Beginner Western Hunts

[Traveler]

Do you think elk is the best hunt for learning western hunting?

I wouldn’t think about this in terms of a “western” hunt. I’m not real sure what that term means exactly…

Hunting archery elk on September 2nd in a high elevation hunt is extremely different than a plains rifle antelope hunt, different than 3rd season deer in western CO. I would say pick an animal you want to spend some time on and hunt them in different seasons and weapons to get more experience.

 

[Wertherman]

I wouldn’t think about this in terms of a “western” hunt. I’m not real sure what that term means exactly…

Hunting archery elk on September 2nd in a high elevation hunt is extremely different than a plains rifle antelope hunt, different than 3rd season deer in western CO. I would say pick an animal you want to spend some time on and hunt them in different seasons and weapons to get more experience.

A western hunt in my eyes is basically not sitting in a stand for whitetails on the eastern side of country. Different terrain, strategy, and animals define it for me that way.

 

[lak2004]

If I could go back to when I was 25 I'd hunt everywhere as much as possible. Other states, every tag I could get my hands on. Get to know a unit and stick with it for a few years. Turkey hunt it in the spring if you can and scout all summer. Come fall, you'll know it well and can get into animals.

A deer or antelope would be my advice to really target and pack out before an elk.

 

[Traveler]

A western hunt in my eyes is basically not sitting in a stand for whitetails on the eastern side of country. Different terrain, strategy, and animals define it for me that way.

I guess my point is what I described all has different terrain, strategy and animals too, even though they are all in the ”west”. People still use tree stands or sit in blinds plenty out west too.

Maybe the most common feature of western hunts is the ability to glass. So to learn that skill set I would say rifle deer or antelope are the best to learn on in CO.