Elk Hunting with Shattuck Creek Outfitters
The elk in our territory are Rocky Mountain Elk, which have the largest antlers of any subspecies of elk. These elk can be hunted with rifle or bow, with a guide or on your own.
The elk in this area live in varied environments from ravines and gullies to clearcuts and meadows. They are adaptable animals, living in every area in our hunting territory. Depending on the season, they may be living deep in the mountains, making for an engaging and involved hunting experience, or they may be located minutes from camp.
September is archery elk hunting season, getting you up close and personal with these great animals. The weather is agreeable in September, ranging from the high 30s at night to around 75F during the day. You’ll need to bring your rain gear just in case, there are often several days of rain during September.
October – November is rifle elk hunting season, which includes our horse camp guided hunts and our lodge guided hunts. This month is chilly, with temperatures in the low 20s to the high 50s. Bring your cold-weather gear, these hunts are a late autumn adventure you don’t want to miss.
Hunting methods
A typical elk hunt takes place well out in the wilderness, and often implies living in a tent camp and riding horses in the true Western style. Trophy bulls are usually taken during the rut, when dominant bulls gather large harems of cows, and guard them against competing bulls. The best elk guides typically combine stalking with calling, using both bull bugle and cow calls to attract a dominant bulls. Cow hunts are usually a classic stalk. A hunter with archery or other short-range gear may also hunt elk from a ground or tree stand, usually over a waterhole.
Elk
The North American Elk are gradually reclaiming their historical habitat across America, but so far most elk hunting is done in the Rocky Mountain states from Arizona and New Mexico to Idaho and Montana, and the Canadian provinces of BC and Alberta. You can elk hunting outfitter also hunt elk in New Zealand, where it was introduced along with other species of deer, or its next of kin, the Siberian Wapiti, in Russia and Kazakhstan.
Why hunt Elk?
Elk hunting is not only an exciting and challenging pursuit, but a great opportunity to experience striking landscapes and immerse into romantic atmosphere of the American West. The sound of the bull’s bugle will raise the hair on your back, and the sight of the Monarch of the Woods, breathing clouds of smoke into cristal clear mountain air will remain with you forever. Powerful antlers of the bull will foster lasting memories of your adventure. Last but not the least, elk meat is not only delicious, but one of the healthiest on this planet, with lower fat and cholesterol than supermarket chicken.
When to hunt Elk?
The best time to hunt a trophy bull elk is during the rut, when the bulls challenge each other for dominance. The rut takes place in September and October in most areas, and this is usually considered the best time. Cold weather works better for elk hunting, because the bulls bugle more readily and the animals are more active in general, besides, it’s easier to preserve the valuable meat. However, archery seasons may start as early as mid-August, and in many places the season doesn’t end until December.
