Semi guided, drop camp or diy

[NYSHUNTER]

Hello All,

Being from NYS with a growing passion for DIY hunts. I find myself between a rock and hard place. After a few tries and getting stuck with tag soup. I came to a conclusion I'm not doing enough scouting. The inability to get boots on the ground in the off season leaves me with very few options.

1. Getting to my Hunt earlier then expected to scout and set up instead of day before
2. Semi Guided hunt
3. drop Hunt

I was hoping to get some input and advice.


Thanks

 

[wyosteve]

My .02 is Option 1. Not sure what you mean by semi-guided, but that or a drop hunt you take a risk that someone is doing it for the $$$ instead of focusing on your chance for success. I would try to get to the area and scout for a week before the hunt.

 

[StrutNut]

Im going to watch this thread as I have the same question. I can afford the time or money to hunt every year. Maybe every 5 years and dont have the luxury of being able to summer scout either. I hope to have 2 weeks of PTO for next year and looking at doing an elk or elk/mule deer combination hunt as well. With the time and financial constraints semi guided seem to be a possible solution.

 

[weaver]

If you can take the extra time off I would definitely diy and scout a few days before the season or stay extra days in season.
I don't think a drop camp or a semiguided hunt are going to up you're odds too much.
If you can swing the cash, a fully guided hunt with a quality outfitter might be a good investment.

 

[CA Karen]

I would say get there early.... but first do your HOME WORK! Don't know what your hunting or where, but meet people who hunt/have hunted the area and see if you can buddy up, camp with, or get a few pointers from them.

 

[camping1601]

Spend more time there and scout, scout, and scout some more.

 

[dotman]

Drop camps are not a gurrantee of being placed close to elk. Outfitters have certain areas they are licensed to operate and only so many camps they are permitted to use, not sure if they even get to pick them but the fully guided clients will get the best areas, they would be stupid not to do that.

Also prepare to see DIY guys hiking in and past your drop camp. So IMO option 1 is the only good option since it sounds like you have the gear. IMO a drop camp is good for either a first timer that doesn't know if western hunting will be for them or someone that only gets out every 10 years.

Scouting is great but if you can't scout then continue to hunt the same general area and get to know it over the years.

 

[Muledeerfanatic]

Get there early. Stay and hunt hard for as long as you can. Learn the country and cover as much as possible. And if its possible, hunt the same area multiple years and figure it out.

 

[striker3]

Where are you hunting at?

 

[NYSHUNTER]

I have been stock piling points. This year I'm hoping to draw in Co have 3pts for elk and muley . I was gonna try for unit 711 or 71 AND HUNT some where south of slick rock. I was gonna by an OTC tag second rifle and hopefully I draw a deer tag to double the odds of putting a tag on an animal. A friend said bear tags are otc but haven't looked into it to much. Gear wise I'm pretty set.


My plan was to get in 3days before the hunt getting to a place to glass and spike camp from. A another buddy said that idea may not work because my hunt will be second week and that i should go for first week rifle and hope to draw

I have tried the guided hunts and to be honest I'm not to big on just following and being told when to shoot. I don't mind striking out for me anytime out the concrete jungle and in the outdoors is time well spent , but coming home with bull or a buck will be the icing on the cake

So any advice will be greatly appreciated

 

[striker3]

I am not familiar with Colorado regulations. Why would you not be able to go 3 days ahead of the 2nd week hunt? Or is he just saying that there will be too much pressure when you are trying to scout?

 

[mtluckydan]

If you are gun hunting rather than bow hunting, I would try for a muzzleloader tag so you can hunt when they are bugling. Otherwise, maybe consider taking up bowhunting. Half the battle with elk is finding them and when they are bugling that is easier. I know quite a few guys from NY who are successful in Colorado. Try meeting some guys back there and hooking up with them. I would not consider drop camp or semi-guided for the reasons mentioned above. Also, I don't think on the ground scouting is that helpful. Most of the elk I have killed have been the first time I was in that spot. They are more random than whitetails which you are probably used to hunting. Also, if you disturb them while scouting, you may move them entirely out of your hunting area. Hunting the same area multiple times is a good strategy and probably more useful than pre-scouting.

 

[NYSHUNTER]

He said the pressure would more like have them moving

 

[NYSHUNTER]

He said the pressure would more likely have them moving. I'm a decent bow hunter and been giving it some thought. As far as a buddy system most guys I know are chasing tails in the NY woods and say I'm bonkers for thinking I can land a Elk or Muley.