North American Super Slam: Rocky Mountain Elk

When I was young, I thought an elk was an elk. Over many moons of elk hunting and after chasing different species of elk in different states, I have learned that an elk is an elk but that the various elk species are as different from each other as the different deer species are. When I start geeking out on the different species of elk, indubitably someone will say something along the lines of, “They are still elk… Are they really that different?” My response, to put it in perspective for them, is always, “Mule deer and whitetail deer are both deer, are they the same?

For this article, I have chosen to write about the most prevalent species of elk, the Rocky Mountain elk. The other two species that I will delve into more detail in future articles of this Super Slam series are the Tule elk and the Roosevelt elk.

Species Rundown

Tule elk are the least populous and are only found in parts of California where hunting is limited. Hunting options are a difficult, low-odds draw with the state or private land hunts for which landowners are allocated a certain number of tags that can be purchased.

Roosevelt elk are found along the western coastal states, including parts of California, Oregon, Washington, and even Alaska where some have been relocated. They can be found in parts of British Columbia where they were relocated as well. Tags are much easier to acquire and archery is over-the-counter in many areas of these states. Some areas also offer OTC rifle hunts.

The Rocky Mountain Elk are the most populous and therefore the most commonly hunted. They are found in 28 states, near as I can figure in my research. Only California has all three species of elk. An interesting, yet confusing note is that some record-keeping organizations and even some game departments use things like roads or rivers to often separate the different species ranges. So, you could have an elk that is designated as a Tule elk, Rocky Mountain elk, or Roosevelt elk cross a road or river and be considered a different species based on where it’s found. Fortunately, like different deer species and turkey species, you can usually discern the characteristics of one species or another.

As far as physical size, Rocky Mountain elk are in the middle. They are larger than the Tule but not as big as Roosevelt in the weight department. Rocky Mountain elk have the largest antlers and therefore have a higher minimum to get into the Pope and Young or Boone and Crockett record books.

I took my first Rocky Mountain elk with a bow over 30 years ago. It was a cow elk on public land in an area I had backpacked into. I have since taken bulls and cows in multiple states on both public and private land. My preferred weapon is a recurve bow, which I used to take all the species included in the Super Slam, but I enjoy all the challenges associated with different weapons. I also guide for Rocky Mountain elk and spend a good portion of the fall helping clients get within range of them on public as well as private land I am permitted to access.

Hunting Rocky Mountain Elk

Although calling is the most fun strategy for hunting these animals and, in my opinion, the most exciting, if I am being honest, it is oftentimes the most difficult. When it works it can be amazing, and I have called in bulls successfully for myself and for clients during both archery and rifle seasons. The tough thing is that a lot of elk on public land have heard calls and are wary because they have been educated. I have seen elk literally turn and go the opposite direction like a wise old gobbler that has been there, done that, and been shot at or spooked one too many times.

I’m not discouraging anyone from calling elk. I have just learned that it’s often much more difficult than what some call companies or elk videos would have you believe. When an elk is coming into a call, it is looking for a fight, to breed, or for company, even if it’s not educated to, therefore every sense is on high alert. It is trying to see, smell or hear everything, and the odds of us getting smelled, seen, or heard are high. It is difficult to set up properly for an elk coming into a call. It seems no matter where I think the elk will come in from or how much I try and use natural funnels and obstacles to help predict how they will come into a call, they often seem to come in where I thought it would be impossible or unlikely.

Upping the Odds

I have found that, on average, I have to call 10 elk in to get one with a bow. I have talked to many other elk guides who say their odds are very similar. In comparison, for every 10 elk that walk by a stand or come into a water hole or wallow, we harvest seven. The reason, in my opinion, is that it is often a relaxed elk that I can usually better predict. I can have the wind in my direction and set up with the sun to my back or where I have cover to draw my bow or make a shot with a rifle without being smelled, heard, or seen.

The things I do that help my success include small things that I feel help tip the odds in my favor. When calling, I feel less is way better. I also tend to give the elk plenty of time to come in. Many people get impatient if a bull doesn’t respond to their cow call or bugle and tend to move on only to bump one that was coming in slowly and quietly. I make a few soft cow calls (4-6), and then I wait 30-45 minutes. I have had so many elk slip in without making a sound when I was just waiting quietly for 30 minutes or more.

I feel many hunters would benefit from being more patient, especially on public land. I will also often use a decoy if I am hunting more open terrain where it would be unnatural for an elk to come into a call and not see another elk. A decoy has helped me immensely in certain calling situations. I like a lightweight Montana decoy, but there are many on the market to choose from.

Play the Long Game

When possible, I like hunting areas that are dry, even if those areas may hold less elk. Water is key when it’s hot and dry like it often is in the West, and I have taken advantage of popular water holes to harvest elk. I am also a huge fan of wallows whether I am hunting in wet or dry areas. Wallows that rutting elk frequent to roll in and often urinate in are strong attractants for bulls and cows to swing by and check out during the rut. If you set up with the wind in your favor, these can be great places to harvest a bull in archery, muzzleloader, or early rifle seasons.

My other go-to for success on elk is using the whitetail strategy of sitting commonly used trails. It may not be the most exciting way to hunt an elk, but it can be one of the most effective ways of getting a shot at a calm elk. When possible, I will set up on a high spot, depending on wind patterns, where I can cover multiple trails or intersecting trails with a rifle. With a bow, I will look for intersecting trails and will often set up a tree stand or ground blind within 20-30 yards. This method can take some patience, but the odds of getting a great shot at a calm elk are high if you find some active trails that are being frequented.

Lastly, one of the other methods I have had success with is still-hunting. By that, I mean walking super slowly through good elk habitat. With either a rifle or bow, this can be a great way to slip up on elk undetected. The key for me is to always slip through the terrain with the wind in my favor. I wear quiet clothing and stop to glass frequently, letting my optics help me spot elk before they spot me. This can even be effective mid-day, as even when elk are bedded, they are constantly getting up to reposition, stretch, urinate, etc. By moving super slowly and glassing a lot, you can often ease up into a shooting position. All elk are fun to hunt, but when it comes to the most populous elk found in larger numbers in more states, in my opinion, the Rocky Mountain elk is the best choice