Texas residents, what's a good prerequisite to hunting elk in the mountains?

[Reece123]

Im a texas resident and have some aspirations of one day (3-4 years from now, hopefully) hunting elk in New Mexico or Colorado. I've only ever done private land hunting, and never in the mountains. Im hoping to kind of work my way up to a DIY elk hunt, and trying to gain some hands on knowledge. Any Texas residents know of anywhere in the state to get some kind of exposure? Maybe white tail, Muleys or even Sheep? Or am I better off to just go into NM or CO for a long weekend during season, with just some glass and no intention of actually hunting, and see how it is just looking for them? If I go this route, anyone have any insight to the regs of taking in a sidearm for personal defense with no hunting license? Definitely not looking to run into any trouble with the fish and game folks.

 

[Roger17]

I'm not sure there is much here that prepares you for mountain elk. Go to the mountains and camp to get used to that experience. However, no way I'd go just camping during season without a tag in hand. The best learning will be through trying and doing. There is plenty of opportunity in CO to have a tag. NM is random draw, so always a crap shoot on a tag.
And, you can carry a sidearm as long as your legal to have one. e.g. not a felon, etc.

 

[coyoteman]

It it were me, I'd plan a elk hunt for next season, and then the following season, and then the season after that. Just get after it.

If you really want to wait..go hiking in the mountains somewhere. On about the 5th day of your hiking trip, take a good long walk at least 3+ miles from the truck. Look for a nice spot with lots of sizeable rocks, then proceed to fill up your pack with at least 80lbs of them. Hike back to the truck, empty rocks, then hike back and forth to the rock spot at least three or four more times.

If you do that and enjoy it, Im sure elk hunting will be an absolute breeze.

 

[CMF]

I'm not sure there is much here that prepares you for mountain elk. Go to the mountains and camp to get used to that experience. However, no way I'd go just camping during season without a tag in hand. The best learning will be through trying and doing. There is plenty of opportunity in CO to have a tag. NM is random draw, so always a crap shoot on a tag.
And, you can carry a sidearm as long as your legal to have one. e.g. not a felon, etc.

Agree with this

Just get an easy-to-get tag in CO and go hunting. You're already going to be spending money on fuel and other expenses, what's an $800 tag....

I was dreaming of elk hunting and even looking at harvest data 6 years before I actually went. Biggest mistake of my life was thinking I needed more money, gear and fitness before I left. I should have gone a long time ago.

And you don't want to waste your luck drawing a great NM tag and not have any elk hunting experience. It's exactly what I did.

You could get an OTC barbary in NM and go hunt them, but that terrain and animal is way different than most elk hunts. We've done TX oryx and NM barbary, Nothing like hunting high country CO elk, other than hiking your az off.

 

[Smfigari]

My recommendation would be to get in shape and hunt a western state. Doesn’t have to be elk, but get out and actually hunt. Nothing else can fully prepare you.

 

[sndmn11]

Or am I better off to just go into NM or CO for a long weekend during season, with just some glass and no intention of actually hunting, and see how it is just looking for them?

I'm season scouting is invaluable. 4 days over 3 hunt codes in Colorado will tell you all you need to know for "where do I apply" next year.

 

[TCUHunter34]

Find somewhere to fish the high country also. You’ll get exposure being at higher elevations, experience camping and learn some hunting areas as well. Head out in June for scouting and fishing.

 

[Marble]

Im a texas resident and have some aspirations of one day (3-4 years from now, hopefully) hunting elk in New Mexico or Colorado. I've only ever done private land hunting, and never in the mountains. Im hoping to kind of work my way up to a DIY elk hunt, and trying to gain some hands on knowledge. Any Texas residents know of anywhere in the state to get some kind of exposure? Maybe white tail, Muleys or even Sheep? Or am I better off to just go into NM or CO for a long weekend during season, with just some glass and no intention of actually hunting, and see how it is just looking for them? If I go this route, anyone have any insight to the regs of taking in a sidearm for personal defense with no hunting license? Definitely not looking to run into any trouble with the fish and game folks.

It is wise for you to get some experience chasing elk. The average hunter takes something like 5-7 years to kill an elk. There is a steep learning curve.

As far as the side arm thing, it isn't necessary for you to have it, but i get it. I would want to have one also. You may just get a small game license on whatever state you're in.

I would get as much experience as possible. I ha e so many friends that have said in 3-4 years i want to do (fill in the blank) and they never do. Or they do go, and they are so I'll prepared that it's a disaster.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

 

[Luke S]

Okay first off, I hunt in Alaska so I've never killed an elk. That said I hunt mountains a lot.

A common problem I see is new hunters aren't just in bad shape, they don't have their system down for carrying everything comfortably. Typically they don't have a great system to carry their binos, pistol, bear spray etc. All this means you're less comfortable hiking and/or you can't access something when you want it. This goes for day hunts not just overnight backpacking trips.

Backpacking trips help you dial in what you need to be comfortable in the mountains and what you can leave at home. I had a solid backpacking background before I got back into hunting. It helped because I could focus on finding animals. I wasn't struggling because I was to cold, I had blisters, my shoes weren't comfortable, I didn't have enough food, my shelter was a poor design, my pack didn't fit, etc. I made all those mistakes on weekend trips close to home without burning a lot of money or vacation time. The main adjustment was adding a rifle and optics. I also learned to bring more layers because you sit still more hunting.

Depending on where you live I'd suggest some long weekend trips close to home. West Texas or Arkansas are great because you can hike there when Colorado is covered in snow.

 

[TxhunterPRC]

I was in the same boat except my dad had some experience western hunting back in the 80's and 90's. Grew up hunting Texas since I was 5 years old and still do. We started going western hunting as soon as I got out of college and began learning as we went. You'd be amazed at how much you'll pick up on year after year if your main goal is to take an animal when you go up there and you are dedicated. My advice, get all the gear you'll need. Get the best gear you can afford. You can load it up in your pack and go for walks to check comfortability and do some refinement there. We started out staying at an Airbnb and just day hunting from the truck and have moved to packing in camp on our backs and hunting from camp. We have killed elk both ways. Like others said, get into shape, and go hunting. It's obviously much different than hunting Texas, but its a whole other beast when you get an elk on the ground. Your first trip will expose the things that need to be fixed and refined for the next year. For me, it's just excitement to get into the mountains and then when you get out there, its a mental game to stay out there after them.

 

[KyleR1985]

just go during September/october.

That’s it. Just go.

 

[southLA]

Just go hunt. This ain't the Navy SEALs.

 

[wytx]

Cow tags, cheaper than any elk tags and good way to learn and area and elk hunting without spending a ton on the license.

Come see the mountains over a Summer and you'll learn what you need to work on for mountain hunting.