04/14/2026
It’s too hot, too windy, too dry, too wet, rut is early, rut is late, full moon, too many hunters..etc, etc, etc. There is an advantage or answer to every condition and problem.
Just remember, elk don’t just disappear, they relocate.
When things go sideways, we have a formula to follow; Stop, Observe, Interpret and then Decide.
“Stop” doing what you are doing. Observe conditions; time of day, time of year priorities, type of elk you are dealing with, amount of pressure and from where, how they are reacting to you and why (did you change their behavior?).
“Interpret” the information and ask yourself what you would do if you were the elk. Where is the safest, quietest place they could go that meets their current biggest need and priority?
Then “Decide”…WHAT’S MY NEXT BEST MOVE—NOT MY EMOTIONAL ONE? Do I Move? Call? Or Wait? Can@I cover more ground glassing? Do I move and call and replicate a cow, a small group of cows? A bull with cows? Do I hunt slow and silent… a destination or a transition? Drop elevation / gain elevation? Abandon and relocate?
If you’re just getting started and want to keep building your foundation, we break down this and so much more on our ElkBros Blue Collar Elk Hunting Podcast. You can find it on your favorite podcast app.
