I have never elk hunted before...

[BEETLEGUY]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-28-11 AT 11:16AM (MST)[p]But want to in the worst way! I don't have any friends that do a lot of elk hunting as well. What is the best way to learn about elk hunting. Also, maybe a good place for a new elk hunter to cut his teeth. I will want to hike in and set up camp... I only archery hunt (by choice;~)) I have bought some of the ELK NUTS dvds and looking at the play book as well... Thanks

 

[one_dryboot]

My advice is if you want to see and have a chance at killing an elk don't waist your time in utah otc. colorado is a good choice otc

 

[travishunter3006]

In my experience, i find elk on the same mountain every year. I do not however find them in the same canyon or ridge or side of the mountain year to year. If I was you, I would start by hiking, looking for sign, scouting, setting up trail cams, camping. Put in the time and you should find elk. Right now you will find elk everywhere because of the snow, but you won't find one that close to any road during the season especially here in Utah. Get good topo maps, locate all the roads, private property, CWMU's, BLM, national forests, etc., then on the land you can hunt, find atleast a one mile radius of land with out roads and go and look there. That is how i deer hunt, and that is how i elk hunt. It worked pretty well this year. Good luck

 

[woodruffhunter]

The best thing you could do is accompany someone else on a hunt, that has hunted elk in the past. Experiencing a hunt will teach you a lot!

 

[BEETLEGUY]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-28-11 AT 04:04PM (MST)[p]I love to hike! Not afraid of the miles:~) Any good books on elk hunting? I was thinking of going to Idaho or Co. I also considered going with a guide... Funny, I have the fever and never have gone

 

[mevertsen]

Just one observation.

"I love to hike! Not afraid of the miles!"

Kill an elk "miles" from a road, in the August, early September archery seasons, and you will find a new "love."

If you just want to kill an elk to get your feet wet, my suggestion would be to get an OTC cow tag in CO, and hunt close to the road (within 1 mile or so). When you have your first elk down, then you will realize how much more work it is than a deer.

Figure in about 2 hours to skin and quarter an elk (about how long it took me to do mine last year by myself), and about 1 hour per mile round trip with a load (my elk and gear took 5 loads last year).

I was 1/2 mile or so from my 4 wheeler, but could not get it any closer. I shot the elk (500 or so lb cow) at 6 pm. I got the last load to the quad at 11. I was doing 1/2 hour turn arounds on my 5 loads. I also had a few breaks for making a fire, and some prep time before starting to work on her, as well as take some pictures.

Also, during archery season, meat spoils fast. If you are too far from a road, you are risking too much, IMO, unless you 4 or 5 friends, or a horse to get it all out in one trip.

Later,

Marcial

 

[BEETLEGUY]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-28-11 AT 09:26PM (MST)[p]>Just one observation.
>
>"I love to hike! Not afraid
>of the miles!"
>
>Kill an elk "miles" from a
>road, in the August, early
>September archery seasons, and you
>will find a new "love."
>
>
>If you just want to kill
>an elk to get your
>feet wet, my suggestion would
>be to get an OTC
>cow tag in CO, and
>hunt close to the road
>(within 1 mile or so).
> When you have your
>first elk down, then you
>will realize how much more
>work it is than a
>deer.
>
>Figure in about 2 hours to
>skin and quarter an elk
>(about how long it took
>me to do mine last
>year by myself), and about
>1 hour per mile round
>trip with a load (my
>elk and gear took 5
>loads last year).
>
>I was 1/2 mile or so
>from my 4 wheeler, but
>could not get it any
>closer. I shot the
>elk (500 or so lb
>cow) at 6 pm.
>I got the last load
>to the quad at 11.
> I was doing 1/2
>hour turn arounds on my
>5 loads. I also
>had a few breaks for
>making a fire, and some
>prep time before starting to
>work on her, as well
>as take some pictures.
>
>Also, during archery season, meat spoils
>fast. If you are
>too far from a road,
>you are risking too much,
>IMO, unless you 4 or
>5 friends, or a horse
>to get it all out
>in one trip.
>
>Later,
>
>Marcial

I would love to have either (cow or bull). I was also hoping to have, at least, one person with me. I will keep in mind on how far I'll go in. It will be archery season when I go. I've heard of people that rent mules and such to help with the pack out. Is this true? Are there people that do this?

 

[TOPGUN]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-28-11 AT 09:48PM (MST)[p]Yes to both your questions beetleguy! I've rented horses twice for DIY hunts and packout of the meat. There is a place advertising right at the top of the main page on this site for horse rentals!

 

[LeeWoiteshek]

I was in your postion last year. I went with an outfitter. First season either sex. I got a cow on day four of a five day hunt. While I learned a lot, I'm going to hunt with an outfitter again this year. Best of luck, Lee

 

[littlebighorn]

Where do you live Beetle?

 

[BEETLEGUY]

>Where do you live Beetle?


I live in Nevada City California. Right above Sacramento off highway 80 (1 hour 20 minutes above Sac)

 

[30inchbuck]

If you have little to no experience with a horse or mule. Dont rent them. Will only be a bad experience. Going with an outfitter can teach you alot. There are some reasonable outfitted hunts to be gotten. Draw areas have better success than OTC areas. It does not take points just luck of the draw in NM. Might change next year but this is a good year to try NM in the draw.

But get ready it is a full on addiction that is worse than meth. Elknut is a great place. More info in his stuff than anywhere i have seen. I would say after his videos it gives you 5 years ahead of learning out of books, videos ect.

Besides that it is picking the place, gear and outfitted or not.

Research, Research, Research. DWR in CO puts out a book that has harvest statistics. NM is had on the website. I am sure other states have similar means. You should not be concerned with how big. It is quantity that should be your main concern.

I can help you with some info in NM. just PM me. Sure others can help with other states.






Outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.

 

[littlebighorn]

LAST EDITED ON Mar-02-11 AT 02:46PM (MST)[p]For what it is worth (which may not be much), Utah has almost unlimited archery elk hunts for cows and spikes. Some units farther North are also open (any) bull. If you aren't picky about what you shoot, you could hunt a Spike/Cow in some of Utah's premium elk units. You would see and hear big bulls and have a very good chance to shoot a spike or cow. It is relatively close to Cali and if you plan on hunting the tail end of the hunt, you could get into some early rutting action. Just one possibility Good luck!

Oh and +1 about the horses thing. I have had more than one rodeo on an elk hunt.

 

[BEETLEGUY]

Thanks everyone. Don't care on size, just want to get out there and learn. The more chances I get to see elk the more I'll get excited.

 

[hangfire]

I agree with "dryboot" hunt colorado or idaho has good over the counter elk tags. I think the best way to learn is get out and go hunt, mistakes can be your best learning experience.

 

[Blegit]

Don't be afraid to pack some black pepper in your pack during those early hunts. Pepper keeps the blow flys off your meat, and buys you a little more time.

 

[BEETLEGUY]

>Don't be afraid to pack some
>black pepper in your pack
>during those early hunts. Pepper
>keeps the blow flys off
>your meat, and buys you
>a little more time.


Thanks for the tip.

 

[MeatHnter]

I enjoyed NM for a few years while I was stationed there. Being a NR now I would probably avoid NM though...based on their recent actions to return 16% of the NR guided and 40% of the NR non-guided tags back into the resident pool. Bigger non-refundable cash commitment just to apply and no system in place to provide hope for eventual success. If I'm going to apply for a tag, plan leave out of Germany and cross the puddle for an elk hunt (which I plan to do) I will do so in a state a bit more accommodating. Other than that, NM allowed me some outstanding DIY elk hunts.