I unsuccessfully hunted elk first rifle season in Colorado GMU 75 last week. I didn't even seen an elk. I did see plenty of elk tracks, elk poop along these tracks, one elk antler rub on a tree, and one set of elk beds. I think I was at the right altitude and right place. I did hear enough gun shots around me. I'm interested in hearing your advice on best tactics for hunting elk.
Let me tell you the tactics I used and why an experienced elk hunter disparaged these tactics for have low odds of succeeding. I found a small, 2-5 acre park hidden in the dark timber. I got to this park before sun rise one morning and waited in ambush until 10 AM for elk to show. On a different day I waited in ambush at this same park in the evening for elk to show. I didn't see any elk. The problem with this tactic is that there are probably thousands of similar parks in this mountain area and no good reason to expect the elk to show here. Might happen, but low odds of success. I found some very fresh elk tracks one morning -- known to be fresh because a heavy snowfall had stopped only 30 minutes before I found the tracks and there was no snow in the bottom of the tracks -- and I followed these tracks for a long ways hoping to find the elk which was making the tracks. The problem with this tactic is that it is pretty low chances that I can sneak up on the elk as they are making these tracks.
So, what general elk hunting tactics do you use with success? FYI, this was my first elk hunting trip and I went solo.
