Elk hunting has a way of making you feel like a beginner again.
You can spend years hunting deer, become comfortable with your bow, understand wind and terrain, and feel like you're finally figuring things out.
Then you step into the elk woods.
Everything changes.
In Episode 85 of the First Generation Bowhunter Podcast, Adam Buchanan breaks down lessons from an early-season Utah elk hunt with Jonathan McCormack of Redbeard Outdoors.
No elk hit the ground on this hunt, but that's exactly what makes the lessons valuable.
Altitude sickness. Bugling bulls. Public-land hunters. Swirling wind. Thick deadfall. Getting turned around. Carrying too much gear.
This is what learning to bowhunt elk actually looks like.
Watch Episode 85
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In This Episode
Adam covers:
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Lessons from bowhunting elk in Utah
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Hunting around 10,000 feet
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Dealing with elevation and altitude
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Finding and getting close to bugling bulls
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How elk react differently than mule deer
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Why wind and scent matter when elk hunting
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Public-land hunting etiquette
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Knowing when to move from a setup
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Hunting thick elk country and deadfall
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Staying aware of your surroundings
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Hunting with a partner versus hunting alone
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Why elk hunters leave too early
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Learning from more experienced hunters
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Cutting unnecessary weight from your hunting pack
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Preparing for unpredictable mountain weather
Elk Hunting Is a Different Game
One of the biggest takeaways from this hunt was just how different elk hunting feels from deer hunting.
The terrain is different.
The animals behave differently.
The way you move through the woods can be different.
And when bulls start screaming around you, it's incredibly easy to forget everything you thought you knew.
That's part of what makes elk hunting so addictive.
It also makes it humbling.
Don't Underestimate Elevation When Elk Hunting
This hunt took place around 10,000 feet.
That's not something to overlook.
After spending time at elevation, Adam started feeling slow, mentally foggy and physically drained. Sleeping became difficult, and even relatively normal movement through deadfall started feeling considerably harder.
When you're planning an elk hunt, elevation needs to be part of the preparation.
Hydration and electrolytes matter.
So does recognizing when you're no longer thinking or moving as clearly as you normally would.
The mountains don't care how badly you want to hunt.
Pay attention to what your body is telling you.
Hunting With Other Bowhunters Accelerates Your Learning
This might be the biggest lesson from the entire hunt.
Hunt with other people.
Adam had traditionally done a lot of hunting alone. Hunting alongside Jonathan changed the learning curve almost immediately.
Experienced hunters do dozens of tiny things they've stopped consciously thinking about.
Where they stop.
How they approach an area.
What they carry.
When they move.
How they respond to elk.
How they read terrain.
You can spend years figuring those things out independently, or spend a few days hunting alongside somebody with more experience and start picking them up immediately.
That doesn't mean blindly copying another hunter.
It means observing.
Ask questions.
Notice what they do differently.
Then decide what works for you.
Elk and Deer Don't Play by the Same Rules
Mule deer can seem incredibly sensitive to sound.
Step on the wrong stick and it feels like every deer on the mountain knows you're there.
Elk can be different.
They're massive animals living in rough country, and they're making plenty of noise themselves.
That doesn't mean you can stomp through the woods without thinking.
When you're close, sound still matters.
But wind and scent can become absolutely critical.
You can make a technically perfect approach and lose the entire opportunity when your scent reaches the herd.
Always know what the wind is doing.
Especially when the bugles start distracting you.
Don't Get Love Drunk on Elk Bugles
This is one of those lessons you don't necessarily find in an elk hunting manual.
Bugling elk can scramble your brain.
When you're 40 or 50 yards from screaming bulls, it's incredibly easy to focus completely on getting closer.
That's what happened on this hunt.
Adam kept pushing toward the bugles and eventually found himself in incredibly thick deadfall and brush.
The excitement of getting closer started overpowering the more important questions.
What's the wind doing?
Where am I?
What's my exit?
If I shoot an elk here, can I recover it?
Can I safely get the animal out?
Sometimes the smartest move in elk hunting is not another 50 yards forward.
Think About Recovery Before You Shoot
One of the more important realizations during the hunt came while pushing into extremely thick and steep country.
What happens if you actually shoot an elk here?
It's easy to become completely focused on creating a shot opportunity.
But the shot is the beginning of the work.
If an elk runs down an extremely steep slope into nasty deadfall after the shot, you've just created an entirely different situation.
Before shooting, consider what happens next.
Where is the animal likely to go?
Can you safely follow it?
Can you recover it?
Can you pack the meat out?
An ethical shot isn't just about whether you can put an arrow in the right place.
The entire recovery matters.
Stay Oriented in Thick Elk Country
Thick timber and deadfall can become disorienting surprisingly quickly.
During this hunt, Adam pushed deep enough into nasty cover that even looking at onX didn't immediately make the situation feel clear.
It only lasted several minutes.
But several minutes of feeling lost in unfamiliar mountain country can feel considerably longer.
The lesson was simple:
Slow down.
Get your bearings.
Know where you came from.
Know where you're going.
Pay attention to how far you've separated from your hunting partner.
Technology is an incredible tool, but don't allow a mapping app to replace basic situational awareness.
Public-Land Hunters Aren't Always the Enemy
You're eventually going to run into somebody else.
That's public land.
On this hunt, Adam experienced both sides of it.
One hunter approached, explained where he was hunting and actually shared information about elk movement in the area.
Instead of treating another hunter as competition, he communicated.
That interaction helped both hunters understand what was happening around them.
Another encounter wasn't nearly as friendly.
That's going to happen too.
You can't control how another hunter behaves.
You can control how you respond.
Communicate clearly.
Explain your intentions.
Respect someone who was there first.
Try not to interfere with their setup.
Then keep hunting.
There's enough frustration involved in elk hunting already.
Know When to Move
Sitting can be difficult.
You've been in one spot for three hours.
Nothing is happening.
Now what?
During one evening sit, another hunter gave Adam a simple piece of advice: if the expected movement hadn't happened by that point, it might be worth changing locations.
That doesn't mean constantly bouncing around the mountain.
But you also don't get bonus points for sitting somewhere that isn't producing simply because you've already invested several hours.
Gather information.
Make a decision.
Move when there's a reason to move.
Bugling Elk Are Worth the Trip
Not every successful hunt ends with an animal on the ground.
Being surrounded by bugling elk at 1:00, 2:00 or 4:00 in the morning is an experience that's difficult to describe until you've lived it.
Getting within 40 or 50 yards of a bull you can barely see through the timber is different from watching an elk across a canyon through binoculars.
Those encounters teach you.
They also remind you why you're out there.
For a first-generation bowhunter, those experiences matter.
You're building a library of situations you've never encountered before.
Every hunt adds another chapter.
One Reason Elk Hunters Fail: They Leave
Elk hunting is mentally exhausting.
You prepare for months.
You spend money.
You take time away from work and family.
You hike into an area.
Nothing happens.
You miss.
You screw something up.
And suddenly the truck starts sounding pretty good.
That's a dangerous moment.
Adam talks about hunts in the past where a missed shot completely changed his attitude and caused him to leave early.
Having a hunting partner can help enormously here.
Another bowhunter understands what just happened.
They can talk through the miss.
They can help reset your head.
Most importantly, they can help you get back out there.
Sometimes staying on the mountain is the biggest accomplishment of the day.
Stop Carrying Everything in Your Hunting Pack
Another lesson from hunting with somebody else:
Why are you carrying all that stuff?
Adam routinely carried a Jetboil, extra water for cooking and a freeze-dried meal during relatively short hunts away from base camp.
Then Jonathan asked a simple question.
Why?
If you're only leaving camp for a few hours, do you really need a complete cooking system?
Maybe a bar, jerky or another simple food option is enough.
It's an example of how hunting with somebody else can expose habits you've never questioned.
You don't necessarily need to become an ultralight hunter.
Just ask yourself whether each piece of equipment needs to come with you every single time.
Mountain Weather Doesn't Care About the Forecast
Clear forecast?
Bring the rain gear.
Mountain weather can change incredibly quickly.
During the hunt, an afternoon storm rolled through hard enough that finding cover became a priority.
That's where cutting unnecessary gear and carrying necessary gear become two different things.
Leaving the Jetboil at camp might make sense.
Leaving the rain gear because your phone says zero percent chance of rain might not.
Lightweight emergency shelter, a small tarp or quality rain gear can make a huge difference when conditions change.
Take Something Home From Every Hunt
No elk came home from this hunt.
But plenty did.
Experience at elevation.
Close encounters with bugling bulls.
Lessons about wind.
Lessons about navigation.
Lessons about public land.
Lessons about pack weight.
And perhaps most importantly, a reminder that hunting with someone more experienced can accelerate the learning process.
That's what First Generation Bowhunter is about.
You don't have to pretend you know everything.
Go hunt.
Make mistakes.
Ask questions.
Pay attention.
Then get back out there.
FAQ's
Is elk hunting harder than deer hunting?
Elk hunting presents a different set of challenges from deer hunting. Elk often live in steep, high-elevation terrain, cover large areas and can require hunters to navigate thick timber and deadfall while constantly monitoring wind and scent.
How important is wind when bowhunting elk?
Wind is extremely important when hunting elk at close range. A good approach can end quickly if your scent reaches the animals. Hunters should continually monitor wind direction rather than only checking it at the beginning of a stalk.
Should beginner elk hunters hunt with a partner?
Hunting with a more experienced partner can dramatically accelerate the learning process. You can observe how another hunter reads terrain, approaches elk, manages gear and reacts to changing conditions.
What elevation are elk found at during archery season?
Elevation varies by location, weather and time of year. On the hunt discussed in this episode, elk were encountered around 10,000 feet during early September.
Should I carry a Jetboil on every elk hunt?
Not necessarily. For shorter hunts away from a base camp, simple food such as bars or jerky may eliminate the need to carry a stove, fuel, freeze-dried meal and additional cooking water.
Should I bring rain gear if the forecast is clear?
Mountain weather can change quickly, so dependable rain protection can still be valuable even when the forecast looks favorable.
What should I do if I get turned around while hunting?
Stop moving, remain calm and establish your location and direction before continuing. Mapping tools such as onX can be useful, but hunters should still maintain awareness of terrain, landmarks, their route and their hunting partners.
Should recovery difficulty affect whether I shoot an elk?
Yes. Before taking a shot, consider where the animal may go after the shot, the steepness and density of the terrain, your ability to recover it and your ability to safely pack the meat out.
How do you deal with other hunters on public land?
Communicate clearly and respectfully. Understanding where another hunter is set up and what they intend to do can help everyone avoid interfering with each other's hunt.
Why is hunting with other people helpful?
Other hunters can expose you to techniques, habits and decisions you might take years to discover independently. A good hunting partner can also provide encouragement after a difficult encounter or missed opportunity.
Listen to First Generation Bowhunter
First Generation Bowhunter is a bowhunting podcast for hunters learning the sport, asking questions and figuring things out through real-world experience.
Hosted by Adam Buchanan, the show covers bowhunting, archery, hunting gear and lessons from the field alongside conversations with hunters and outdoor industry experts.
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