Baiting elk is a complicated topic. Across many of the western states where elk naturally reside, there are only a handful of states that actually allow you to bait them legally. These two states are Oregon and Washington. Hunting rules and regulations are always subject to change on a dime as well, so it is important to always be up to date on the current rules and regulations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, unfortunately, pumpkins cannot be used to bait elk purposely. A field of growing pumpkins, however, can actually be used to your benefit. As long as the pumpkins are being grown for commercial reasons, you can hunt near and around the field of pumpkins that the elk are attracted to. With a little bit of preparation, you can actually ambush the elk as they travel to and from a field of pumpkins or other crops to feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to get the most out of an elk\u2019s love of pumpkins, you need to come prepared. First, ensure that you have the proper permission to hunt around the area. Contact local landowners to obtain permission, and have plenty of maps of the area on hand. The last thing that you want to do is accidentally trespass or break the law because you didn\u2019t take the time to know where all of your boundaries and limits are at. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can swing it and intend to hunt around a field that the elk are using as a food source, then the best bet is to set up outside of the area and ambush them as they travel to or from the field. This will not only allow you to better survey the area and be more comfortable as you wait, but you will typically have a lot more cover to hide behind. If possible, it is also a great idea to use a treestand or ground blind in order to better conceal yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although elk will eat pumpkins if they have the chance, it is not their preferred food choice. Elk are browsers and prefer to eat grasses and grains instead of large vegetables such as pumpkins. If you have any alfalfa or clover fields, you are more likely to find elk in those areas than in the areas with pumpkins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to natural food choices, large open meadows with natural grasses and shrubs tend to hold elk in the early mornings and evenings when they like to feed. But again, elk are opportunistic feeders. If they can find a nearby farm or field to eat crops that taste great, then they will often travel to these areas depending on the time of the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Natural food options include grass, shrubs, twigs, leaves, and even the occasional mushroom. If you locate any prime feeding areas, mark them on your maps and remember them for when the hunt rolls around. These types of areas can be gold mines later in the year when food sources start to dwindle, and elk need to travel long distances to find a consistent form of feed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter how you like to hunt elk, learning, their feeding habits can be a great and effective way of getting close to the animals and better filling a tag. Whether you are high up in the mountains and need to find natural feeding areas or you have a field of pumpkins nearby that the elk are feeding on, you can use their hungry stomachs to your advantage. <\/p>\n\n\n