Someone smarter than me

[Arrow870]

Arkansan here…avid whitetail hunter but have always loved the west and dreamed of elk hunting (like 90% of everyone) I’m young and have 0 experience and no matter how much you read and look up at the end of the day people smarter than me always have better answers…so with points and all the talk of “point creep” (I’m lost) if you could go back to the ripe age of 21 and start again how would you go about it…what states to try and hunt now to get experience …what states would you plan on a once and a lifetime hunt in many years to come (point wise)… how to find a mentor that would be willing to teach a young man the ways of old… and lastly how not to be the guy that everyone dreads to see in the woods…
(Have plans to move to MT in a year or two so no sense in the long term point plan there)

Thanks in advance, don’t flame me too hard

My condolences, Arrow870

 

[Arrow870]

Archery is weapon of choice but experience is more meaningful starting out so if a rifle or muzzleloader would help connect the dots then so be it

 

[Indian Summer]

I would start buying points in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. If you live in Montana you’ll be buying bonus points instead of preference points.

Then I would apply for a license in Wyoming and either Colorado or Idaho. If you want to save some money and up your odds of killing elk start by getting your feet wet with a few cow tags and hunt those while you accumulate some points.

That way when you are 54 years old and have enough points to draw a bull tag you’ll know what you’re doing. Haha!

 

[Tmac]

NM is another good state to consider if looking to avoid points.

The best advice I could give you is to focus on areas you can hunt often so you learn them well. I’d not get hung up on always seeking the so called best units. If you move to MT, that will be easy once you become a resident.

It is good to have some distance between your target areas. The terrible winter in 22 wiped out a couple areas I had in my rotation. I’ve focused on other areas while they recover.

It is so difficult to guess what the future holds, regulation changes, etc. I’m not sure I’d play the points game for premium units in more than 2-3 states, if at all. I might spend more time in the random draw states and the landowner tag arena. I would target multiple states subject to budget constraints, mostly in areas I could hunt more often. Hard to quantify, but 2-3 times over a 5-8 year period.

I’m more of a deer hunter. Most of my best bucks have been taken in places I’ve hunted at least 2-3 years. Generally not in the “best” units, sometimes not even in states you hear about from the “experts”. That said you can do well in a new unit, especially if you can scout. So cast a wide net and hunt as much as you can.

Get the best quality Bino’s you can afford and use them off a tripod. Predator and varmint hunting are good ways to hone your field shooting skills. You may just find a honey hole of bucks/bulls while chasing coyotes/cats/... Don’t ignore antlerless opportunities, you’ll learn things that will help with chasing the boys. Study the habits of your quarry, especially what they eat, when/where they rut, and if migratory, when and to where.

Most of all be safe and remember this is suppose to be fun. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Carry food/water/extra clothes and recovery gear. I’ve had a sudden rain storm strand me for 3 days due to mud, happens.

 

[Arrow870]

I would start buying points in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. If you live in Montana you’ll be buying bonus points instead of preference points.

Then I would apply for a license in Wyoming and either Colorado or Idaho. If you want to save some money and up your odds of killing elk start by getting your feet wet with a few cow tags and hunt those while you accumulate some points.

That way when you are 54 years old and have enough points to draw a bull tag you’ll know what you’re doing. Haha!

Hmmm cow tags that’s a good start I’ll be sure to start doing my research and see what I cook up…I sure appreciate the feedback thanks! (54 sure don’t seem that old!!)

 

[Arrow870]

NM is another good state to consider if looking to avoid points.

The best advice I could give you is to focus on areas you can hunt often so you learn them well. I’d not get hung up on always seeking the so called best units. If you move to MT, that will be easy once you become a resident.

It is good to have some distance between your target areas. The terrible winter in 22 wiped out a couple areas I had in my rotation. I’ve focused on other areas while they recover.

It is so difficult to guess what the future holds, regulation changes, etc. I’m not sure I’d play the points game for premium units in more than 2-3 states, if at all. I might spend more time in the random draw states and the landowner tag arena. I would target multiple states subject to budget constraints, mostly in areas I could hunt more often. Hard to quantify, but 2-3 times over a 5-8 year period.

I’m more of a deer hunter. Most of my best bucks have been taken in places I’ve hunted at least 2-3 years. Generally not in the “best” units, sometimes not even in states you hear about from the “experts”. That said you can do well in a new unit, especially if you can scout. So cast a wide net and hunt as much as you can.

Get the best quality Bino’s you can afford and use them off a tripod. Predator and varmint hunting are good ways to hone your field shooting skills. You may just find a honey hole of bucks/bulls while chasing coyotes/cats/... Don’t ignore antlerless opportunities, you’ll learn things that will help with chasing the boys. Study the habits of your quarry, especially what they eat, when/where they rut, and if migratory, when and to where.

Most of all be safe and remember this is suppose to be fun. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Carry food/water/extra clothes and recovery gear. I’ve had a sudden rain storm strand me for 3 days due to mud, happens.

From what I’ve heard 22’ must have put a hurtin on the west and the rain storm….woah that doesn’t come up much in research also having fun means more than anything as long as I’m in the mountains I’ll have a smile on my face…I appreciate the feedback thanks!

 

[rayporter]

some good info above. get out and hunt. learn about the mountains because there will be a learning curve. pay your dues while young. that first trip may be a camping trip with a bow but it is necessary.

i would ask if you plan on only diy? if so you have gear to get and you must test your gear. a lot of testing can be done here at home.

 

[Arrow870]

some good info above. get out and hunt. learn about the mountains because there will be a learning curve. pay your dues while young. that first trip may be a camping trip with a bow but it is necessary.

i would ask if you plan on only diy? if so you have gear to get and you must test your gear. a lot of testing can be done here at home.

The gear can be pretty extensive from what I read and I’m sure there’s hundreds of threads about gear in the forum lol and those first few trips I’m mentally prepared to let the mountains right hook me directly in the jaw… but if I was a betting man I’d say that most people would say their fondest memories in the mountains would be those first few outings!

 

[accountantsanonymous]

This guy FNGs. Great question OP.

 

[rayporter]

gear is not near as important as going hunting!!!
i killed my first elk in blue jeans and a rubber rain coat.

the pain goes away when you get home. and the memories flood back with every bite.

when i first seen the valley we were going to hunt my mouth hung open. it was quit the feeling that i have never forgot.

 

[BRTreedogs]

The biggest advice is move now NOW
Put your crap in the truck and head to a state that has otc hunting and find a job. Live out of your truck if you have to.

The longer you stay where you are the less likely you will move.
You’ll find some girl, she won’t want to move away from her parents etc etc.

 

[TaperPin]

Growing up, we’d go mess with the elk in September. You’re really restricting yourself by not getting into the field, with a license or not. Make plans right now to make a trip if you draw or not.

Some of the best learning experiences don’t even involve walking much - sitting with a good view looking down into of a section of timber it’s fun to watch other hunters bugle elk and each other. When you’re not overthinking it trying to be too careful, it’s easier to get a feel for traveling around elk. When the grandson is old enough we’ll go walking through drainages with a lot of thick timber and wallows - bumping elk of all kinds in the timber is fun, and talking with elk is even better.

 

[LongWayAround]

You can be hunting cow elk in Wyoming next season, if you apply now.

You can hunt cows or bulls in Colorado every year, if you want.

There's a thousand gear threads on here. Boots, backpack, binoculars, and camping gear.

 

[Tmac]

From what I’ve heard 22’ must have put a hurtin on the west and the rain storm….woah that doesn’t come up much in research also having fun means more than anything as long as I’m in the mountains I’ll have a smile on my face…I appreciate the feedback thanks!

It was bad. A ranch we’ve hunted for about 10 years used to have 150-300 deer every day feeding in one huge 320 ish acre field. In 23 they counted 15, in 24 just 7. Two very bad drought years weakened them and then a blue tongue outbreak just before the bad winter hit. About 1/2 the deer were dead there before the winter hit and finished them off. 50-90% losses from that winter in many areas over several states, it was bad.

 

[Indian Summer]

The gear can be pretty extensive from what I read and I’m sure there’s hundreds of threads about gear in the forum lol and those first few trips I’m mentally prepared to let the mountains right hook me directly in the jaw… but if I was a betting man I’d say that most people would say their fondest memories in the mountains would be those first few outings!

When I think about my first couple elk hunts I realize how completely uneducated we were. We were deer hunters. That did more harm than good. You have to learn what it is you need to learn. Hunting and a one thing but just learning tricks to make living in the mountains and hiking them is another. Again, I would highly suggest a summer camping trip. It’s a ton of fun.

 

[jgilber5]

Feel free to pm me, love talking to others that are passionate about elk. I'm not an expert by any means, but was in your shoes in '22. Now have 3 bulls in 3 states in 3 years so the research and hard work paid off.

 

[Arrow870]

This guy FNGs. Great question OP.

Don’t really know the slang around here yet….but I do understand great question lol…just trying to learn from those…smarter than me

 

[Arrow870]

The biggest advice is move now NOW
Put your crap in the truck and head to a state that has otc hunting and find a job. Live out of your truck if you have to.

The longer you stay where you are the less likely you will move.
You’ll find some girl, she won’t want to move away from her parents etc etc.

Hahahaha advice has been taken have been thinking about it since I was 18 figured it’s time to piss or get off the pot!

 

[Arrow870]

Growing up, we’d go mess with the elk in September. You’re really restricting yourself by not getting into the field, with a license or not. Make plans right now to make a trip if you draw or not.

Some of the best learning experiences don’t even involve walking much - sitting with a good view looking down into of a section of timber it’s fun to watch other hunters bugle elk and each other. When you’re not overthinking it trying to be too careful, it’s easier to get a feel for traveling around elk. When the grandson is old enough we’ll go walking through drainages with a lot of thick timber and wallows - bumping elk of all kinds in the timber is fun, and talking with elk is even better.

Going to try and get a tag this year to get the ball rolling and try and do exactly what your saying to gather as much info as possible if no luck on the tag then a camping trip will serve the same purpose!