How to Find Late Season Elk on Public Land!

[@blakek2619]

Great, you just blew my spot for this winter.

[@thisguy7084]

As the rest of the crowd says, "Its "OUR" spot!"

[@MrHf4l]

Waiting for Randy to finally admit that elk go to private land when public hunting pressure hits. I love the idea that there are a few bulls that hang around in the backcountry in rugged terrain but the reality is that a huge huge percentage of elk move to private land. Especially in MT.

[@snakeriverscotto]

Randy has stated that on many occasions through the years. I think it comes up most frequently on the weekly podcast review with Marcus, or at least it seems so this year with all the management discussions in MT.

[@bornhunter6171]

That's why Randy is always hunting the boundary lines and waiting for the elk to come off the private so he can start hunting an animal.

[@BCencounters]

I find a good amount of elk on public land in every season in colorado, just gotta put miles on your feet and binos. All of his information is spot on. Boundaries are always my second day hunt like clock work, lol. I don't always kill em, but I always see elk, haven't been skunked in over a decade, and I hunt new spots almost every year.

[@tcmoney1321]

​@@BCencountersany pointers for divide area?

[@uhwhat22]

Randy’s video is how to find late season elk on public land….not private land. He does discuss at one point about elk sanctuaries being on private land……please try to stay positive. Randy is very knowledgeable about hunting….especially in Montana

[@corygodfrey7881]

So much good info as usual, and your briefing ability is phenomenal. Thanks Randy for all the time you put into this.

[@it_is_what_it_is_brotha]

Great breakdown and new tools you helped deliver. Some units out west are heavily filled with motorized trail access and still have great bulls. I'd love to see a breakdown of a non remote area and how you'd approach one that will definitely have other people driving around.

[@WhiteSandsMbuna]

One of my favorite hunting areas is what you describe. They pull up into the middle of the ridges ontop of the rocks. Walk bwtween the center ridges after a snow and youll see tracks. Places no one believes elk exist i find dozens.

[@WhiteSandsMbuna]

Thing to remember with elk that throws people off since deer are the opposite, elk are huge and strong. They walk very fast and climb over boulders you cant. So a 2 mile track of a deer might take all day. For an elk, it might take 20 minutes. Then they bed.

[@1dezman1]

Waiting to try some of these strategies on my late season bull tag in Nv!!!

[@bradythayer7789]

Love the late season content, prepping for my late season cow tag in NV

[@randylong562]

I really enjoy all your videos and they have been helpful. My son and I are planning an OTC 2nd season rifle hunt in Colorado this fall. It will probally be my one and only elk hunt. We are planning on GMU 4 in the Roust Medicine Bow National Forest. The question I have is this: You said, "when it is warmer hunt higher and when it is colder hunt lower" and I understand why but what temputure ranges areconsidered to be warmer, what degree are we looking at and the same with colder temps. Any information would be appreicated.

[@Mase326]

I’ve found in my areas of CO it usually depends more on snow depth than temps. Say >3’ of snow and it loves a lot of elk down as it becomes more energy intensive to feed. The exception can be if it’s a VERY early blizzard in the post rut the hills can kind of linger in the 2-3’ of snow area for a while. But I’ve seen em move from 11,000’ down the 8,500’ fast after a big snow dump in 4th season

[@MsMadhatter23]

Randy, thanks so much for all the info. Started watching in 2015 in preps for first bull elk hunt in AZ. I had begun getting more detailed regarding morning and afternoon glassing waypoints but your efficiency in the data presented is extremely helpful! I always have questions, and after watching this detailed video I have two I'd appreciate some feedback for a late Nov rifle hunt in AZ: 1) If non-migratory elk want sanctuary in a horizontal manner, can I infer that the loss of 800' elev but with better sanctuary opportunities would be a better place to start glassing than say, the higher elevation with only 'good' cover? Assuming 'normal' weather pattern where the 4-5° change due to elev change in temp wouldn't be the determining factor to keep the bulls up in the hills. 2) Similar situation, the higher elevation has more large pine (not dark timber mind you) but difficult to glass alot of terrain because the limited field of view vs the 800' lower elevation which might provide better glassing due to more pinion, etc., but is flatter with the exception of the more rugged sanctuary locations. Recommend 1st day higher or lower? And yes, we should be able to scout two days before opening day! Again, Randy, "Thank You!" for all the info you generously provide us! AZMike

[@1234MegaDylan]

Watching this prepping for my late season 4b Arizona bull rifle tag! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@RagnarLothbrok2222]

Great stuff here. I’m so tired of obese boomers ripping around on their UTV’s and SxS’s fuckin’ up the area. It was like Mario kart this season in idaho

[@Firosche]

Happened to me last weekend.

[@williamchristy3063]

Wild Bill: Where to start? The growing numbers of bowhunters have already chased the elk out of their comfort zone. The elk are herded up, turned nocturnal, and are hovering within their safety zones. This usually means surrounding private lands! Sure, there are a handful of elk attempting to return back to their mountain comfort zones, but mostly for the rifleman, late season means hunting public/private fence lines. Many rifleman hunt November-December seasons to catch elk out in the open, but that means driving around trying to catch elk out in the open grasslands before elk return over the fence from public to private. And to top it all off, the continued sale of unlimited elk tags diminishes the elk herds more and more each year until you basically have 100 hunters hunting the exact same single animal. Solution; If a rifleman is hunting in October, "beat the brush" checking all the hidden foothill valleys and crevices as far away from the hunting pressure as possible, and keep a hunter's eye toward the cross over public-to-private fence lines. Otherwise, be prepare to join the ranks of the November-December hunters driving the roads looking for game.

[@austinwalker9747]

Should we just give up?

[@everythingloud4068]

You should make a video about finding late season elk in the true western side of montana where it's so thick you can't see more than 20 yards

[@ronlowney4700]

But he already has his tag filled by then! 🤪 So, mabey you are hunting in the wrong area? 😜

[@freedomlover425]

+1 for the Idaho panhandle as well. Can't see past 20 yards and still covered in other hunters.

[@ronlowney4700]

🤷‍♂️ To each his own? 🥳

[@jamesdutton5439]

I hunt up in NW Montana the only way to find those elk for hunting late season is with use of game cameras on trails. Or just by cutting a track and planning for a long hike.

[@ronlowney4700]

Nope! The way to find them is to hunt where it is more open! 🤣

[@ericbusch4646]

Well you are so right about out going on private property when public lands have a lot of hunting pressure this year I hunted the Oregon West Cascade rifle season saw no bulls they're all on private property and the private property owners will not allow you to access their land unless you pay him $1,000 a day

[@jons2cool1]

The last day I went hunting during post-rut last year I found an area that was really hard to navigate through and was close to a private land border. When we got there we saw about 4 elk corpses and a herd about 1,000 yards onto private. I guess we were a bit late to that spot lol

[@antelopehunter2810]

What do you do about motorized vehicle (4 Wheeler) in a non-motorized area? I seen that multiple times in multiple areas. I find an area with no motorized travel. I hike in and find 4-wheeler trails in there!!@!!

[@ELRas53]

it happens, don't be that guy

[@furyianman5157]

I'm trying 511, obviously it's got heavy pressure, I found elk tracks that are a couple days old in the snow, and I think a bear track too, didn't have time today unfortunately, but I'm gonna head back out to those tracks and hope for luck

[@Mikedenton541]

Does this all apply to Roosevelt elk as well?

[@fromfrancetotexas]

What’s the name of the book on your desk?

[@kylejones7786]

Thank you

[@JD83734]

How do you pick the actual glassing spot and know you'll have good line of sight visibility into those areas?

[@nilezimmerman9386]

I use Google earth and you can show the viewshed area on a way point.

[@jsbymaster]

Waiting for a contest/giveaway that includes one of Randy's waypoints!

[@jackbuendgen389]

It's a random way point that says "this spot sucks"

[@jero1918]

Thanx

[@michaeldavisjr.717]

Hi Randy, What is the text book you have on your desk?

[@justincarter9360]

North American Elk Ecology and Management

[@TransRights6969]

One of the best states i've hunted elk and mule deer is montana, public access is great hunting pressure is medium. We will go back next year to film!

[@danielconner3263]

These bulls aren't stupid sometimes they like to hide right next to were you park and hike 15 miles to hunt!

[@RagnarLothbrok2222]

Absolutely 😂

[@heron123100]

I appreciate some of his knowledge and it does seem very valid. However I noticed he places some campsites waaay to far from the afternoon glassing points. Seems like he will be walking in the dark to get back to camp? Seems like a bad idea and risk of getting hurt with low visibility. Also bottom line is the elk go to private land when its hunting season that all

[@472BB]

He walks to the morning spot before sunrise with a headlamp on (using the green light, not white). Then is out in the field glassing all day, and then hikes back to camp in the dark again.

[@heron123100]

@@472BB sounds like a solid 4 hours of sleep and risk of getting hurt I would just stay and sleep next to the morning hunting spot

[@Bullelkbill]

@@472BB o