Sportsman's Library - Hunting Articles

Hunting Highly Pressured Bulls

By Chad Schearer

“Elk are where you find them,” was the advice a veteran elk outfitter gave a young rookie guide one day as they rode their mules on a pre-season scouting trip. The 21-year-young guide thought to himself, that’s real brilliant advice. The outfitter then pointed to an isolated patch of dead timber, saying: “elk won’t be in there right now, but give it a few weeks and that is where the elk will be.” 

Hunting pressure changes patterns. Elk follow their own set of rules. As soon as they get pressured, the rules change. No matter how much pre-season scouting you do, if elk receive too much pressure, they will move to a different area or change their patterns. You must be willing to adapt and play by the elk’s rules. 

Hunting pressure during bow season can come in several different forms, from having too many hunters in a small area, hunters overcalling, offroad vehicles, or hunters not giving elk security in their bedding areas. Elk move to isolated areas to get away from crowds or to an area that provides them with vantage points and good escape route. Understanding this behavior pattern will help you increase your odds of finding an animal.

In addition to several different seminars (black powder, gear, finding elk), ISE’s elk-hunting and elk-calling expert, Chad Schearer, will also lead several elk-calling contests, presented by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Get more information about Chad Schearer at www.centralmontanaoutfitters.com.