5 Tips for the Ultimate Elk Hunt

Elk hunting season in Coloroado is upon us! So what better way to kick off the season than with five helpful tips to help make your next elk hunt a great success. Here at Longmeadow we have some of the best elk hunting grounds in eastern Colorado, and we certainly try to make the most out of every hunt by following these simple tips that should help you bag that big bull! An picture of a massive bull elk looking back towards something in the distance. - Elk Hunt at Longmeadow

Tip #1 – Mix Up Your Bugle

A picture of a bugle tube on a white background - Elk Hunt at Longmeadow

Most people cant resist making the long drawn out calls that sound good to their own ears. This does help to make you stand out or sound like the real thing. Here are a few different calls you can try to make you stand out from the crowd. First is the Half Bugle this call like the name implies is a half or two thirds call on the bugle. It is a way of saying “Hey, I’m over here”  it is a way for other bulls to keep track of one another. This is a call other hunters almost never use. The Second call is the Squeal. When a bull is really worked up they will let out a high pitched squeal instead of the regular call. Hunters can use this call to really piss off a hot headed bull. It is achieved by pressing your tongue to the reed and in creasing air pressure while having lose lips. The last call is the Grunt, and is a short noise normally made before or after a full bugle. It is best used when in the brush and trying to bring him in closer. It can be done by saying “Cha-heh” into a mouth call exhaling on the first note and inhaling on the second. If you mix up the call you are using it will bring the game in closer and may make you stand out better.

Tip #2 – Stand at The Ready 

50346999 - hunter moving with shotgun looking for prey. hunter with a gun. - Elk Hunt at Longmeadow

This may come as somewhat of a surprise but staying as still as possible isn’t always the best option. When hunting elk during the rut, they can be more brash and unaware of their surroundings. They are also less likely to approach a bush that is making noise and not moving rather than one that might have a cow in it. This will draw them in, and during the rut if they run it wont be far before you are able to stop them will another call. This tip is especially helpful for bow hunting due to the fact that they will have to get closer. It is also a matter of drawing and firing the bow. If you have the caller off the side of the hunter instead of behind, then there is more of a chance to catch the elk broadside and to get that clean shot you are looking for. Stay ready and don’t hide to much for the best chance to bag an elk.  

Tip #3 –  Sneak into Bed 

Two Elks bedding down in tall grass - Elk hunt at Longmeadow

This next tip is all about patience. If you see an elk who is getting ready to bed don’t panic and waste your shot, rather the best thing to do is take your time and move in slowly to get as close as you can get. Start off by tiptoeing, move as quietly as possible, get down low, and then into a belly crawl to get right up on the bed. Once you have made it, wait silently and eventually the bull will get up to check its surrounding and make sure his cows are okay. At this point, simply wait for the right moment, and take the shot. If you need, you can use a bugle to get him that little bit closer, and then go for it. It may surprise you just how close you can actually get!

Tip #4 – Take The High Ground 

A small heard of elk bedding down in a beatiful alpine meadow overlooking a majestic mountain range - Elk Hunt at Longmeadow

Most elk hunting happens after the frenzy of the rut is over. This can make it much harder to call bulls, but having a high vantage point can help sway the season to your favor. If you are hunting after the rut don’t throw away the calling all together, but make sure to survey the area and pick a good high point to see all the things happening around you. From the high ground you can find the bulls you are looking for and track their movement around your hunting grounds. The more meadows you can see at dawn and dusk, the better your chances of glassing an elk will be.  

Tip #5 – Plead to Pot Rut Bulls

A picture of a bottle of cow elk estrus - Elk Hunt at Longmeadow

A Little known fact is that 28 days after the primary rut, any cows that didn’t breed will reenter estrus. This is the perfect time to break out those long pleading estrous cow calls again. The bulls will be aware of this phenomenon as well, and will be seeking out those cows who are still looking for a bull. You can actually purchase a bottle of cow elk estrus, which is simple elk pheromones, and then use it to attract the bulls that may have missed their chance during the rut. Now, it wont be as crazy as the rut, but it will help you bag the prized elk you have been searching for all season! 

We hope that these tips will help you bag that trophy bull that you’ve been dreaming of since last year. Following these simple guidelines can greatly improve your hunts, and we here at Longmeadow employ them regularly. So, if you are looking for the perfect place for an incredible Colorado elk hunt, then look no further than Longmeadow Game Resort! Feel free to give us a call about setting up you next elk hunt at (970) 483-8368

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