Advice for DIY CO elk hunt for newbie…..

[Titaneq]

Me, my 23 yr old son and two of his buddies are planning a diy archery elk hunt this fall in CO (assuming we draw). I’ve done it once 25-30 years ago but have limited experience out west hunting on our own. My son and his buddies did it two years ago on their own and had a lot of fun, learned a lot, but didn’t see much for elk. I’m watching as many videos and reading as much as I can trying to prepare. Few of my questions as we start to get serious:

- we are thinking/hoping we can pack in 3-6 miles and hunt from there for the 6 days we will be in the mountains. Is it doable/realistic to pack in all our gear and food for 5 or 6 days?
- recommendations on a good pack that might give us the ability to do so? Thinking one pack to do everything vs two different style packs to save weight.
- plan is to each have our own small/light 1 man tent. Advice on whether this is way to go? This is what they did a couple years ago but they were never out there for more than a couple nights.

Any other advice for some rookies that are ok at chasing whitetail in the midwest but a bit intimidated by the idea of getting a bull down in the mountains several miles back in would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Nickofthewoods]

My advice is to cut your pack-in distance expectations in half. Think 2 or 3 miles in.

As far as the other stuff. Search the forum for "best multi day pack" or "gear list for archery elk" and you'll have more thoughts and advice on those topics than you'll know what do with.

 

[Titaneq]

My advice is to cut your pack-in distance expectations in half. Think 2 or 3 miles in.

As far as the other stuff. Search the forum for "best multi day pack" or "gear list for archery elk" and you'll have more thoughts and advice on those topics than you'll know what do with.

Will do, thanks!

 

[WormSportsman]

You can pack in that far no problem. The problem when you get 4-6 miles in is getting an elk out plus all your gear.

 

[Titaneq]

You can pack in that far no problem. The problem when you get 4-6 miles in is getting an elk out plus all your gear.

Yea 10-4
Kinda thought w 4 of us we could get the animal out (depending on what day we kill) while leaving most of our gear, get the meat in to nearby town to freezer/process and then hiking back in empty.
Would you suspect we could get enough food (along w all of our gear obviously) packed in for 5-6 days in a 4000-5000 pack in your opinion?

 

[D_wit22]

Stay mobile unless you know there are elk 6 miles in. Lots of men on here have been sharing the same advice with me as I do you….truck camp until u find elk. THEN set up camp.
Always find elk FIRST before you commit to a spot for 5-6 days

 

[LongWayAround]

Yea 10-4
Kinda thought w 4 of us we could get the animal out (depending on what day we kill) while leaving most of our gear, get the meat in to nearby town to freezer/process and then hiking back in empty.

You can. No problem.

Would you suspect we could get enough food (along w all of our gear obviously) packed in for 5-6 days in a 4000-5000 pack in your opinion?

You can. No problem.

 

[TheHammer]

Pack training daily is a must at this point. I would highly recommend getting just far enough to be out of sight of the road 2-3 miles in, in places you think people won’t be and elk might be. Do 2-3 day loops, when you go 6 miles, for most flat landers that is a day removed to relocate, by only going 2-3 miles in and doing loops, it allows a slightly lighter pack and keeps you mobile. If you are questioning your ability to use the equipment you have/are buying to do this. I would suggest practicing with it locally, even in your back yard. Do gear run downs of laying your gear out and setting up your pack. Nothing like getting to a spot to start hiking and it takes you 3xs as long to pack as you thought and the pack is 2x as heavy as you’d like it to be, then you start cutting corners on what you are leaving behind. People pack their fears. Mines food. The easy button for a pack is the exo k4 5000. It’ll be highly recommended on every pack thread. Some used ones pop up. Shelters, several kinds and options* just need to figure out your preference. The weather during archery depends on elevation, what it’s doing in the alpine is not what happens at 8500’, usually some drastic temperature swings. Have a game plan for what ban you are planning on. I do this twice a year solo, usually new country every time. Keep your expectations realistic and enjoy it for everything it is! If you want to pm me a unit or any other questions that you might be embarrassed to ask, I’ll see if I can’t help you out. Good luck!

 

[Ross]

3-6 miles in is a big commitment to hunt elk, unless you know there will be a golden elk rainbow at the end of the hike in. Then you shoot one that far in, with little experience, watch out. Base camp, have many options to hunt from it and if you find the elk rainbow one day out, be ready to bivy a day or two. As noted above, you are better off staying mobile until you get into elk.

 

[cnelk]

Id send a couple of the youngsters the 3-6 miles back in for a couple days and have them report back while you and the other one hunt close to base camp.

 

[Sharpspur]

Last year I was in a pretty popular elk zone OTC. I made my camp with my UTV about a mile off the gravel road. I ran into a bear hunter setting camp that shared some sightings. I found elk in that mile range. Guys were going past me all week-long heading deep. About mid-week, they pushed elk up to me. You can sometimes let others push the elk up closer to the roads. Ended up killing my bull 200 yards from camp one morning. Deeper is not always better.

 

[ElkArcher918]

In your inexperienced situation, I would basecamp and do shorter day loop trips (2-3 miles in) from there. Your group is likely gonna have to be mobile and check different areas for elk sign. Once you find sign or visually spot elk you can then focus in on the specific area. If you can get to your unit a few days earlier and spend time scouting/glassing from high vantage points it would be helpful, more so eliminating unproductive areas with easy access and hunter pressure. Whatever you do play the wind correctly, thermals as well as prevailing winds. Have fun in the mountains and soak in the experience. PS, be prepared gear wise and in shape.

 

[Deerhunter6250]

Miles in is relative to me to steepness and elevation gain and loss and preparation. I look for places that aren't too steep and usually uphill going in and downhill coming out. Make sure everyone in the group is in great shape. One bad egg can ruin a trip. Test all gear out and have pack weight known before you go. Only take what you need. Leave extra stuff at the truck. I debone my elk and trim all the fat to cut down on weight. I share tents with my hunting partners if I'm packing in to cut weight. Big agnes copper spur 3 is a great light weight tent. Thers a used one in classifieds. Take food you like so sample your dried food your going to take. 4 people can get an elk out in one trip if its deboned for sure. I put my meat in coolers with ice jugs after the meat cools through the night. You can take more supplies in on the return trip to camp. You can share a stove also. Don't double up on things. Know what others are bringing. START WORKING OUT NOW. You definitely can take enough gear and food for 5 to 6 days if everything is packed correctly. Its a learning curve. Practice at home makes perfection easier.

 

[White Falcon]

Check Leon Lake area, We camped at Weir Johnston and hiked to the lake area.

 

[bz_711]

Thread 'Let's help some guys/gals get their first archery elk!'

May 14, 2024

I'm addicted to archery elk hunting.
I want more hunters to know the same...which equals more support for hunting and elk habitat. Yes I know tags are already hard to get...but that's a better problem than no elk hunters to fight on my side!

Who has already hunted 2+ seasons and still looking to bag their first archery elk (my only experience is archery so that's what I'm sticking to)...and is planning to hunt elk again this fall?
Do you think you're getting close or still a ways off?
What are your biggest questions or shortfalls as far as you're concerned?

I didn't punch my first tag...

• bz_711
• Replies: 180
• Forum: Elk

• 
• 

Good Luck and Have Fun!

 

[Titaneq]

Pack training daily is a must at this point. I would highly recommend getting just far enough to be out of sight of the road 2-3 miles in, in places you think people won’t be and elk might be. Do 2-3 day loops, when you go 6 miles, for most flat landers that is a day removed to relocate, by only going 2-3 miles in and doing loops, it allows a slightly lighter pack and keeps you mobile. If you are questioning your ability to use the equipment you have/are buying to do this. I would suggest practicing with it locally, even in your back yard. Do gear run downs of laying your gear out and setting up your pack. Nothing like getting to a spot to start hiking and it takes you 3xs as long to pack as you thought and the pack is 2x as heavy as you’d like it to be, then you start cutting corners on what you are leaving behind. People pack their fears. Mines food. The easy button for a pack is the exo k4 5000. It’ll be highly recommended on every pack thread. Some used ones pop up. Shelters, several kinds and options* just need to figure out your preference. The weather during archery depends on elevation, what it’s doing in the alpine is not what happens at 8500’, usually some drastic temperature swings. Have a game plan for what ban you are planning on. I do this twice a year solo, usually new country every time. Keep your expectations realistic and enjoy it for everything it is! If you want to pm me a unit or any other questions that you might be embarrassed to ask, I’ll see if I can’t help you out. Good luck!

Appreciate all the insight here….much appreciated! May pm you as well

 

[Westensee]

My suggestion is hunt in a way that gives you opportunities, but more importantly a great experience that will want to make you come back each year. Getting into elk can certainly provide this, but so can having a great camp with people you like being with. I have had years early on that were a lot more vertical than anticipated and my feet went to crap. Thought about quitting altogether. Also brought a friend of my dad's (early 60's) with one year who thought he was in good enough shape while living in MN. He wasn't and won't ever come back for a hunt. I don't think you can ever be in good enough shape that the hunt won't hurt at least a little.

 

[Titaneq]

Id send a couple of the youngsters the 3-6 miles back in for a couple days and have them report back while you and the other one hunt close to base camp.

Not a bad idea. Will definitely consider this. I should have mentioned too that we are working closely w a friend here in MI that has been in this specific area a ton over the last 20-25 years as both a guide and a hunter. It’s w his recommendation of being in elk the vast majority of the years he was there that we were considering gambling on just getting back there and set up for 5-6 days. It’s been around 7 years though since he’s been so things could have easily changed for the worse.

 

[young7.3]

Not a bad idea. Will definitely consider this. I should have mentioned too that we are working closely w a friend here in MI that has been in this specific area a ton over the last 20-25 years as both a guide and a hunter. It’s w his recommendation of being in elk the vast majority of the years he was there that we were considering gambling on just getting back there and set up for 5-6 days. It’s been around 7 years though since he’s been so things could have easily changed for the worse.

In that case I would still send a younger pup in to verify the info is still true.


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[Marble]

I don't see anything wrong with the initial plan. A 5000 ci pack is plenty to do 5-6 days, particularly when there is multiple people and you can share gear.

My best suggestion for you is to get your gear together and then all of you practice doing a small hike and setting up camp for night, maybe two. You'll learn what you don't need and be able to write down stuff you will need.

4 guys can do an elk in one trip. The distance you pack in isn't the most concerning thing, it's a combination of distance and terrain to consider.

Elk hunting has a steep and long learning curve. I think on average it's 4-7 years before someone kills an elk.

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