% of elk hunters…methods

[Beendare]

I prefer hunting right out of a base camp and 90% of the elk I've killed are from TH.

It is nice to be packed in on stock with no other hunters directly around you- but thats no guarantee. My buddy with mules and I packed into a wilderness in CO OTC about 8 miles years ago, and had 3 camps of other hunters roll in within 400y of us.

I have backpacked in- did it last year- when it's just too far to go in and out to the elk.

Camp isn't that big a deal to me, I don't usually spend much time there.

 

[Hnthrdr]

I’ll add there is no right or wrong answer, it all depends, just like everything in life haha. I have shot/ helped pack more elk from 3-5 miles from a road. I also killed my PB elk 340 bull 200 yards from a heavily used jeep trail possibly the best packout ever haha

 

[D_wit22]

I’ll add there is no right or wrong answer, it all depends, just like everything in life haha. I have shot/ helped pack more elk from 3-5 miles from a road. I also killed my PB elk 340 bull 200 yards from a heavily used jeep trail possibly the best packout ever haha

That would be a dream to find one just off the trail head… does ONX show these bulls?

 

[Hnthrdr]

That would be a dream to find one just off the trail head… does ONX show these bulls?

Yep just have to pay for their diamond membership no man, it’s what us serious elk hunters call possibly the most important aspect of elk hunting… it’s not talked about too much on Rokslide since we are all professional badass hunters… but I’ll share with you. It’s pure dumb LUCK right place/ right time with a bull that did something really stupid and got an arrow instead of a girlfriend haha

 

[D_wit22]

Some day I dream of becoming a professional Elk hunter….but for now I’m gonna shoot for lucky I like the honesty

 

[Hnthrdr]

All that said, the more encounters I get with elk the more luck I seem to have

 

[D_wit22]

That starts to become skill at some point. I think you’ve crossed into that territory by now

 

[D_wit22]

Seems like my best option is to have my spike camp equipment ready, but focus more on finding elk before I commit to doing a backpacking camp. Basing this on the main goal of having an opportunity to kill and elk.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Seems like my best option is to have my spike camp equipment ready, but focus more on finding elk before I commit to doing a backpacking camp. Basing this on the main goal of having an opportunity to kill and elk.

Seems like a solid plan, what season/ state are you hunting?

 

[D_wit22]

Idaho. Archery, thinking mid-end of September

 

[Blackstewart]

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.

I’ve hunted CO and AZ. All day hunts with day pack. Never used an outfitter or guide. Hear the elk, stalk the elk, shoot the elj

 

[Jake Larsen]

I don’t use guides/outfitters - so this is for public land. I hunt wherever the elk are. If they’re close to a place I can park my truck, I’ll truck camp. If they’re too far in to effectively hunt that way, I’ll backpack in. I let the logistics dictate the method I use. It’s all about staying productive in terms of creating opportunities. I’ll use whatever method gets me into the correct positions.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hnthrdr]

Idaho. Archery, thinking mid-end of September

Sounds like a solid plan, love the mid-end of Sept

 

[Jet Black]

I’m new to this but it seems like either decision you make is a gamble.

A. Bring spike camp and a few days of food and get in there and don’t find any elk then you carried all that stuff for nothing.

B. Don’t bring spike camp and a few days of food and you get in there’s ways and there are a bunch of elk, now you have to hike out an hike back in with spike camp and a few days of food anyway.

Seems like A gives you more flexibility in that you’re able to immediately make the next move based on only what is the best move for trying to kill an elk and not having to worry about anything else that could waste time. And even if you only have to hike a mile or two back to the truck, that still seems pretty inefficient from a time and rest perspective. Just become a beast so you don’t notice the heavy pack haha.

 

[D_wit22]

Sounds like a solid plan, love the mid-end of Sept

This year with new moon falling on the Saturday between 3rd,4th week I’m hoping it’s gonna be CRAZY. Wishful thinking right!

 

[Hnthrdr]

This year with new moon falling on the Saturday between 3rd,4th week I’m hoping it’s gonna be CRAZY. Wishful thinking right!

IMO craziness aka rut fest is tied to a bunch of different factors… so hard to say, but there will be rutting elk in the 3-4 week of Sept. every time I think I know what is causing the rut or when it will kick off I’m humbled haha

 

[D_wit22]

IMO craziness aka rut fest is tied to a bunch of different factors… so hard to say, but there will be rutting elk in the 3-4 week of Sept. every time I think I know what is causing the rut or when it will kick off I’m humbled haha

Yea sounds a lot like the whitetail woods. The amount of times I have headed to the woods confident it would be “game time” and didn’t see any activity . There has to be a formula out there to figure it out

 

[HairyScandinavian]

This year with new moon falling on the Saturday between 3rd,4th week I’m hoping it’s gonna be CRAZY. Wishful thinking right!

Might be crazy with other hunters. Whenever something the Newbergs of the world talk about in regard to timing like moon phases or hunting burns and such I tend to do the opposite to avoid the zombies.

 

[D_wit22]

Might be crazy with other hunters. Whenever something the Newbergs of the world talk about in regard to timing like moon phases or hunting burns and such I tend to do the opposite to avoid the zombies.

Didn’t think about that part. Here I was thinking like I do in the Whitetail woods again. But it is a hard to draw area for nonresidents so I guess I’ll just have to fight with the residents

 

[Hnthrdr]

Might be crazy with other hunters. Whenever something the Newbergs of the world talk about in regard to timing like moon phases or hunting burns and such I tend to do the opposite to avoid the zombies.

Yep, honestly biggest factor for “perceived” rut for me has always been daytime temps…. If it’s 65-70 and above… it get pretty quite, I’m sure others have direct contradictions to my opinion haha but heat seems to make them much harder to hunt, and I’ve had warmer last weeks of Sept for 2 of the last 3 years in Co… go figure