I have hunted deer all my life here in Vt and have found that scent control is just as important for elk. Here in the east the wind doesn't shift as much. In the west you have the whole thermal thing going on and then when it is windy which is pretty much most of the time in the area of Colorado where I hunt it follows the terrain so it goes all through the canyons and is very hard to stay ahead of. I have been lucky and killed 4 elk in 5 years but last year I had a real nice 6X6 in with his harem in front of me down in a canyon. I spotted them but couldn't separate the bulls from the others through the trees. I could see the rack and then it was gone and saw animals moving all around. I had the wind in my face and crept down lower to get near a tree and set up for a shot. I was following the bull through the trees and waiting for a clear shot without a cow next to him when suddenly he hunched up and was gone in a flash. They were 125 yds from me and all at once I could feel the wind at the back of my neck just for a second. It was that quick and that whole herd blew out of there. With all the hiking and climbing it is real hard to stay dry and not sweat. Western scent control to me is trying to stay above them and take the shot when you can. Get down in the canyons at their level and your scent goes all over the place. I would put their eye sight on par with deer and their noses are just as good. The big difference is if they think you are there they don't stop like a deer. they might bolt out of the area further than you could follow in a day. Most of the time they won't come back so make your stalks good.
Last edited by Champlain Islander; 02-06-2011 at 06:54 AM.