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!!!

 

[Maidenfan539]

This entire statement is self-righteous BS.

and this comment was not necessary nor was it adding anything constructive to the thread.

 

[Leaf Litter]

and this comment was not necessary nor was it adding anything constructive to the thread.

I PMed OP to give him some tips beings he was only getting derision from that commentor. But i concede your point, you are correct.

 

[270-300]

As a wyoming resident who hunts elk 6 months a year, I would highly recommend buying a rifle tag over archery for a new hunter. I cannot state this enough. The odds of you finding elk are good. Getting within 500 yards is pretty good. Without understanding the exact patterns and areas of the particular elk you are after the odds of you being within 50 yards are almost down to pure luck. Combine the crazy wind, hail, snow, and storms that come up every afternoon in september and your setting yourself up for a very hard time.

Focus on being able to shoot 500 yards with a rifle. Focus on some quality 10x42 or 12x50 binoculars.
Get a good frame pack. Look into 15x binos and a tripod if your going to hunt more open areas.

Im not against archery, I just want you to understand the high odds of you not getting an elk with an arrow. Most people who live here cant seem to get a kill shot on elk with arrows.

Guides are not a sure bet. Many of them are peculiar. They play games where they want you to "tip" far above and beyond their rates to get the "good elk". These guides here could not care less if you even see an elk. Tons of horror stories of people paying 10k for 5 days and never seeing one with a guide during archery season. They arent there to teach you how to hunt. They are there to set you up for a shot, and carry meat out when you make it. If they cant turn up elk their mindset is oh well not their fault. A few guides out there are great and will teach you things. Most think they are losing money if they set you up to be self sufficient over hiring them for your next hunt.

Im not against guides or archery hunting, Just dont want you getting over your head and letting it ruin elk hunting for a new hunter.

 

[nashian76]

As a wyoming resident who hunts elk 6 months a year, I would highly recommend buying a rifle tag over archery for a new hunter. I cannot state this enough. The odds of you finding elk are good. Getting within 500 yards is pretty good. Without understanding the exact patterns and areas of the particular elk you are after the odds of you being within 50 yards are almost down to pure luck. Combine the crazy wind, hail, snow, and storms that come up every afternoon in september and your setting yourself up for a very hard time.

Focus on being able to shoot 500 yards with a rifle. Focus on some quality 10x42 or 12x50 binoculars.
Get a good frame pack. Look into 15x binos and a tripod if your going to hunt more open areas.

Im not against archery, I just want you to understand the high odds of you not getting an elk with an arrow. Most people who live here cant seem to get a kill shot on elk with arrows.

Yeah that’s completely understandable, I appreciate the response.


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[WhizKeewood]

Accumulating WY points as a non resident and lurking in here… good info, appreciated!