Been looking at the "All wapiti" thread for about the millionth time. Like alot of the others reading it, A trad elk hunt tops my "One thing I must do!" list. 42 yrs. old, not getting any younger.
Here is a newbie Elk question: Where and how do I get started?
Will take any and all advice!!!
43 and in the same boat.
First,Start now ! pick up a copy of Mike Mittens book "One with the Wilderness" Start Heavy Walking in your town and keep it up .Practice shooting from all kinds of awkward positions with the equipment your going to use.So many options Guided,Do it yourself,Backpack,alone,with friends etc etc.Elk hunting can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be.Read as much as you can get your hands on from seasoned hunters .Lots of people on this site can help,a great bunch.Good luck.
26 in the same boat. :bigsmyl:
If I were you, I'd pony up the funds and go guided my first time in elk country. Why? You'll learn more in that 7-10 days with an experienced elk hunter than you would 7-10 years on your own.
If you can't afford a guide, then to start, you need to pick a state, then pick a unit, then start studying maps. Read, watch and listen to all the elk hunting media you can find. Get in shape, save up plenty of time off, so you have 3 days on each end of the hunt for travel, scouting and recovery. Be willing to spend 10 or more days in the field hunting and don't give up, especially if you're having a hard time finding animals. Being in shape really helps. Lots of folks on here willing to help. Start planning now and JUST DO IT! Did I mention being in shape? Good luck!
Don't worry about the age numbers, last year was my first Elk hunt, I'm 65 and there will be many more.
Slivrslingr- That's probably my safest bet. I guess I should probably start researching guides/ outfitters to find out what I will need to do.
Bjorn- Thanks for the inspiration!!!!
Get in shape.
With all due respect, I would not hire a guide.
Get in shape.
If you are a car/truck camper, I would research an OTC unit in Colorado. Drive as close to a wilderness area as you can. Set up camp and walk your butt off every day.
Get in shape.
If you are a backpacker, even better. Hike into the wilderness area, set up camp and hunt.
Get in shape.
Non-resident archery elk bowhunters are probably 10% successful at best. A guide might increase that a few % points.
Half the fun of elk hunting is planning your hunt for 50 weeks.
Get in shape.
With the $ you saved on the outfitter, get some good ultra-light backpack gear to get farther in.
Get in shape.
After a few years of DIY if you want to try an outfitter/guide you will then have a better idea what to look for. my 2cents.
Outfitter or DIY I would plan on getting in shape because even with a great workout schedule, us flatlanders suffer that first day at 10,000'.
probably need five grand for a bull....if you go with an outfitter around here..
Lots of options out there. Probably the easiest thing that most people do is Colorado. They have over the counter tags in most units. Colorado has a lot of elk but they also have some of the roughest country. Most outfitters in CO will do a drop camp if you don't want to go guided. Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana are all draw states. Depending on the state and the size of bulls will depend on the price of an outfitted hunt. I've never done an outfitted hunt so that is about all I know. I prefer DIY just becuase if I kill an elk, it was becuause I figured out how to. Take the advice about getting into shape and start doing it now! I would also agree that you need at least 10 days on a hunt. Listen to these guys on Tradgang, they have years of experience that may help cut down your learning curve. Good luck!
Colorado Division of Wildlife has (I heard but not sure) changed at least one over the counter area to a draw area....maybe around Gunnison...don't hold me to that though...I'll check it out with them...also I see the 2010 price for a guided elk archery hunt is $5950 with one of the more famous outfitters...
44 and went on my first ever elk hunt two years ago. It's a must do. Get in shape, wear wool socks and soak it all in is my advice.
Read Lost Arra's post. Over and over, especially the part about getting in shape! Not meant to scare you - but the better shape you are in the more you will enjoy your time in the mountains.
As far as guided versus unguided goes, there are pluses and minuses to both. If money is not a big issue, and you can hook up with the right guide you will learn a bunch in your first trip. And that can shorten your learning curve. But if you have to put off the trip a few years to save the money for it, I would say forget it and just go now! As you said, we're not getting any younger, and I sure wish I had started earlier.
Read all that you can find, through posts here, books, magazines, etc. Spend countless hours on the internet searching states and areas you might be interested in. Buy the Elknut DVD's for a crash course in elk hunting from one of the most knowledgable and successful elk hunters around. The Primos Truth Series elk hunting videos are also well done and informative.
Last, but not least, be prepared for an addiction to take ahold of you like nothing else you have ever experienced! Elk hunting is not for everyone, but it is also like no other hunting I have ever done!
Lost Arra is spot on.......GET IN SHAPE! Hunting Elk is the easy part getting to them is the hard part. Like others have said plenty of OTC units in Colorado and you can research last years archery harvests online to give you an idea of the units you want to hunt. Ultralight gear can be expensive but it makes ALL the difference when weighing your gear forget pounds and count ounces!
one more; (maybe helpful) ..get the stats for the bull to cow ratio for the game management units from the division of wildlife...that "might" be an eye opener ; especially if you're looking for a bull, success rate percentages are very low for archery elk hunters in general...whether it's an out of state or in state hunter.. good luck
To put Lost Arra's post in perspective, "An elk can go in 3 minutes where you can't get in 5 hours."
If you decide DIY, I would STRONGLY suggest you have an outfitter or someone to help with pack out. Way to many people get one on the ground and have an "awakening". They ain't a whitetail.
If guided (my recomendation) is totaly out of the question I would at least fork out the dough to be packed into/out of the area with a mid-hunt check to get meat packed out.
My 2 cents
Thanks for all the advice. I guess the one big thing I have to think about is if I try to go the DIY route, is that living in SC is a long way from elk country. To have to plan on going almost every year to prepare properly will probably be out of the realm of possibility. An outfitter will probably be my best option. But as most of you have said, it would be nice to do it on my own.
You don't have to spend big bucks just to go elk hunting :thumbsup:
Don't let that scare you though you will have a blast. We have always done DIY and for under a $1,000. Shoot, My son and I drove up to Oregon with one elk tag and mule deer tag plus gas for less than a $1,000. We have camped in everything from campers, bivy tents to army tents and wouldn't trade any of it for a guided trip.
Somebody said earlier preparing for the trip is half the fun and there right just don't go over board and buy a bunch of crap you don't need especially until your sure elk hunting is for you.
Tracy
Get where you can walk 6 miles without hurting day after day ,go as early as you can ,Find a out fitter or packer with horses, get his cell number if you get lucky, most charge $200.00 bucks well worth it,,camp in wilderness area,by road i have my wife drop me off high and work my way downhill..to a another road..my limit is 3 miles in 3 miles out covers alot of area,ride back roads at nite ,listen for elk,I'am 64 got spine fused still hunt, use bow hunt as reward for getting in shape start 7 months before hunt.Find unit that is friendly to your style of hunting,,Go have fun life is to short...Don't bit off more than you can chew..
When an elk hits the ground, the fun stops. Previous posts mention finding someone to help pack the beast out in case you score; that is a good plan. Hindquarters of a bull will weight 100 pounds or more, and that is no fun to pack out, although I did it in my 30s and 40s. Now that I am a 'senior', I'm not so sure I want to strap 100 pounds on my back and hike mountains.
I affirm that getting in shape to hike mountains for miles day after day is absolutely necessary if you are going to enjoy your time in the elk woods. While you might get lucky and kill an elk within sight of camp, it ain't likely.
If you have the money and you can afford an outfitter, then he will have the enjoyment of packing an elk out. Make sure and give him a big tip if that should occur.
I hunt unit 71 in colorado good place to hunt a lot of wilderness area to get into from road,,That way you don't expend your energy seting up camp,way off the road ,,plan at least 2 weeks to hunt ,,be mobile,,talk to locals most in colorado,are good people and will stear you in right direction,,about every high country store, has a local guide come in ,,get to know him for help getting game out,,and when you leave tell him where you found game,,works both ways...64 and going again this september..
read the article and post by Just-A-Hunter explains most everything in a nut shell,Exellent info.
Get divorced,get in shape, get money and get ready to be addicted.Thats what happened to my dad...LOL :biglaugh:
quote:
Originally posted by lpcjon2:
Get divorced,get in shape, get money and get ready to be addicted.Thats what happened to my dad...LOL :clapper:
71 yrs. in april, After three bouts with cancer,one stroke,chemo,broken leg, triple hernia.Just glad to be alive,& LORD willing another chance to chase those elk come aug.-sept :pray: :pray: :pray:
I have done 5 DIY hunts for elk. I have learned a ton on each one but have yet to kill an elk. 2 times in the Flattops Wilderness area in CO. Very nice country, lots of elk, lots of hunters. Once in UT, near Strawberry Reservoir. Cheaper tags, very steep country, not as many elk. Twice in ID, decent elk population, very few hunters, wolves, really tough country, expensive tags. We go the ultralight route now. It is amazing how little you can do with.
Bottom line is you gotta just do it and plan on lots of learning. And there is no way to overemphasize how good of shape you need to be in. At least the way we do it. There are some flatter country elk hunts you can get into though.
Rusty1, I need to take in all this good advice too, and put it to good use some day chasing elk, but I really like bro-n-arrow's attitude about it all!
I disagree with a lot of this and I only bring it up because some of the info here could be discouraging when elk hunting doesn't have to be.
It really all depends on what kind of a hunt you want, what kind of experience. Elk hunting can be very easy and require only a basic fitness level or it can be impossible even for the seasoned hunter. If you want a wilderness experience away from roads and people and are willing to work really hard and only for a big bull then it can be up to, impossible.
Or, you can drive out into elk country, park your car, go no further than 100 yds into the woods, and shoot any legal animal, cut it into manageable pieces, and hang it in a tree.
You can pay outfitters for any experience you want or you can pay for plane tickets and tags and be done.
Its always possible that you have to track an animal for hours and then carry those pieces out of some hell hole, but very few people actually get into the kind of shape that would make a difference in that situation.
Where I hunt I would not have those problems anyway and I know my limitations. As the days wear on and I slowly get fatigued I plan my hunts accordingly so I'm not going to lose an animal due to my physical inability to get it out in time.
Temperature has a lot to do with it and so does road and trail access. Meat will spoil fast in high temps and stay good for weeks in cool temps.
Wounded animals might run to another road or trail and die and there are many areas that, no matter where the elk dies, will be road accessible.
Pick a unit with any elk as the option. Don't get hung on killing a bull. Get close and kill the first legal animal you see that is in range. The meat is awesome. Once you have a kill or two under your belt then start thinking about big bulls and horns.
If you want a fairly easy hunt, look for units that are flatter than others with high kill rates and good elk numbers. If you want a true high country experience GET IN SHAPE and then hike it in for what will surely addict you to the sport.
Try and aim for the rut. Hearing an elk bugle across the canyon in the pre-dawn is a great way to start your day.
elkhunting is overated...no fun at all. :readit: :bigsmyl: I LOVE ELKHUNTING.
I suggest you do a drop-camp hunt. Some outfitters will put you in a nice area, horsepacking you in some miles to a camp set up for you and your partner. Tent, food and all you bring is your sleeping bags, gear and clothes. Then they leave and you are able to DIY without the very real issues of major equiptment, what remote area, etc. WHEN (;0) you get an animal they help pack it out. Its a very good way to have a great hunt and still feel you were on your own. And you are- its no small matter to hunt elk without a guide, even if the camp was supplied by someone else.
And get in shape. Really. Not ok shape. Better than anyone you know shape. You won't regret the effort.
Joshua
QuoteOriginally posted by Steve Clandinin:
read the article and post by Just-A-Hunter explains most everything in a nut shell,Exellent info.
I'll 2nd that. Funny, but I just found this thread even though it started nearly 2 years ago. Lots of good info from several folks in that one. It just got rolled back up top, so you should be able to find it.
i've hunted elk for awhile and have killed my share. a pilliaeted woodpecker sighting was my trophy this year. What do you want? do yo want a bull? do you want a "Big Bull"? do you want to "taste" elk? do you want to "feel" elk? is a cow acceptable? is a spike acceptable? is a "rag horn" acceptable? is going home "empty" acceptable? an experiance? picture me coming over to your hunting ground and having half a chance at shooting the new state record in a 10 day time period. i would suggest a 10 day vacation "scouting" period(late August) followed by a mid September 15 day hunt. a guided hunt (with homework) would to me be the odds on best bet for success if that was the most important part of the trip. regardless, i wish you the best luck. if i could be of any help let me know.
matt
QuoteOriginally posted by m laughlin:
i've hunted elk for awhile and have killed my share. a pilliaeted woodpecker sighting was my trophy this year. What do you want? do yo want a bull? do you want a "Big Bull"? do you want to "taste" elk? do you want to "feel" elk? is a cow acceptable? is a spike acceptable? is a "rag horn" acceptable? is going home "empty" acceptable? matt
I'm looking to experience the sights, the sounds, and just a chance!
That's all I could ask for.
Thanks for all the input so far guys!
Rusty
My first and only guided elk hunt was my first elk hunt. I have hunted elk every year on my own since then. I learned a lot and it was worth way more than the 1800.00 I spent on that hunt. My success rate wasn't so good the first few years I hunted by myself by I got better. The past 6 years my buddy and I have arrowed 5 bulls. I am the consumate addicted elk hunter with wall tents and pack horses. I finally went over the edge this fall and bought my own outfitting business. My son and I have been going to some Sport Shows and Deer Classics this winter promoting our business. Some of our most interested prospective clients are the guys that have been hunting 3, 4, 5+ years without success of any kind that are finally ready to buy a guided elk hunt.
You have to ask yourself, would I be better off buying a hunt and learning how to do it from a pro, or stuggling on a steep learning curve for years without success before buying a hunt and learning from a pro. You might be a quick study and learn this game, or get lucky and kill an elk right off, but the odds are probably against you if you are trying to learn elk hunting from South Carolina.
I would be happy to visit with you if you want to talk about it.
www.mulecreekoutfitting.com (http://www.mulecreekoutfitting.com)
The desire to elk hunt has basically changed my health.
I lost 25lbs earlier this year by eating right and excercising and have kept it off.
Why was I working out and getting healthy.
Simple, so I could hunt elk.
Even on a mild day and I mean mild, you will hike 5 to 8 miles if you are serious.
On a relatively active day, you will hike 10 miles.
On a young mans day, you will do 15 to 20.
Although I feel pretty good, I can't do 15 miles day in and day out.
I can consistetly hunt 6 to 10 miles depending on terrain.
A bunch of Trad Gangers are doing an elk hunt in Oregon this year. It would be a good place to start for relatively low cost.
Good luck and get in shape,
Paul
I just booked with a outfitter in S CO. It's a drop camp in a wilderness area. I've hunted the N.W. corner of CO the same way with success and hope to repeat it. It's ten full days and I buy Elk, Deer, and a Bear tag just because of Murphys law. I found you run into everything out there. I'm debating buying a Turkey tag. I'm a decent caller but no expert by any means so I look for wallows for tree stand set ups. I'll ship out a tree stand with some sticks and a DB blind just to have some tricks up my sleeve. I like those wallows for everything. All types of game show up at them.
The bowflex tred climber is in high gear and the Tower 200 hundred is tearing the last of my connected tendons off the bone!!
I think the challenge and the beautiful country is what draws us in. The need to test are selfs, Can we climb that mountain? Can we find the elk? Do we now how to take care of the animal if we get one down. :D
I don't want someone cooking my meals, gutting my animals, doing all the calling telling me were to go. Thats the beauty of doing it my self I can go and do as I want and have never worried how much I pay for it either. :help: :goldtooth:
Tracy