Going Against The Grain

Sometimes you can't avoid high-pressure hunting situations and it's deal with the crowd or don't hunt. Maybe you can't beat 'em, but you don't have to join 'em. These are the times for long-shot options. Look for some really ugly and uninviting segment of hunting country. If it has some decent cover and a little water, it could be an elk hotspot -- at least right then. The elk are trying to get away from the crowd as well. Maybe this "bad" area isn't holding a lot of animals, but how many bulls do you need to tag out? Another play is to hunt in ridiculously easy areas -- right along roads and in little brushy draws in open and accessible areas. Most elk hunters want to "climb the highest mountain." The elk just want to be left alone. Elk are not as good as whitetails at occupying tiny little niches of odd-spot cover but under enough pressure they'll give it a try.