder tree stand.

 

[usmc99]

PUBLIC, He packs it in on his back. only goes in about a mile at the furthest. deff not a ladder tree stand.

That's interesting. Makes me wonder if a guy could build a makeshift blind out tree branches etc and set up on water or a trail and have a decent chance.

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[JimP]

The problem with heavy timber is that there really isn't anything in it that the elk like unless there is a stream or a bedding area for them. Elk will usually just use timber as a get away area when hunting pressure gets too bad. Most hunters that hunt it will find the meadows inside of it where the elk will feed and then catch them as they are moving through the timber to either their bedding area or to water.

 

[Slugz]

If possible hunt the opener, although they will be quiet they will come to calls easier. Lots of people pack in on their back a treestand to sit a waterhole or trail intersection. Easiest I've used is one that self climbs. Its legal to set up a blind in Colorado with available flora/fauna, just need to tear it down when done hunting.

I my experience most archery elk were killed on north facing, deep dark, old growth timber. More likely then not they will be bedded in there. Do not enter the bedding area unless the wind is correct and all is perfect. If you bump them out of the beds they will relocate many miles away.

The glassing you do 24-72 hours before the opener will be the most important. If you go in post muzzleloader more than likely the animals have been bumped once or twice already. That's why that glassing is critical as they will not be in the same spot as before.

Post ML hunt will also be the peak of the rut ( defined as when the most cows are in heat) Bulls will already have their 6-10 cows in the deep dark stuff hiding while he tries to breed them all and keep them away from others.

 

[go_deep]

USMC99 I archery hunted a OC unit in Colorado not to many years ago before I moved to Wyoming with some good success. Let me do some digging in my file box to see which one it was, maybe it'll help you narrow down an area. We tagged a bull and there, and there was 3 other guys at the trail head hunting and they got 2 bulls, was a pretty good area for OC I thought. I'll shoot you a PM later today with the info.

Good luck and God bless!

 

[usmc99]

USMC99 I archery hunted a OC unit in Colorado not to many years ago before I moved to Wyoming with some good success. Let me do some digging in my file box to see which one it was, maybe it'll help you narrow down an area. We tagged a bull and there, and there was 3 other guys at the trail head hunting and they got 2 bulls, was a pretty good area for OC I thought. I'll shoot you a PM later today with the info.

Good luck and God bless!

I sure appreciate that. Thank you!

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[usmc99]

Thanks for all the input guys and please keep it coming. The 1st area on my list of possibilities has several water sources with small open meadows scattered through the area with a 2 north facing slopes on the western edge, one is about a mile long and the other is about a half mile long.

 

[gypsumreaper]

Over the years I've learned there's no elk habitat, it's all elk habitat, I've chased elk above timber line, in the oak brush, dark timber, aspens, cedars, sage, and river bottoms. I hunt all day I never really had the ambition to go back to camp mid day. If I can put them to bed mid day and everything's right that's when I like to work them, if not I wait and hope they will follow a route past me in the evening. But I've also covered 2-3 gulches a day in search of the elk


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