Benches?

by Scott
(Minnesota)

Hello everyone,
I'm going hunting with my dad this year north of Rifle, CO and he's been elk hunting 6 times and yet to shoot an elk. I'm trying to gain as much knowledge about the elk bedding tendencies. I've heard the ole saying, "The best way to learn elk, is to hunt them!" With that said, my father is getting up there in age and doesn't have that many trips left in him. I've heard the terms like "north & east facing slopes" and "benches". I'm pretty sure I understand north & east facing slopes, but could you explain a little more about benches? I've read a lot of magazines and they all mention benches and that elk typically bed 1/3 the way down a slope.

Any information would be greatly appreciated!!

Comments for Benches?

Click here to add your own comments

Aug 20, 2021
 How big to slopes have to be both day and night
by: Hunter Kindvall

Hi guys, im going elk Hunting in october the last half of the month in south dakota. im 14 years old and this is my second year in a row that im going elk hunting both times i drew a tag didnt buy it unless you count buying as in you apply and it costs a couple hundred yes i drew a tag 2 year in a row. but anyway its a cow elk tag and tyhis year im using mapping aka on x maps and so im e scouting and i hear everything about north facing slopes and south and benches but i was wondering how tall do slopes have to be for elk to bed on them from the very bootom of a hill to the top or from where the two slopes of a draw meet to the top how many feet do they have to be for them to bed on them. and benches there is a couple of spots where its a steep slope and the its flat in a little area and then its back to bing a slope almost like a cliff but it has grass on the bench if it is one and its a slope and not straight down. would that be considered a bench its basically a meadow on a slope. and then also do elk preffer very open sloes for day or night or do the preffer burnt areas or timber areas where e scouting you cannot see the hills ground because its so thick or what do you want?
you can email me at hunter.kindvall@gmail.com or you can follow and text my instagram at cadakoutdoors or also you can reply to this comment.
Aug 01, 2014
 bench
by: Anonymous

A bench would be a flat spot on steep terrain where they like to bed.
Oct 30, 2012
 Benches
by: Anonymous

There are hunters and then there are ELK hunters. Every area is different. I use to hunt near Rifle in the white river national forest (Eagle). The benches in these mountains are in the hardest, steepest slopes imaginable. We call them hell holes, others call them hidey holes. Most benches (holding elk) are far from any road. The ones who spend their time to trek there, are the one's usually successful, but the work to get them out is not easy.

Don't hunt the actual bench, hunt the route 200 - 300 yards from the bench on the easiest route to the bench. Best bet is to play the weather. If it snows, then just look for highways and beds in the snow and once you find them, sit off 200 - 300 yards and wait, they will come.

If it is warm, your best bet is to walk, like you never walked before. If you still hunt in warm weather, the elk may never come to the area you are sitting. Zig zag the mountain or send 1 high and 1 low and zig zag torward each other. 1 year, I just got to my area at 1:30pm and decided to head up this trail where I parked (which another vehicle was parked). 50 yards over the 1st hill came 5 walkers, walking back to their vehicle. We said hi and they said it was way too warm, those elk must be 10 miles up the mountain in the fingers. They were heading back to camp for the day.

It just turned 2pm and I walked to where they just came from (note: we were 50 yards from our trucks when we met, just over the little mound of a hill). The next hill was a good 100 yard trek up and I figured I would walk about 1000 yards before I judged the area. I got to the top of my 100 yard hill and crested over the small top and low and behold there were at least 20 cows laying on 10 yards off the path in a patch of snow.

These 5 people never saw them. They just came, after the people crossed the area. I got my cow and I was only 150 yards from the truck and it was like 2:20 pm when I took the shot. I thought for sure I would never see an elk that close, with 5 others that just walked from this area.
Oct 20, 2012
 Steamshovel
by: Scott

Steamshovel-
We'll be hunting in unit 33 near coulter lake during the 4th rifle season and any information would be VERY appreciated. We also are meat hunters, but something with horns would be great bonus.

Thanks again for your time,
Scott

Schroeder_scott@hotmail.com
Oct 14, 2012
 Scott n Father
by: Steamshovel

If you are able to get this before your leave Scott contact me and I will give you what info I can about the Rifle area.I've hunted that area and killed 5 in 7 trips there.Now I'm all about hunting and I'm a meat hunter not a trophy hunter.Although my last elk there was a nice respectable 6x6.There is alot of BLM and White River Nat Forest land you can hunt.I will be hunting new territory this year in the Routt Nat Forest so maybe I'll bring home some meat.Thanks,Steamshovel jrsnowbound@gmail.com
Sep 12, 2012
 Benches Are Good Hunting
by: Dave, ElkHuntingTips.net

Hi, Scott. Benches can hold elk. They are simply smallish level spots on slants that allow them to comfortably bed and watch the surrounding area. If you find benches that are used regularly, approach downwind, they'll be watching. Glass them from the other side of the drainage, if possible, or approach them from above after noon.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Share Your Elk Hunting Pictures, Stories, Comments or Questions!.

Shop Our Store

Elk Tips Outdoor Gear Logo

406-431-0876

Newsletter Opt-in:
"I just get so excited talking about elk.." ~Tristan, CO


Search This Site Here:

Hunting Gear Reviews

ASAT Camo
ElkNut Outdoor Prod.
Bugling Bull Game Calls
HECS Stealthscreen
Montana Decoy
StringSling Bow Sling
Skull Hookers
Safari Sling Rifle Sling
Clip-Shot Mini Camera Mount

ASAT Camo

Free U.S. Shipping

Bugling Bull
Game Calls

ElkNut Productions

Free Shipping on
ElkNut Products Here

HECS Stealthscreen:
A New Type of Concealment!

HECS Stealthscreen

$199.99,
Including U.S. Shipping

Montana Decoy Elk/Deer
Available Here!

Montana Decoy

$59-$109.99 Free Shipping!

The StringSling:
Best Bow Sling Design!

String Sling Bow Sling

$29.95, Including U.S. Shipping

Clip-Shot: 1 oz. Camera Mount

$21.85 Free U.S. Shipping

Skull Hookers

Skull hooker

$34.99 & 59.99 Free U.S. Shipping!

The Safari Sling:
Best Rifle Sling Design!

Safari Sling Best Rifle Sling Available

$27.99 Free US Shipping

Share your elk hunting pictures and stories on our Facebook Page!

Go to Forums


Forum Topic Discussions:

How often should I use my cow call?, I am new to the sport of bow hunting elk and my question is how often should I use my cow calls?

295 yard kill with a Kimber Montana 325 WSM, by Don from Dallas: My ELk did not even twitch once. He was dead when he hit the ground.

325 WSM is worth considering, Palmer Lake,CO: I believe that the .325 WSM is the ultimate elk caliber...

30-30 for Elk? : I have a 30 30 with 170 grain round nose bullet. Will this work to shoot an elk ?

(More comments about Best Elk Rifle below)

Submissions

Unique Elk Talk by Idaho Steve (Hailey, Id ), In the middle of the night, a herd of elk came traveling through the drainage and right past my tent...

Smelly Elk Areas? by Jimmy (New Mexico), I've come across many areas that just stink of elk, literally. I have heard two somewhat contradictory stories...

DIY Gear List Must Have's! by Craig (Florida) "Here are some of the items I use on my DIY hunts in the CO backcountry..."

Elk and Deer Hunting and Mountain Bikes, by Skip Shepherd (Tucson, AZ)~ At 67 I am thinking a lot about investing in a mountain bike to get back into remote areas...

Solo archery hunting -- tips for calling/set up?, by Idaho Steve (Hailey, ID )~ I hunt by myself a lot...I'd love to hear your thoughts on strategic set-ups when solo hunting and calling.

Non- Lead Bullets for Elk?, by Dave, Elk Hunting Tips.Net (Garrison, MT)~ What do you ballistics guys think about the use of non-lead bullets for elk? According to this story...

Rage Broadheads by Chris, ...my buddy gave me a rage practice tip and when I shot it you could not pick out the broadhead from the field points. I was sold...

Recent Submissions:

Finally filled the freezer..., Colorado Rockies~ "I was bummed when I got to the property and no elk, nor any hoof prints in the snow. ...I pulled each of the elk into shade then started gutting..."

Wounded Veteran Elk hunts, by Joshua FL), I am a disabled veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and have always dreamed of hunting elk. I am posting this to see if anyone would know of any elk hunts free to disabled vets....

First Elk with a Bow, by Ryan H. (Colorado), ...Finally after many years of hunting with a bow "I got er did"!

First Elk!, by Tater (Sheridan, Arkansas) I took the advice I received from this website and was successful…I wanted to Thank You and Your Forum and the folks that share on here for the knowledge and information that helped me find an elk I was quite happy with.

Questions

Any success in Unit 14?, by: Dave (MI), "I'm planning on doing a DIY in Unit 14 for 2012..."

Share Elk Hunting Secrets


Bugle in Herd bulls, by Swiltbank (Az) The key to calling in a herd bull is to get into his bedding grounds and threaten his herd. Start off sounding like…

Best Big Game Rifle?

Best Rifle Caliber?, by Buglemup (Superior, MT), "I've been reading what people have been writing about rifle calibers and here is what 16 years of guiding elk has taught me."

7mm Remington Magnum, by Dean (Helena, MT. USA) I use my Liberty Ruger M77, 7mm Rem. Mag. for antelope, deer, elk... Comment: "What do you guys think about the idea of hunting elk with a 270? I also know a guy who kills elk with a 243."


338 Marlin Express, "Light, fast shooting, hard hitting, manageable recoil, and for a lever gun - very accurate."


Guns I like for Elk, by Mountain Walker (Kootenays east B.C. Canada),"I think the gun you shoot Elk with should be one you shoot a lot with... "


.35 Remington, by Bill Smith "...my .35 Rem appears to have dropped a medium deer flawlessly, but I now have serious doubts as to its capability to take an elk."

Arizona Elk Hunting

Where to hunt in Az unit 3B?, by Cliffjumper (Tucson, Az) ~ I got a late bull muzzle loader hunt in Arizona unit 3b. Does anyone know how to hunt bulls in the late season?...

First time elk hunter hunting Arizona unit 6A , by Rob Marchio (Omaha, Ne)~ I'm a first time elk hunter hunting Arizona's unit 6A. I'm planning on staying in the Pine Grove campground...

Elk Hunting Colorado

Help needed for 1st DIY Hunt w/Son, by Patrick (Parker, CO), "I was looking for some advice on my 1st DIY hunt for 2014 in CO with my 13 yr old son. I have countless hrs going over stats, topo maps & Google Earth"

Elk Hunting Colorado in 2013, By William (Midland, TX) "I am planning an elk hunt next year in Colorado and I wanted to know if hunting Gunnison National Forest..."

Unit 60 Elk 4th Rifle Season Nov 13-17 Either Sex 2013, By Chester "...Any general advice about the unit would be appreciated!"

Idaho Elk Hunting


Elk Hunting Idaho Unit 8 8A 11, This is my first year seriously trying to track down some elk. Is there anyone that has hunted in any of these units and can give me some friendly advice? Mitchell, Moscow Idaho

Elk Hunting Pocatello by Cameron (Pocatello) Where is the best place to elk hunt around Pocatello, Idaho? I'm a student at ISU and I'm looking for somewhere around here to hunt next season.

How is the elk hunting in unit 30A in Idaho?, by Terry (Richland Center, WI) Has anyone archery elk hunted in unit 30A in Idaho? What can you tell me about the area?

Elk Hunting In Montana

Hunting in Western Montana, by Mike A. (Alabama)

I did not draw a tag for Missouri breaks where I have hunted in the past. Having to start over and try western Montana.

New Mexico Elk Hunting

New Mexico Unit 49, by Silas (Los Alamos, NM)

If anyone has tips on areas to start scouting, I'd really appreciate it.

First Elk Hunt First Elk Hunt, by Big "R" (NM)

I finally got drawn for a late elk hunt in Unit 28, north of Road 506 and south of the boundary line of the Lincoln National Forest...

Elk Hunting Nevada

Cow elk in Nevada's unit 222:

"Any good places known in unit 222?"

Northeast Nevada Early Elk hunt, by John (Carson City,NV)

"Any suggestions on what areas I may see some signs of elk?"

Questions from Novice Hunters

Retired USMC MSgt Needs Advice, by Ken Wing USMCRET (Bealeton, Va)

Big Game Recipes

Popcorn VenisonPopcorn Venison with Maple Syrup?

Elk or Venison Steaks Grilled to Perfection Here's how to turn them into steakhouse steaks!

Spice-Crusted Grilled Venison Roast Recipe This Spice-Crusted, Grilled Venison Roast recipe works great for any red meat roasts, including elk, deer or beef roast...

Corned Elk Recipe You can easily make corned venison and elk, moose or corned beef from these instructions...