need some help planning a 2016 hunt

[bojangles808]

So ive begun gathering preliminary info for planning an elk hunt in 2016 and am kind of overwhelmed. maybe if i throw some info about what specifically looking for you guys can narrow some things down for me.

1. I would prefer to go during the third week in sept (seen thats a good bet for peak of the rut), but Im a teacher and we usually have a fall break the first week of october (10/5-11 this year). would the elk still come to calls, bugle then if i went during the rifle season (early oct)? or should i just go archery if i really want to experience the rut and can get the extra week off? im not even sure if any rifle seasons start that early maybe im wrong.(or do any elk archery hunts go into early oct?)

2. ive never applied for a big game hunt and have never accumulated any points/ preference points etc. but i dont really care about trophy potential. obviously would like to take a mature bull but the priority is lots of opportunity and experiencing the rut. id be ecstatic over a 250 5 x 5 archery bull. id like to go with an outfitter and guide as im flying in and will be a first timer solo. What states/units will have opportunities to draw as a NR first time with good elk densities? bonus if you can point me in the direction of a recommended outfitter. dont need to be in a lodge, horses and tent camp is perfectly fine and probably preferred. Also i was hoping to do the hunt cost part of things under 5k at the most (top of my budget, even better if cheaper) so i think landowner tags would be out of the question but maybe not.

hopefully you guys can help, really looking forward to this opportunity, thanks in advance.

 

[bojangles808]

anyone?

 

[unchained]

buy a point in WY right now its still open, and then look at guides in WY, MT and CO.

 

[Olydog09]

The Idaho rifle season opens around the 10th of Oct most years. Sometimes they are still bugling. Montana has an archery season that runs till around the 15th and then the rifle season opens about a week later and runs thru November allowing you a Thanksgiving break hunt if you can swing it.

 

[Bar]

For Colorado using your bow for 1st rifle season is a bad plan. Stick to the late bow season.

 

[bojangles808]

thank you for the pointers, i really appreciate it

 

[bkondeff]

Idaho has a lot of elk, not necessarily big, and a lot of OTC opportunity. Unfortunately, the archery is basically done by Oct 1.

I just did a fishing/horse trip into Wilderness of Wy with a great guide, Lee Livingston, in a General area just SE of Yellowstone Park, out of Cody, WY. He is extremely knowledgeable, has great stock and help, and a stellar reputation. We got a great deal on this trip via a Sheep Foundation dinner and thought it was a good opportunity to get my wife more comfortable with idea of me using her pet horses for hunting. Turns out I started researching Lee for a future hunt and for fully guided wilderness the cost of approx $5k seems very good. Buy that point and look up Lee if a guide is how you will go.

 

[bojangles808]

Idaho has a lot of elk, not necessarily big, and a lot of OTC opportunity. Unfortunately, the archery is basically done by Oct 1.

I just did a fishing/horse trip into Wilderness of Wy with a great guide, Lee Livingston, in a General area just SE of Yellowstone Park, out of Cody, WY. He is extremely knowledgeable, has great stock and help, and a stellar reputation. We got a great deal on this trip via a Sheep Foundation dinner and thought it was a good opportunity to get my wife more comfortable with idea of me using her pet horses for hunting. Turns out I started researching Lee for a future hunt and for fully guided wilderness the cost of approx $5k seems very good. Buy that point and look up Lee if a guide is how you will go.

thanks. will check that out