Duly noted points everyone. No doubt the task sounds daunting to take on with others, much less yourself. I appreciate the honestly, as that's what I am looking for.
roosiebull,
This thread is by no means discouraging me! I am actually more excited every comment I read. I love a good challenge to face and it sounds like I will get that come September. I know in the end I will enjoy the ride. I also know I have to keep working hard on fitness and re-evaluate my plans a bit. Thanks for the words of encouragement!
you bet man, you have the right attitude. a lot of folks get discouraged and throw in the towel early on a hunt, but it's pretty easy to not become a statistic in that regard.... all you have to do is think of what you'll be doing if you leave the woods, and how it will feel looking back on the hunt.
of course every type of hunting in every region will be different, but hunting is hunting.... you pay attention to the clues and build a strategy and learn from the results. anyone with a good hunting mindset will pick up on elk hunting pretty quick. stay versatile, don't be one dimensional. the beauty of hunting alone is the versatility and lack of pressure. you could sit on a ridge, watch some elk for a couple evenings, then plan an ambush on them if there is a pattern of any type.... you can stalk them, with only one person worth of smell, noise, and movement... and you can take as long as you want on that stalk without your partner getting antsy..... it opens up possibilities for strategy you don't really have hunting with others.
I like calling in bulls as much as the next guy, but often times i'll take advantage of being solo and go about it a different way. sometimes calling isn't the best path to kill an elk.
taking advice from others on strategy, just make sure you consider the source, don't go all in on someone else's techniques, especially if they aren't killing elk on a regular basis.
what I have noticed with elk hunters who kill a lot of elk is they all have their own style, there are similarities between them, but most of the killers aren't one dimensional.... there are some good one dimensional hunters, but they do what they do because that's what they like to do, not because it's necessarily the best path to kill every elk.
it seems many are content just bugling back and forth with bulls, worried they'll mess it up getting more aggressive.... bugling back and forth with elk is just that, sometimes you have to take some chances or you will never kill one.... don't be that guy with the story of calling in 15 bulls but never had a shot, haha..... that's what that means, they had one bugling back and forth, that's not a call in.
if you are having action, you will have to find a way into the red zone, and archery elk season is all about close encounters with elk, be smart but don't be too tentative. you'll learn a lot more messing up situations than you will bugling back and forth with a bull 150yds away..... being solo makes it easier to get within range, but you may have to get creative and stay dynamic.
