Early Season Elk Hunting

Early Season Elk Hunting: Hunting Elk in Hot Weather
By Peter Romero Sierra Blanca Outfitters, Chacon New Mexico

Methods of Elk Hunting

Spot and Stalk

Spot and stalk is a very common method used by many elk hunters. Spot and stalk is where the hunters glass areas for elk, and then come up with a plan to stalk the elk. After deciding what to do the hunters slowly creep with in range of the elk for a shot. The great thing about Sierra Blanca Outfitters is that all of our guides know the area, terrain and the Elk. We know where they are and where they are going.

Waiting on trails between bedding and feeding areas

Elk feed at night and head to their bedding area about mid-morning. They also get up from their bedding area and start working towards feeding and watering areas in the later afternoon. A good tactic to use is waiting on the trails that lead between these bedding and feeding/watering areas. At Sierra Blanca Outfitters, we have been scouting year round and know where the elk are feeding and bedding.

Sitting over a feeding area or water source

Sitting over a meadow where the elk have been feeding or a water source they have been using can be very effective. Especially on a hot day, a well used water source such as a pond can be a great place to bag that trophy bull Elk. A scouting camera come in handy to pattern the elk. Hunting from a tree stand in these areas can also be very effective.

Harvesting

After harvesting an elk, it is important to get the meat out of the heat and on some ice immediately. At Sierra Blanca Outfitters, we get you and your elk out of the heat in record time, after some photos of course.

In hot weather hunting conditions, it is important to take care of yourself. If you are hiking, you are losing sweat and nutrients. Make sure you bring as much water as you can carry and make sure you are not too far away from another possible source of water where you can refill. Bring along snacks to replace nutrients such as powerbars, etc. Wear light clothing that wicks the sweat away from your body. At Sierra Blanca Outfitters, we make sure and put the safety of our hunters before anything else.

Good luck on your early season elk hunt,

Sierra Blanca Outfitters