re: DIY elk hunt CO unit 35

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The animals are fairly dumb, compared to stalking other game, so the actual hunting and strategies aren’t hard,

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Elk are far from dumb. If they were, success rates would be a hell of a lot higher than they are.

I would agree that the strategy to find them isn't too hard. Knowing what to look for and understanding the wind is easy. locating the elk can be easy with calls if they are being vocal. but getting a 5x5 to get within shooting distance of you is anything but easy. They aren't idiots and they know exactly where you are supposed to be when you are calling to them, and when they get close and realize there isn't another giant antlered elk in that pinpoint location, they are going to pause and know something is up. Then they are going to try to get above you and sniff you out, or just plain leave.

I would say the only time i would consider them dumb is if they are extremely horny and you are an excellent caller that is able to piss them off to the point that they are going to charge at you to come kick your arse. More often than not, they don't give a shite about your calls b/c they know where their cows are and they know they are bigger than you so you aren't a challenge to them, but that rare time you've pissed them off with your calls and they maybe think you've got one of his cows, that's when you'll get that opportunity to shoot them.
Or you get that younger satellite bull who hasn't gotten his arse whipped yet to come check out and challenge a bull(you) b/c he thinks he can take him and his cows.

OP, get your arse in shape. Start walking on the treadmill at the highest angle for at least 30 minutes a day every day, or the stairmaster.