Central Montana Archery Elk, first timer. What’s your advice?

[Cdnance]

It’s my first time elk hunting, and the first time I have been to Montana since about 1998-1999.
I’ll be hunting in the central part of the state with an outfitter. What’s your advice for me? Anything in particular I need to bring or do?
Open to all suggestions.
Thanks!

 

[Crowmangler]

That's a very wide-open topic.
Do you have any specific questions about specific things?
Tactics, gear, equipment?
Start with asking your guide what to expect each day.
Understand that elk are much different than deer. Learn their anatomy so you'll know where to aim & where not to aim in different scenarios. Lots of good YouTube videos on this very important subject.
If you're considering using mechanical broad heads, ask the guide if that's OK.
Which of the 6 weeks are you hunting?
Get yourself in shape
Have the correct clothing, boots, rain gear, etc. for a full range of weather conditions.
Get your equipment dialed in to whatever effective range you're comfortable with & practice shooting in different positions.
The most important thing is the wind. You will not beat their nose.
There's tons of threads here with great info. Use the search function.
Enjoy the trip & the experience & don't let not punching your tag be the sole metric of success.
Be as good of a hunter as you want the guide to be. Listen & do what they say & tip well

Good luck!

 

[Jason Snyder]

If your outfitter hasn’t extensively prepped you with answers to your questions, my first advise is get a different outfitter.

What specifically are you wanting advice about?

 

[Beendare]

Be in tip top shape, get out earlier and get back later than everyone else in camp.

Then know that shot opportunities might be short in tight windows....be ready, don't hesitate and practice for those.

 

[S.Clancy]

If your outfitter hasn’t extensively prepped you with answers to your questions, my first advise is get a different outfitter.

What specifically are you wanting advice about?

No shit.

 

[Cdnance]

I’ve got a wide range of clothing and a couple pair of boots.
Been working on fitness for a while now.
I always start shooting in early summer.
The outfitter has been great. He has walked me through the process, needs equipment, gear, etc.
However, with this being my first time out, I’m just looking for the voice of experience. Obviously there is a lot of experience on here. Looking back at your first time, what is something you wish you knew then that you know now. Something you wish you had done different.

 

[cwesty]

+1 for fitness. don't let being tired sore or hurt be the reason you're not in the woods

 

[Cdnance]

Forgot to mention, I’m going the last week of September.

 

[Felton]

Set up in front of the tree bush or whatever it is you are planning on getting behind.

If the bull is raking a tree he can’t see you or hear you (within reason). It’s a perfect opportunity to make up ground on a bull that’s close but not in range.

It’s better to draw and never have a shot than to not draw and miss the shot you didn’t see coming. You can’t shoot your bow without drawing so take the chance and draw your bow if their is any sort of opportunity.

Overall you can be a lot more aggressive with elk than deer.

 

[ElkArcher918]

First time elk hunting. It'll be a learning experience. I would suggest keeping your expectations in check, maintain a great attitude in spite of challenges, get there in really good aerobic shape, have your gear and weapon dialed in prior to the hunt, maintain good lines of communication with your guide throughout the hunt. If you get a shot opportunity it'll be a bonus. Just soak it all in and enjoy being in the mountains of Big Sky country. Don't be like alot of newbies showing up unprepared and mentally giving up before their bodies do. If you stay positive and keep pushing, your guide will see that and hopefully will motivate him to work extra hard to get you on elk.

 

[KHNC]

Who is your outfitter? Hopefully is a target rich environment.

 

[go4thegusto]

Watch the Cliff Gray segments on YouTube related to fitness, gear, expectations, even daily pack food (you should bring some even if outfitted to not bonk). He is a pretty down to earth guy with lots of experience.

 

[bz_711]

Be proficient with your bow out to 60 yds
Have your legs in the best shape possible

The rest is on the guide.

 

[TradLife406]

Central? So the breaks?
I've avoided the breaks because I know how wet September can be in Montana and how bad that gumbo can be.

If it's not the breaks then don't mention the area. But I will say be prepared for grizzlies. They're in every range in Montana. One just got shot in the Bear Paws of all places.

 

[Cdnance]

Who is your outfitter? Hopefully is a target rich environment.

Well… it was with Musselshell, but as it’s turning out, as of today, the hunt isn’t going to happen… I’m hoping that I may be able to donate my tag and secure an additional point for moving forward.
We will see what happens.

 

[Stache Attack]

Well… it was with Musselshell, but as it’s turning out, as of today, the hunt isn’t going to happen… I’m hoping that I may be able to donate my tag and secure an additional point for moving forward.
We will see what happens.

Really not going to happen? I know one of the guides over there and spent some time working and hunting that way. Bummer. I hope you’re re booking of Maybe can still get in. Honestly depends on leases in that country. When it’s dry they have the elk. When it’s wet(how it has been for them so far) it’s any man’s game. Theres a lot of great bulls over there but access is key.

 

[Cdnance]

Really not going to happen? I know one of the guides over there and spent some time working and hunting that way. Bummer. I hope you’re re booking of Maybe can still get in. Honestly depends on leases in that country. When it’s dry they have the elk. When it’s wet(how it has been for them so far) it’s any man’s game. Theres a lot of great bulls over there but access is key.

Unfortunately it isn’t the outfitter, it’s on my end. The outfitter has more than worked with me on it. Just makes it difficult with some personal conflicts.
I’m hoping that I can still donate my tag and get the preference point, but it may be too late for that.

 

[UTJL]

If the conflicts on your end are job related, I suggest finding a new one if you’re serious about western hunting. Elk in particular take extended periods of time to be consistently successful.

 

[Cdnance]

It has nothing to do with my job.
I would think from a logical standpoint that all of the normal schedule and responsibilities would have been taken care of before even pursuing the hunt.
I guess perception is everything!

 

[UTJL]

I more so thought something with your job may have changed unexpectedly.

A few years ago I had PTO booked several months early for 10 days in September. The Friday before my employer told me I needed to join a meeting in the middle of my hunt. This would’ve involved hiking out and driving 2+ hours to find cell service. The short story is I was working somewhere else the following September.

I wish when I first started hunting elk I would’ve known how much time it takes to consistently be successful. After several years I realized it and then it took a couple more to get my life set up to have ample time.