Starting a Father-Son Elk Hunting Tradition – Looking for Strategy & Long-Term Advice

[crowe8189]

Hey all,


My dad and I are lifelong whitetail and turkey hunters from the Southeast, and we’re looking to start a new tradition: a yearly DIY archery elk hunt out West. We're both bowhunters with public land experience, used to roughing it and putting in the miles. That said, we're total rookies when it comes to elk and western hunting strategy — so we're hoping to get pointed in the right direction for building a long-term game plan.


Our goal is twofold:

1. Get out there in 2026 and start learning elk hunting hands-on (OTC or easier-to-draw hunts),
2. Start building preference points now so we can work toward higher-quality tags down the line.

We know elk hunting is a different animal (literally and figuratively), so we’d appreciate advice on any of the following:

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1.​

• Realistically looking for OTC or low-point units in 2026 to get our feet wet.
• Comfortably DIY, public land only, with archery gear.
• Open to any Western state with a decent shot at getting into elk and learning the ropes.

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2.​

• We’re willing to invest in long-term point strategies for future trophy hunts (5–15 years down the line).
• What states are “must-haves” for point creep planning?
• Any states where points are cheap/easy to accumulate now but pay off later?

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3.​

• OTC hunts where we’re likely to hear elk and get into them (success isn't everything at this stage).
• States/units where we won’t be overrun with pressure but can still learn through experience.
• Willing to work hard and go deep — not looking for road hunts.

---

4.​

• What mistakes should we avoid?
• What gear commonly gets overlooked by Eastern hunters heading west?
• Physical prep — we’re in decent shape, but looking to be realistic.

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I know there’s no “easy button” in elk hunting, and we’re not looking for anyone’s honey hole — just hoping to set ourselves up for a good first experience and a smart 5–10 year trajectory. If you were starting over today with similar goals, what would your approach be?


Appreciate any advice, hard truths, or resources you can share. Thanks in advance — we’re excited to start this journey.


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TL;DR: Southeast father/son team looking to start an annual DIY archery elk hunt in 2026. Want to get started hunting OTC while also building points for long-term trophy hunts. Looking for advice on best states to focus on, where to build points, and how to maximize early experiences.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

At your current stage, you should be watching lots of youtube

 

[LaFever]

Lots of " Leg Days "

 

[LongWayAround]

OTC is on the way out and point creep is out of control.

I think WA and OR may still have OTC. That option has been eliminated for non-resident archery in Colorado. Idaho system is a cluster. Montana and Wyoming require you to draw a general tag.

Pick the states you are interested and research them.

Nobody is going to tell you about good OTC hunts.

There's hundreds of threads of easterners and gear on here.

 

[southLA]

Welcome to Rokslide. Plenty of good advice on here.

 

[westslopelaker]

DIY OTC archery elk is way harder and less successful than social media portrays, especially for nonresidents who can't spend all year scouting.

My honest advice would be to save money and go guided and/or to buy landowner vouchers and hunt private.

If that's not an option, I would recommend rifle hunting.

If you are dead set on archery, I would recommend any place other than Colorado.

 

[T-town]

Follow weatslopelake’s advice above. I’m also from the SE and I want to hunt and kill elk, not go on an annual camping trip and hope to get lucky.

 

[TNRAMBLINGMAN]

Feel free to pm me. Hunted elk since 1998. Also from the South East.

 

[TaperPin]

A great way to start anything new is just showing up and seeing it first hand.

Over the years I’ve had great fun watching and learning about elk even in areas without a tag. If you don’t draw, think of trips as elk education and you don’t ever have to skip your annual get together. The best scouting is visiting a potential area during the season. Without a tag you’re not limited to what state or area within the state. Try a variety of areas from where you can glass, or timbered areas where the only glassing is looking through the trees less than 100 yards. Walking through wallows and bedding areas will be an eye opener. Everything you learn from elk behavior, mountain weather, even how to identify fresh poop or the difference between muddy water and clean in footprints or wallows will come in handy down the road. Just smelling a herd before seeing them for the first time is a rush that never gets old.

 

[db3445]

Wouldn't hurt to try and go do a rifle hunt this year in an area you are ever interested in archery hunting if you have the time. Easiest would be on OTC tag in Colorado. Every day in the field provides an incredible amount of knowledge, as you know.

My first year we did not see an elk, but the knowledge I gained is invaluable.

 

[AUBOWHUNTER]

Great question. My friend and I have been discussing the same topic. I appreciate the comments and any updates you provide. Thanks

 

[Rifleman86]

However hard you think it is, it’s probably 10x harder.

Everyone wants to be an elk hunter until it’s time to do elk hunting shit. I’ve taken 6 fellow easterners on elk hunts over the years. Everyone was super pumped to go… All but one has quit on the mountain after only a handful of days, and only one has stuck with it.

Archery hunting is elk hunting on “hard” mode. I’m a rifle guy, but from what I’ve seen/heard, don’t expect a bunch of “traditional” calling/rut action in OTC units.

 

[robby denning]

Don't rule out cow elk hunts to get started. Way more opps, and gets you in elk country faster. Some states allow you to build points for bulls while hunting cows.

So glad I started my son with cow hunts. He got one the first year and the third year even as a young teenager. got him some shooting confidence and a chance to get a little hungrier for a bull. Last year (he was 18) was his first bull hunt. Got spanked too, but did pass on the chance at a spike. Now he's even more serious. His hunt starts this Sunday.

And IMHO that dosen't just apply to teens.

Good luck!

 

[Timplant]

Non resident here I live in MI.... went on my second rifle elk hunt this year.... IN CO. Easy to draw unit.

We have hunted Montana the last 5 springs for bear and I've spend alot of time out west and in the east hunting, as well as Texas pig hunts.. wife and I travel as much as we can and spend tons of time, duck hunting deer hunting and trapping, were 34 and relatively healthy, (gym 4x a week and hike ALOT)

EVEN COLORADO can be easy..... it isn't all huge and steep like everyone says. there is pockets of elk in virtually the entire state... We hunted with two friends and were in elk every day for the 5 days season as well as the three days before hand scouting (also scouted early in sept, flew out for 4 days)

We shot a bull we didn't find and were successful on another 5x6...... SO don't be discouraged.. buy a tag and head out west.... it's free land for everyone to use and there is critters everywhere....

we usually us an enclosed trailer and hike in in the mornings but we bring backpacking gear just in case.... this year we opted for a wall tent with a wood stove and didn't use the stove once. wife and I slept on a heard one night and we were successful at first lite



don't get hung up on which puffy jacket and what kind of socks... buy quality lightweight gear, good boots and a good back pack. and make sure you can make perfect shots every time out to 400yds, and shoot your gun too 6-700 just in case.

we prefer GOOD food at night at the tent also, Im a food guy. that matters.... hunt hard when you need too but don't wear yourself out.

also, we had very very good luck with .300 win mags and big heavy bullets' for making stuff super dead... we have a few grand into these trips and I don't like wasting opportunity.


Hope this helps! feel free to PM for more.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Cow rifle tags are your friend even if they are left overs...You need a couple trips to shake out all your gear and figure out elk. Once you have a handle on that then pick up the bow.
My 1st elk was left over cow/calf in one of those WY units with asterisk..