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Advice Tracking Elk

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#25 ·
Elkaholic98 said:
It’s a trail not a pool. Blood pattern is intermittent and spotty. Appears to have begun about 300 to 400 yards from shot site. I’m hoping they picked it up on it towards the beginning of the trail and not the end. Either way, they have not bumped the bill yet, at least not obviously.
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It's those "not obvious" bumps that are of the most concern. Hope he finds him.
 
#26 ·
Good luck wish I could offer some help I’m just a sry old whitetail hunter dreaming of hunting elk it’s on my list and will happen.. I will be praying for y’all keep us posted


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#27 ·
I've seen sometimes in situations like this you need to keep the animal on its toes so it doesn't clot up. Some times you have to wear em out and not let em rest long. Makes for a long haul but it does work. And sometimes if your coming in with the wind in the right direction you will get another shot at em.

Don't give up hope. And go slow if your going to keep bumping him so he leaves good sign.
 
#28 · (Edited)
All I can say is the obvious-- he needs to channel his inner Indian and look for the smallest specs of blood and tracks.
IME the lack of blood indicates high probability of a high hit. Without a drain hole low on an animal, the chest or abdominal cavity (which ever was hit) won't leak much blood. It'll just fill up until the critter dies, leaving little evidence behind.
Good luck to him!!
 
#29 ·
Elk with a lethal hit will usually go down hill....if he starts up the mountain....hes got lotsa life in him yet. They dont have near as much drive as a wounded whitetail ....go slow and you might get a second shot....good luck
 
Discussion starter · #30 ·
Update: Still no animal. Looks like he headed straight for some real nasty timber. Brother can’t see far, elk could be piled up within 15 to 20 yards and it would still be difficult. Still hasn’t bumped it so either it’s long out of the country or dead somewhere. He’s planning on looking until dark and then developing a plan for tomorrow if he still can’t find it.
 
#31 ·
Elkaholic98 said:
Update: Still no animal. Looks like he headed straight for some real nasty timber. Brother can’t see far, elk could be piled up within 15 to 20 yards and it would still be difficult. Still hasn’t bumped it so either it’s long out of the country or dead somewhere. He’s planning on looking until dark and then developing a plan for tomorrow if he still can’t find it.
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I hope he gets some help and a dog to sniff through that nasty timber, before it all spoils. A lot of people think, "I can't find blood, so a dog wouldn't help." Wrong! A dog will find that elk from smelling his stinky, warm body and blood, from at least a couple of hundred yards. If that elk is laid up in that thick stuff, the longer he waits the harder for the dog though. I hope he didn't push that bull by tracking so soon after the shot. That elk could be a mile away or only a couple of hundred yards. Sad, so far... Good luck!
 
#36 ·
Elkaholic98 said:
Update: Still no news. Not looking good. I expect he’ll be coming off the mountain in the next hour or so. We’re tentatively planning a trip with the dogs tomorrow.
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I think you'll still be good, if you get in there early. If it was lethal, the elk probably didn't die for few hours...maybe. I'm confident that if you get those dogs in there, you will find the elk, if it's dead. Be sure your brother takes his bow. That bull might still be alive, but very weak, and still require a follow-up. That would actually be the best scenario for meat recovery.
 
#38 ·
One lung on an
elk is a 50/50 in my opinion... If you get one lung and some liver he is dead. Just one lung, he may die, he may not.
They have an incredible way of clotting the bleeding and healing up and living.
Such tough animals. Id try the dogs as a last ditch effort.

I do admire the commitment to finding him that you all are displaying.
 
#39 ·
sambone said:
One lung on an
elk is a 50/50 in my opinion... If you get one lung and some liver he is dead. Just one lung, he may die, he may not.
They have an incredible way of clotting the bleeding and healing up and living.
Such tough animals. Id try the dogs as a last ditch effort.

I do admire the commitment to finding him that you all are displaying.
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I always try to give these posters as much help and encouragement as possible. If not, they give up way too soon, like the guy did in Idaho, in my previous reply above. If they don't try, they don't learn; so, they go do it again, resulting in a lot of senseless carnage. I still haven't figured out why people keep thinking they can pass through elk shoulders.
 
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Stubby20hunt
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