(c) Jack Ballard
USE YOUR NOSE – The smelling ability of dogs and deer is thought to be a thousand times better than that of humans. But that doesn’t mean the appendage propping your eyeglasses or dripping snot is worthless.
Elk stink. The overall olfactory impression is similar to smelling a barnyard ripe with livestock manure. On many occasions I have caught the scent of elk, especially when hunting in the timber, before I have seen them. Sometimes the odor emanates from recently-abandoned beds. But often it comes directly from the animals.
If you catch a whiff of elk perfume, stop moving immediately. Engage your eyes and ears. The chances are high the elk are quite close. Listen intently for the sounds of moving hoofs or breaking twigs. An absence of such noise is good, and means the herd hasn’t spooked if it’s real elk you’re smelling. Spend enough time looking in the direction of the scent to scrutinize the cover. Your first movement should be to slowly drop from a standing position to a crouch which often allows a different and extended sight window into the woods.
From there, hunt at a snail’s pace in the direction of the scent. I’ve killed a couple of elk I stalked after smelling them. The nose knows.
I’m taking my sons elk for first time in Montana. We are staying in Bozeman and will hunt public grounds. We are hunting the last week of rifle season. Do you have any advice or spots you could recommend? We hunt slot in PA, but our first trip out west. Your book Elk Hinting in Montana has really helped us out thank you.
Sincerely, Tom Shaffer
Tom,
The weather will have a lot to do with your hunt at that time of the year. I would try the west side of the Crazy Mountains. That’s a reasonable drive from Bozeman and holds good numbers of elk. Do some hiking and check the higher drainages without trails. The Gallatin River drainage a bit south of Big Sky can be good if there’s snow, but there are several areas with special regulations, so make sure you know where you’re hunting. Best of luck, Jack