Do elk "scent trail" elk?
Contributors to this thread:Elk
From: Inshart
05-Jun-21
Just wondering if Elk "scent trail" other elk.
I have often left a "scent trail" for white tails and had them follow it. Has anyone tried this with elk - does it work?
From: MQQSE
05-Jun-21
I doubt.
From: bad bob
05-Jun-21
hell yes they do... i was hunting in colorado on private waiting for elk to be pushed from public on opening morning....a few cows came by me running, about 5 minutes later a calf came running and stopped and put its nose on the ground and walked back and forth till he found the EXACT spot the cows came through and hauled ass after them
From: JRABQ
05-Jun-21
Yep, I once busted a herd of cows bedded in dark timber. Since it looked like a good spot, and smelled like elk, I figured I might as well sit for awhile. About 30 minutes later a 5X5 came walking through the woods with his head down going back and forth like a bird dog. I should have killed that bull, but that's another story.
From: Norseman
05-Jun-21
Absolutely
From: Inshart
05-Jun-21
Has anyone actually tried leaving an "elk scent", scent trail?
That's interesting, always given it some thought, just never tried it. Wondering what elk scent one should try??????
From: Glunt@work
05-Jun-21
They do for sure. Elk don't have interdigital glands like a whitetail but neither do we and we have all seen how well critters can track us.
From: Grey Ghost
05-Jun-21
Duh!!!
From: IdyllwildArcher
05-Jun-21
Yes
From: MQQSE
05-Jun-21
I doubt.
From: MQQSE
06-Jun-21
Post up the videos for this whitetail freak. I want to see.
From: 'Ike' (Phone)
06-Jun-21
They do…
From: Dale06
06-Jun-21
I suspect that a scent trail laid down by elk would be followed, if there were other elk that crossed that trail. However, I suspect that bottled elk urine is close to worthless, unless you are selling it.
From: ElkNut1
06-Jun-21
The question is, Would A Hunter Drag A Scented Rag around to attract elk his way, for myself NO! Too many other ways to attract elk to bowrange or just go to them!
ElkNut
From: Inshart
06-Jun-21
Thanks, never heard of anyone trying it so I was curious, and a bit skeptical - still am skeptical.
From: Ermine
06-Jun-21
Yea I’ve seen lone bulls. Walking with their nose to the ground following scent trails
From: Yellowjacket
06-Jun-21
I've had elk scent trail me to a tree stand, then scent the small branch I brushed against checking my trail camera.
From: Glunt@work
06-Jun-21
Elk track each other but I've never tried a drag because I'm not into scents for hunting. I don't try to cover them or use them for attractant. Nothing wrong with using them, I just like keeping things in my version of "simple". On most elk hunt days it would be a very long drag and after the first incline I probably output as much scent as my a drag rag would :^)
From: Cheesehead Mike
06-Jun-21
I know that some hunters have success dragging a scent drag for whitetails but I think it would work against you in most instances for both deer and elk. The last thing I want is for a deer or elk to focus their attention on my back trail. It seems like only a matter of time before they pick up on my scent and get spooked. If a deer or elk crosses my back trail I would hope they pass over it quickly without noticing. The more time they spent on my back trail I believe the greater the chances they're going to catch my scent and get wise.
From: wyobullshooter
06-Jun-21
^^^^That, along with what Elknut posted. No doubt there’s times elk scent trail, but not something I would ever waste time on as a hunting tactic.
From: llamapacker
06-Jun-21
The big challenge here is the nomadic nature of elk. There is no doubt elk scent trail other elk. I've seen in many, many times. But trying to lay down a scent trail with artificial lure, when you don't even know if an elk will cross the scent trail in a given day is not the most productive tactic. I suspect it would work in the right situation, but elk hunters have better tactics at there disposal. Bill
From: Pop-r
07-Jun-21
As well as they smell one would be very naive to be believe they don't track each other by scent.
