I have watched 1 wallow for the last 4 archery seasons and have had several different elk use it. One day I sat in a tree stand and watched several cows and calves during a 4 hour period drink from it. 2 different bulls hit it in less than a hour.

Wow, Guys, I am learning a lot while you guys are discussing this topic, I appreciate ALL of your input VERY much - thanks for the great dialogue!

Jim

I live and hunt near Butte Montana. I am hunting with horse this bow season....recently I've come up on a group of four wallows that are scattered down a small drainage that leads to a larger creek. This area gets no pressure as its really hard to get to...I just happened upon it and the hike would be too hard and strenuous for most. It's like climbing through a jungle of dead fall and VERY steep rugged country!  The area all around gets hit pretty hard. Ive seen elk and deer all along the larger main drainage when out prior to hunting season. There is a heavily used game trail coming off the mountain down a revine to the wallows. Elk sign all over the place! What is the best time to sit on the wallows and what call do you suggest for someone that is a beginner? What do you suggest as a good learning tool? I've rifle hunted for the past nine years and am trying to understand more about elk and bow hunting! Will get photos of wallows next time out! This is my first year bow hunting and exploring the area more! Thanks for all the good posts! I've learned a great deal!!!!

Getting a little late in the year for wallows to be very reliable.  Normally I'd say mid day to dusk for a wallow sit, but I'm guessing you now have the cold weather we are experiencing, so I doubt the elk will be using them to cool off anymore this year.  Still sounds like a heavy usage area, so I wouldn't completely give up hunting there.

Wallows are differn't in every area. I've seen some get used untill migration time or a large drought hit the area and will have traffic for a later season. I have seen them used by more then one bull early season, but I do tend to agree with someone elses post and in heavy hunted area I think wallows in timber are used by one maybe two bulls in rifle season. It's so hard to say what goes on in one wallow unless you know your area. SCOUT. Also someone once told me that if a wallow is used extremly heavy by elk the more of a chance they will stick around for later. I also wanted to say that a more open wallow with feed that they want will have more elk rather than a wallow on a timber hillside and should be hunted differntly.