Hhanks iello every one, I drew and area 7 cow tag and am very movtivated and determined to try to fill it. I will be in wyoming from the middle of aguest to the end of oct working on a ranch near douglas. I would REALLy alike to try and fill it with archrey gear. I have a good bit of exsperince chasing whitails with a bow, but have never hunted out west before with either a gun or bow so I realize the long odds. My questions are these:First, I am NOT looking for some one to share there secret spot with me, These are questions coming from a total greeni, What are things I should be looking for when scouting onling and on a topo map?What would be a good straegy or method fro hunting an elk in area 7 durring late augest/ sept? do i find water holes and sit my them? do I sit by trails? i am used to sitting all day in a treestand so waiting is not and Issue.I am also in excellent shape and love to hike so am not afraid about getting off the beaten path. I would appreciate ANY advice or help you all would have for this newbi. Tn advance!
area 7 cow elk Tag
- Thread starter Jonah
- Start date
LCH
Very Active Member
I've only hunted elk once and killed a cow with a rifle, and it was during the first week of October. But I got into elk several times that week by following the bugles. The area I was in was heavily timbered, and it was actually pretty easy to sneak in close to them.
Once I could hear several in a thicket, bugling and breaking brush, but couldn't see them. I took my pack off and crawled into the thicket (I couldn't walk without breaking branches and making too much noise), and next thing I knew I had elk all around me. I could see their legs and bits of their bodies, but no clean shot. At one point, I had a bull standing about 10 yards from me, but I had a cow only tag. Eventually they smelled me and took off.
After this and a few other encounters with no shot opportunities, I set up between 2 really thick areas with a lot of sign, and shot my cow at around 15 yards as she fed past me one morning. So if you know elk are using the area, sitting and waiting can definitely work, but covering a lot of ground the first few days of the hunt is how I figured out where I needed to be.
Good luck!
Once I could hear several in a thicket, bugling and breaking brush, but couldn't see them. I took my pack off and crawled into the thicket (I couldn't walk without breaking branches and making too much noise), and next thing I knew I had elk all around me. I could see their legs and bits of their bodies, but no clean shot. At one point, I had a bull standing about 10 yards from me, but I had a cow only tag. Eventually they smelled me and took off.
After this and a few other encounters with no shot opportunities, I set up between 2 really thick areas with a lot of sign, and shot my cow at around 15 yards as she fed past me one morning. So if you know elk are using the area, sitting and waiting can definitely work, but covering a lot of ground the first few days of the hunt is how I figured out where I needed to be.
Good luck!
Last edited:
wy-tex
Veteran member
You may have to deal with hot weather in Aug. and early Sept. Our cow hunting is across the highway from you and we always wait til later in the season.
Look for waterholes early and sit them. Access may be an issue for you early but Laramie Peak has some spots to go. Lots of elk in 7 so don't get discouraged. If bow doesn't work out later in the season you should find cows, if you can come back with a rifle.
Herd cows are a pain so once they get into harems be wary of spooking the lead cow, where she goes the harem goes. If you hear any bugles a good guess would be a bull with cows so check it out if possible. Calf calls might be a good call for Aug-Sept to get a cow in close. Get one of the bite and blow cow calls like a Cow Girl by Primos or one similar and learn some calls.
Getting that meat taken care of in Aug and Sept will be the main concern. Break down the animal-quarter it fast and get it into the shade.
Look for waterholes early and sit them. Access may be an issue for you early but Laramie Peak has some spots to go. Lots of elk in 7 so don't get discouraged. If bow doesn't work out later in the season you should find cows, if you can come back with a rifle.
Herd cows are a pain so once they get into harems be wary of spooking the lead cow, where she goes the harem goes. If you hear any bugles a good guess would be a bull with cows so check it out if possible. Calf calls might be a good call for Aug-Sept to get a cow in close. Get one of the bite and blow cow calls like a Cow Girl by Primos or one similar and learn some calls.
Getting that meat taken care of in Aug and Sept will be the main concern. Break down the animal-quarter it fast and get it into the shade.
