Tactics -- Week One

[JGH]

There has already been a thread about WHERE you are going to hunt on opening day.

Now ... HOW are you going to do it?

What TACTICS will you employ on Day #1?

[JohnFitzgerald]

Tree stand hunting opening weekend. If I get itchy, I'll drop down and do some cold call setups in elky areas.

[Swede]

John, remember patience and perseverance pay big for all hunters. I will be in a tree just over the mountain from where you are. Call me when you need a hand packing out.

[WapitiTalk1]

Day one, early season in WA state, lots of moving to contact. I have 5 or 6 1/2 day hunts that are in areas that I've got into them before. Will do some cold calling setups and some evening lurking around areas bordering feed/previous year rut areas. Day one in ID state, go after the bugling bull who either answers or sings out unsolicited before daylight (last two weeks in SEPT).

[Backcountry]

Hunting a new location. Heading in two hours before daylight to get into a fantastic saddle that is approximately 3 miles in. After I sit a listen into first light ill head in some deeper canyons in search of water and wallows where i'll do a few cold call sets. For the most part, my first week will be an extended scouting mission with my bow in case I see something. Looking to put on the miles to pinpoint some rutting areas.

[twinkieman]

Actually won't arrive in hunting camp until Sept.8, no hunting possible on arrival day. Next day just go out and listen in a few key locations, at daybreak, then finish camp chores. Go out late afternoon and glass and listen. Next day depends on what was seen or heard. Living out of the state we hunt in scouting has to be incorporated with our hunting.

[cnelk]

I will penetrate several areas over the first few days to see what responses I get.
Compare it to spokes on a wheel and Im the hub.
Once elk contact is made, the area is hunted soft until either an elk is taken or they move.

[Trophyhill]

Start light and finish heavy:)

[WapitiTalk1]

Start light and finish heavy:)

Good plan! Time to break in that new pack with a heavy load or four.

[BrentLaBere]

Well for me the tactics and the where are TBD....
I have a few spots picked out. All three spots are North/North East facing slopes with benches on them. Two of them I will be able to glass and one is to timbered to see through. Go in and anticipate elk traveling through with cold calling? or set up and glass and play it accordingly? Every bench had old and new elk sign with years past rubs on them. I get one day before the season opens to glass so I think that's when my decision will be made.

[mtnmutt]

Early hunting hours: ambush
Morning on north finger ridge: cold calling
Mid day: ambush near water or at water
Afternoon: chill out unless I see a potential
Evening: ambush or cold calling depending on that day's results

[wideangle]

Probably treestand on opening weekend especially if it is hot over waterholes.
If not that I have a few ground blinds built on active trails that the whitetail and elk are using.
I will use locater bugles to see where the bulls are in the evening.

[SOIL Hunter]

Hike in set up spike camp and try to figure out what the heck we're doing!

[Sucobowhunter]

Ambush at first then some cold calling until I hear my first bugle.. Then its on!!

[llewokj]

Early hunting hours: ambush
Morning on north finger ridge: cold calling
Mid day: ambush near water or at water
Afternoon: chill out unless I see a potential
Evening: ambush or cold calling depending on that day's results

I like this! Succinct and it covers it all! Thanks.

[G Posik]

Since we will be packing in a couple days before opening day and doing a ton of glassing, hope to be able to ambush right away when the opening bell sounds. After that maybe some cold calling.

Glenn

[Washington Wapiti]

I'll be in a tree, trying not to get sick from the vertigo. Apparently my middle age'd sensibilities and equilibrium do not agree with sitting on a "snowshoe" 25-30 feet in the air, epecially when the tree is swaying. Anyone else experience this?? And I used to do a ton of mountaineering and rock climbing . . . sheesh . . .

BTW Thank you Swede for writing such an informative and entertaining book on the topic of treestand hunting elk. It was a great read, I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend to anyone.

[Trophyhill]

Start light and finish heavy:)

Good plan! Time to break in that new pack with a heavy load or four.

With you, Slim and Jeremy helping it should be just 1 trip

[easeup]

I'll be in a tree, trying not to get sick from the vertigo. Apparently my middle age'd sensibilities and equilibrium do not agree with sitting on a "snowshoe" 25-30 feet in the air, epecially when the tree is swaying. Anyone else experience this?? And I used to do a ton of mountaineering and rock climbing . . . sheesh . . .

BTW Thank you Swede for writing such an informative and entertaining book on the topic of treestand hunting elk. It was a great read, I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend to anyone.

I tried it once in a tall aspen on the side of a hill....same thing....couldn't take it....so that is the extent of my tree stand hunts.

[Washington Wapiti]

I'll be in a tree, trying not to get sick from the vertigo. Apparently my middle age'd sensibilities and equilibrium do not agree with sitting on a "snowshoe" 25-30 feet in the air, epecially when the tree is swaying. Anyone else experience this?? And I used to do a ton of mountaineering and rock climbing . . . sheesh . . .

BTW Thank you Swede for writing such an informative and entertaining book on the topic of treestand hunting elk. It was a great read, I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend to anyone.

I tried it once in a tall aspen on the side of a hill....same thing....couldn't take it....so that is the extent of my tree stand hunts.

Good to know, it isn't just me then! I'm hoping it is something I will get over quickly. It will be a much more effective means of hunting my main area than hunting out of my blind, because of how thick it is. I thought about this three years ago, but didn't put it into action until this year. I didn't account for the tree sway and possible motion sickness though.