timekiller13
WKR
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2015
- Messages
- 1,006
Well, I'm less than one month out from my first elk hunt! Game plan is starting to come together. It's just going to be me and my dad, my uncle was going to go but his work has slowed up so much in the last few months he's not financially able to go. Bummer for him. Our game plan is as follows.
Sept 16: Roll out from NC around noon. Drive is 25 hours. We are going to hammer down and alternate every 4 hours and go straight through if we can. Allowing for stops and some rest naps I figure we get to our destination around in afternoon of 17th.
Sept 17: Arrive sometime between 1500-1800. Check out a couple spots I have marked on map and pick one to set up camp. We will be car camping so main goal will be to get camp site situated and then get some rest and eat a hearty meal. If time allows may explore the surrounding area within a short distance of camp.
Sept 18. Being flatlanders (I live at elevation of 1200'). I know first couple of days are going to be tough. I've talked with biologist in area and have picked out some lower elevation spots to check out first. These places range from 7500-9000'. Not really that low for a flatlander, but I figure be easier on us to start here then try and go straight to 10,000'+. Going to try and ease into the first day and not let excitement take over. Hopefully locate some fresh elk sign and go from there. Biologist says this area has elk, just not as many as higher elevations, but he said that may play to our advantage, maybe less pressure because everyone else may want to go higher. Also, there are not any trails or destination points in this area so we may avoid hikers/bikers and campers.
Sept 19: Depending on how we feel and if we are seeing elk/sign, continue in low elevation area. If not really seeing anything or finding sign, we will head to our next spot in the afternoon. This spot is a little steeper, higher elevation and requires crossing a large stream to get to. According to GE, there are some promising looking North and West facing slopes that are heavily timbered. Going to burn some boot leather, enjoy the scenery and then both Dad and I will arrow 6x6 300" bulls as light fades!
Sept 20-25: Since we both shot bulls, we are packing them out! LOL! Then I wake up from my dream. Head back to same area, continuing to try and locate elk. Depending on what we are seeing or not seeing, we will stay in the same area or head to Plan C, then Plan D and so on. Going to try and stay mobile, and not get stuck on an area. If we are not seeing fresh sign or elk, I'm not going to hang around and "hope" they suddenly show up. I have picked out several areas using GE and Colorado Atlas that look promising and we will check out. I've tried to stay realistic in my planning. I have zero desire to shoot an elk 5 miles from the trailhead and pack it out, I don't think I could physically handle it. Even if I could, I probably wouldn't be able to walk for a week afterwards! Most of my efforts will be focused within 3 miles. I've been training hard, but I know my limits and I'm a realist. I don't want my hunt of lifetime to turn into a nightmare because I decided to be hardcore and kill one miles and miles from the truck.
I realize that this being our first hunt and having never stepped foot in the area, our chances are slim that we will kill anything. But there is a 0% chance that I will get anything if I don't go! Both Dad and I have also decided that we are going to shoot first legal animal that gives a chance, be it cow or bull, first day or last day.
I have studied maps and read books, articles and listened to pod casts. In the end I'm going with the KISS method. Keep it Simple Stupid! Elk are just like any other animal, they need food, water, shelter, and want to make babies. I feel like if I remember this and don't try and over-complicate this hunt, I will have a good time and will probably see some elk.
Sept 16: Roll out from NC around noon. Drive is 25 hours. We are going to hammer down and alternate every 4 hours and go straight through if we can. Allowing for stops and some rest naps I figure we get to our destination around in afternoon of 17th.
Sept 17: Arrive sometime between 1500-1800. Check out a couple spots I have marked on map and pick one to set up camp. We will be car camping so main goal will be to get camp site situated and then get some rest and eat a hearty meal. If time allows may explore the surrounding area within a short distance of camp.
Sept 18. Being flatlanders (I live at elevation of 1200'). I know first couple of days are going to be tough. I've talked with biologist in area and have picked out some lower elevation spots to check out first. These places range from 7500-9000'. Not really that low for a flatlander, but I figure be easier on us to start here then try and go straight to 10,000'+. Going to try and ease into the first day and not let excitement take over. Hopefully locate some fresh elk sign and go from there. Biologist says this area has elk, just not as many as higher elevations, but he said that may play to our advantage, maybe less pressure because everyone else may want to go higher. Also, there are not any trails or destination points in this area so we may avoid hikers/bikers and campers.
Sept 19: Depending on how we feel and if we are seeing elk/sign, continue in low elevation area. If not really seeing anything or finding sign, we will head to our next spot in the afternoon. This spot is a little steeper, higher elevation and requires crossing a large stream to get to. According to GE, there are some promising looking North and West facing slopes that are heavily timbered. Going to burn some boot leather, enjoy the scenery and then both Dad and I will arrow 6x6 300" bulls as light fades!
Sept 20-25: Since we both shot bulls, we are packing them out! LOL! Then I wake up from my dream. Head back to same area, continuing to try and locate elk. Depending on what we are seeing or not seeing, we will stay in the same area or head to Plan C, then Plan D and so on. Going to try and stay mobile, and not get stuck on an area. If we are not seeing fresh sign or elk, I'm not going to hang around and "hope" they suddenly show up. I have picked out several areas using GE and Colorado Atlas that look promising and we will check out. I've tried to stay realistic in my planning. I have zero desire to shoot an elk 5 miles from the trailhead and pack it out, I don't think I could physically handle it. Even if I could, I probably wouldn't be able to walk for a week afterwards! Most of my efforts will be focused within 3 miles. I've been training hard, but I know my limits and I'm a realist. I don't want my hunt of lifetime to turn into a nightmare because I decided to be hardcore and kill one miles and miles from the truck.
I realize that this being our first hunt and having never stepped foot in the area, our chances are slim that we will kill anything. But there is a 0% chance that I will get anything if I don't go! Both Dad and I have also decided that we are going to shoot first legal animal that gives a chance, be it cow or bull, first day or last day.
I have studied maps and read books, articles and listened to pod casts. In the end I'm going with the KISS method. Keep it Simple Stupid! Elk are just like any other animal, they need food, water, shelter, and want to make babies. I feel like if I remember this and don't try and over-complicate this hunt, I will have a good time and will probably see some elk.
