Is it ever too late to start DIY Elk Hunting?

[Doc Holliday]

How old were you when you started doing DIY elk hunts?
How many have you been on and in what states?

I will be 41 years old next week and have never been on an elk hunt. This was my first year buying bonus points, pref points, or putting in for draws, and I did everything I could. CO, MT, UT, ID, NM, AZ, WA, WY, KY, PA, NV, OR......thinking of doing a DIY in a OTC area next year. I have been listening to Randy Newberg youtube videos whenever I am on the road, but am wondering if I should do a guided hunt first just to get some first hand experience. If I was back in my 20s, my wallet and my pride would have me going DIY without question, and without concern for how long it took to get ramped up, but being in my 40s now I can't help but think about the sands running through the hour glass. I guess I am wanting to hear from folks who maybe got started late as well.

A bit about my experience/lack thereof....I am a lifelong whitetail hunter from GA, but did my first "western" hunt in the NWT last year for sheep and caribou.... 12 day backpack hunt. I loved carrying camp in my pack, hiking and glassing, and a hot mountain house at the end of the day, so am thinking I will like DIY elk hunting as well. But I know one trip does not make me anything other than a rookie. Thanks for any advice or feedback.

 

[FlyGuy]

I was 41, wish I would have started many years prior, but it’s certainly not too late!


You can’t cheat the mountain

 

[mountainman406]

I was blessed to start at 23 but my 2 cents would be to go do it while you can. Don’t ever think it’s too late, as long as you are able wake up in the morning and there are tags available for purchase it’s always possible! I’ve seen way too many people not even try because of the false stigma that you have to be a peak physical specimen or pull an 80lb bow. The experience is what makes it a successful hunt, harvesting is just an added bonus(and a tasty bonus as well). Hope that gives you the extra nudge to take the jump and grab a surplus tag!


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[manitou1]

It's only too late if you are in a rest home or in the ground. You may have a different pace than a 25 yr. old that grew up in the mountains, but you can still kill elk. There are guys in their 70s doing it.

 

[trophyhill]

I ran into a 40 something elk hunter with an 80 something bowhunters on the side of a steep slope over 11k feet several years ago. It's never too late if that is what you want to do

 

[5MilesBack]

One trip at 41 and you'll feel like you're 19 again. It's never too late to start.

I'll be 54 in..........wow, this month already. And I feel like I'm 25 again every September. I need elk hunting year round so I can feel young year round.

 

[juan trueno]

Too late man. Last year was the last good year. You should’ve been there. It’s pretty
Much all down hill from here between urban growth/ sprawl, climate change and predators- you’ll be lucky to see anything in at all in another few years. Better go this year and bring a camera- any images you can save for posterity so our kids and grandkids can see what an elk or a moose looked like will be valuable to the human race in a few more years. Between the absolutely horrible air quality from all the burning beetle killed forests- and the dwindling to the point of desperation elk populations across the west inwould say preference and bonus points are a waste of money. Probably isn’t another 5 years of elk hunting left so you should make a priority if getting out there this year and any subsequent remaining years or blow it off entirely in favor of something more sustainable- rather than waiting for a golden ticket.

 

[Farmingdale's Finest]

This will be my first year elk hunting and by the time we leave I will be 53. It will be a DIY archery hunt with my 20 year old son.


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[elkguide]

While working as an elk hunting guide, the saddest thing that I saw was hard working folks that had saved for their first elk hunt and because they had gotten older, once they got to camp, they realized that physically they just couldn't do it!
Elk hunting is a very physically demanding thing. A lot of it is mental also. When you see the height of the mountains and start breathing that "low octane air" it definitely will give you second thoughts but after the first bugle, you'll wonder what took you so long to get back in the hills!
Whether to go guided or drop camp or DIY, well that's up to you. A guided hunt to get a real feel for what elk hunting is all about might be a good investment and while there (with a good outfitter) think of how you could/would/will do it by yourself next time.

I've got way more years behind me than I have in front of me and the place that I shot my bull last year was definitely a spot for a much younger man...… and yes I am going again this fall!!!!!

Get out there and have fun!!!!!

 

[fmyth]

Four years ago one of my friends invited me to put in for a WY archery tag. My first hunt was the following year and I was 48. My second year I drew an AZ archery tag and I harvested a rag horn. Hunted CO and AZ last year and came home empty handed. This year I drew a WY and AZ tag and plan on taking my brother and brother in law to CO for OTC rifle elk hunt. My WY hunting partner is 71, has been battling bone cancer, has arthritis in his hands and has now lost partial vision in his right eye but that hasn't stopped him from hunting elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, ducks and pheasant.

 

[87TT]

My son is 41 and he's the baby! I am 66 and started elk hunting three years ago. I hunt solo (haven't found a suitable partner.) I plan on still doing this for another 10-15 years or so.

 

[Rob5589]

This will be my third year at 51. Wish I would have started at 40, or younger. Just takes more to get into "elk shape" as they say. I recently listened to an Exo Backcountry podcast and there was a dude getting after it big time at 68. It is a good one, should take a listen. Definitely inspires those of us that are at or near a half century.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

If you have done a 12 day backpack hunt in Canada already then you probably have the gear and basic skills to hunt elk. You may get discouraged when there iant near as much elbow room as in the NWT. Im assuming that due to its remoteness, you saw few if any other hunters.

 

[sagebuster]

Started on my own when I was 35. 73 this year and will still be chasing them on my own. When I'm gone, my son says he'll toss my ashes across my favorite elk honey hole. That's good enough.

 

[Tick]

Never too late. 41 is plenty young enough to have many good seasons ahead of you. I started when I was 21 and didn't go back until I was 37. I let finishing college and work get in my way. The mountains did seem much bigger on that 2nd trip. I should kick my own ass for skipping those years.

 

[BuzzH]

The crap you read that a person needs to be some super athlete, with a few thousand dollars worth of gear, to kill elk is a farce.

I recommend people just go and have a good time. Hunt smart, do what you physically can, stay out all day...good things happen...seen it.

 

[Tayler Wayne]

No time like the present. Give OTC a go, keep watching Randy, pick up ElkNut’s mobile app, and have some fun. There’s nothing like chasing elk with a bow in one hand and a bugle in the other.


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[GotDraw?]

1) Start at any age
2) Train like a young man to be a young man

 

[huntaholic123]

Too late man. Last year was the last good year. You should’ve been there. It’s pretty
Much all down hill from here between urban growth/ sprawl, climate change and predators- you’ll be lucky to see anything in at all in another few years. Better go this year and bring a camera- any images you can save for posterity so our kids and grandkids can see what an elk or a moose looked like will be valuable to the human race in a few more years. Between the absolutely horrible air quality from all the burning beetle killed forests- and the dwindling to the point of desperation elk populations across the west inwould say preference and bonus points are a waste of money. Probably isn’t another 5 years of elk hunting left so you should make a priority if getting out there this year and any subsequent remaining years or blow it off entirely in favor of something more sustainable- rather than waiting for a golden ticket.

Sounds like doom and gloom! I don’t think elk hunting outlook is that bad is it?

 

[The Last Savage]

Dang I hope not ,I'm 53. Going to Idaho in 20 ,,,archery,,ill get er done !!go for it