By Jeremy Lopez
Elk hunting is an exhilarating experience that challenges both your physical fitness and mental fortitude. Hunting elk with a bow in hand in the Rocky Mountains of the West is on every bowhunters bucket list. And if it’s not, it should be. But for first-timers, it can be a daunting task. But don’t worry, whether you’re chasing the thrill of the rut or hoping to bag your first elk, there are a few key tips that will help make your first elk hunt more successful and enjoyable. Here are my top 5 elk hunting tips for beginners!
1. Always Play The Wind And Thermals
Elk have an excellent sense of smell, and they’ll pick up your scent from miles away if you're not careful. The wind can be your biggest ally or your worst enemy, so it’s essential to keep the wind and thermals in your face at all times. You will not beat an elk’s nose–plain and simple. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have blown out herds because I thought I could get away with a “marginal” wind. You will not win. As a whitetail fanatic myself, I can tell you from firsthand experience that the scent-control products we use will not work out west. You will smell from the grind of a 5-10 day hunt and there is no other way to beat an elk than to play the wind. The more I have hunted elk, the more I’ve realized that I had to take the long route to get the wind and thermals right. There is no room for shortcuts with a bad wind.
Understanding what thermals are and how they work is vitally important to having the wind in your face. Think of the thermals as a heat source. We’ve all heard the term “hot air rises” in middle school science class. I can attest this is true when hunting elk. In the mornings, the cool air will be dropping down the mountain. As the sun rises and heats up the mountain, the thermals will switch mid-morning and rise. Typically, I like to chase elk up the mountain in the mornings. This gives me the thermal advantage as they are dropping. You have to be aware of the time during your morning hunt. Typically, between 8:30 and 10:00AM, the thermals will switch and head up the mountain. If you can’t get in on the herd and you anticipate the thermals switching, it’s best to back out and get a play in your favor. One tool to help you on your hunt is investing in a wind checker or bottle of milkweed. This will allow you to constantly check the wind and thermals as you’re closing in on a herd. I cannot stress enough how important this is when navigating through the woods, with any animal you are hunting.
2. Know the Terrain and Elk Habitat Features
Elk are incredibly nomadic and can be found in a wide variety of habitats, from mountain forests and alpine meadows to rolling plains and river valleys. Understanding where elk live is one of the most crucial aspects of a successful hunt. Elk habitat can vary depending on the unit or state you are hunting. A good rule of thumb is to focus on these 3 things: food, water, and bedding. I think back to 2023 when I hunted New Mexico for the first time in a giant wilderness area. Before I left, I focused on these 3 features. I found an area on OnX that was my plan B spot, it checked all the 3 boxes. This area happened to be where I ended up killing my first bull with a bow.
Elk need food and water to survive. Elk will travel as far as they need to in order to get water, especially during the rut. Look for lush meadows to provide food and focus on the fringes of these meadows where the habitat changes. I call this the “food circle” on OnX or Google Earth. You can really see the habitat change around the fringes of the meadows as moisture holds as the meadow butts up to the timber. When you’re searching for bedding areas, key in on terrain features like north facing timber with benches for bedding areas. North facing timber will provide shade and cooler temps. Typically, elk like to bed on a 15-30 degree slope. This allows elk to have security with the ability to see, have the wind in their favor, and the comfortability to lay down most of the day. Understanding topo maps will be a key to success in finding these bedding areas.
3. Understand Elk Behavior and Communication
One of the most exciting aspects of bowhunting elk is using calls to communicate with them. Whether you're mimicking a cow elk to lure in a bull or trying to challenge a bull, calling is an important skill for elk hunters. However, it’s not the end-all-be-all. It can be very productive to let the elk be elk and get in tight to the herd by spot and stalking. This can be done by “coyoting” the herd, which is a tactic where you essentially follow the herd like a coyote would do to its prey. You’re hunting by keeping the element of surprise. This can also be a frustrating way to hunt because situations may not play out in your favor, or you may lose the herd by not being able to keep up with them. Knowing when to strike is an important factor. Understanding elk behavior is a key indicator of when to strike.
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One tactic I like to use is to get to a spot 1-2 hours before shooting light, where I can hear sound travel from a long way. This allows me to listen for bugles or cow sounds so I can make a game plan to sneak in on the herd. If you want the excitement of calling a bull or cow into bow range, start by learning the basics of elk sounds–cow calls, location bugle, and calf calls. You’ll need to invest in some type of call, whether it’s a diaphragm or external call. It’s important you practice as much as possible during the off-season. Once you get out in the field, it’s important to not overdo it, as too many calls can oftentimes scare off elk. One tip I would give is get good at calf calling. Calves are very vocal animals and if you can mimic a lost calf sound, you’re in the money. Elk are used to calves constantly talking. Typically, this sound won’t scare off elk with a good wind. Elk are social animals with complex communication. Each sound they make means something to them. Elk can be curious, cautious, or aggressive depending on the situation and time of year. Understanding their behavior and body language can significantly increase your chances of success.
4. Get Into Tip-Top Shape
Elk hunting is a grind. Depending on the duration of your hunt, it’s typically a marathon, not a sprint. There are a million ways to train for elk season. In my humble opinion, I think you need to have a mix of strength and endurance. It’s the golden question on how to get yourself there. You don’t want to be too strong and lack endurance, and you don’t want too much endurance and lack strength. Elk can live in rugged terrain, they’re often found in the mountains, which can require a lot of physical effort to navigate through. This means steep slopes, crossing through down-fall, and dense timber–being in tip-top shape allows you to move efficiently and safely through the unforgiving environments. Again, this is not a sprint. You will have long days of hiking or tracking an animal. Some days you could only have 3-5 miles and others you can have 10-15 miles. Those miles aren’t just with your boots on, you’ll likely have a pack on your back with gear or if you’re successful, an elk.
This could mean you have grinded on a 10 day hunt and on day 10, you send an arrow through an elk. Now the real work begins. Elk are massive animals, your pack will often weigh 50-100 pounds depending on how you choose to pack out. This may involve multiple trips or one trip. Regardless, being physically fit ensures you can endure these long days in the field without crashing too early in your hunt. Lastly, the most important asset to your physical fitness is mental toughness. You can be the fittest person in the room, but the weakest between the ears. You will not last. Physical fitness is connected to mental endurance. Elk hunting is a grind–cold mornings, long days, and minimal sleep are very common. Having mental toughness will push you through these tough times during your hunt and will ensure you stay determined and focused. Hunt like your on day 10 as you would on day 1.
5. Practice, Practice, Practice!
Once you get close to an elk and have an opportunity to take a shot, it is critical to be able to hit your mark. We want to execute a shot of a well-placed arrow and have a quick, humane kill. Understanding where to aim on an elk is key to achieving this. Heart, lungs, liver–that is the mark. You will have a dead elk if you hit those marks. Of course, there’s a chance you hit an artery on a bad shot, but my rule of thumb is heart, lungs, or liver. Elk are incredibly tough animals and they can go a long ways while wounded. The best way to avoid this is practice, practice, practice. Around year 4 or 5 of hunting elk is when I realized I needed to be more proficient at shooting. I was limited to 40 yards my first 3 years of bowhunting elk because I was a whitetail hunter and shots weren’t ever over 40 yards long. I remember back to a hunt in Montana where I snuck into 60-70 yards of 3 bulls feeding in a meadow. I sat on them behind a tree, arrow nocked, and waited for them to feed my way to sub 40 yards. Unfortunately, they never made it to me and I left empty-handed. I spent the next year practicing out to 100+ yards so that I could be proficient with slightly longer shots in order to increase my odds at shot opportunities.
I knew I would never shoot an animal at 100 yards, but by practicing from extreme distances, it made my 50-60-70 yard shots feel like chip shots. In 2023, I killed my bull at 61 yards. I made a perfect shot and he only went 20 yards. All because I made the decision to practice as much as possible to be proficient out to longer distances. When I was practicing, I spent time shooting with a pack on, pack off, kneeling, sitting, and with the boots I would be wearing on my hunt. Practice like you play. It’s important to understand your max effective range. This can be done by shooting at “X” distance and if you are shooting 5-8” groups, you are likely effective at this range. However, if you are getting to the point where it’s borderline effective, it’s likely you will not be and you need to drop 10-20 more yards due to the adrenaline and the uneven terrain you may be on. It’s important to be real with yourself. Regardless, it’s important to know your equipment and practice before hitting the mountains.
Conclusion: Enjoy the Process
Elk hunting is not only about punching a tag; it’s about the experience—the thrill of being in the mountains, the bond with your hunting buddy’s, and the challenge of pursuing one of the largest game animals in North America. For beginners, the key to success is your preparation, patience, and persistence. By following these tips and honing your skills, you’ll increase your chances of having a successful and enjoyable hunt. Remember, elk hunting is difficult, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Good hunting and good luck in your 2025 elk season!
By Jeremy Lopez
Elk hunting is an exhilarating experience that challenges both your physical fitness and mental fortitude. Hunting elk with a bow in hand in the Rocky Mountains of the West is on every bowhunters bucket list. And if it’s not, it should be. But for first-timers, it can be a daunting task. But don’t worry, whether you’re chasing the thrill of the rut or hoping to bag your first elk, there are a few key tips that will help make your first elk hunt more successful and enjoyable. Here are my top 5 elk hunting tips for beginners!