I do my best these days not to get tunnel vision of what's on the cam's. There's other bulls around that are camera shy! (grin) In the last 6 years I called in 6 bulls that we put down, only one was on a cam & he was only on it for a few seconds one morning, he never showed up on it again in the 30 days it was there.
I rarely sit water (if ever) but I do call around these water sources for the bulls I know are around somewhere. Have others here noticed the same thing?
ElkNut/Paul
ElkNut/Paul
Also, don’t sit water for elk!
Just glass them up, find one I want, beat feet over there, follow them into the cover and then still hunt/call to get in range of the bull. Seems to work pretty well;-)
I had an interesting conversation with a biologist who noted that males in wild populations have to travel huge distances compared with females of the same specie to find a place to live. Especially certain species. In the case of large cats, at two years old, they often times make the choice between being killed by mature males, or walking and walking till they find an area that doesn't have a male. The final option is to sneak around and try and avoid the mature males which doesn't usually net a long lifespan.
And often times a certain male will be 'King of the Hill' for his entire life, then get his butt kicked by a younger male and have to find a place to lick his wounds.
I have a few cameras around the areas I hunt mule deer in Southern California. You won't see a single buck besides the occasional spike and occasional fork all year long. The bucks are all up in their hidey holes in the mountains. But come the rut, the bucks come out of the state park and national forest wilderness from miles away and their appearance corresponds with the height of the rut.
Lastly, I've scouted a few places that really didn't hold any elk at all during the summer. But there's rubs everywhere. You go in August and there's no fresh sign in the area. You go there in mid Sept, and there's bugles galore. And visa versa, I've found many places that have tons of elk sign, but you go there in mid Sept, and there's nothing there.
I think those summer photos are only worth so much. Opening day, especially those places that open earlier, I think they could be dynamite, but by mid-sept, you need yesterday's waterhole pictures to know what's going on right now.
mrelite, right on man! Very good evaluation. I couldn't agree more. -- There's many hunters that do not realize other elk are around because they do not have photos of them in their hunting areas. This is why calling around water sources to locate or just hearing these bulls call on their own can alert us as hunters that there are other bulls in the area outside of what we may have felt from our cam photos. -- What's interesting is these bulls I'm referring to have been there all along, this isn't new bulls moving in & out, yes this happens for sure & needs to be considered. -- All areas are not created equal, darn I wish they were! (grin) Thanks sir, very nice thoughts!
ElkNut/Paul
Cameras haven’t done anything to increase success for us. Only gives a level of entertainment and frustration at the same time
My point is that these elk are there the same time the cams are there they just aren't walking those trails or drinking/wallowing at that source! I feel many times hunters do not think outside the box when sitting/hunting these areas, they think the only elk there are what they see on film! -- This is why many feel you shouldn't call from these areas. It's a personal thing but we've done well by locating bulls within 400 yards of these water sources that were not on camera even a day or two from being pulled! --- This has little to do with how far elk travel to find cows, these elk are there but not on film! This is why I enjoy calling from & around these active sources, you just never know!
This is a simple discussion on keeping open minded & not feeling the only elk there are the ones on the cam! Thanks!
ElkNut/Paul
And then claim ownership of any big bulls that you get pictures of!
Have actually have had issues with guys in Arizona (including some very well known outfitters and hunters!) on water holes or with bait out. Literally blocking public roads, following us around, telling us that they had hunters up about every trail in the area and hounding is as we got our packs on and hiked up the trail. To the point of yelling at us and almost coming to blows!
Cazador, I only have 2 cams, obviously I'm not real serious about them but it's pretty interesting to note how close all 6 of these bulls were to this wallow/waterhole with only one on it. I've found it to be so where I put the cams in other tight dark timber as well.
This is why it can be productive to call around these water sources even if ones cams do not show much activity from bulls at that same time. -- I appreciate all your thoughts guys, thank you!
ElkNut/Paul
Not a fan of them, but that's well documented.
oz
ElkNut/Paul
It really isn't that important where they come from or how far, the main focus is these elk or other elk are generally within earshot of these active water sources when in these areas. I don't find the elk at the water itself but they will bed nearby usually within hearing distance. I have quite a few areas as this scattered throughout the units we hunt, this isn't a rare case. Calling for location has proven productive here & am sharing it!
Many times we see Threads on this Site about calling at water sources, should we or should we not! Many have cameras on these water areas & fear they may run elk off by calling, I've found it quite the opposite. Just food for thought for those who may sit water or hunting near water & hear a bugle, should they call or not? It's situational but it would be good to be prepared mentally to do so to take full advantage of any & all encounters especially on these OTC units. Thanks!
ElkNut/Paul
I often thought of going to several well known tanks and ponds in Arizona, installing 10 foot sections of 6" pipe in selective areas around the waterholes and charging a modest fee to put cameras up on them. Heck, one well known pond had 11 cameras on it this year, and most are kept up all year long. Some guys will be out next weekend to start putting up blinds for the December/January deer hunt.
We have two arms that will be completely void of elk for weeks at a time, then the cows and young bulls show up, and soon the bigger bulls, places biologists call rut zones. Another place up high, elk get pushed into by the pressure of other hunters. Little bowl can be down right frustrating with so many elk in it.
The Title should say Where Were They Hiding! (grin) I know there's elk in these areas I hunt, they are there mid Aug & stay if not pushed out or killed or snow gets heavy throughout Sept. --- Those who rely heavily on cam photos be aware there's a good possibility there are other bulls around! The End! (grin)
ElkNut/Paul
