Experience needed for the big bulls.

[stinky]

Just wondering people's thoughts on the amount of experience, either time/years or bulls under their belt they should have before spending the money on some of the more expensive trophy bulls? I'm fairly new to it with 4 trips to the high country of Colorado. Typically, are the units easier to hunt based on the fact that they manage for trophy quality over numbers or is it more of a unit by unit discussion?

 

[elkguide]

Don't know if I totally understand the question but if you are asking if it is worth it to apply for a limited entry/quota hunt............ ABSOLUTELY. Strat doing your homework on the area that you want to hunt. Ask your Game & Fish Department for help/info about that area. Talk to G&F wardens and anyone else that you can find that has hunted the area. Get out there and put your boots on the ground.

What a fun adventure is beginning for you.

 

[stinky]

I'm thinking DYI. A first year hunter probably wouldn't try a trophy area right off the bat without some sort of experience in the field. How many years or elk killed in the cheaper OTC units should a guy get in before tackling a more limited draw unit?

 

[elkguide]

Why start at the bottom if you can start at the top?

Being new, it will take some desire and real work on your part to get in shape and get some good knowledge under your belt but if you're going to learn, why not learn in a great area? Don't limit or short-sell yourself. Go for it and plan on putting in a lot of effort and hard work and then each hunt is going to mean a lot more to you. You'll also begin building your own personal library of what works and what doesn't work and when you find yourself in that situation with a huge bull bugling and blowing snot all over the place, you'll be able to make the shot!

 

[IdahoElk]

Are you talking DIY or guided?

 

[elkyinzer]

You are overthinking this. Apply for as many draw tags as you want/are able to and hunt OTC somewhere if you can't. OTC areas have big bulls too if you do your homework.

 

[5MilesBack]

A first year hunter probably wouldn't try a trophy area right off the bat without some sort of experience in the field. How many years or elk killed in the cheaper OTC units should a guy get in before tackling a more limited draw unit?

If a guy could get a trophy unit their first year of hunting, I'd recommend that.......but that's highly unlikely unless they were to buy their way in. On the other hand, if they were to put a big bull on the ground their first year they could get spoiled into thinking that this game is easy.

Every unit is different with different expectations for each. Do I think it's worth collecting points and waiting 20+ years to hunt one specific unit? No. But there are plenty of lesser point units that are worth jumping into every couple years, and hunting OTC between those.

 

[Dos Perros]

I'm pretty new to this too, but I'm applying in 4 states every year, and if everything goes right I'll only have to hunt OTC maybe once or twice in 10 years.

 

[IdahoElk]

I'm pretty new to this too, but I'm applying in 4 states every year, and if everything goes right I'll only have to hunt OTC maybe once or twice in 10 years.

What's wrong with hunting otc units?

 

[ElkNut1]

What's your definition of a "realistic" big bull?

ElkNut1

 

[elkguide]

What's wrong with hunting otc units?

Come on now I elk. Don't you know that there aren't ANY elk in those units?

 

[stinky]

I'm not explaining this very well. Compare it to getting a drivers license. You wouldn't go to the DMV to try to get your license without some experience behind the wheel. How many trips did it take you to feel confident enough before spending money on the non refundable fees of applying in the trophy areas? I realize that learning curve is different for everyone but at what point did you think you had what it takes to go anywhere? I'm building points in the states that don't cost a lot, but won't apply in the more expensive ones until I feel more confident going in with my experience level.

 

[elkguide]

I have always applied for the best areas that I could afford. I know that elk are and have shot elk in general areas but at the same time my first hunt was in a limited entry, wilderness area.

Was I successful? You can't even begin to believe what I learned on that hunt! Did I kill a bull? No but I can to this day still close my eyes and see the first bull that I ever had answer and come in to one of my pathetic attempts at calling. Have I gotten better at learning what elk do? Yes but every time I go into the elk woods I am learning something to add on to that first hunt's foundation.

Often times the limited entry areas have a higher concentration of animals so that your odds of seeing, playing with and maybe even taking one are much higher.

 

[Dos Perros]

What's wrong with hunting otc units?

Nothing at all, that's why I'll hunt them, too.

 

[ElkNut1]

Give yourself 10-15 years of hunting elk every year!

ElkNut1

 

[dotman]

Give yourself 10-15 years of hunting elk every year!

ElkNut1

I say make it 20 years as that's about how long it'll take draw a tag

 

[5MilesBack]

I'm not explaining this very well. Compare it to getting a drivers license. You wouldn't go to the DMV to try to get your license without some experience behind the wheel.

Not really the same thing. I've been hunting elk for 35 years and I still won't pay the non-refundable fees.......except the $3 CO fee. But I would have taken a trophy unit first year out of the gate if I could have gotten one. Here's the difference IME.......you may go an entire season on OTC and not get a shot on a legal bull. Yet in an even half way decent draw unit, I will pass on shots on 2-3 dozen bulls. Take your pick. If you can get a draw unit.......take it whenever you can get it.

 

[IdahoElk]

Come on now I elk. Don't you know that there aren't ANY elk in those units?

You're right! I would never hunt otc units,too many hunters and the Elk are small

 

[elkguide]

You're right! I would never hunt otc units,too many hunters and the Elk are small

Thanks for coming clean and telling it like it is!!!!!

 

[under h2o hunter]

Everyones learning curve is different... But if you take averages and apply the to your question. I would say the average guy could start to look at being consistent with his hunting in 10 to 15 years. Usually a hunter takes an elk every 4 to 7 years on average. Yes some guys take the annually while there are others who have hunted 20 years and never taken a one. So if you are an average hunter you are taking an 3 to 4 elk in a 10 to 15 year period. By that time you have figured out quit a bit. Usually its the elk you don't take that teach you the most so depending on how many elk you're getting into you could learn a lot in a short amount of time... Like others have said already you don't need to apply for trophy units to get into big bulls. Big bulls are found all over the place including OTC units. The OTC units hold fewer trophy quality bulls because the pressure is more. So finding them requires a lot more physical capabilities then units that are managed for trophy animals. Which is why you'll hear guys talk about going further and deeper then anyone else. Think of it like sitting in your house. You're comfortable enough that you walk around naked and free until your inlaws are staying there then you're comfortable only walking around your bedroom that way. Elk are no different they will confine themselves to the most remote part of their house when they feel the pressure of hunting season so getting into where they feel comfortable will tell you a lot about what lives there.