Ironman8
WKR
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2013
- Messages
- 934
Not a problem. Let me know how it works out.
Planning my first elk hunt (Colorado)
- Thread starter Finch
- Start date
Finch,
I saw your post a while back, and also saw that you were getting excellent advice. I have a couple thoughts to share, apologies for any duplication, but there are so many replies now that I don't have time to dig through all of them to see if anyone else has already shared similar thoughts...
BATTERY UNIFORMITY- Make sure electronic devices for all hunters use the same style of battery whenever possible - i.e. AA so you don't have to carry many battery types and can share spares if needed.
RADIOS REDUCE ANXIETY- The GMU you plan to hunt has many miles with no cell reception, even on ridge tops or in small towns. NONE. I know, I have a couple friends that live around there. Intentionally or not, you WILL get separated from your hunting partner(s) at some point and you will all be wearing camo. Now what? Whistle or yell and ruin your hunt for an hour or more, go back to camp and wait? Get a couple 36 mile blister-pack radios from REI or Ebay and make sure they are waterproof (they won't transmit anywhere near 36 miles in the woods, more like a mile or three at best). They also will not transmit through a mountain into a drainage on the other side. However, they will save your a** and keep anxiety low. They will also let you split up when scouting or tracking and still be able to find each other (Before anyone out there chimes in and plays "attorney", be forewarned that you can't use them to "hunt" and get advantage over game in many areas). That said, you'd be foolish not to get them if w/in your budget. Also get ear-buds with PTT (Push-to-talk microphones), these can pick up the slightest whisper as long as the mic is right at your mouth and your buddy will hear you well. Be certain to get the radios fully programmed and checked before heading out, many models are difficult to program in order to eliminate beeps, etc. Also, be sure to understand that certain channels allow the radios to operate at higher power levels than others and thus offer better range. Stash the radios in a side pocket on your backpack and run the PTT wire so it won't snag on underbrush, but still allow you to dump your pack. Batteries will easily last a couple 2-3 day or more if the radios are off while you're near each other. Get the units that use AA batteries, not rechargeable packs.
PANTS- get some lightweight zip-off convertible pants, make sure they take a belt. Early season can be very warm, even if not warm, climbing w/a pack will heat you up. KEY POINT- when you're hot, zip off the lowers, don't take them off, just roll the lowers down toward your ankles and the tuck the rolled up lower leg into the upper part of your socks. Not a fashionista statement for sure, but very efficient. When you're stopped and cold, pull them up and zip 'em.
BELT- thin belt that won't put a pressure point under your backpack belt. I use a nylon webbing belt.
KNEEPADS- Are a must. You can flop down on your knees any time, anywhere and not worry about hurting your knees. Especially handy when spontaneously praying for that big bull to come back..! All joking aside, some folks like pads integrated in their pants, I don't. I like pads I can use with shorts or any pant I choose. I really like Black Diamond TeleKneesis pads. Made for telemark skiing, they are light weight and articulate well. When you don't need them, just loosen them, let them slide down on your shins. Tighten the lower strap a little so it sits just at your boot top, then snug the upper strap at your calf. Need them? Pull them up and snug em up.
YOU ARE HUNTING TO KILL, NOT PLAY- never, ever make a bugle or cow call or go to go the creek for water without your bow and release. I once playfully threw out a call at a bull that was 500 yards away and almost 1,000 ft below me in elevation, thinking I would get his attention. I did. He was on me and then past me before I could move into any sort of a shooting position and get my bow off the back of my pack. Another time I went to pump water from a creek, left my bow at camp. Let's just say I'll never do it again.
MAPPING- I did see where others suggested MyTopo. Great tip. I have had them print me several 2'x3' maps for various area I've hunted. The quality is super. They use waterproof ink and Tyvek paper, so the maps are bomb proof. Mytopo also has a subscription service called MapPass for $30 or so/year that lets you print from your own printer or any other printer. The only drawback is that the service limits you to printing on 8.5x11 or 11x17 paper. If you subscribe, I suggest doing a quick search on EBay for Tyvek printer paper and buying a small box of about 50-100 sheets for $40 or so. Then you can print all the photos and topos you want, cheaply. Lazer printer printers use toner and toner is waterproof. Ink jet printers often are not.
HILL MAP at HillMap.com is another great and FREE mapping/aerial photo site. Printing is a bit awkward and you are limited to printing on 8.5x11 paper I believe. Best part of this site is that it allows you to use various overlays on top of a topo. One of those is extremely slick! It was designed as an avalanche tool, it takes a topo, then shades it in different colors depending on the steepness of grade. Makes it simple to quickly assess entire mountains for best places to travel, squeeze zones, etc.
Hill map also allows you to create custom routes on your computer and download, then pre-load them into your GPS.
WEATHER- if you have a Sat Phone- have one two friends at home or work check the on-line weather for you daily. Have them write down the week long forecast day by day and text it to you if your sat phone takes texts. Hi temp/low temp, % chance of rain and if T-storms are expected. If no texting on your sat phone, then call them from it when you're on a ridge and have them give you the scoop. Waste no time on small talk. Sat phone minutes are expensive.
TREKKING POLES RULE! I used to think they were for losers. Not. Used properly, they will increase your climbing efficiency by 10+% and take a huge load off when descending steep terrain under load. Add that up over the course of your hunt. Set them a little long and lean into them like doing an ab crunch when climbing steep stuff.
COMPASS DECLINATION- for proper declination adjustment, go here and input a nearby zip code http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag-web/#declination (NOAA- your tax dollars at work!)
BUTCHER- line one up now and know his address/contact info and hours.
SOCKS- I love SmartWool PhD medium weights hikers, crew height. If need be, you can get 2-3 days out them before swapping into fresh ones (assuming they don't get wet). I have never had a blister with these.
Many thanks to all those who have posted on this site and other sites where I've learned so much. I hope this helps!
Good luck!
JL
I saw your post a while back, and also saw that you were getting excellent advice. I have a couple thoughts to share, apologies for any duplication, but there are so many replies now that I don't have time to dig through all of them to see if anyone else has already shared similar thoughts...
BATTERY UNIFORMITY- Make sure electronic devices for all hunters use the same style of battery whenever possible - i.e. AA so you don't have to carry many battery types and can share spares if needed.
RADIOS REDUCE ANXIETY- The GMU you plan to hunt has many miles with no cell reception, even on ridge tops or in small towns. NONE. I know, I have a couple friends that live around there. Intentionally or not, you WILL get separated from your hunting partner(s) at some point and you will all be wearing camo. Now what? Whistle or yell and ruin your hunt for an hour or more, go back to camp and wait? Get a couple 36 mile blister-pack radios from REI or Ebay and make sure they are waterproof (they won't transmit anywhere near 36 miles in the woods, more like a mile or three at best). They also will not transmit through a mountain into a drainage on the other side. However, they will save your a** and keep anxiety low. They will also let you split up when scouting or tracking and still be able to find each other (Before anyone out there chimes in and plays "attorney", be forewarned that you can't use them to "hunt" and get advantage over game in many areas). That said, you'd be foolish not to get them if w/in your budget. Also get ear-buds with PTT (Push-to-talk microphones), these can pick up the slightest whisper as long as the mic is right at your mouth and your buddy will hear you well. Be certain to get the radios fully programmed and checked before heading out, many models are difficult to program in order to eliminate beeps, etc. Also, be sure to understand that certain channels allow the radios to operate at higher power levels than others and thus offer better range. Stash the radios in a side pocket on your backpack and run the PTT wire so it won't snag on underbrush, but still allow you to dump your pack. Batteries will easily last a couple 2-3 day or more if the radios are off while you're near each other. Get the units that use AA batteries, not rechargeable packs.
PANTS- get some lightweight zip-off convertible pants, make sure they take a belt. Early season can be very warm, even if not warm, climbing w/a pack will heat you up. KEY POINT- when you're hot, zip off the lowers, don't take them off, just roll the lowers down toward your ankles and the tuck the rolled up lower leg into the upper part of your socks. Not a fashionista statement for sure, but very efficient. When you're stopped and cold, pull them up and zip 'em.
BELT- thin belt that won't put a pressure point under your backpack belt. I use a nylon webbing belt.
KNEEPADS- Are a must. You can flop down on your knees any time, anywhere and not worry about hurting your knees. Especially handy when spontaneously praying for that big bull to come back..! All joking aside, some folks like pads integrated in their pants, I don't. I like pads I can use with shorts or any pant I choose. I really like Black Diamond TeleKneesis pads. Made for telemark skiing, they are light weight and articulate well. When you don't need them, just loosen them, let them slide down on your shins. Tighten the lower strap a little so it sits just at your boot top, then snug the upper strap at your calf. Need them? Pull them up and snug em up.
YOU ARE HUNTING TO KILL, NOT PLAY- never, ever make a bugle or cow call or go to go the creek for water without your bow and release. I once playfully threw out a call at a bull that was 500 yards away and almost 1,000 ft below me in elevation, thinking I would get his attention. I did. He was on me and then past me before I could move into any sort of a shooting position and get my bow off the back of my pack. Another time I went to pump water from a creek, left my bow at camp. Let's just say I'll never do it again.
MAPPING- I did see where others suggested MyTopo. Great tip. I have had them print me several 2'x3' maps for various area I've hunted. The quality is super. They use waterproof ink and Tyvek paper, so the maps are bomb proof. Mytopo also has a subscription service called MapPass for $30 or so/year that lets you print from your own printer or any other printer. The only drawback is that the service limits you to printing on 8.5x11 or 11x17 paper. If you subscribe, I suggest doing a quick search on EBay for Tyvek printer paper and buying a small box of about 50-100 sheets for $40 or so. Then you can print all the photos and topos you want, cheaply. Lazer printer printers use toner and toner is waterproof. Ink jet printers often are not.
HILL MAP at HillMap.com is another great and FREE mapping/aerial photo site. Printing is a bit awkward and you are limited to printing on 8.5x11 paper I believe. Best part of this site is that it allows you to use various overlays on top of a topo. One of those is extremely slick! It was designed as an avalanche tool, it takes a topo, then shades it in different colors depending on the steepness of grade. Makes it simple to quickly assess entire mountains for best places to travel, squeeze zones, etc.
Hill map also allows you to create custom routes on your computer and download, then pre-load them into your GPS.
WEATHER- if you have a Sat Phone- have one two friends at home or work check the on-line weather for you daily. Have them write down the week long forecast day by day and text it to you if your sat phone takes texts. Hi temp/low temp, % chance of rain and if T-storms are expected. If no texting on your sat phone, then call them from it when you're on a ridge and have them give you the scoop. Waste no time on small talk. Sat phone minutes are expensive.
TREKKING POLES RULE! I used to think they were for losers. Not. Used properly, they will increase your climbing efficiency by 10+% and take a huge load off when descending steep terrain under load. Add that up over the course of your hunt. Set them a little long and lean into them like doing an ab crunch when climbing steep stuff.
COMPASS DECLINATION- for proper declination adjustment, go here and input a nearby zip code http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag-web/#declination (NOAA- your tax dollars at work!)
BUTCHER- line one up now and know his address/contact info and hours.
SOCKS- I love SmartWool PhD medium weights hikers, crew height. If need be, you can get 2-3 days out them before swapping into fresh ones (assuming they don't get wet). I have never had a blister with these.
Many thanks to all those who have posted on this site and other sites where I've learned so much. I hope this helps!
Good luck!
JL
Bails-UK
FNG
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2013
- Messages
- 62
You getting excited yet Donnie 
, right about now I'm grinning from ear to ear and anxious to get in them Mountains, unfortunately I'm not hunting in 2015, but all is set for 2016. In fact I'm already getting stuff ready, but I got a wedding to pay for first LOL. My wife to be said we'll go on our honeymoon in 2017, just so I can go to Elk Camp in 2016 ("She's a keeper")
, right about now I'm grinning from ear to ear and anxious to get in them Mountains, unfortunately I'm not hunting in 2015, but all is set for 2016. In fact I'm already getting stuff ready, but I got a wedding to pay for first LOL. My wife to be said we'll go on our honeymoon in 2017, just so I can go to Elk Camp in 2016 ("She's a keeper")You getting excited
Yes sir I'm excited! I've been thinking about this trip everyday for a couple years now. I can honestly say I think about stinkin' elk everyday.
Congratulations on the upcoming nuptials! She definitely sounds like a keeper!
Last edited:
Finch,
I have hunted off my back for many years in Colorado. I have done it in the western part of the state and now do in the rocky mountains. I have added a link that has been very helpful in what I put in my pack. I additionally create a word document list for everything that I take. I make it very detailed so I don't forget anything. As far as clothing goes I would recommend Kuiu or Sitka. I don't know if you have already bought clothes. Let me know what you think.
http://blog.westernhunter.net/20121108backpacking-gear-list-by-backcountry-editor-nate-simmons/
I have hunted off my back for many years in Colorado. I have done it in the western part of the state and now do in the rocky mountains. I have added a link that has been very helpful in what I put in my pack. I additionally create a word document list for everything that I take. I make it very detailed so I don't forget anything. As far as clothing goes I would recommend Kuiu or Sitka. I don't know if you have already bought clothes. Let me know what you think.
http://blog.westernhunter.net/20121108backpacking-gear-list-by-backcountry-editor-nate-simmons/
bz_711
WKR
- Joined
- May 7, 2012
- Messages
- 966
Yes sir I'm excited! I've been thinking about this trip everyday for a couple years now. I can honestly say I think about stinkin' elk everyday.
Thinking about elk every day - I say that's normal
Love this time of year when excitement picks up...started Saturday with a personal 60 day challenge of shooting at least one arrow each day, and workout each day. Last thing I need to do is add couple hikes each week with weighted pack...
Enjoy these weeks leading up to it - the planning, prep, and actual road trip can be just as fun as the actual hunt...
That's an impressive list! Thanks for posting the link, exactly what I've been looking for!
Thinking about elk every day - I say that's normal
Love this time of year when excitement picks up...started Saturday with a personal 60 day challenge of shooting at least one arrow each day, and workout each day. Last thing I need to do is add couple hikes each week with weighted pack...
Enjoy these weeks leading up to it - the planning, prep, and actual road trip can be just as fun as the actual hunt...
I've got the shooting thing covered - been shooting everyday for a couple months now. I'm ashamed to say the workouts have slowed down since it's gotten hot. I walk with my weighted pack but I'm honestly not doing as much as I should be. Need to pick it up a bit!
bz_711
WKR
- Joined
- May 7, 2012
- Messages
- 966
The pack walks are probably the most important for your back/shoulders...and make sure to be doing them in your hunting boots. Foot issues will derail a trip quicker than anything.
Follow Cameron Hanes on Facebook...I know many can't stand him, but I like what he stands for...and multiple nights each week his posts motivate me to get my workout it....helped me do 30 minutes on the elliptical last night at 10:45 when I'd rather have gone to bed
Here's a 60 yard group from my Elite E35. Not bad especially for a whisker biscuit. I can easily get my thumb and index finger around the 3 arrows on the left and it's a little tight including the "flyer" on the right.
September is getting close!
September is getting close!
Scott/IL
Lil-Rokslider
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2014
- Messages
- 223
Nice shooting Donnie. Can't wait to hear the story you bring back (and hopefully see the bull too!)
I'm planning on 2016 for my first elk adventure after missing out on plans last year. Going to try and get my fix in Arizona this December with deer though!
I'm planning on 2016 for my first elk adventure after missing out on plans last year. Going to try and get my fix in Arizona this December with deer though!
Thanks Scott!
Good luck on the deer hunt in December!
I remember when I was a year out from this year's hunt. I'm looking at only a little over a month to go. Time flies! 2016 elk season will be here before you know it.
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Random question of the day...I'm still pouring over these damn stats and maps trying to decide on a unit to hunt in CO this fall. Anyway, I've noticed that there are a few OTC units that for the past couple seasons, there were no cows harvested during archery. What does that tell you about those units? I.E.: Unit 19, 60, 72, 771, 79, 851. Those are all units where no cows were killed in archery for at least 2 seasons ('13 & '14). There are other units that were zero one year and then the other year only a few cows were killed. I'm not really interested in any of these units pe se, just noticed a trend and was curious.
Not sure on the specifics unit your referencing but not all units are either sex some are excluded.
Well, I hurt my right shoulder on Monday at the beach. A big wave knocked me down onto my shoulder. I couldn't move my arm at all on Tuesday and went to urgent care. Doc says I have a strained muscle/tendon. He gave me some anti inflammatory meds. I've regained alot more motion since Tuesday but there's some pain still there. I can do range of motion exercises but certain movements give me a sharp pain. Really hoping this heals up before my hunt. I can afford to take next week off from shooting my bow but hopefully no more than that. Leaving on Sept. 4th.
I'm trying to be positive about this. If nothing else, still hoping I can at least go and shoulder a pack and help my buddy try to kill something if this doesn't heal up. We'll see.
I'm trying to be positive about this. If nothing else, still hoping I can at least go and shoulder a pack and help my buddy try to kill something if this doesn't heal up. We'll see.
Pig_Pen
FNG
Wishing you a speedy recovery, I have been following your thread since the begining as I will be on my elk first trip this year. I am almost to the point of wrapping myself in bubble wrap to keep the injury fairies away. My fingers are crossed that the next few weeks will allow that shoulder to heal up. Good luck!
Travis1984
WKR
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2012
- Messages
- 683
Sorry to hear that man...we head in September 16th.
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