Suggestions for wife and son

ToddT · Mar 4, 2009

I posted earlier about my wife having 10 elk points in Colorado, and I think - not certain - but I think she is going to wait on 76 muzzleloader. Anyway, she has never elk hunted and would love to go. I think it would be a good idea to let her get her feet wet prior to putting for the 76.

Added to this is that, my son is in Afghanistan and will be coming home in June, and he has always wanted to elk hunt.

Now, what I am hoping for here is some suggestions for a decent elk hunt. I have hunted on a couple landowner vouchers in 52 and 9 in New Mexico and though I got into elk both places, vouchers are getting expensive and our income is going down due to an upcoming layoff. I have also hunted the flattops which would require first choice or OTC second season, which I am not fond of. And I have also hunted 36 in archery season - good for deer, or atleast it was, but not so much for elk.

Now for choosing a spot. Wyoming is over - we didn't draw. Colorado is coming up but obviously we can't draw a limited area because of saving our points for 76 muzzleloader. Our only options seem to be OTC - or second choice - in Colorado or landowner voucher in New Mexico. So what do some of you guys suggest? Thanks for any help, and don't think that I am going to set up camp and hunt every year in a suggested area. I have 6 points in Arizona, 10 points in Colorado, 5 points in Utah, and 4 points in Wyoming - all elk, not counting all the other species, and I hope to start pulling some of those tags, with the occasional New Mexico, along with off years where I concentrate on something else. Anyway, I just added this to let you know I have lots of irons in the fire, so I probably won't be back to pressure a given area, nor do I pass along info, unless I find a spot on my own. Thanks for any help.

maxxbob1 · Mar 4, 2009

This probably isn't what you are looking for, but a cow elk hunt is a great way to "get your feet wet". That's how I started my kids out. It's a fun hunt and usually pretty easy to fill a tag. I always liked the idea of having the first hunt be successful. Wyoming will have left-over cow tags, Montana will have OTC tags or unlimited tags in some areas, and last time I hunted Colorado, there were lots of OTC cow tags.
Good luck - Bob

Califelkslayer · Mar 4, 2009

ToddT, the cow suggestion is a good one. You are lucky your wife is interested, spark that interest by huntin a unit with good elk pop where she'll see elk and maybe even kill one. I'd look to see if you could 2nd choice a cow tag in 3,4,441, etc. Lots of elk.

2 other things, just my opinion. After my daughter killed her first elk (at 14) she didn't want to hunt big game anymore, just birds. So don't be shocked or disappointed if that happens. And, why muzzy??? The rut?? Love the thought but a 50 cal kicks pretty hard. A 1st rifle in 76 or 61 might be a better choice.

ToddT · Mar 4, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Mar-05-09 AT 10:24AM (MST)[p]Thanks for the suggestions guys. I have actually thought about a cow tag. A cow tag in a good area with not a ton of people would be almost as enjoyable as a bull hunt - especially for the situation I am in. As far as her interest, my wife is a seasoned hunter and has taken lots of animals with rifle, muzzleloader and bow. The reason we were holdin out for 76 muzzy was the rut and the offer of a more, "traditional",- I meant classical, if you will, elk hunt. One with lots of bugling, callable elk, etc.

nmelk13 · Mar 4, 2009

You can still put in for NM. Find a hunt in one of the units that you have hunted in NM.

ToddT · Mar 5, 2009

nmelk, I thought of that too, and would actually prefer that, but even the best odds are generally below 10 percent. So, I was just looking for ideas and suggestions, before Colorado and New Mexico are due. Thanks for the idea.