Lessons from a first elk hunt for those considering the same

[MeatHunter03]

As someone in these shoes right now with my father. This is one of the best advice post I have come across. Thank you!

 

[556mtjones]

Excellent advice, thank you!

 

[FGB]

Great write up. For any eastern guys looking for a first pack I’d recommend a mystery ranch pop up 38. You can run it for whitetail and pack out a full deer easily, and also pack out an elk quarter without issues.

 

[mad_angler]

Great thread and excellent advice. Thanks for starting...

I'll add a few lessons from my first elk hunt last year:

1. Base camp at your truck. That gives you a comfortable camp and lots of hunting options. Each day, you can pick a slightly new area, drive a few miles, and head into the woods. There is no sense back packing into an area that you know nothing about.

2. Listen to Cliff Gray. Lots of great elk hunting info.

3. Work very hard to actually hunt first light and last light. If you're in camp at these times, your odds of success are MUCH lower.

4. Just go!! You will never learn to hunt elk unless you start hunting elk.

5. I second the partner picking comments. I attached a Cliff Gray video that really gets into the real criteria to pick a partner... This one decision can easily define your hunt. Choose carefully.
Cliff Gray on hunting partners

 

[TheGDog]

Great thread and excellent advice. Thanks for starting...

I'll add a few lessons from my first elk hunt last year:

1. Base camp at your truck. That gives you a comfortable camp and lots of hunting options. Each day, you can pick a slightly new area, drive a few miles, and head into the woods. There is no sense back packing into an area that you know nothing about.

2. Listen to Cliff Gray. Lots of great elk hunting info.

3. Work very hard to actually hunt first light and last light. If you're in camp at these times, your odds of success are MUCH lower.

4. Just go!! You will never learn to hunt elk unless you start hunting elk.

5. I second the partner picking comments. I attached a Cliff Gray video that really gets into the real criteria to pick a partner... This one decision can easily define your hunt. Choose carefully.
Cliff Gray on hunting partners

Dunno bout Elk... but DEFINITELY what he said for #3.

On that note... It can be harder than you'd think to make yourself stay until absolute last lite when you first start going out into the wilderness... when you're n00b, and especially when doing a solo hunt. You'll like have not seen anything all day, so then you get in the mindset of "Meh, better setup the tent while there's still enough light to do so easily.". If you stay out until last lite, you at least KNOW in terms of your time-effort, you applied the max to this pursuit. You won't be left with a naggin "What if?" question in the back of your mind.

And in terms of #4? I'd say mentally tell yourself "It's OK if I don't even SEE any Elk or not. That will come in time. The important thing is I'm getting out there and beginning and learning. The more you go out, the more you'll develop GOOD, very-specific questions to pose to the veteran hunters. And since they'll "see" the effort you're putting in, as evidenced by the caliber of detail in the question you now return with, they will be much more inclined to offer up helpful observations and things to try, since they'll be able to "see" you're putting in the work, when you come back and have more questions and scenarios you'll experience that'll you'll share with them, and ask, "What COULD/SHOULD I have done in THIS scenario?"

 

[db208]

In conclusion
Just go for it! It’s not impossible. It’s also not prohibitively expensive. Even if you don’t fill a tag, which the odds favor to be the case, your success should be determined by the experience you gain. You will have a great time regardless of the outcome if you prepare the right way, and if you can do it with family or good friends, you will talk about it forever.

Great post. Looking forward to my first personal elk hunt, and archery hunt. Going to keep my expectations in check and enjoy what I learn. Trying my best to not go overboard on gear lol.