Why would an elk want to come in downwind? Maybe our calling causes suspicion? Incoming elk caught our movement & are unsure so they let their noses be the judge!
My mind doesn't recall as much as I'd like but I've looked back at our last 15 elk & was very surprised at the conclusion. What have you noticed?
ElkNut1
ElkNut1
We hunt primarily wolf country where you'd assume elk were on edge most of the time but it's interesting to note how few elk do not try to come in down-wind. This doesn't mean we should exclude the wind but it's more rare for elk to come in down-wind for us that the opposite. Maybe we're just fortunate but I would say 15% of all encounters elk come in or attempt to come in down-wind. This means 85% do not for us. Maybe it has a lot to do with our aggressive calling style? Food for thought!
ElkNut1
Coyotes are the same way, a 1 year old dog will come on a line, but most of the mature dogs we kill will always circle wind. Sometimes they do it 800 yards out, other times 100 yards out but they almost always will end up down wind if given the chance.
I also think that circling down wind gives a bull the ability to identify cows, check for other bulls etc.
We too hunt heavily pressured OTC units & have worked & taken many 6 point bulls. The difference is they rarely attempt to come in down wind but you find that they do for you. Now I think I can see why! (grin)
I believe the difference is our calling styles. When we are working herd bulls or herd type quality bulls we are generally aggressive with the majority of them. We pose a Threat to nearly all these bulls & take the action right at them. We do not sit back in most cases & use cow calling & wimpy bugles to coax them in. We prefer in your face & force them to commit once we are in very close. I think this has reduced if not all but eliminated bulls trying to circle down wind of us. The longer an encounter goes on the more likely a bull will have opportunity to become suspicious & this could lead to his circling to make sure what he's dealing with. Again, more food for thought! Thanks!
ElkNut1
When using a decoy....they almost never circle and mostly come straight in
Beendare, good insight on the decoy thought! I plan on using the Predator one this year for the first time, I really think there's a spot for it, right time right bull. (grin)
ElkNut1
What Beendare said, dekes can really make a big difference. I've seen em come in on a rope when they see it.
That and if you are really in close they pretty much have to decide at the moment to either flee or fight what ever the wind.
My setups now had been getting much better, involve setting upwind on edges of clearings, where the bull has to cross or come out into an opening to work his way downwind of you. Most do not want to, like hitting a wall and will skirt the edge and work in at the best angle they can without exposing themselves.
Another tactic especially if solo is call and move downwind yourself. Have to be quiet after that and catch em sneaking in. Have done that mostly rattling deer, they pin your position and hard to even get drawn on them if you don't move. But it has worked on elk. Tough because once you make your last call and move you are pretty committed to staying quiet and waiting it out.
Always makes sense if partnered up to put the shooter downwind from the caller if possible.
With 2 guys its pretty easy to have a good setup...solo is a little trickier.
There have been a bunch of great ambush spots i've seen in the mtns for elk...but that dang shifty wind or thermals makes them no good.
One reason I suspect that a bull takes semicircular path toward the downwind side of the decoy, is that he is a little anxious to see if the "cow" is ripe for harvest, if you know what I mean.
The bulls I have watched do it do not seem nervous once they spot the decoy...it's more like they are on a mission.
Best of Luck, Jeff
The only elk coming in from upwind was a young cow that came running in wondering where that lost calf was constantly calling out. She'd run off and I'd call her right back in. Never could get a shot before she finally circled down wind.
Andy
All these call ins & not once did we use a decoy. I believe decoys are a good thing for many hunters & the areas they hunt but the situation needs to be right. We generally choose a thick area where elk are forced to come closer to locate us. We do not give them the luxury of spotting the "calling spot" outside of bowrange so a decoy in those instances are not necessary.
When working herd bulls we rarely have a setup where we are more than 20 yards apart, it's in your face calling which greatly reduces the down wind issue. Or we are calling & heading straight at the bull not giving him a chance to move on us. This style may not be for everyone but we kill a whole lot of elk with these styles!
ElkNut1
ElkNut1
On 2 occasions, I know the bull was upwind when I started calling and they went way out of their way to circle around to downwind.
I hunt Colorado OTC units.
Tighten up your setup, as the caller you should not be able to see very far ahead of you & you should not see incoming elk very easily. If you can at any point see them then they can pinpoint your calling spot, eliminate that & it will reduce the down wind issue.
I believe most of us here hunt mostly OTC country. Thanks for your thoughts!
ElkNut1
1. if I am hunting a cross wind they are more likely to trying to get downwind of the caller.
2. not so much if I am straight downwind
3. I mostly hunt solo, so I call, rake, for a few minutes-to 10 minutes, and drop back 50-60 yards just in case an unseen elk tries to circle down wind. I stop calling at this hid. I locate this drop back hid location prior to calling so I know I have a good hid/shooting spot.
by best, Paul
Most hunters would advance from the spot last called from to catch elk on their approach, this generally works well & can catch unsuspecting elk at that point before the worried about a down wind approach. Too, they do not reach the spot you called from last catching your human scent. Your thoughts! Thanks!
ElkNut1
Instead of questioning Paul@thefort technique, maybe you should for once accept that other people have their own ways and tell them 'good job'!
Btw. All we ever read about is how you call in elk using the team approach, never solo.
As far as elk coming in down wind, I don't effing care where they come in and seldom does it matter. Just be ready in all calling setups.
I think I'm gonna try the Paul@thefort technique. Thanks for the tip.
ElkNut1
If he approaches straight on or from the side, and then comes in slightly downwind from my first calling location I still may have a shot to 30-35 yards.
I hang two cow elk scent rags ten yards to both sides of my calling position and leave them there when I drop back. I place these rags in a zip lock bag for reuse after.
my best, Paul
so for example; early morning calling at a bull uphill of you with strong thermals downward. The bull comes straight in for 2 reasons; he doesn't want to give up high ground advantage and he knows he won't be able to wind you.
Cross wind and topography comes into play too. I agree with elknut on calling from thicker cover as to not needing a decoy- its not necessary in those cases. So a guy without a decoy needs to consider that line of sight referencing.
I have been in calling situations in more open ponderosa pine or burns and put up my binos to slowly scan spotting elk 150, 200,300yds off picking off my shooter who was moving around. I've had elk pick off shooters fidgiting even with the decoys. Elk can really spot movement from a long ways out!
i think a guy that isn't having luck with calling he benefits by changing 2 setup problems; Set up in thicker areas when possible and not moving around when in a calling sequence.
ElkNut1
To add more to my usual situation. It is extremely rare for a person to find a "herd" bull where I archery hunt. A very low density OTC unit seldom has a herd elk that I can find. the majority of the time I have few cows her and there, but seldom do I see more than 10 elk at a time. This last season the most elk we saw in a single group was 6. As a result I feel like the bigger bulls range a lot more looking for more cows. Usually if you find a bull it is either completely alone, has another rag horn with it or has just a couple cows. This last year the largest bull we seen had 2 cows and a calf one weekend. Then the next weekend was totally solo in another part of the unit. We went back and found the 2 cows and a calf, they had a rag 4 hanging with them. I assume the bull bred the 2 cows and left to find more...
ElkNut1
