Gearing up - Prioritizing a Budget

[elkocd]

Glass is important but not priority if starting with Sept elk. Most places high end glass in September isn’t going to do you much good.

Seriously?! That is the worst advice I've ever seen given in regards to elk hunting!!! More giant elk have been killed do to good glass than any other piece of equipment combined!! It is the SINGLE most import piece of equipment in elk hunting. Even tho I kill giant bulls every year, don't take my word for it. Do your research and watch guys that kill good bulls every year. No, not the youtube caller crowd, guys that really know how to hunt and guide. You will see them behind their glass more than anything else!!! The things I read on here

 

[Jimss]

As mentioned a bunch of times above don't skimp on boots, backpack, and optics. Buy nearly new quality on classified sites, ebay, online sales, or craigslist. If you skimp you will regret it later! Other things that are top priority to me are clothes designed for the weather and type of hunting I do the most often.

 

[Felix40]

Seriously?! That is the worst advice I've ever seen given in regards to elk hunting!!! More giant elk have been killed do to good glass than any other piece of equipment combined!! It is the SINGLE most import piece of equipment in elk hunting. Even tho I kill giant bulls every year, don't take my word for it. Do your research and watch guys that kill good bulls every year. No, not the youtube caller crowd, guys that really know how to hunt and guide. You will see them behind their glass more than anything else!!! The things I read on here

Thats funny. I killed my first elk before I owned a pair of binos. The guy is getting started....not trying to kill a record book bull.

Everyone agrees boots are important and you can get a good pair of boots for less than $200. Just make sure they fit right.

A pack would be #1 for me. I can remember laying awake in my tent all night because I had carried a cheap frame pack so long that it caused the mother of all migraines.

My #2 would be a gps or onx or whatever it takes to have a really good way to navigate and a way to keep it charged up to use as much as you want. I started with paper maps and I cant tell you how much more effective it is to have waypoints, terrain, aerial view etc.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Seriously?! That is the worst advice I've ever seen given in regards to elk hunting!!! More giant elk have been killed do to good glass than any other piece of equipment combined!! It is the SINGLE most import piece of equipment in elk hunting. Even tho I kill giant bulls every year, don't take my word for it. Do your research and watch guys that kill good bulls every year. No, not the youtube caller crowd, guys that really know how to hunt and guide. You will see them behind their glass more than anything else!!! The things I read on here

I have every high end piece of glass there is, I’m a firm believer in glass, but he is just starting out and hunting elk in September.... I don’t think he is holding out for a monster bull or burning through the hillsides. I’d imagine he’d shoot the first legal animal he saw. Considering most of the OTC states are thick timber, spending 3-5 thousand on a glassing set up probably isn’t his highest priority. A high priority eventually, but not at the beginning

 

[Rob5589]

Definitely boots and insoles. Pack next, sleep system after. I am mid range budget guy but did splurge on my Exo pack. Mid range glass for me as well. You'll find lighter generally means more expensive. You also do not need top of the line anything. But you do need gear that will perform when needed.

 

[Wrench]

My advice is to spend you money scouting the area you want to hunt. You could have $10k in gear or $400 in gas and guess who is more deadly? The internet is an expensive place to solicit gear advice because you have income inequality and the BS factor.

There is already bickering about glass. I agree with both sides. I have more $ in glass than trucks but there are days I don't pack my binos. If you're hunting thick timber....I'd save the weight. Just like everyone will tell you that you have to have a Kifaru or MR pack.....I have 3 of them and bags beyond bags.....but some days I choose my old badlands because its quiet.

You can get elk killed with very little gear. I killed my first in a dwight schuh pack that nobody would dream of using today. I've killed them in blue jeans, wool and the latest high dollar gear.

Don't be afraid to hunt out of a cheap tent and 20 dollar wranglers, mid range hikers and without binos......but know the limits of your gear. I wouldn't go 5 miles deep to bivy with cheap gear expecting bad weather.....but I wouldn't let not having fancy gear keep me home either.

 

[Lowndes]

One note on optics is that you can rent very high end binoculars and a spotting scope for a total of $35 a day. I plan to do this on a hunt this year as I’m not ready to commit to dropping $5k on optics.

 

[Dave0317]

I learned a lot last year on my first hunt. I wasn’t completely new to the aspect of camping and hiking, but the method you choose to hunt could save you some money in key places. Or it may indicate you need to spend much more in others.

if you camp by your truck, you can get by with a a good day pack and maybe a cheaper pack frame or maybe a military surplus type pack. You can have a heavier and cheaper sleeping bag. Your tent doesn’t need to be lightweight if you aren’t packing it with you everywhere you go. Bring spare boots, leave one in the truck just in case the other gets wet.

If you plan to backpack in and bivy camp in 5 different spots that are miles from each other, you better have a good pack, perfect boots, really dialed in gear, and be in really good shape. Not to mention, mentally ready for that kind of thing.

Maybe expand a little on how you plan to hunt and camp, and these guys can really zero in on what your priorities should be.

Wrench makes a good point about the scouting trip. That’s a great investment. Once you have taken a trip and hiked out there, you will have a much better idea of what your priorities are.

lastly, a couple places that you can save money.
Those wrangler outdoor pro pants, definitely a good buy. $22 at Walmart, and they fit and feel much like my $80 Outdoor Research pants.
The $45 Cascade Mountain Tech Trekking poles are great. I used military boots that I already had. They fit great and I had dozens of comfortable training miles on them, so i didn’t feel the need for anything new or more expensive. Garmont T8 Bifidas. I used a $20 camp stove which performed fine, even if it weighed 8 ounces. Plenty of cheap gear will work. Just a matter of compromise.

 

[Brooks]

You don’t need $3000 Swaros but definitely have some decent binos. I always hear guys saying it’s a guys first elk hunt as if you’re only capable of a cow or you’re not going to shoot a big bull even if one walks in front of them. The first elk hunt I ever did I was damn sure looking for the best bull in the unit. If you know how to hunt have a few calls a bugle tube maybe watch some videos and get after it. It’s hunting not brain surgery. Good luck.

 

[Farmingdale's Finest]

I did my first archery elk hunt back on September with my son.

I had to gear up for two so I really had to watch what we bought to keep in budget. I found Sierra Trading Post, Moosejaw.com and activejunky.com allowed me to buy new good quality gear without breaking the bank

After a lot of research I bought for both of us Mystery Ranch Glacier packs for less than the cost of the Metcalf. This pack is about the same size but gives up the cargo shelf. After talking with MR they told me the pack was rated for 90 pounds. I am confident that the rating is well below what this pack is capable of. I trained with 75 pounds regularly and it worked great. By purchasing these using ActiveJunky and when Moosejaw has 30% in points towards your next purchase I was able to get my Big Agnes Encampment sleeping Bag and Nemo AirPad for free. I purchased my sons Kelty sleeping bag and air pad from Sierra for about $125.

We wore Eddie Bauer Guide pants for about $45 vs the hunting specific camo pants for $140+. Got Sitka core light weight t shirts from Camofire for $25 each. Added a UnderArmour Ridge Reaper camo long sleeve T and hoody for about $120 for the two of us total. We had puffy’s already and for rain jackets we bought Marmot Precip jackets on sale from Moosejaw for I believe $90.

Bought 2 120 quart Coleman extreme marine coolers for $45 from Amazon.

All told our total equipment cost was about $1500. This included Lowa Camino Boots for my Son and Cabela’s Meindl Denali boots for me.

You can get very good equipment without spending huge money by looking for sales and taking advantage of the time you have between now and the season if you are patient you will benefit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[GodBlessAmerica]

Maybe expand a little on how you plan to hunt and camp, and these guys can really zero in on what your priorities should be.
[/QUOTE]

I’d ease into it. Would either camp near the truck or rely on some equipment and experience of some more experienced hunting buddies. I’m not concerned about getting a record bull. What’s important to me is being able to effectively get around a mountain, getting meat packed out, and not putting myself in a dangerous situation.

 

[87TT]

Thanks for the advice. With that, i’m definitely not skimping on the boots and pack.

Is there anything you look back on and think you wasted your money? Something that wasn’t necessary?

I wasted my money on an Kuiu pack. I now have an EXO and it is the last pack I will ever need.

 

[brsnow]

Try to enjoy yourself and don’t overthink it. I had two in elk is less than 3 hours of hunting. Then I got serious and backcountry and my success rate has diminished

 

[GodBlessAmerica]

I did my first archery elk hunt back on September with my son.

I had to gear up for two so I really had to watch what we bought to keep in budget. I found Sierra Trading Post, Moosejaw.com and activejunky.com allowed me to buy new good quality gear without breaking the bank

After a lot of research I bought for both of us Mystery Ranch Glacier packs for less than the cost of the Metcalf. This pack is about the same size but gives up the cargo shelf. After talking with MR they told me the pack was rated for 90 pounds. I am confident that the rating is well below what this pack is capable of. I trained with 75 pounds regularly and it worked great. By purchasing these using ActiveJunky and when Moosejaw has 30% in points towards your next purchase I was able to get my Big Agnes Encampment sleeping Bag and Nemo AirPad for free. I purchased my sons Kelty sleeping bag and air pad from Sierra for about $125.

We wore Eddie Bauer Guide pants for about $45 vs the hunting specific camo pants for $140+. Got Sitka core light weight t shirts from Camofire for $25 each. Added a UnderArmour Ridge Reaper camo long sleeve T and hoody for about $120 for the two of us total. We had puffy’s already and for rain jackets we bought Marmot Precip jackets on sale from Moosejaw for I believe $90.

Bought 2 120 quart Coleman extreme marine coolers for $45 from Amazon.

All told our total equipment cost was about $1500. This included Lowa Camino Boots for my Son and Cabela’s Meindl Denali boots for me.

You can get very good equipment without spending huge money by looking for sales and taking advantage of the time you have between now and the season if you are patient you will benefit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Those are some good deals! Thanks for the links.

 

[GodBlessAmerica]

Try to enjoy yourself and don’t overthink it. I had two in elk is less than 3 hours of hunting. Then I got serious and backcountry and my success rate has diminished

Lol that’s how it goes. Gotta love beginners luck, when it works..

 

[John Herrera]

I still have never elk hunted (I will in December) but......you have to stay dry in bad weather. Get something to keep you dry in the rain. To me, it just makes sense.......

 

[Wrench]

I wouldn't go without gaiters, back up reeds, wind checkers, spare bow/arrow parts/tools, game bags, and maps. Everything else is pretty much standard hunting gear that you'd need from squirrels to deer.

 

[WAKAN]

If I was starting on a budget...
eBay or classifieds here for second hand pack, can buy good name brand stuff for >50% less than new.

New boots that fit your feet (try several brands), if your feet hurt or are wet it is hard to stay optimistic on the mountain.

Good wicking base layers and socks, also a comfort thing. Your base layer top should be camo (do not need the high end pattern stuff) so you can strip down and hunt in it on the warm days.

Outerwear NO cotton needs to wick and dry quickly. I love my high dollar stuff, but for the money you can't beat a cabelas microtex jacket and wrangler outdoor stretch pants.

Cabelas space rain will double as both rain wear and a nice hooded windbreaker for cold nights in camp.

Buy Costco treking poles, your knees and back will thank you on a heavy pack out.

Glass, 10x40 and $400 will do everything you need
(Nikon/Bushnel,Vortex compare them all) starting out and I would agree with the camp that says they are not vital in most archery OTC unless you are head hunting.

For a budget shelter check out Appy Trails on eBay, they are inexpensive, light, and I got 4 good years out of mine before the waterproofing gave out and I spent $$$ for an "upgrade". Run a space blanket (tarp type) for your ground cloth and your golden.

A 20 degree synthetic bag will do you starting out. I still grab my old 15 years old lumberjack sometimes even though my down bag cost 4 times more.

Spend money on a good insulated air pad (I run exped), research and try them to see what you like. A good nights sleep is gold on the mountain.

Finally a jetboil or similar for you eats and water filtration and bladders and you are set.

Once the elk hunting sickness has you firmly zombified like the rest of us you can join our Swarovski,Kuiu, Sitka, Seek Outside camps while fondly looking back at pictures of your old hunts and wondering how you was able to be so successful with such "limited" gear

 

[Whip]

Boots & pack as everyone mentioned. Glass, it's really dependant on when, how and where you will be hunting. On most of my September elk hunts a spotting scope was a waste of time. Good binos are nice, but again, in many places that hold elk that time of year they really aren't critical, at least for the way I hunt. Most times I'm hearing elk before I can see them. In other places, they become much more important.
If you are packing in you're shelter and sleep system are priorities.
Once you have your list browse the classifieds here religiously. All of the above can often be found here far cheaper than buying new.

 

[trophyhill]

When I went economy on stuff, I ended up buying what I should have the first time and all it did was cost me money and aggravation.