Elk Trip...What would you do

[banded_drake]

So I'm in the planning stages for an elk trip next year. Work got in my way this year and I just couldn't do the planning and gear grabbing I need to. Which is fine, it gives plenty of time to research and plan the trip out for 2020.

I'm torn at the moment because I'm not really sure what to plan for...rifle or archery.

I'm pretty decent at both, archery out to about 50 yards and rifle out to about 300.

I have hunting all around Texas for most of my life, this elk trip will be my first out of state and first backpack hunt. I consider myself in pretty good shape and will really focus on altitude training this next year.

My wife will be hunting with me, and though she doesnt have a long past of hunting, she learns fast and is also in great shape.

So here's where I'm at, I want to hunt either New Mexico or Colorado. I know the draw for New Mexico is a little tough for non residents so Colorado is my back up plan.

I'd like to hear other's opinions and thoughts, or even what you decided on your first bull elk hunt. If you were looking at these 2 states, and you had one hunt to do, would you choose archery or rifle as your first elk hunt, and which state would you focus more on...and what influences your decision.

I wont be heart broken if I dont kill an elk my first trip, as I know it's tough. I want the experience more than anything.

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[Gunnersdad49]

There is nothing quite like hunting bull elk in the peak of the rut. Calling them in, their slobber when they scream at close range, their wide eyes looking for a cow or a fight... peak rut typically coincides with archery season.
Teach the wife to call and try with the bow.

 

[Farmingdale's Finest]

My son and I just got back from our first elk hunt in NW Colorado. It was awesome. We had bugling elk on the next ridge from where we were camping and had a cow within 80 yards on the third day of the season.

Unfortunately my son woke up with AMS on the forth day and we had to cut our trip 4 days short. He was all upset he screwed up “my hunt”. I stressed to him we weren’t really expecting to get an elk on our first trip and we had elk responding to my bugling and almost had an opportunity with the cow until the wind swirled. I reminded him most people don’t have that experience in their first DIY trip! We met three guys from Wisconsin and one guy had been coming for the last 5 years and had only seen one elk. The other two had been coming for the last 3 years and hadn’t seen or even heard one.

What I can say is really do your homework with where you want to hunt and then research the area and lock down your w-scouting.

Good luck. We will be back again next year!


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[Bl704]

I will say whichever (archery or rifle) you choose, being in the best shape you can, will help. CO bow down can really slow your backpacking plans.

Also, if you have the opportunity, work on shots up/down hill.

 

[Farmingdale's Finest]

I will say whichever (archery or rifle) you choose, being in the best shape you can, will help. CO bow down can really slow your backpacking plans.

Also, if you have the opportunity, work on shots up/down hill.

This is the middle of a trail that had all kinds of fresh sign!


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[banded_drake]

I will say whichever (archery or rifle) you choose, being in the best shape you can, will help. CO bow down can really slow your backpacking plans.

Also, if you have the opportunity, work on shots up/down hill.

Good info there. I live in flat country so up and downhill shots are a little uncommon here. Well definitely find areas to practice this

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[idahohikker]

Do you want to do something really fun in warmer weather with the bugling or do you want to glass all day in colder weather for slightly better odds of success? That’s what it comes down to for me.

I enjoy the bugle experience but also really dig the glassing game. I’m a rifle hunter though I’ve hunted in the rut with a rifle before.

 

[GunsAreFun]

Do you want to do something really fun in warmer weather with the bugling or do you want to glass all day in colder weather for slightly better odds of success? That’s what it comes down to for me.

I enjoy the bugle experience but also really dig the glassing game. I’m a rifle hunter though I’ve hunted in the rut with a rifle before.

See, I’m a Midwest deer hunter first and foremost, and I think the cold glassing will be an easier transition for me.

Plus, I prefer to hike in freezing cold weather vs 70+ sweating my ass off.

 

[codym]

Chances of drawing a rifle bull tag in any NM unit as a non-res without a guide are pretty thin. If you put in for wilderness hunts in southern NM make sure you scout and have a plan for water and pack out. It’s hot and they’d very little water in some of these units. Most people bite off way more than they can chew and end up losing meat because they are in way too deep and it’s too hot or just not finding elk. Good luck

 

[banded_drake]

Chances of drawing a rifle bull tag in any NM unit as a non-res without a guide are pretty thin. If you put in for wilderness hunts in southern NM make sure you scout and have a plan for water and pack out. It’s hot and they’d very little water in some of these units. Most people bite off way more than they can chew and end up losing meat because they are in way too deep and it’s too hot or just not finding elk. Good luck

Good info, thank you. Will definitely keep that in mind

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[jog]

It depends on how much you share with your wife in regards to discomfort. The lesser commitment is going to be the one that decides the hunts intensity.
Either season can have its challenges. Weather wise rifle seasons will have more that are weather related. Personally, when I hunt rifle I choose a late season tag over an early rifle tag- the elk are starting their migration patterns, the weather can be very cold with snow, but its a great time to be in the woods if you enjoy snow and wind and cold. I love it.
Regardless, I would choose Colorado and I would be very dedicated to getting into the kind of shape that takes a lot of hard work and consistency. You cannot believe how much more you will enjoy any hunt out here when you can just "GO". It sucks seeing a bench above you holding elk knowing you do not have the fitness to gain it.

 

[banded_drake]

I like a challenge, but I also dont want to bite off more than I can chew. I'm not sure that my first year I'd want to spend trekking through snow. Not that I couldn't do it, but no matter what I learn in the off season, theres still a gap to close with the experience I need in the woods.

When I'm researching different units and ratios and hunter success, I'm assuming that some of the lower hunter success percentages are partially due to hunters either not able to close the gap and get into range, or make the shot?

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[bhaussin2012]

Just from past experiences and like anything else, it sounds like archery is less crowded than rifle.

 

[codym]

I think archery elk hunting is much more exciting and rewarding than rifle and I’m a long range nut. Nothing like hunting elk in the rut with a bow imo. Deer I could care less either way.

 

[Catahoula]

Archery.... very rewarding.

 

[idahohikker]

I like a challenge, but I also dont want to bite off more than I can chew. I'm not sure that my first year I'd want to spend trekking through snow. Not that I couldn't do it, but no matter what I learn in the off season, theres still a gap to close with the experience I need in the woods.

When I'm researching different units and ratios and hunter success, I'm assuming that some of the lower hunter success percentages are partially due to hunters either not able to close the gap and get into range, or make the shot?

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Numbers are highly skewed towards which units have more private land, outfitters, etc. Find a mountain you like the looks of and go for it in any place that isn’t really struggling with elk numbers.

 

[Newt]

I would suggest 1st rifle in Colorado. Unless you are a die hard bow hunter, or just prefer to only kill animals at close range.

With a rifle you have the option of shooting one at 10 yards, or 200 yards. You do loose out on the real intense bugling and such by going during rifle, but it’s less crowded than the 2nd and 3rd seasons.

Just have to decide what is your main goal? Mine has always been to kill an elk so I have only gone with firearm in hand. However, I’m really contemplating doing an archery hunt sometime soon just to be in the woods during that special time.

I’ve seen so many videos of guys bow hunting that get within 70-100 yards and not being able to close in. It kills me to watch that and think if I had a rifle in hand there would be tenderloins on the plate soon.

I will also say that for me I like to really only hunt when it’s cool/cold out. That’s my favorite time at least. You run a risk of cold and hot weather during 1st rifle, but the odds are in favor of the cooler side of things.

 

[IdahoClay]

Learn to call and set your expectations at a realistic level if you're just starting out. this will be one of the hardest and most rewarding experience but won't be easy.

 

[String&stick]

Archery is pretty crowded too, especially these days, put in for some limited entry tags, I'd try rifle first just to get things rolling. Only having to get within 300 yards really helps with opportunities