Crack the code when in the mountains by reading tracks and making sure you're following the correct animal
Elk track in mud.
Elk track in snow.
Mule deer tracks in dried-up soil.
A photo of Brady's mature bull elk after a successful late-season muzzleloader hunt.
If you're headed out elk hunting, you need to know what elk tracks look like. Sure, elk bugle and can be located that way. But sometimes when the mountain is silent, you can use tracks to identify if elk are in the area. Understanding elk tracks is also important during a late-season elk hunt when the rut isn't going on. Being able to pick out a fresh track in the dirt—or a faint impression in snow—is what could separate getting into elk that day, or just thinking there's no elk in the basin. Tracks are a piece of the puzzle, and when you're deep into a burn, side-hilling a basin, or following a faint trail into a hidden meadow, they tell a story. The kind of story that ends with a heavy pack and sore legs.
So let’s break this down.
Elk tracks are big. You’re looking at an average of 4 to 5 inches long and roughly 3.5 to 4.5 inches wide. They’re sort of heart-shaped and round at the tips. You’ll often see the toes splay out just a bit, especially if the elk was moving through soft ground or climbing.
Front tracks are usually a little bigger than the hind tracks—more weight up front, especially on a big-bodied herd bull. And if the ground’s soft or there’s snow, you might catch dewclaw marks. That’s even more true if the animal’s moving quickly or descending a steep slope.
A fresh elk track sinks deep. You’ll notice spacing too in the path of the elk: the stride can be 25 to 36 inches roughly between steps when they’re walking normal. Bigger track, bigger stride, deeper impression. Know what that tells you? That you’re on the right animal. Keep in mind, large tracks don't always mean an absolutely giant bull in terms of antlers, but it could mean a more mature bull.
This one’s pretty simple once you’ve seen an elk track and a mule deer track in the field.
Pay attention to terrain too. Mule deer might cross that open slope, but elk are more likely to side-hill it or dive into the timber. Reading tracks in context makes all the difference.
Let’s talk about a common mistake—confusing elk tracks with cattle tracks. If you hunt in areas with grazing allotments or shared public land, you’ll see cattle sign. And if you’re not paying attention, you’ll burn daylight chasing bovine instead of bugles.
If you’re still unsure, look for associated sign. If you're in the timber, elk leave rubs, wallows, and droppings that are drier and pellet-shaped. Cattle droppings? You’ll know when you step in it.
Every bit of sign matters when you’re grinding it out in elk country. Tracks tell you the size of the animal, direction of travel, and even how recently it passed through. Combine tracks with other sign—fresh scat, broken branches, wallows, rubs—and you’ve got intel. Be sure to collect all of this intel on your GOHUNT Maps app when you're in the field. This is data you can refer back to on your hunt or scouting trips.
Knowing whether you’re tracking elk or mule deer or worse, cattle tracks, could save you hours—or days—of wasted effort. And in a draw unit, during the rut, or on an over-the-counter hunt, that time is everything. If you're not reading tracks, you're probably missing elk. Learn the difference. Burn it into your brain.
Size: Mule deer tracks are much smaller—roughly 2.5 to 3.5 inches long—and narrower. You see a set of heart-shaped tracks that look petite? That’s not an elk. That’s a muley doe or buck.
Shape: Mule deer tracks are sharper at the toe. Think narrow, pointy, and more of a V-shape. Elk toes are round and beefy.
Stride: Mule deer walk tighter. Typically, 20 to 24 inches between steps on average. Compare that to elk and you’ll quickly notice the difference, especially in snow or soft dirt.
Track shape: Elk tracks are cloven hooves, same as cattle, but elk tracks are pointed and more narrow at the toe. Cow tracks are usually rounder and blockier, almost like a split oval or spade. Look at the tip—if it’s blunted, there’s a good chance it came from a cow.
Size and depth: Adult cattle are heavy, so their tracks can sink deep, especially in soft ground. But even then, they’re often wider and more symmetrical. Elk tracks have a little more taper and dynamic shape due to the movement of the animal.
Stride and pattern: Elk move with purpose. Their stride is longer, and you’ll see a straight, clean line when they’re walking or trotting. Cattle are lazy movers. Their stride is short, clunky, and staggered—like they don’t know where they’re going or care how fast they get there.
