All hunters have a different idea of when you should be pursuing the mighty elk and they all seem to contradict the other. It can be pretty confusing to get a clear answer out of the mix of opinions. So I have laid out all the information you need to know so you can get to grips with the best times to hunt elk and give you the ground you need to develop your personal hunting style.
Morning from 9:00-10:00 am is the best time of day to hunt elk due to high activity. Elk activity slows down during midday. Evening hours are the second most effective hunting time due to elk activity rising again. The elk will also be more likely to respond to bugle calls as opposed to midday. Still, more often than not, most kills happen in the morning hours. This is because elk are most active at this time and will answer bugle calls easier than any other time of day. That is not to say one should pack up his gear and leave at midday. If you want the highest chance of success a good hunter will stay in the field all day. But in most cases, mornings are when you will get your elk.
Keep reading to learn more in-depth information on what time of day to hunt elk.
Morning VS Midday VS Afternoon
Mornings
Mornings are by far the most productive time to elk hunt. From legal light to about 10:00 am is elk hunting prime time. Most hunters will tell you that morning is the time you are most likely to harvest an elk. That is not to say give up after the morning is over. A wise hunter sticks it out all day.
Elk activity will be bustling in the early hours with elk bugling the most they will all day. And with this high activity comes a greater chance of spotting elk and calling them in.
Elk are much more susceptible to calling during the morning than any other time of day. So if you plan to call in your prey, morning is the time you want to take advantage of.
If you are a bow hunter then mornings are your best bet on taking home fresh meat. The elk will be more prone to answer a bugle call and it will be much easier to sneak up on an active elk than one that is still and listing intently to his surroundings.
Midday
Activity will slow down quite a bit during the afternoon. Elk will begin bedding down and bugling will cease.
Middays are not necessarily always slow. During the rut, activity can continue throughout the day.
Hunters who are not acclimated to long-distance walking can hunt elk much easier at midday. Instead of actively pursuing the game, one can wait at known paths of travel such as funnels and crossings in order to make a shot as elk pass by on their way to a bedding zone.
For an all-day hunter who needs a little shut-eye, this can be a great time to take a little nap, just mind the bears…
Afternoon
Activity will begin picking up again during the afternoon giving hunters another shot at taking home some elk meat. The elk have spent most of the midday sleeping in thick hidden timber and are now rising for a night of feeding.
Afternoons are a great alternative for hunters who aren’t early risers but still want to get in on the action.
Rifle hunting is best suited for afternoons. Using a rifle will allow you to stalk bedded elk from a distance until they arise for the afternoon, allowing for a shot opportunity.
Still hunting by some water is an effective way to hunt elk as they come in to drink and feed.
A great strategy some hunters implement is to treat morning and midday as a scouting time and wait for the evening to make a move. This will help you find a bedding/feeding zone and hopefully allow for a clean shot when they rise again or return to feed. You just need a whole lot of patience!
Frequently asked questions
What time of Day Are Most Elk Killed?
Most elk are killed in the mornings, afternoon second, and the least are killed during midday. This is because the elk activity is highest during the morning and more hunters will be out. As noontime comes the elk will start bedding down making many hunters give up. This leaves the chances for elk harvests to drop substantially for the rest of the day.
What Time of Day Do Elk Bugle?
Elk will bugle throughout the night and continue until noon then quiet down at noon and rest.
Where Do Elk Go During the Day?
Elk are active throughout the night, feeding and bugling. This activity bleeds into the early morning hours making morning elk prime time.
The elk will begin tiring out from the active night during midday and spend most of it bedded down in a thick, secluded location.
During the evening, the elk will begin making their way to feedings zones and water sources to get ready for another active night.
Final Verdict
Mornings are the best time to hunt. Activity will calm down during midday but can be great for non-active hunters who want to make an ambush shot. The evening is the second-best time of day to hunt due to activity picking back up and elk responding to bugle calls again.
Although mornings are the clear winner I personally suggest you hunt all day long. Even though things will slow down, there will still be elk out there, and there will still be shooting opportunities if you are at the right place at the right time. One thing is for sure, no elk meat is coming home if you quit early.
Thank you for reading, I hope this post has given you the foundation you need to start elk hunting and develop your personal method in doing so. Here’s to many adventures ahead!
