More than 3,300 elk are estimated to roam the Crazy Mountains in Hunting District 315, and in three days of scouring high and low during the archery season my buddy and I never saw one.

We saw old scat, tracks and even trees rubbed clean of bark by bulls’ antlers, numerous grouse and one doe deer, but no elk.

There are plenty of reasons for such a strike out — poor scouting and bad tactics being just two of them. Yet the habitat looked great, with plenty of food and water in an area where vehicle traffic was restricted.

Where have all the elk gone?

Unfortunately, this wasn’t my first flop while mountain elk hunting. So, it’s very likely I’m just a bad hunter. Other hunters have told me they know folks who annually fill their tags, partly because they know an area so well, they can patt

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