Elk hunts... Is everyone but me Rich?

3

330-Trapper

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How do you guys afford an Elk Hunt? All the Hunts I look at with a Guide start at $3500 ... That would take 3 years to save for... How do you guys Hunt Elk?

I think I might die before I get to Kill a Bull Elk... It's just too rich for Me.
 
80% of us dont use guides and do it are selves, with what ever we have, some of us get lucky and draw LE tags, but the majority of us are hunting genral season units. And it sounds like you need to get a new better paying job.:)




Jake H. MM Member since 1999.
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I'm a DIY guy it doesn't cost me anymore to hunt elk then it does deer. I would like to use a guide someday mabey after the kids are out of the house. You just need to put in the extra effort for elk if you want the big ones. Scouting and hikeing your butt off are some good ways to start. I'm a carpenter so i am nowhere close to rich not to mention four kids a car and house payment. money is a problem for most of us you just have to fit it into your budget if you are serious about it.
Good Luck and Great Memories
 
I went on 3 elk hunts Near Walden CO. On State land/ Wilderness Area... That was my Stepdad taking me 15 years ago or more... We Climbed out of the campgrounds in the mornings and made it to the Wilderness (zirel) area I believe ... Thats where we hunted a few valleys... The guys with Horses passed us and took the trail past... In the Evenings when we were walking down to our Camper the horses again passed us this time loaded down with Elk and Horns.... Not every night but several times....

We stayed 10 days each season it was Over the Counter Bull tags 2nd season Elk in Co. I didn't see an Elk ...except on horses.... My stepdad said it was the warm weather.?
 
Well i to live in MN and have hunted in Co for 3 years now and have had a chance or killed a elk every year. I go on a budget and usually spend about 600-800 a year. As guys said before it is all about how much you love to hunt and what kinda a effort you put forth. It does not just start at the mountain it starts with maps, people relation, knowing were elk live, ect. Work hard and you will get a chance at a elk.
 
Nope its me and you that arent rich !!! Im in Colorado and a DIY guy so Colorado trips are easy for me since Im 30 minutes from elk country and killed two of my three biggest bulls an hour from home. I did get a taste of out of state costs though this year since my son and I drew Wyoming elk together. The cost of the license was the worst and other than gas I really didnt have any expenses because it was on our own. I do alot of research on areas and avoid guides and areas where guides are needed. Gary
 
LAST EDITED ON Dec-01-08 AT 12:32PM (MST)[p]johnbang,
How do you do that hunt for $600-$800? I live in NC and have hunted MT and CO in recent years and spend $1500-$1800 on a DIY hunt.
Non-Res elk license in CO was $531 this year, and was about $645 in MT for Non-Res deer/elk combo in 06 and 07. Add in travel, food, meat processing (hopefully) etc....
if you have figured out a way to make it on $800 please fill us in :)
 
Lets see.
LE Utah Tag $280.00
Gas $85.00
Bribe to skin $50.00
Processing $250.00

Total $665.00

All other items used were what I already had... gear. food etc Not bad for a Handicapped Lady Hunter. Would have been less but I like Jerky.

Destiny
 
>Lets see.
>LE Utah Tag $280.00
>
>Gas
>
> $85.00
>Bribe to skin $50.00
>Processing $250.00
>
>Total
> $665.00
>
>All other items used were what
>I already had... gear. food
>etc Not bad for
>a Handicapped Lady Hunter.
>Would have been less but
>I like Jerky.
>
>Destiny

He lives in MN. Your numbers aren't even close.
LE Elk tag is $795.
 
Your right Bob... Keep hunting CO...

LE Non-resident Utah is $795.... I just read his original post about being too poor to elk hunt... you only can hunt economically if your a resident of the state you hunt in....

Betcha he has a better chance of a Moose than we do...


Destiny
 
i use horses more cost but worth it.we have our own so that helps.rented horses one year. like my own best. i save all year for this the little things you go without will suprise you when u want something ask yourself do i need or want. u will save alot of money that way. and remember its saved for hunting trip.my son an i go every year if we draw tags.someday i might be to crippled up to go someday who knows.its hard to save but u can i have 2 in college plus payments u just find a way to go.i tell my wife i'm spending my insurance money now the women usually outlive us. have fun
 
Well first we live in MN which is about 1400 miles to our spot, we pull a popup camper with a Chev tahoe with room for 4 people, about 120 gallons of gas each way split 4 ways so when we went gas was about $3.65 a gallon so roughly $100 each way per person for fuel. We buy all of supplys (food) when we arrive at the local walmart, usually $50 each. Then drive to the hunting spot set up and hunt from there for 7 days and pack up and leave. So the only cost other than the liecense is the $250 for fuel and food. We process all of our own meat, no need to pay for something that a guy can do himself. Usually the only added cost from above is Dry Ice, so the meat stays cool all the way home.
 

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