THE Ultimate GUIDE TO READING ELK SIGN

[@MiddleOutdoorsman]

I don't know if people will realize just how much of an incredible video this is. Information like this isn't normally freely available, and certainly wasn't available when I started elk hunting, on my own, I think 12 years ago. Learning on your own, without any mentor or guide is incredibly hard, and it never ends. The only way to do it, is to get out on the mountain OFTEN, and create a feedback loop for yourself, and just keep at it, again, and again, and again, AND again. Despite that, without any "elder" looking over your shoulder to tell you, there's always this self doubt your reading it wrong. The times you call it right though, and were spot on, are great confidence boosters.

[@CliffGray]

For sure! Hope all is well man.

[@MiddleOutdoorsman]

@@CliffGray We're doing fine. I won the antler lottery on a spike hunt this year, and took the Mrs on her first deer hunt. Eating tag soup on that one, but the memories will last a lifetime, and that's what matters most.

[@CliffGray]

@@MiddleOutdoorsman awesome. good to hear

[@dswilliams69]

Idaho resident here. Excellent video. A couple of points to add. When on the move cows pee in a puddle, bulls pee as they walk. Really easy to see this when you are hunting with snow on ground. Regarding sign, some people get tunnel vision. It's not where the elk have been, but where they are. Put in the miles. Here in Idaho we get a lot of sheep herding, really puts a lot of scent in the air, and makes it a little challenging.

[@CliffGray]

👍 great additional tip. Thanks for sharing

[@northofidaho]

This is probably the most helpful video I have watched on the subject. I am having to go on a lot of solo elk hunts and I see signs of elk everywhere where I hunt but I never could identify the age of things like rubs, scat, tracks, etc. Now at least I know how to. Thank you for providing these videos! I am truly grateful

[@CliffGray]

Glad it’s helpful 👍

[@logannance5302]

Priceless videos/ information cliff! Been out on 2nd season in colorado the past couple days, and your videos, especially the one about thermals is exactly what i needed to hear.

[@CliffGray]

Great to hear! Good luck

[@Tyanmax99]

Really appreciate the information, Cliff. I saw and smelled pretty much everything you talked about a few weeks ago during my hunt.

[@BortzArt]

This is great! Comprehensive and easy to understand. Haven't seen anyone else put it all together like this.

[@CliffGray]

👍 thanks

[@MTNLIFERANCH]

Super informative! I will use this on my Cow hunt this weekend

[@CliffGray]

Good luck!

[@darrensmall4313]

Another great video! Thanks Cliff for sharing your knowledge. I didn't realize mature bull elk hooves were generally bigger in front but it makes sense.

[@CliffGray]

👍

[@TG_Wyers]

Sandhill cranes going off in the background. Nice!

[@CliffGray]

Yeah they were constant!

[@levonstilson9032]

What about distinguishing between elk and cattle tracks? Also, a quick video about your thoughts on hunting elk in country with cattle grazing actively would be super appreciated. Thanks Cliff, -Levon.

[@gregpaszt4671]

Yes we hunt on public land where cattle were also.

[@RaymondTusk74]

Cattle tracks are much more round in shape. You can draw a circle around them. Elk/deer/moose are long and oval

[@CliffGray]

Great topic. Will do. Thanks Levon

[@gregpaszt4671]

@CliffGray yes and there usually a field full of pasture patties.Been a while since I've been on a dairy farm couldn't remember if they were circular. Guess i should have googled it.

[@jcarry5214]

Great point. I spent a day cow hunting an area that had definitely HAD elk in it but towards the end of the day I realized that the young livestock and very large deer were leaving all the recent sign. At the same time I think the first time I saw bull tracks I thought they were livestock until I realized there was no livestock. They were considerably different than the spikes I had tracked.

[@iranederhoed8121]

This is good stuff!!! Great real woods knowledge, and experience!! Love your videos Cliff. I appreciate you and what you do. 👍🏻😀

[@CliffGray]

👍

[@charlesm7132]

Apparently I have the same size hand/fist. The hand width is the method I use in the field but I never actually knew the measurements. I always just assumed if it was about the width of my fist it was a bull. Nice to know my assumption was correct. I learned a lot of this stuff just from spending time in the woods and crossing over the same tracks day after day. Helps me know that in my short 4 years of hunting, I am on the right track. Sorry for the pun, I didn't know how to finish that sentence with out one. Thanks for the video.

[@citronmetalworks]

Priceless info! Thank you sir!

[@CliffGray]

👍👍👍

[@RaymondTusk74]

I struggle with distinguishing moose from bull elk, it takes me a while to put it together when they mix

[@westernsoutherner1]

Ha oh man just got out of the Idaho mountains and could smell the elk like crazy. Wind was blowing all over unfortunately. Great video!

[@CliffGray]

Thanks man! Yeah can be painful when you smell them but know they already smelt you!

[@gregpaszt4671]

Heading out in 2 weeks for 3rd rifle in Colorado Thanks Cliff ! 👍

[@CliffGray]

Good luck! 👊🏻

[@gregpaszt4671]

@CliffGray I need got skunked Last year too dry and warm.Lots of mule deer and a mountian lion.First year went with a friend who's been hunting Colorado for 30 yrs .Thanks for the good luck. I need some .

[@jackjackjack51]

Wow!

[@michaelnelson1911]

Awesome video. You gave us a gold mine. I had taken picture of elk poop on my elk hunt. Found a really good bed with poop about 3 feet away. From your video, I would say it was a bull’s bed. Thanks for passing it along. What are the two different watches that you are wearing. Do you like one better than the other? Why?

[@CliffGray]

Thanks! I wear a Garmin instinct watch. It’s simple but works well

[@rebeccaheidi]

My favorite memory of elk, my husband and I we're riding our horses looking for downed fence and cows. It was supper foggy, early fall and cold, we were at 8,500 elevation. The horse were being butt heads, and were keeping me on my toes. My horse started nickering when the elk started bugging back. My husband could smell them, wind was blowing the sent to him. We went up over a rise and there they were. It was a heard of 300 to 500 if them. They never did see nor smell us.

[@CliffGray]

Thats awesome

[@AvidHntr7448]

Super useful video. Do deer also have a similar front/back hoof size difference for bucks vs does?

[@CliffGray]

Yes. Almost all prey species do. In mountain goats it’s pretty extreme

[@mike300rum]

Great video, but I'd make 1 comment. Muddy water in the wallow doesn't mean much. Every critter in the woods hits that wallow. Deer, catle, squirrels, coyotes, etc. The most common one is birds. I sat a wallow for hours and hours this season and noticed the Robins would get in the shallow water and flutter around making the whole pool murky. They'd hit it every 5 min. You can't possibly know why the water is muddy.

[@CliffGray]

I gotcha. I think that really depends on if it’s a source of water that is being opportunistically used by elk to wallow in or a true elk wallow, little pockets or wallowed out springs. A lot of the time bulls are the only thing using those spots. But yes there can be some confusion, toeing it in with other factors I think it can be useful. 👍 thanks for the insight

[@gelbage]

Hell yea

[@CliffGray]

👊🏻

[@gbaughman3348]

Good video. However, my wife would disagree as to whether I have feet or hooves. 😅

[@CliffGray]

Ha!

[@vincethewoodlander]

Cliff, Your info. Is getting too dangerous. Jk but seriously.

[@CliffGray]

Bwhaha

[@joececcgon]

Just went elk hunting in Idaho. No elk, but got video of a UFO…of course

[@CliffGray]

Bwhaha well that’s a win

[@reppin2c]

Prove it

[@jcarry5214]

After my last hunt I wouldn't be mad if someone said the Elk were flying that UFO to a different unit.