Who's interested in a wilderness elk hunt?

[Doug Treat]

TTT

[Doug Treat]

OK, now Matt Fowler- PA is on the list.

4 more spots open right now.

[T Sunstone]

I'm planning on elk hunting this year and this sounds good.  Have to check with my partner and get back to you.
Terry

[bartcanoe]

I've never hunted Elk, but it is something that I want to do.

I have a couple of questions and forgive my ignorance.

What kind of weather would I have to be prepared for in camp and while hunting?  I need to determine what gear I'd have to buy, and how much that'd cost me.  Money is an issue.

As a total novice when it comes to Elk hunting, can I educate myself and learn enough about Elk and hunting techniques between now and the season to be a competent hunter.  I don't want a guarentee that I'll make meat, but I don't want this to simply be a hiking trip as beautiful as it would be.

[widow sax]

Anyone that is in need of help on altitude problems you schould try altitude adjust it is amazing stuff I took it last year and had no problems with altitude at all I stayed at 9600 ft and hiked to over 11000 with no affect from altitude. The trip before that I went on a elk trip in the lake city area and had some affect from altitude but this time no problem thanks to altitude adjust.   Widow

[Bonecracker]

Sounds like a great trip! I have cut my teeth on many a Backwoods Colorado elk hunts and allways came back a better educated hunter!! I just hate having to learn a new area and I bivyed into most of them in the past. Lately I have been paying a tresspass fee ($1200-1500.00) to folks with large amounts of land (25,000 acres and more) and had much better luck with elk sightings, shot opportunities, and many bear sightings.  Heck I even bivied into two different places drainages last year and took a nice 5 X 5 on the 4th day of my hunt. Yes I am going back this year as I cannot get enough of the great Rocky Mtn Elk! Good luck guys!

[Doug Treat]

Bartcanoe, we will probably be camping at about 9,500-10,000 feet elevation so it will be cold in the mornings/evenings (probably down to about freezing), but during the day it should be up to 60s or 70s.  Sept. is a beautiful time to be in the high country.  I recommend a 0 degree sleeping bag-synthetic or goose down but with down you have to keep it dry.  Most years, we get short-lived afternoon thunderstorms but sometimes, we'll get a storm that moves in for a few days and camps out so some sort of rain gear will be necessary.  You can go as high-tech or low tech as you can afford.  I like wool and then a poncho for afternoon showers, but I also have a Gore-Tex jacket in case it rains a lot.  Hope this helps.
As to whether you can learn enough to hunt elk effectively, I've hunted elk since 1986 and still consider myself a novice.  I learn something new about elk every year and just when I think I've got a sure-fire way to take an elk every year, they change their "pattern" and aren't where they should be.  That's what makes elk hunting so challenging, frustrating, fun, and incredibly rewarding if you can get one on the ground, esp. on a public land DIY hunt.

[Doug Treat]

OK, the latest list goes like this (in no particular order):

Brian Blair-Pennsylvania
Barry Buckley-Arkansas
Scott Carpenter-Arkansas
Phil Floyd-Tennesee
Michael Pfander-Arizona
Matt Fowler-PA
Darren Shue-PA
Darren Bowers-PA

2 more spots left.  You guys on the list, let me know if you need to drop off.  Seems like there is a lot of interest and there will be a reserve list.  Thanks.  Doug

[Matt Fowler]

Doug,
Since this don't seem like anyones honeyhole, could you post the trailhead location? I'd like to look at the topography.

[Doug Treat]

Matt, I will PM you.

[Doug Treat]

OK, we have our 10 guys in 2 days!

2 just signed up:
Bob Brundage- Tennessee
Bret Shaw- Missouri

Now I'll start a reserve list but I think I'll keep that just to about 5 guys so I can keep track of everyone easier.  If you missed out on the first 10, don't loose heart.  Several have said that they are a "maybe" so get on the reserve list now and a spot could open up for you.  Doug

[Doug Treat]

I need a few guys e-mail addresses so I will be able to send out informational e-mails to the group:
Scott Carpenter
Darren Shue
Darren Bowers
You guys don't have your e-mails on your tradgang profile so please e-mail them to me @ estesarcher@aol.com

Everyone else, please look at your e-mail address on your profile and make sure it is correct.  Thanks.  

I will probably wait to send the first e-mail until I add the reserve list to the e-mail group so that I can keep track of getting everyone the information that they need.  Doug

[The Night Stalker]

Doug sent you a E-mail

[Doug Treat]

OK, we now have 3 on the reserve list and these are in order:

1.David Bartlet-N. Carolina
2.Wayne Boone- W. Virginia
3.Tim Antoine- N. Carolina

WOW, I had no idea I would get this kind of response.  I have 2 more spots available on the reserve list and then I'll close it down.  Doug

[String Cutter]

Put me on the list. If worst comes to worst us guys on reserve could still go... Unit 7 or one of the other close units is a really big place I'm guessing??? Anyone near Va.  want to share a ride??? We need to get an equipment list going too???

[Doug Treat]

Alright Thomas (String Cutter).  You are # 4 on the reserve list.  Yeah, that would be great to do a second camp somewhere in the area for guys who won't fit in our camp.  If that happens, keep in mind that if a unit 7 tag is drawn, it includes units 7,8,9,19,191 so there's lots of land there.  Doug

[buckster]

Doug,

Here is Scott Carpernter's - alan_carpenter72032@yahoo.com

Thanks much,

Barry

[Doug Treat]

Thanks Barry.  

Everyone else on the fence:
I just have one more spot for the reserve list so PM me now if interested.  Doug

[Herdbull]

Nice job Doug. You guys are in for a great time no matter the outcome! Mike

[Matt Fowler]

Hey Doug,
Now I'm curious. Was on the phone with CDOW and pokin' around on the net and this seems like a promising area. Why so many tags left over?