How to Hunt Elk: A Beginner Plan From Trailhead to Wallow

How to hunt elk? Get away from the trailheads, check the wind constantly, learn a simple cow call, and after calling sit still for 20 to 30 minutes. Don't overlook ambush spots: hunting water holes, wallows and active trails from a tree stand or ground blind gives you calm elk at known distances.

Below: a beginner's plan built on advice from guide Fred Eichler, plus the most common elk hunting mistakes. Wondering about clothing? Read is camo necessary for elk hunting.

What is the best way to hunt elk as a beginner?

In Elk Tips for Beginners with Fred Eichler (Bass Pro 1Source), Eichler says the average success rate in the West "runs around 15%." His core advice for joining that group:

Tip	Why it works
Get away from the trailheads	Most of his public-land elk came more than two miles from a trailhead
Carry a wind detector	Wind and mountain thermals change constantly; an elk downwind will smell you
Learn to cow call	Attracts bulls without intimidating them the way a bugle can
Wait 20 to 30 minutes	Elk often slip in quietly to check a call
Hunt water, wallows and trails	Calm elk at known distances, with the wind already played

How to hunt elk step by step

1. Scout public land away from the crowds

Study maps and plan routes away from trailheads. Eichler notes most people don't want to go that far or work that hard, so a good pack and basic woodsmanship for camping or hiking the backcountry pay off.

2. Play the wind and thermals

Early seasons are often hot, so you sweat and carry more scent than on a short walk to a whitetail stand. Eichler checks the wind "sometimes every 30 seconds or a minute." A general rule: mornings, thermals move down the mountain; as the air warms, they turn and move up. In canyons and creek bottoms, the wind can change completely.

3. Find fresh sign

If you aren't seeing fresh scat or fresh tracks, Eichler says, "you're calling blind." Call only where elk are close.

4. Make a few cow calls, then wait

Handheld cow calls with a reed are easy to learn; a diaphragm is smaller and more versatile. You don't have to sound perfect. Make four to six calls that sound like a cow, then wait 20 to 30 minutes. If nothing comes, move half a mile to three-quarters of a mile and try again.

5. Set up an ambush

Hunting water holes, wallows and active trails from a tree stand, a saddle, a ground blind, or just sitting in full camo can be one of the most effective ways to hunt elk. Eichler puts his calling odds at about one in 10 elk brought into bow range, versus about seven in 10 for elk walking a trail or coming to water.

Should you bugle or cow call?

Eichler tells beginners not to worry about bugling: "when you bugle you can intimidate as many elk as you can attract." Smaller or non-dominant bulls may go the other way. A cow call attracts bulls whether they come to fight or to find company, so you get to see them and decide.

What are the most common mistakes in elk hunting?

• Staying near the trailhead: pressured elk move away from easy access.
• Ignoring the wind: one swirl and the elk are gone.
• Standing up too soon after calling: Eichler admits he has blown out elk this way many times.
• Calling with no fresh sign: nothing is close enough to hear you.
• Relying only on TV-style bugling: real public-land elk rarely walk into the open after a bugle.

Before you go, check your state's elk seasons, tag draws, licenses and hunter education rules.

What to wear elk hunting

Camo that matches your terrain helps when you sit still at a wallow or water hole, and some states require blaze orange in rifle seasons. The shirts in this guide can be personalized with your name; choose the style you want on each product page. Browse more in our elk hunting apparel collection.

FAQ

What is the best way to hunt elk?

Get away from trailheads, hunt into the wind, cow call where you find fresh sign and wait 20 to 30 minutes, or ambush elk at water holes, wallows and trails.

What is the success rate for elk hunting?

Fred Eichler puts the average success rate in the West at around 15%.

Should a beginner bugle at elk?

Eichler advises beginners to cow call instead, because a bugle can intimidate as many elk as it attracts.

How long should you wait after cow calling?

About 20 to 30 minutes. Elk often come in slowly and quietly to check the call.