Elk Hunting Basics
The basics to elk hunting are not the elk hunting equipment or the elk hunting tag.
In order to successfully hunt elk, one must first know a little about them. They are much more than big animals that live in the hills. Learning about these magnificent animals is not as easy as one may think, as there is a lot to learn about them. And once you think that you have learned all there is about them, think again. You will have to take what you have learned about elk and apply it to the different terrains and food sources available at the time. Then when you throw in the different hunting regulations for each state the game changes on pure location. If your elk hunting in montana the elk hunting rules are significantly different than the laws that are in the state of Colorado for elk hunting. If you are going to hunt for record book bulls you will need to know what kind of bull it will take to make the record books, and to be able to judge them in the field as well. Along with that you will have to know where the big boys are holding. Not all elk country is the same, and they differ when it comes to holding elk. You will need to ask the right questions of the right people. You will need to know how to use a good map as well as know what type of country it is that you are looking for, and then you can make a decision on where it is that you plan on doing your hunting. Elk and elk hunting are like a huge jigsaw puzzle, and as we learn more and more about them, through books, videos, and experience, the pieces start to fit together.
Now everyone wanting to hunt elk knows what an elk looks like from pictures in the magazines, videos, and the mounts on many a wall. If this is in fact true, then why do hunters mistakenly shoot moose, deer, cattle, and even an occasional horse? When you are looking through a tangled mess of dead fall and thick timber, or in the early morning and early evening low light situations, this can be a bit difficult. The first place to start when identifying an elk is to remember there name, wapiti, which is the Indian name for white rump. Older elk, especially the older bulls will have a light buckskin color to them. Bulls that have a darker, shiny coat will be younger bulls. Deer will have more gray in their coats, moose will be dark brown to just about all black, and horses will vary greatly in color, but will generally have a saddle on them as well as a bridal and a lead rope, and perhaps even another hunter. The muzzle and head of a big and mature bull will be more massive than that of the younger bulls. A mature bull may weigh from 700 pounds to as much as 1000 pounds live weight, and that would be an exceptional animal. Bulls are bigger than cows as are cows bigger than calves. A cow elk may run from 500 - 800 pounds and calves will be anywhere from around the 100 pound range to several hundred pounds. The weight of the calf would vary depending on when they were born and the time of the year you are hunting. A hunter living in elk country has the advantage of first hand knowledge of the living library where the elk hunter that resides where there are no elk has to depend on pictures and books. All the tiny details of the puzzle fit together faster and easier for the hunter in elk country than the other hunter. The hunter in elk country is generally able to spend much more time among the elk than the short, brief visit of the other hunter also, so what he sees and learns will stick with him/her far easier. The hunter that does not reside in elk country needs to look at pictures, and lots of pictures to try and pick out the subtle differences among the elk. If you can get local information it is a bonus ask about hunting equipment, weather, past sucess and failure.
Some people say that it is just luck to get game when you are hunting, and it is to some extent, but it is more knowledge than anything. One must have an understanding of the animal and it's habits during any given time of hunting season. You need to know where they will be at any given time. That doesn't mean that they will be there but that is where you would start. For instance if it is the early part of the season and the weather is hot, you need to hunt where there is a good food supply and where it will be cool for them. It is harder for an Elk to stay cool in the heat than it is for them to stay warm in the cold. If the rut is on you will need to seek out the cows to find a bull that you may want. Find there bedding areas, and there food source and you will find Elk. That is the importance of pre scouting an area.

But not everyone has the opportunity to pre scout an area, because of the time and the location such as a hunter that is not from the area. But there are resources to help that individual such as the U.S.Forest Service and the Game and Fish department for the state you will be hunting in. These people are usually more than happy to help you. After all that is their job, and they are the ones that are out in the field all year round. You need to learn what foods they prefer during the time of the year you will be hunting them. There food will be different in the early part of the season than it is at the later part of the season. I cannot give you a list of what they would be feeding on at what time because the food source would be different in New Mexico than it would be in Wyoming or Montana. Remember to spend some time getting familiar with the local regulations guidebook it should be your new reading material of choice. The state rules and laws are very different from  state to state I have even seen the state hunting laws change from one area in the state to another area in the state and have the elk hunting regulations completely different. So keep you nose in the hunting regulations guidebook and do your homework there is nothing worse than going on the elk hunt of your lifetime to find out you cant be elk hunting in the part of the state that your in. I have seen it happen scouted the perfect bull elk in the wrong part of the state and after looking a little closer at the elk hunting regulations find that your summer was spent in vein.

When hunting for Elk you will need to fool their senses which would be their eyes, ears, and noses. Do not let them be aware of your presence, instead you need to be aware of their presence. You do have the upper hand if you just use the resources out their at your disposal. If you are a nonresident Elk hunter, it will have already been a costly trip, so don't be unsuccessful by trying to save a few dollars. Make the phone calls, use the web, seek the advice of the local hunters, and use the proper elk hunting equipment.
So Before you head out to the hills do your home work get good information and swing by huntnfishregs.com to pick up your local state laws, updates, hunting maps, rule and elk hunting regulations. or Click Here to go there now.
Good luck happy elk hunt