% of elk hunters…methods

[zrodwyo]

Just do what you like. You can be successful no matter where you sleep as long as you are a critical thinker with some common sense.

 

[il_cop]

First and foremost, learn where the elk are in your area and how they behave. Then choose the most efficient method to kill them. Sleeping arrangements are a means to an end.

 

[jtevanMT]

40% of time backpacking
30% of time from trailer/truck camp
30% of time from home

 

[Trimbandit]

90% from home, 10% base camp.
I would like to backpack in for the experience. But where I hunt it's not a need.

 

[Pony Soldier]

From the house. Truck for thirty to 100 miles then 8-10 hours on horseback. Sometimes from the house. It all depends on the weather.

 

[D_wit22]

Thanks for all the responses. My biggest problem as a non-resident is getting familiar with an area due to tag issues. Maybe I need to move west

 

[ThickPines]

I’m glad to read the experiences here. A lot of the social media that I see all revolves around backpacking and packing in with stock animals, but those are not options for me at this time. I’m working on planning my first Western trip, and will be day hunting from a house and truck.

 

[Slick8]

I've hunted the same general area for the past 5 years (2x one year deer and elk). One was a res hunt for cow elk so not exactly back country.

I've done the Air BnB, Hotel, Tent camp at trail head thing. They all have one issue in common where I like to hunt, a 30-45 minute drive then a 1-1.5 mile hike straight up hill to get started.

I have a deer hunt for the same region this year but not a unit I've hunted. I'm thinking of adding some backpacking gear this year with the plan of being able to stay out 2-3 nights. This at a minimum would cut out that 1 mile hike to start the day.

The other advantage to back packing gear is it could all fit in a large suit case. I work for an airline and can fly for free. I can fly, rent a truck and be on the mountain in 6 hours not including a food stop. That makes for a cheap and convenient scouting trip even if just camping at the trial head.

 

[WVELK]

Calling all the experts! I was pondering this today so I thought I would post the question. What percentage of elk hunters are backpacking(3+ days in)for the hunt with minimal gear?
What percentage of Elk hunters are doing day trip hunts from their house or hotel/air bnb?
What percentage of Elk hunters hire an outfitter for their hunts(Drop camp/full guided)?

I’m from Pa so I don’t have the slightest clue….all my buddy’s here are the backpacking type, but wanted to see what everyone thought based on their experience.

For some, including me, it proboably changes over time depending on age, income and time limitations associated with other commitments to family, work, etc. In my 20s, I could have financially swallowed an outfitted hunt, but it would not have been financially responsible for me to do so. Therefore, every elk hunt I went on (and there were many) was DYI backpack hunts for more than three days. Sometime it was for 3 weeks. I did not have any kids and was an employee and not an employer at that point. They were always archery hunts.

In my 30s, I started going with outfitters. They were primarily horse back hunts into wilderness areas, wall tent camps of 2-4 hunters and always archery hunts. I was an employer at that point, had less time to commit to a DYI (planning, travel by driving, etc), but had a lot more disposable income. It was equally rewarding at times, but also very disappointing at times even though in 30 years of elk hunting I have only failed to take a bull on one hunt. In my 30s the internet was in place, but forums like this and information about outfitters was much harder to come by. I had some great outfitters and guides, but dang I had some turds.

My 40s was very simlar to my 30s with the exception of a few DYI for old times sake, and I started with my first Arizona hunt and branched into New Mexico for the first time. Those hunts meant you could be in a tent, ranch house, or pull behind camper. Arizona is the most risky in terms of hiring an outfitter. They do not rely upon repeat business from a client because he or she is not going to get another tag for at least a decade, most likely.

In my 50s, the vast majority of my elk hunting is in New Mexico. Again still today it is archery or the highway. I arrive early and leave late because I have more time and disposable income. It is about the experience and I normally stay in a very nice lodge or air B&B with day trips in sourthern New Mexico. I have found the best outfitter with which I have ever hunted and I will continue to hunt with him every year until I can’t. With landowner tags, I don’t have to worry about a draw.

Mr. PA, I am from WV and if you are young, here is my advise. Start out by trying it on your own. All along putting in for preference points and bonus points in all the states for which you can apply. The biggest mistake I made as a young hunter was not starting to obtain points for species in many states. Back to elk, DIY hunts when you are younger will lead to a lot of mistakes, but when you get your first elk it will be unimaginably rewarding. As a young hunter, if you time availabily and disposable income changes as you mature and you start going with outfitters, your guides will respect your knowledge and experience and work harder for you in my experience. You are not just a guy who watched a Televeision hunter drop a bull and you decided “hey I got an extra $20K, think I will give that a try”. I say this with respect and humitly, today I rarely am on a hunt with a guide who has been in on more elk kills than I. A couple friends and I have been very lucky over 30-35 years of elk hunting.

Good luck you you.

 

[ElkArcher918]

I primarily basecamp hunt and do day trips to pre-selected/pre-scouted spots known to hold elk. I do spike out overnight as necessary if I want to get really tight on the elk before daylight. I'm flexible and do what it takes to get on elk even if it means getting up extra early and driving 15-20 miles from basecamp to where the elk are holding. Through evening glassing, I sometimes find elk spots several miles away and just plan to drive to an access point the following morning. It's best to be prepared and flexible to do whatever it takes to get it done.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Gotta move till you find elk. That can be backpacking or day tripping. It's usually easier to sleep in a real bed than in a tent, but 1500' of elevation gain really sucks at 4 am. Only you can decide what style works best for you.

 

[WVELK]

Thanks for all the responses. My biggest problem as a non-resident is getting familiar with an area due to tag issues. Maybe I need to move west

In the late 90s give or take, I wrote an article for Bowhunter magazine about hunters going frome the east to west to hunt elk. One comment that I made in that article was at that time, the majority of people in your shoes going west have never even seen an elk alive and in person. I recommend going to a game farm or anywhere you could see one before going west. If you have never seeen one, you are bowhunting and lucky enough to call one in and he is buggling and blowing snot your way at 20 yards. You may miss him by 50 feet due to excitement. I called one in for my buddy who had never seen one and he shot it right in the whales tale from 15 yards away - which is exactly where he was looking when he shot still LMAO.

With On-x you can familarize yourself with ease. When I first went to Idaho, I left WV with a paper copy of a topo map and and x marked on the topo map. There was a rock I was suppose to find. From there, I was suppose to find other locations. It was a blind treasure hunt I tell you. But, after 2 weeks I had it figured out. You can do it!

 

[bucksnbirds]

I backpack and Basecamp all within the same trip typically. I set up the main outfitter tent with all the amenities and will Basecamp it for a few days while walking in. If I spot elk that are a few hours out of my day hunting capabilities, I'll grab what I need to chase after them for 3 or 4 days before returning to base camp.

If a guy has only 5 or 6 days to hunt, he is well server to hunt from base camp. A guy that is there for a month should be ready to move and try whatever is needed.

 

[rideold]

Except for bow hunting (where I sleep in the truck) I hunt within an hour or less every day from where my sister lives. I've had dreams of those epic backpack hunts with long pack outs but the reality is I'm not going to put that much effort into a hunt when it is not needed. I'll save the backpacking for the summer months.

 

[PanhandlePilgrim]

We always have a base camp with a wall tent and a stove but always have the means to backpack in. If we know there are elk in an area that's hard to get to we will bring the backpacking stuff to give us the means to be on the animals at first and last light for multiple days and save some mileage and elevation on our feet. We will not commit to living out of a bag until we have confirmed it's worth the effort.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Thanks for all the responses. My biggest problem as a non-resident is getting familiar with an area due to tag issues. Maybe I need to move west

This goes against the RS school of thought but...

Do a guided elk hunt and let the outfitter know that you want to learn. You'll learn more in that week than many DIY hunts combined.

 

[Weldor]

30 plus years of Elk hunting, try to draw unit by the cabin. If we draw another unit it's usually less than a hour from the Cabin either truck camp or tent for a few days at a time if weather holds.go back to get cleaned up and hit it again.I see a few guys every year backpacking but with all the roads you are usually just taking a walk. Most of the hunters I see are trailer camping off a forest service road and doing morning and afternoon hunts. Most are in camp by dark. It's up to you how you get after it, all methods work.

 

[TaperPin]

You have to have elk nearby to kill one. Some places that’s right next to a forest service road, other times it’s a few miles away and some times it’s farther. Good meat hunters know where to find elk close to the road. Young guys enjoy meat hunting five miles in, but many of us hit a certain point where it has to be a wall hanger to make packing it three solid days worth while. I’ve also seen guys pack in 5 miles to a spot without elk, but they don’t know. *chuckle*

 

[TaperPin]

Thanks for all the responses. My biggest problem as a non-resident is getting familiar with an area due to tag issues. Maybe I need to move west

You don’t need a license to scout an area and learn about elk. You might even discover traveling to backpack areas is fun in itself.

 

[Slick8]

That's my plan, I'll fly in this Sept and rent a truck for 2-3 days of scouting. It's a part of the hunt that look forward to.