New elk hunter - where to start?

[joshdeboer]

Hello all, I am a new hunter, I have an elk tag for this fall and am trying to get prepared. I'm basically starting from scratch with gear other than a rifle, but more worried about fitness and how to make a hunting plan/scout. Any advice would be greatly appriciated!

 

[Live_weighT34]

If you live in the same state/area that your tag is for, go hike around the area you plan on hunting and find some elk. Then watch said elk and take notes on what they’re doing and time of day they’re doing it.

Repeat as often as possible leading up to your hunt and practice with your rifle as often as possible as well. It’s a pretty simple strategy though not always easy.

 

[43.6N]

Congrats and welcome to Rokslide.

Buy some binoculars now. Spend as much time as you can using them leading up to your elk hunt. Ideally in the same mountains you have your tag.

Make so you cannot miss a 10” plate at 300 yds. Then put yourself under a timer, and be able to go from fully packed to hitting your plate in 15 sec or less.

 

[BuckSmasher]

Have a plan on getting the elk out. Newbies drastically underestimate the difficulty of getting an elk to a truck. Heck, I drastically underestimate it and selectively forget it or I may not go out every year! lol. Early in the season especially you are on the clock for spoilage. Snow and cold and you can take your time but its still gonna be a lot of work.

Unless of course you can drive up to it in a atv or truck. I have had that happen twice. Very, very nice.

 

[jgilber5]

Have a plan on getting the elk out. Newbies drastically underestimate the difficulty of getting an elk to a truck. Heck, I drastically underestimate it and selectively forget it or I may not go out every year! lol. Early in the season especially you are on the clock for spoilage. Snow and cold and you can take your time but its still gonna be a lot of work.

Unless of course you can drive up to it in a atv or truck. I have had that happen twice. Very, very nice.

So very true. My first bull, I never really looked at distance back to the truck. Took me a whole 24 hours to quarter and pack to the truck. I thought it was at least 2 miles and 1000 ft. Measured .8 and 500