If you want to be successful at elk hunting, you need to know how to stalk a herd – and stalk the herd the right way. You’ll need to be able to stay close to the herd for more than a day, and your patience will also be tested. In the end, though, it’ll be worth it when that perfect shot finally presents itself. Here are four steps to help you stalk the elk herd successfully:

1. Go Deep – More than likely, you’re not the only one hunting elk. But you can lose your competition by going deeper into the mountains. Most people aren’t going to go out more than a mile – and a lot of them won’t even be willing to go out this far. However, if you’re willing to push it another mile or two, you will virtually have the hunting area to yourself.
2. Camp Nearby – Once you’ve hiked as far as you can and located your herd, you won’t want to get too far from the herd. Camp as close as you can, usually within ½ mile. As you prepare to set up your camp, make sure to pay special attention to the wind so that the wind doesn’t carry your scent to the herd. Also, if you are pretty sure which way the elk herd is going to go the following morning, it makes to sense to set up camp in front of them so that your odds of securing a hit is drastically increased.
3. Grab a Nap – It isn’t uncommon for elk to bed down between 10 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. This is a good time to catch a little shut=eye for yourself. Then, when the herd starts moving in mid- to late-afternoon, you’ll be freshly rested and may even be able to catch a worthy bull off-guard.
4. Follow the Tracks – If you see a trail that looks like a single set of tracks from one elk, especially in post-rut, follow them. Chances are, you’re going to follow the tracks to a huge bull that you can take home.