Probably about as popular as someone posting asking for help to learn turkey hunting in my part of the world, but here goes nothing.

I’m not looking for a state, unit, or none of that. I’m asking because I want to learn and I want to try a hunt in the next couple of years.

During the rut and the earlier seasons, on public land, where do you find elk? Meaning are they typically in a higher altitude, and pushed back into deeper thicker stuff when pressure starts?

Also, I’m an “easterner” so I don’t know what I don’t know. Are atv’s used to get back further down trailheads out west, or do people have to walk or ride horses to get back away from the crowds?

For now , I would peruse all these elky threads for information. There are some pretty savvy dudes on here that have hunted elk for much of their lives in most places elk reside. I am a mere novice still compared to some, and never did I stop learning all the years I hunted them.

troublesome:

Check your PMs

KC

Check your PMS

As with most hunting the harder it is to access an area the less pressure there will be on the animals.

Start getting in shape now. I took a day trip bowhunting elk yesterday - Walked 7 miles with ~2500' of elevation gain. Started at 6,000' and topped out about 8500'. That does not include all the little ups and downs along the way. Pretty typical jaunt here in So. Idaho.

Anywhere ATV's are legal there will be ATV's and no elk.

when the pressure's on, they'll do 1 of 2 things. They'll go into the nasty stuff to hide, or they'll move down onto private land where you can look at them like in a zoo. I think their favorite app for determining land ownership is OnX.

Elk will be his best teachers... And it takes many many years of trials and tribulations. I am still learning..

This!!!!!!! ^^^

And my brother has been claiming for years elk can also read the season dates in the Big Game brochure...........

The answers to your questions will be based on several variables. In several elk states there are several seasons typically from Sept-Nov. some bow only, some muzzle loader, multiple centerfire rifle. These go from early rut to late season and from very warm weather to very impactful cold and adverse snow storm weather. Elk will behave much differently in accordance with hot and cold weather and obviously in the rut vs immediate post rut and very late season hunting. You should really narrow down your season and geographic area and then you can start to formulate a plan. You can literally write several books on elk behavior. Obviously in the rut bulls are vulnerable, chasing them after that and into November is another story altogether. At that time they are worn from fighting and hunting pressure and are extremely weary. They eat less, stay in the heaviest of cover in places many won’t go. It’s hard to believe animals that large with antlers that size can get though miles of timber deadfall. That’s where the big ones hole up usually until mid December. They all come low after that to feed on ranch property.

In unusually hot weather, we can find them at 8k and above, on the north slopes hiding in steep black timber to stay cool. They'll come out about sundown...if they feel like it. Well, I said 'we can find them'. I should have said that's where they'll be as usually we can't find them. Steep black timber can be very noisy walking and they'll hear you coming and scram.

By late Sept, they're wearing their winter woollies. They're dressed for -20. If it's +80, they have to find a place to stay cool and it won't be easy to get to it.

A lot of Good Info here So Far, and I'm Sure More will be Coming!

Let me ask You a few Questions? What your Age? What shape, physical Condition are you in? Do you Hunt Now? What kind of Hunting do you Do?(If you Do) Rifle? Bow? Muzzle loader?
Don't Misunderstand me, By no means should you let any thing stop you from Trying!
In my opinion, there's several levels of Hunting, Especially, Elk Hunting!
Tips:
Read as much as you Can! Watch Meat Eater Com Cast Videos! To Me their the Most Real, and Down to Earth! IMO!
Yeah there's a lot to it, and a lot Depends on what your Capable of, and Familiar With!
One of the Biggest things that Experienced Hunters Talk about today, is having enough points to get Drawn in Some Good Areas! So one might Start to research ares of interest and Put in for Hunting Points, Cuz Before you know it 10 yrs. go by, and you Don't have any points! So while your gaining experience and learning, for a small amount you can stack up points!
My oldest Son has taken me up on that Same Advice, and he's acquiring some nice, Stacks of points, in Several Areas, at a fairly young age!

I know this is a lot kinda Fast, But Remember, it's a Marathon, Not a Sprint!

Getting in Shape and Getting Acclimated, is the Big Thing!
That's Why we Go in Several days Earlier!
Hydrate, Hydrate, and Hydrate!

One of the last National Average Stats I saw was that it usually takes a Bow Hunter 10 Trips, on Average, to Nail One!

HS58

Thanks for all the replies fellas. To answer some of the questions posed to me:

Yes, I’m an avid hunter. I’d say above average. I’m 40 years old and raised in the South. I’ve hunted various game in ~20 states. I’ve killed my share of turkeys and whitetails. Probably raise in some of the toughest woods and swamps to hunt that type game.

As far as shape, I’m a lil overweight and could stand to lose 30 lbs, but I’m fairly athletic and weight comes off fairly easily for me. When I set my mind to it, I can stick to a regime of exercise and diet.

I’ve hunted the Frank Church before for mountain lion twice. Following the dogs from the creeks below up and over the top of the ridges all the way above tree line was quite an experience. It’s been a few years, but I remember the terrain.

For elk I plan on hunting September wherever I decide to go. I’m really leaning towards doing some of the easier draws and otc stuff. I haven’t completely ruled out landowner tag type hunts, but I think I’d be more satisfied with public land diy.

Part of what I love about this type of stuff is researching new gear, maps, talking with new people, etc…

I’m not a trophy hunter, so trophy quality areas are least of what concerns me about the planning. Pretty much want to hear some bugle, work at learning how to hunt them by their habits, and any legal game that I feel confident on the shot will not be passed.

I’m good at reading maps and gps, and I can pick out terrain features to narrow scouting down to specific features and areas.

Bow or muzzleloader?

Leaning towards muzzleloader.

Probably stay away from the wolf and grizz states.
Seems like when I went cat hunting the wolves had the elk scattered and had decimated the historical herds in the Frank Church from historical reports on the tents of the outfitter to the actual numbers we saw while I was there. That was 15 years ago but it seemed pretty thin.

A lot of people drive past elk heading to the dark, deep, steep, far places. If it looks real “elky” on a map and in person, you’re probably not going to be alone anymore.

Most elk hunters never get more than a couple miles from the road. Horse hunters will go much farther back, 5 to 10 or more. There are a lot of elk in between that get minimal pressure.

One thing I'd add - dont play the tag waiting game. As has been pointed out, the best teacher is the elk itself. You'll need to make the 4000 mistakes to figure that critter out. My advice is to get started on the learning curve now. Plan on a cow hunt. Kill a couple elk to learn where they live, how they react, and mostly how friggin' big they are when laying dead on the ground. You'll need to have a plan on getting them out, especially in September.

I'd also say, make sure to not set lofty goals and mostly enjoy the experience. Not bringing home an elk still means you got to spend a week or more in some of the most beautiful country God created. I call it armed hiking at times.

As to shortening the learning curve, check out Randy Newberg series on elk periods, Mark Livesay video series on elk scouting, and/or Corey Jacobson university of elk.

Good luck.

Confucius once said "Elk are where you find them".

Elk can be much closer to a road, than one would think. You can find them in peoples yards in Evergreen, CO, and also 8 miles deep in the Flattops Wilderness.

If you can't go deep into the mountains, look for elk in more accessible areas, especially near access roads leading miles into the hills. I used to archery hunt such an area. The main forest service road went about 36 miles before it stopped at a wilderness area. I hunted at the front and had a ball, with very few other hunters in the area. It seems like most guys were driving all the way back to the 'wilderness', while I enjoyed very good hunting, with very little pressure.

Good luck!

Hunting with a bow, rifle, or late season muzzleloader are all totally different ballgames in regards to strategy for both cows and bulls.

Advice to first time elk hunters: Just go. Don't let perfect become the enemy of plenty good. There's no perfect time and place. Don't over think things, Pick a time and a place that works for you and just go.

Looking back I’ve hunted elk over thirty years and have taken eleven bulls and two cows. About one animal for every two and a half hunts or so. Two were unguided hunts, the rest guided to various degrees.
Being from the Midwest and still working, I was limited to a block of time, usually 5-8 days picked from the calendar, sandwiched between travel times. All my hunts were in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, or Colorado.

Obviously, the majority were unsuccessful in not harvesting an animal, but non were failures, and almost all were a grand time.

Guides ranged from a college kid from Tennessee (who probably had never seen a live elk) to very good and knowledgeable older guys who had no quit in them. There was one outfitter-guide that was downright unfriendly, and another who occasionally forgot who was footing the bill. The hunter that came in and began an eight hour pack into a wilderness area on horseback wearing his tennis shoes was the recipient of a few pointed comments from the latter.

Camps ranged from a very Spartan sleeping bag on dirt and freeze dried food to very, very comfortable and almost slavish meals. Country was wilderness with eight-hour packs in to a couple miles off the trail head in forest service country; from pristine beauty to cattle drives through the middle of the hunting area.

Ah, horses. Among which, I had a leg-biter, a stream-jumper, awannabe rodeo bronco, and then a white mountain of a Belgium Draft that half scared me to death as he was unloaded from the trailer. I don’t know, but maybe 17 hands high, 1700 lbs? He fell on an iced surface once throwing me off to the side, but he was the most tractable, gentle beast I ever climbed up on — a 1700 lb white lab. The downright smoothest, surest 4x4 ride though goes to a very large mule in Colorado. Of course 1st low was the only gear available.

Terrain varied from mostly gently timber and meadows to switchback trails on slopes you began to fear every day. And about which you prayed in the dark.

We hunted in from too hot weather to too cold, from too dry to too wet with rain, but more often snow. Late season hunts were more often snow which could really help; or if it had melted, then refroze a couple times, was an extreme detriment as walking anywhere was crunchy loud.

Good gear is never a mistake. Inexpensive gear can cost a lot.
As to armament, I took nine bulls with a semi-custom 340 Wby, one with a 30/06, and one with a 284 Win. The two cows were taken with a 45/70 and a 45 Colt.

Interestingly, contrary to the experience of many here, with the exception of the two cows and two bulls — taken at 100 yards or in — nine of my bulls were taken at from 400 to 500 yards. And these were without means or time to get closer.

Long way of saying each hunt is different, sometimes very different, aside from being guided or a DIY type hunt.

As BKinSD said, get a plan, and start “going to school”.

I should have mentioned,…they are the grandest of animals!

It is going to be easier than if you had asked "Help me understand women", not a lot but easier for sure!

Are you considering bow hunting or rifle? That is a fairly big difference between the two with the biggest being hunting in the rut vs post rut or late season. If your muzzleloading season is in september than the bow hunting strategies should pay off. Like many have said actual experience is great but not living in elk country makes that hard.

Google ElkNut and follow his calling and hunting advice. Regular dude and solid advice. He even has an app. Especially for calling Elk.
I would check out Randy Newberg's videos both on youtube and tv, check out eastman's stuff as well. I am not a fan but sites like hunting fool and other will help you pinpoint areas to start with.

Super good post George.

Getting a general tag for elk with a muzzleloader will most likely be difficult if not impossible. Bow hunting yes, but not rifle. I am MZ cow hunting in Washington on the 2nd of October , and it took 7 preference points to draw. This will be my 57 or 58 th season. Your getting lots of good info here. I have never called in an elk, but have killed a couple with a MZ and came very close with a Bow. I like the later season hunts WITH A RIFLE where there is a chance of snow, which herds them up and makes them easy to find. I think they are pretty easy to hunt if you have a general idea of where they are living. A new area is always very tough, but they always eat and drink and that helps. Some will bugle clear into the middle of October, and that really makes them easy to locate. My first day elk last year was taken at 6 pm. We got up on them at daylight but they were already back into the timber, where three of them bugeled, and grunted until 10 am. We set there all day (which many can't do) and waited . At 6 they started coming out of the timber. I picked a nice fat one, shot her and my season was over. My 3rd day bull was in November, with 6 inches of snow on a long ridge with 40 or 50 of his brothers and sisters with him. As they frequently do, they had walked out of the timber to feed at 1 in the afternoon. He was about 50 yards from the timber and 420 yards away when I killed him. His brothers and sisters watched him slide down the hill a ways, and did not leave until we were well up the hill to retrieve him.. Again lots of good info here, listen, ask questions, and START PLANNING NOW, you can pm me if you would like