Tracking elk is one of the most challenging—and rewarding—parts of elk hunting.

These massive animals are smart, elusive, and highly attuned to their environment. If you’re serious about bringing down a bull, learning how to track elk is essential.

This guide breaks down proven techniques, signs to look for, and tips to improve your tracking game in the field.

Why Tracking Elk Matters

Elk don’t hang around trailheads. They move constantly, often covering several miles a day. Tracking allows you to:

  • Find fresh sign and stay on their trail
  • Predict bedding, feeding, and travel patterns
  • Get close enough for a clean shot

If you’re hunting public land or during the rut, tracking can be the difference between success and going home empty-handed. For improving your tracking game, understanding how to track elk will give you a significant advantage.

Understand Elk Behavior First

Before you follow a trail, you need to know what elk do and when:

  • Feeding: Early morning and late evening in meadows, burns, and south-facing slopes.
  • Bedding: Midday in cool, shady timber or north-facing hillsides.
  • Watering: Once or twice a day, especially during hot weather.
  • Rutting: Bull elk become more vocal and aggressive from September to early October.

Knowing their behavior helps you anticipate where tracks will lead, making the process of how to track elk smoother and more efficient.

1. Look for Fresh Sign

Elk leave behind plenty of clues. The trick is knowing how to spot them—and tell how fresh they are.

Key signs to watch for:

  • Tracks: Large, heart-shaped prints. Fresh tracks have crisp edges and moist soil underneath.
  • Scat: Fresh elk droppings are dark, shiny, and moist. Dry pellets mean the herd moved on.
  • Rubs and Scrapes: Bulls rub trees to mark territory. Fresh rubs have exposed sapwood and wood shavings on the ground.
  • Wallow Sites: Muddy areas where bulls roll to scent-mark during the rut. Look for fresh splashes or recent activity.

2. Follow Trails Strategically

Elk trails often lead between bedding and feeding areas. Use the terrain to your advantage:

  • Wind direction: Always keep the wind in your face to avoid alerting elk when trying to track them.
  • Thermals: Morning air sinks, evening air rises. Adjust your approach based on the time of day.
  • Noise discipline: Move slowly and avoid breaking twigs or brushing gear against branches.
  • Glass ahead: Use binoculars to spot elk before they see you.

3. Read the Terrain

Elk prefer specific landscapes depending on time, pressure, and weather.

  • Early season: High alpine meadows, basins, and above tree line.
  • Mid-rut: Creek bottoms, wallows, and heavy timber.
  • Late season: South-facing slopes, agricultural fields, and low-elevation valleys.

Use topographic maps and digital scouting tools like onX Hunt or BaseMap to identify likely elk zones before setting foot on the ground. Knowing how to track elk using these tools will greatly enhance your efficiency in the field.

4. Learn to Track in Snow or Mud

If you’re lucky enough to have fresh snow, tracking becomes easier:

  • Snow tracks: Show direction, stride, and speed. Trotting indicates elk were spooked. Slow walking with stops may mean feeding.
  • Muddy prints: Best after rain. Watch for moisture in the bottom of the track to judge freshness.
  • Grouped tracks: Indicate a herd. Lone, wide tracks often belong to a bull.

5. Practice Patience and Persistence

Tracking elk can take hours—or even days. Be prepared to:

  • Camp close to sign and return at first light to closely monitor how to track elk effectively.
  • Adjust your route based on updated sign
  • Wait for the right moment instead of rushing a shot

Success comes from dedication and attention to detail.