Couple of Questions

[dkime]

OK guys first of all I want to thank everyone for the enormous amount of information on this website, its actually been a little overwhelming to say the least. Im an avid flat land bowhunter from Ohio who also travels to Oklahoma once a year to hunt whitetail, and other game. Im forcing myself to make the plunge this year and do a DIY OTC elk archery hunt in Colo (also open to MT but more info for CO seems readily available). Ive been reading as much as possible before asking any questions just so I don't come across as ignorant haha but am hoping for some suggestions in regards to gear and the hunt itself. TO start off I'm primarily a meat hunter, having said I share the dream with the rest of you of Killing mature bull elk. So for this hunt I am open to any animal. I stay in good shape year round, and am planning on running a couple Half- Marathons this summer along with my typical weight training that goes with my other hobbies (Men's physique athlete) My initial thoughts are hunting the San Juan area in southern Co. I obviously want to kill an elk but am also looking for an adventure, I'm 25 so I would like to focus on an area that I can possibly continue to go to for years to come to gain experience and knowledge. My questions for all of you, if you'd be so kind as to help out, is How much gear can I expect to haul in? As of right now this is going to be a backpack hunt, setting up a spike camp and hunting out of that area if possible. There is an REI close to me and I have several friends who currently hike year round to help direct me toward quality gear. Also having never entered this area before I was wondering about parking and leaving a vehicle, from everyone I've talked to they have stated that you essentially leave your vehicle at a pulloff near the trail head? Im not sold on any GMU unit yet but as stated I was initially thinking anything 75,751,77,78, etc area. (Recommendations as to these units or any other units would be appreciated, not looking for honey holes just whether or not its an adequate area to take a hike for some elk) Also wondering about which weeks might workout best. I was hoping to take a looking at arriving Sept. 19th and hunting until the 26th before heading back home. Again thank you guys for all the info, I'm really looking forward to the adventure, and experience with the hunting honestly being secondary (but not by much!) Any guidance as to whether I'm completely off my rocker would be appreciated! '

Take care

 

[bz_711]

Great to hear!

I will start with a WARNING: be prepared to have 1 week vacation set aside in Sept every year going forward. I was warned, and they were right...looking to make my 6th straight trip this year.

You are well on your way - I'm going same dates, you have general area of state to start focusing on, you are in good shape...it's really down to acquiring gear and getting confident with your bow.

I truck camp so not big reference on backcountry gear preference...although I will recommend the $20 Sawyer mini water filter as I've used that with great success, and light weight.

Otherwise, one other tip would be to become with familiar with SierraTradingPost.com and sign up for their flyer emails for 35% discounts...much of my gear was had from STP at great prices (quality gear also)...everything from base layers, boots, socks, rain gear, tents, bags, stoves, etc...

There are a lot of past threads on this site of guys doing exactly what you are doing...look them up as well.

Above all, enjoy the journey and share your progress...and report back after the hunt.

Good Luck!

 

[chindits]

I can't help you with your areas, but I'll give you a training suggestion due to your questions. "How much gear can I expect to haul in?" I interpret this as you have not done any backpacking in the mountains. If you do intend to backpack hunt, I would suggest that you start backpacking ASAP. You can start locally just to get your systems down: pack, sleep/shelter, clothing and cook. Once you have your head wrapped around the systems you are cofortable with, push it into the mountains. Take sometime off this summer and take a loop route through the area you are considering. This will verify you still are comfortable with your systems in the mountains.

You can be as simple as you want. I started hunting with just an army poncho, army pack, and sleeping bag and pad. It wasn't too bad compared to what I had to do in line units in the Army, but you can also refine it as far as you want to. You can read plenty about guys who pack in stoves and I'm not talking about for cooking. I'm only in my 50s so I haven't gone that route yet, but maybe in the next 20 years I might consider it or not. So my big message here is, if you don't have any experience packing in, then get some so you can be as comfortable as possible during the hunt. If you have plenty of experience under the pack, and hunting out of a tent or tarp then disregard my comments and sorry for the misinterpretation.

As far as starting your hunt, you can park at trailheads and start from there or you can park on any road that allows safe parking and is bordered by USFS land. The thing about a lot of the San Juans is that the terrain is so extreme that in many places you will want to start at a trailhead just for the ease of getting to the area you want to hunt by way of an established route which is the historical path of least resistance. There are plenty of drainages you can just punch up, but without being familiar with the terrain you could be spending a lot of time and energy with poor results in distance covered but good results in isolation. You also will want to keep an eye on beetle kill in the area you are going into. It is what it is and huge parts of the forest are now standing dead trees. The animals are still there, but you might need to prepare yourself mentally for all those dead trees and the crunchy needles under foot.

Truck camping is always an option, but I don't know if that is really the adventure you are looking for. I've seen a lot of hunters in the San Juans horse packing. I would suggest that you not let this discourage you especially when you see the trailhead full of horse trailers. The horse hunters can be further in then you will reasonably be man packing, but you can be further in then truck campers and road hunters. In addition, I usually try to keep a fair distance from outfitter camps just out of courtesy but also due to the territorial attitudes that can be encountered. I did hunt the opposite side of a drainage from an outfitter camp once and was surprised that those guys only hunted the tree line right out the back door of their camp. They didn't know I was across the creek until I packed out my bull.

And again I apologize if I am telling you what you already know.

 

[dkime]

Thank you! I plan on doing as much hiking as possible once the weather starts to break, validating equipment, etc. While its primarily flat where I'm at, I travel to Northern MI to fish and get away. The hills and sand dunes will hopefully give me a teaser of what is to come. The more I look into this the more I am leery of the San Juan range, it seems there is a lot of info out there of people talking about it, which leads to me to believe it receives an obnoxious amount of pressure. Should I be focusing on some of the lesser talked about areas?

 

[Travis1984]

To be honest I think your first line of business is to establish if you even like backpack hunting.

A lot of people like the "idea" of backpack hunting until they do it.

Not saying this will be you but before you invest thousands of dollars I think it's an extremely important question that can only be answered from a mountain peak miles from a trailhead, not from the flat lands of Ohio.

Good luck!

 

[under h2o hunter]

I can't give you info on your area as I have not set foot there however I am very experienced in elk hunting. One thing I will caution you on is spending a bunch of money on gear that you will more then likely sell off in exchange for other gear. So knowing what type of hunting you are best suited for is key. For example some guys think that they need lightweight gear yet they are only hiking in a few miles. This is a waste of money. Fully understanding the terrain, your capabilities, and potential pit falls is key to understanding what gear to get. If you plan to hunt on uneven ground a tarp is better suited then a tent. If you are hunting miles from your truck lighter weight gear may be the best way to go. If you are above tree line then a tent will be better then a tarp. The one thing about hunting elk that changes from year to year is weather. Some years you may be dry and comfortable while other years you can be wet and miserable. Elk can move great distances and sometimes you plan for one type of hunt but end up having to hunt completely different then expected. So gear that is adjustable to conditions is something worth looking at as well. There is nothing wrong with camping out of a vehicle as well. When you start to back pack hunt you start to sacrifice comfort. Which is something you need to give serious thought to. Here is why. If you are not comfortable you will start to check out mentally and that can end a hunt faster then anything else. If you are comfortable and enjoying yourself you are more likely to be successful.

 

[dkime]

Thank you! I am fully expecting to be uncomfortable during this trip, as the saying goes "opportunity lies outside of your comfort zone" I attempt to live by that mantra and so far it's given me several great opportunities in life. I am very fortunate to have a brother who was gifted with a strong work ethic and some physical abilities to the point that he has become a professional athlete. He has a sponsorship with UA and I plan on utilizing this to my advantage, How does everyone feel about their hunting clothing system for the mountains? Is anyone using their boots, layer system, or out wear? Should I still look for a wool type material and forego the UA idea?

 

[Travis1984]

I like some of the under armor stuff, and hunted with it for years. That being said now that I've tried Merino I would never go back, they aren't close IMO.

 

[dkime]

Travis I appreciate all your help man, I'm thinking merino base layers and UA outers for the time being. I know a couple different companies make merino products, anything stand out more than the rest?

 

[westrnwild]

So the San Juan's.....you either love them or despise them. There steep and rugged and the wilderness is big and raw. Nothing in the Midwest will get you 100% prepared for the San Juan's..I've been in 77,78 and 751. There is pressure like any OTC unit in the country..it is what it is..OTC equals pressure and learning to be successful under that pressure is journey but as long you keep an open mind and learn from every event you will be headed in the right direction.

If you hunt the San Juan's pick a few trail heads and for the first few days try not to conquer the mountain...you will lose...take it easy. Go slow and don't kill yourself trying to get to the top.

As for gear...get amazing boots! Something comfortable and durable. I wear salomans 4ds but I also like hanwags and lowa's. Rei can help but truthfully they don't carry to many backing boots. But they usually have salomans zamberlins or asolo's. All good boots just make sure their good for you..go a half size up at least..your feet swell backpacking big time.

I love merino too...I recommend first lite and ice breakers..not a fan of any UA hunting gear. First lite,kuiu and sitka all make great rain gear....and you can afford it arc'teryx leaf is at the top of the list...either way merino with a rain shell and maybe a small puffy, I pack a Patagonia nano puff...worth every penny if the weather turns. Invest in good socks. I like smart wool and darn toughs...at rei too

Make sure your dialed out with your bow and its set up for elk..light arrows work better on whitetails then elk..and shots can be much farther...I killed my bull last year at 65 yards...

Last if your gonna backpack hunt I'd make sure you get all the camp essentials..there are some good gear lists floating baround. And invest in a good pack! A pack that can handle the weight of gear and meat and won't rip on every rock or twig you pass by...a lot of the packs backpackers use just won't cut it..they break under the weight of an elk quarter or they rip easily...there not made to leave the trail...a lot of guys on this site including myself use mystery ranch, kifaru, stone glacier, exo mountain and kuiu...non of which are cheap..

Lastly. Keep good thoughts..your first backpack hunt will be tough not just physically but mentally

 

[dkime]

Thank you very much, boots anda pack were going to be my next questions. I'm leaving more toward 70 right now just from all of the talk about the units previously listed. As far as the shooting goes, i actively compete in ibo, nfaa indoor and outdoor shoots so I get plenty of practice at longer distances. In really looking forward to the mental test of this. I'm kind of a Junkie for that type of thing. Thank you for the very detailed post its very appreciated

 

[westrnwild]

Never been to 70. I've heard of some good hunts there. I tend to like isolation. My only advise is Do as much scouting from your chair as you can..any time I hunt new areas I spend weeks on line between google earth,bing maps, topo maps and so forth..I love gpshuntfish.com, it shows topos which will show nyou pack trails, terrain gives ya idea of what's ahead and aerial tells you the rest..it also shows public/private land and GMUs..my wife says I do so much homework that by the time I get there I'm like a tour guide. My job keeps me from scouting as much as I'd like and I've been hunting a lot of new places lately cause I love where it takes me.

Make sure you get good boots socks and a great pack. Invest once. Sounds like you got the shooting part down..

Oh...and one other thing. Don't bugle at the top of each hill..that only works well on large private ranches...public land bulls are educated..they can tell if your using a primos call or another companies call.

 

[ElkNut1]

Never leave the Bugle behind, it's your # 1 locator of elk.

ElkNut1

 

[westrnwild]

Never leave the Bugle behind, it's your # 1 locator of elk.

ElkNut1

Totally agree...just trying to say don't over call, its a delicate balance and trust me I'm no expert on calling, I just try to get by. .I wrote poorly.

 

[WyoBowhunter21]

Congrats on wanting to jump in to elk hunting. First of all I have used a lot of under armor stuff. I still use the cold gear stuff and I like it. Some people like wool but it's all up to you. To be honest if I had that hook up I would go that route. I have some hook ups and I definitely use those then buy stuff. I haven't used UA boots though. Maybe someone will speak up about them. Your the same age as me and sound about the same active level but hauling an elk is a whole different story. Make sure to get your pack and start packing some wait around. I buy flour or sugar and throw it in the pack so the wife can use it. One thing I have learned is don't kill yourself. It may take ten loads to get something out but it's better then busting your back and not being able to hunt again. Last year I put a whole deer with bone in my pack and hauled it 6 miles. That was dumb. So learn from me and take as many trips as you need. Elk are BIG when you get them down. Take your time and get all the meet to the truck then go after camp. For workouts to prep for the backcountry there are a couple workout sites available. You may want to check out one of those. I personally put a pack on with the wait described above and walk on the treadmill, take the dog for a walk, and pack up the mountain by my house. Squats with the loaded pack and lunges work really well. Remember it's fun so take the time and enjoy it. Good luck. See you on the mountain.

 

[dkime]

Elknut, I am planning on getting a couple of the starter packs from you very shortly as it seems no matter where I go your stuff comes highly recommended!

Wyo - My morning cardio routine is about to involve my pack as soon as I decide which one to get, I have been told that the individuals who work at REI will fit you for a pack? Not sure about that though, but are all of the higher end packs pretty adjustable or should I research how to properly set one up for myself before buying?

 

[shaun]

The more you know the better off you are. One of the biggest things is frame length easy measurement to take. You want to be sure you are getting the lift you need

 

[tttoadman]

Do all of your conditioning with a pack on. Even if it is day hunt wt. It will improve your posture and build up your core a little just having it on.

Order a pc of merino from Core4. It is very reasonably priced. Some people react to merino a little, and are forced to buy the higher quality like First Light. I have had C4E merino for years, and have no problems or complaints.

Travis touched on making sure mountain hunting is for you. The real issue is more mental than anything else. It takes a certain mindset to hunker in a tent with nobody to talk to for a week or more. You need to have your full wits on a hunt like this or you could be endangering yourself. If you have a significant other at home, I would be making sure you have a way to communicate.

It is fun. It is not a contest. Nothing says you cant hit it hard for a few days at a time.

 

[ElkNut1]

Thanks! Personally I would not recommend you to stay out from a base camp all night! You're a new hunter at it alone, you need to get your feet wet as it were & do most your elk hunting inside 4 miles from either where you camp/base or drive from base to pre-scouted areas via your pre-season scouting through the internet & topos of areas you plan to hunt. Save a bivy hunt once you have a good idea what elk hunting is all about & gear you may need or not need, it may be you will decide not to bivy at all once you know your areas well. Most elk taken are inside 3 miles of ones starting points & many inside the one mile range. Pick several areas via topo scouting from home so you become as familiar as can be done minus boot leather on the ground. Once in these areas it can take several years to learn them intimately, this means you know these small hidey holes where elk seek refuge from other hunters as well as where they bed, feed, water, wallow, breed, etc. Knowing these things takes time & energy. This knowledge here can lead to your consistent success.

Too, by returning to a base each day or night you can dress accordingly for the day ahead as you will have a selection of clothing at camp that best meets your needs for your time there. Being mobile may be needed if elk are not in the 1st area you had hoped they would be. By returning each day it would be easy to check out area 2-3-4- etc if needed.

At 25 years of age & in good shape hunting 3 to 8 miles a day is not a big deal. Those 8 mile days would actually be rare once you know your areas well. By hunting in this manner you are now in total control of your situation & getting meat out is no longer a monumental task that can weigh on your mind!

An example here is we in the ElkNut Crew have never done a bivy hunt to date yet we are successful every year because of the fact we know our country well. We hunt DIY OTC public lands like everyone else. When we consider a bivy style hunt it will be for larger bulls that see little pressure & have the chance to get some age on them. In your case you are looking for "any elk" be reasonable in your decision making & do not get over your head because you feel you need to prove you can do it. Good luck to you bud!

ElkNut1

 

[dkime]

Elknut, I appreciate your help and knowledge and it is noted! The only reason I have been considering a bivy style hunt is that is what I've been led to believe will yield the highest chance of getting into elk, but given your reputation and experiences I will definitely consider staying at the trail head, and if necessary establishing a basecamp in a moderate distance not as far from the truck to limit distance needed for travel.