Chronicling My First Elk Hunt

[IrkedCitizen]

I sent you a PM

 

[bz_711]

Congrats on the tag and going for it...best way to learn.

This site has been a great help over the years.

My number 1 tip for new elk guys...stay positive! Sounds easy...but remember this if you are several days in with no elk spotted...keep running the game plan and hitting new country until you find them.

Good Luck!

 

[MaxPower]

Good luck! Don't pass an elk on the first day that you'd be happy with on the last day.....

 

[rvanbw00]

The one thing that stood out to me from our first trip out west (Im from Indiana) was how truly vast and expansive the mountains are, especially if you've never hunted in them. 3 miles may seem like a hop, skip, and a jump while scouring onX or Google Earth, but out there its a completely different. Go in expecting that.

Also, if you've been in the mountains before you'll know what to expect for the altitude. An acclimation period will help, but it takes some getting used to. Even if you're in excellent shape. We simply cant train for that at sub 1,000' elevation at home. Go in understanding that your physical limitations at home, whatever they are, will be reduced by terrain that is hard to replicate while training and significantly less oxygen than what's available at home.

Ive spent hours and hours and hours scouring maps (both topo and aerial), and it definitely helps getting accustomed to an area. Get on Google Earth and test your glassing knobs by finding the spot and then going to that elevation and using Street View. While it might not give you a perfect perspective, it really helps you understand what terrain will be in your line of sight from that spot.

Lastly, try and string plans B, C, and D together, if possible, without having to go back to the truck. You're wasting miles. Also, don't waste daylight (especially morning and evening) getting to where you think the elk are. Use your headlamps.

Best of luck to you, I'm jealous as I cant make it out west this year!

 

[DawnPatrol]

Good luck man! Even if you never see an elk, it’ll be a great adventure if you keep a good attitude and have solid buddies to enjoy the backcountry with.

I’m new enough to elk hunting (and have tackled enough new units) to be familiar with how you are feeling. It can be intimidating, but figuring out how animals use a landscape is one of the most interesting parts of hunting, IMO.

To echo other more experienced folks, my advice is:
1. You don’t need a spotting scope.
2. Glassing is great, but be prepared to change tactics if you get there and can’t see much country. This could mean calling and/or covering miles on foot till you find them.
3. Be prepared to change spots. Repeatedly. It sounds like you have your heart set on getting in high and deep—and that’s awesome and you should—but if your primary goal is to kill elk, you need to be mentally prepared to move on from where you think the elk should be and go find where the elk actually are that week.