T.R.'s Tips; Elk Scents
By T.R. Michels, Trinity Mountain Outdoors

Scents are one of the most widely used methods of attracting deer species. Manufacturers have responded to the demand by archery hunters who know scents work on deer by providing hunters elk scents. Wildlife Research Center first came out with elk urine at my prompting about ten years ago. They now offer Bull Rage bull urine and Elk Fire cow estrus urine scents. I have had excellent success with both products while elk hunting. Many hunters use fox, coyote, mink, raccoon and skunk scents as either cover or curiosity lures. Some hunters use unnatural or human scents to block game from using escape trails. This vast array of scents can be confusing if you don't know which ones to use and when to use them.

Elk scents fall into different categories based on how they are used and how elk respond to them. These categories are: Recognition and Trailing, Territorial and Dominance, Sex, Food, Curiosity and Blocking. Sex scents are most prominent during the rut and can be used during any part of it. Recognition and Trailing scents are present all year long and can be used any time. Territorial and Dominance scents are most prevalent during the rut and should be used at that time to be most effective. Food, Curiosity and Blocking scents can be used all year long. Many of these scents fall into more than one category and can be used for different purposes. They can all be used effectively to attract elk, if they are used properly and at the right time.

Elk Pheromones

Elk pheromones, the scents given off by the glands of elk, are used as a means of communication. Pheromones serve to stimulate a behavioral response in another animal. Elk pheromones are present in the preorbital, tail, anal, belly, tarsal and metatarsal glands, while estrogen and testosterone are found in the urine. Elk may also have cheek glands that emit pheromones. Elk do not have interdigital glands between their hooves like deer. Many elk scents used in combination during self impregnation (scraping and wallowing) and sign post marking (rubs and bark chewing), and they are interpreted by individual sexes and age classes differently. When they are used by themselves these scents may be interpreted differently than when they are used in combination with another scent or scents.

Recognition and Trailing Scents

Urine and its associated scents of testosterone and estrogen are probably used as recognition scent in elk, especially when you consider that bulls wallow in this scent as a means of attracting cows during the rut. Because bull elk have such a large body area covered with urine and testosterone, other bulls and cows know the smell of the most of the other bulls in their areas. Elk encountering urine, and testosterone or estrogen, in combination with tail and anal gland scent from another elk, may be able to determine the sex and the age of the animal by its scent. Since elk don't have interdigital glands between their hooves to leave scent on the ground for other animals to track they rely primarily on other scents, and sight and sound to locate each other.

Dominance and Territorial Scents

Because of their wide-ranging nature, individual bulls use scrapes and wallows infrequently. However, different bulls may use the same scrape and wallow when they are near it. While the scrape and wallow are used to place the combined urine, testosterone and belly gland scent on the bull, they are also used to remove parasites and cool the bull in hot weather. This urine/testosterone/belly gland/dirt scent is a sign of a mature dominant breeding bull. Cow elk are attracted to the smell and sounds of bulls when they are in heat. It has been suggested that cows can determine the physical health of the bull by the amount of protein in its urine, and that cows may choose a bull with a high protein content in the urine to associate with. There is also evidence that older cows will return to the sound and smell of dominant bulls that treat them gently. They may be able to associate gentle bulls by the combination of the protein, testosterone and belly scent from wallowing, and the familiar sound of the bull's bugle.

Urine and testosterone from the bull's neck and antlers may be placed on rubs when the bull comes in contact with them. There may also be forehead and preorbital scent on the rubs. These same scents occur on branches that are thrashed by the bull when it rubs the branch with its head and antlers. This combination of scents may be a sign of dominance to other bulls.

The complex combination of scents left at the signposts of the scrape, wallow, rub and the animal itself occur primarily during the rut. The scents of the scrape, wallow and rub occur as soon as bulls begin to shed their velvet. The scents of the scrapes and wallows begin shortly after the elk begin rubbing, but may occur earlier during hot weather. These scents can be used to attract bulls anytime after the rubbing phase begins. They become less effective after the first breeding phase, because the bulls are not as aggressive. Because a dominant bull makes rubs, scrapes and wallows as a proclamation of dominance, it is impelled to check out the smell of any unknown bull intruding on its territory.

Sex Scents

Sex scents contain hormones, and may also contain pheromones. High amounts of testosterone in the urine signal a bull's sexual readiness. Estrogen in the urine signals a cow's sexual readiness. Both bull testosterone and cow estrogen levels rise during the rut. Bulls readily respond to estrogen (cow in heat scents) soon after they shed their velvet through the second and the third estrus, which may occur in November. Because bulls are curious cow urine and estrogen can be used anytime of the year to attract them.

Food Scents

Food scents can be used anytime and anywhere. Because these scents do not contain pheromones there is nothing in them to alarm the animals. Whitetails, mule deer and elk readily eat apples and fruits in the mountains, where apples and other non-native fruits do not occur. The elk on the farms I study eat corn, silage, peas and carrots. Once elk are accustomed to finding these foods you can attract them by using similar scents, even if baiting is not allowed.

Curiosity Scents

Because the elk need to be, and are, familiar with their home range, they want to know about anything new. Much of the response of big game animals to Recognition, Dominance and Territorial, Sex, and Food scents can be attributed to curiosity. In that respect all these scents attract game out of curiosity. Elk, deer and moose will investigate urine and pheromone scents of fox, coyote, raccoon, skunk and other animals, as long as the concentration is not too high to alarm them. While most of these scents are used as cover scents to avoid detection they can also be used to attract elk. I once watched a bull elk walk across my trail ten minutes after I had been there. I had placed Wildlife Research Center's' Bull Rage bull elk urine on my boots just before I walked across the area. The bull stopped and sniffed my trail long enough for my hunter to take a shot and drop him to the ground.

Blocking Scents

A few knowledgeable hunters use scent blockers to move game to their position. While this is not actually attracting game it is a means of getting game to come to you by blocking all trails but the one you choose. By strategically placing human scent on clothes or socks; predatory scents from dogs, coyote or wolf; or large amounts of metatarsal scents associated with alarm, on the trails you don't want the game to use, you can direct the game to the trail you do want then to use. Blocking works especially well in areas with numerous parallel trails, near bedding areas, or in heavy cover. You can also keep animals from using normal escape routes and avoiding you by blocking the trails you don't want them to use. Blocking scents can be used anytime.

T.R.’s Tips: Elk Scent Setups

Most hunters use scents to attract bull elk. Remember that bulls responding to scent invariably try to get downwind to check the scent and detect danger. Be constantly aware of the changing thermals and currents as you use techniques to attract elk in the mountains. Also remember that the elk often try to remain in cover. You can setup in the cover if you are sure you won’t be detected. Try to position yourself crosswind of the animal's travel route to avoid detection. If there is nearby heavy cover the animal will use, and more open cover crosswind, setup in the open cover. Give the animal the cover while you wait in the area it won't use, and where you won't be detected.

You can also setup downwind of the animal's approach while luring it to a position upwind of you. If you are archery hunting be sure to place the scent close enough for a shot. If you have to setup upwind of the animal's approach, take extreme precautions to avoid detection. Try not to be in a direct line with the animal's travel route; you may be seen. For the same reason you should stay a short distance from the trail, or where you expect the animal to walk; far enough to avoid detection but close enough for a shot.

I always use Elk Fire cow elk urine when I am hunting elk, because I cow call to attract bulls at close range. I place two felt pads hung in a tree upwind of my position, ten yards on either side, so that any bull coming in will follow the scent trail, before it gets to my smell directly downwind. When I use a Bugle or Gurgle, and if the bull is willing to come to these calls, I use the scent of a bull. Any bull coming to the sound of another bull expects to smell another bull. I use Bull Rage the same way I use Elk Fire, making sure the bull smells the elk scent before it gets directly downwind and detects me.

T.R.’s Tips: Elk Scents and Calls; Where, When And What

When you are using calls and scent to hunt elk don't forget that elk use sound as the primary means of locating each other. But, elk do use scent to identify each other by sex, age and social status when they are near each other. When you are using scent to attract elk during the rut, get as close to the bedding sites and feeding areas as you can, or setup along the travel routes between the two in the morning and evening. In the late morning and early afternoon you can setup near wallows. Prior to the rut, and when the weather is hot, wallows are used somewhat regularly, depending on how many animals are in the area and their proximity to the wallow.

Pre-Rut (mid-August to the first week of September)

When you are hunting before or during the rut in hot weather, expect the elk to move and feed for a couple of hours during the day if it cools off, or just before or after a rain. I've seen elk move and feed at 9:00 AM on hot days as it got cloudy and started to drizzle. I've also seen them begin feeding after it quits raining but when it is still cloudy. When these conditions occur, hunt near food sources, travel lanes, watering sites and bedding areas. Elk seek relief from late summer/early fall heat on high open slopes, in low areas holding cool air, in shaded forests, or near water. On hot days look for elk on east facing slopes, in conifer trees with the bottom branches gone allowing cool winds to blow through, and in shaded creek bottoms. Because bulls are establishing dominance at this time they may be willing to fight. Use the sounds and scents of a cow, or a bull challenging another bull. You can use the bugle to locate and attract the bull. Once the bull comes in you can use cow calls, grunts and glugs to convince him there is a young bull with a cow by using estrus and bull scent.

Primary Breeding Phase (first to third week of September)

During the primary breeding phase the bulls are hard to attract because they are with the cows. You can locate them by sight or sound, and setup to call near travel routes and feeding areas. You may have to move to the bull while you cow call to get him to come to you. Use estrus and bull scent. If the bull is willing to come to bugling you should sound like a small bull, not a dominant. Most bulls will respond to the challenge of a small bull. But, generally speaking,  only enraged dominants will respond to the sound of another dominant. A combination of cow estrus urine and bull scents can be used at this time to convince the bull that there is a small bull with an estrous cow nearby.

Rest Phase (third week of September to first week of October)

After the primary breeding phase the bulls still answer calls but they generally will not come to bugling. Unlike whitetail bucks, that may not be seen because they often retreat to their bedding areas during the rest phase, bull elk often remain with the cows at this time. Some subdominant bulls may start to try to sneak into the herd at this time; hunt them on the fringes of the herd. Some bulls may be driven away from the herds by this time; look for them near secure bedding areas and food sources, often well away from the cow herds. If you know where the bull bedding areas and available food sources are, setup between the two to intercept a bull. By this time the bulls are not as willing to fight but they are still interested in breeding. Cow calls and estrus scents may work best.

Late Breeding Phase (first to third week of October)

Three to four weeks after the primary breeding phase occurs you can expect a late breeding phase. This is when some cows come into estrous for the first time, and those that did not conceive the first time come into estrous again. The bulls may respond to bugling and cow calls, but they are generally much harder to attract and less willing to fight, unless they are an older dominant that did not participate in breeding earlier. These bulls can be found near bedding, staging and feeding areas. Use estrus scents to hunt them. 

Post Rut (after the third week of October)

Hunting elk after the breeding phase can be extremely frustrating, because the bulls may not be with the cows. They may become solitary or form small bachelor groups that remain together through the winter, or until they migrate. After all the fighting, chasing and breeding of the rut, the bulls are worn out, hungry, and in need of food to supply enough fat to get them through the winter. They look for secure places to rest, and can be found near secluded bedding and feeding areas, where they seek high quality food sources. Unless you know where their bedding and feeding areas are you may not be able to find them. One study shows that bulls often winter at higher elevations than cows. When you are hunting after the rut in cold weather expect elk to move and feed for a couple of hours if the weather warms, or after any strong wind, rain or snow lets up. Hunt near food sources, travel lanes, watering sites and bedding areas. During inclement weather look for elk in protected areas of valleys, drainages, thick coniferous forest, or the downwind side of forest and hillsides. Use curiosity, food and estrus scents.

Blocking Scents

Blocking scents can be used effectively during any phase of the rut. They work well in large patches of brush or woods where the elk can move freely. In dense cover there may be numerous trails with few animals using each trail. By blocking some of the trails you create a bottleneck, funneling the game past your stand. If you are hunting a food source with numerous trails leading to it, block some of the trails several yards from the food source to force the game to use the trail where your stand is placed.

This article is an excerpt from the Elk Addict's Manual ($14.95 + $5.00 S&H), by T.R. Michels.

T.R. Michels is a nationally recognized game researcher/wildlife behaviorist, outdoor writer and speaker. He is the author of the Whitetail, Elk, Duck & Goose, and Turkey Addict's Manuals. His latest products are the 2003 Revised Edition of the Whitetail Addict's Manual, the 2003 Revised Edition of the Elk Addict's Manual; and the 2003 Revised Edition of the Duck & Goose Addict's Manual. For a catalog of books and other hunting products contact: T.R. Michels, Trinity Mountain Outdoors, PO Box 284, Wanamingo, MN 55983, USA. Phone: 507-824-3296, E-mail: trmichels@yahoo.com , Website: www.TRMichels.com