Best first elk hunt for newbies, non-resident Wyoming.

[Teaman1]

Currently don’t have the extra time or funds to make a dedicated scouting trip.


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I’m actually terrible with this.
I agree with Dos Perros that a scouting trip would undoubtedly up your odds of being successful.
But if I have an extra week of PTO, I plan a second separate hunting trip haha

 

[Dos Perros]

I’m actually terrible with this.
I agree with Dos Perros that a scouting trip would undoubtedly up your odds of being successful.
But if I have an extra week of PTO, I plan a second separate hunting trip haha

I like to take advantage of those three or four day weekends...Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, so it doesn't cost me any PTO. We will drive 21 hours vs flying if it means one more glassing session...so leave after work on Friday or whatever means we can be glassing Saturday evening. Then two more glassing sessions Sunday, and finish up on Monday morning, and then beat feet home 21 hours. Get home exhausted but with pics and videos and OnX pins to make it worth it. Sure beats painting a fence or hanging out with the in-laws!

 

[TheSillyGoose]

Squeeze every ounce of daylight into your hunt. Foods you can eat quickly. Save the cooked meals for back at camp after dark.

 

[jmez]

Option 1. Just go. I would add, look to units you have a realistic shot at drawing a bull tag in the coming years. Once you pick a unit/area, go back to the same unit hunting cows until you can draw the bull tag. Still make the bull hunt a lot better.

The mountains are big country. Camping and hunting in them isn't some mythical pursuit. Get some gear, go learn and have a good time. You will figure it out. The biggest obstacles you will need to overcome are the size of the country and animal density.

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[WoodDuck]

Option 1. Just go. I would add, look to units you have a realistic shot at drawing a bull tag in the coming years. Once you pick a unit/area, go back to the same unit hunting cows until you can draw the bull tag. Still make the bull hunt a lot better.

The mountains are big country. Camping and hunting in them isn't some mythical pursuit. Get some gear, go learn and have a good time. You will figure it out. The biggest obstacles you will need to overcome are the size of the country and animal density.

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This 100%. The best way to learn is to just go. Get in shape, prepare as best as you can, learn to hunt the wind and you’ll be fine. It might take a few years to find success but you’ll learn more with each hunt.

I’d buy a landowner tag before I spend money on a guided hunt.

 

[Leaf Litter]

So hey, don't take this the wrong way, I mean well. But I don't think you want to do this badly enough. Or you don't have the right attitude. Most every dude pictured sitting and smiling behind a DIY public land archery bull has found the time, scraped up the money. And it's not so much that the scouting helps (it does). It's that those dudes just find a way, in life. It's almost diagnostic. If you're not one of them you could save yourself 10 years of your life and quit before you get started.

Flights from Traverse City to Casper on Memorial Day weekend are $274.

This entire statement is self-righteous BS.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Find the cheapest cow tag you can and go. From your two options it appears you have some learning to do. Might as well learn as cheap as possible and start investing in gear. Start getting in shape now.

 

[Whitefox82]

I’m from the Midwest as well.
Research the hell out of everything you can find on elk, elk hunting, elk states, habitat, hunting strategies, draw strategies, seasonal movements, backpacking, gear, etc….
Books, videos, internet, Youtube, magazines, a subscription to Huntin Fool or similar can help to get your mind thinking the right direction…use any resources you can find.
You have to get kinda obsessed!
Find an area you’d like to hunt and look it over on satellite or ONX mapping. I prefer to find units with difficult access and limited trails with as many miles between trails as possible. Learn the unit on foot and when you draw that tag. Cow tags in the same unit you plan to hunt bulls will help you learn quickly. If the unit is promising, return and keep figuring it out. Don’t keep looking for greener grass, every time you change units you start over, unless you really want to challenge yourself!!!