The elk community and my appreciation

[BK Ammenwerth]

I wanted to take a minute and share my experience from the past year. I'm a relatively new dad (ya, it's all it's cracked up to be and the some) and since having our boy (he's 2 now) I haven't been out on a elk hunt in 3 years. Well I've moved from Washington to NorCal since marriage and kid and so it's going to change where I'm hunting elk. Like most guys who backcountry hunt elk I'm just a fanatic to the 10th power and Im obsessed by it. Shooting and exercising everyday and gathering as much knowledge as possible at every turn, from being a gear head, tweaking on my bow, watching videos, practicing my calls. But what's the most inspiring is the people, the other hunters who share the same passion.

In my quest my knowledge I've reached out to several very well know guys whom I respect and who are religious about this thirst for elk and are a wealth of knowledge. I've been inspired and blown away by their generosity to freely share what was so hard earned. It's really opened my eyes to my previously selfish means of withholding info from other sportsman. I used to guide drift boat trips for salmon and steelhead in Wa and 15years ago I felt the internet was the downfall of it all. Rivers over crowded, guys looselipped about a hot bite. And to some degrees yes the internet has blown up "spots" but the sharing of info on the how and why that I've experience recently has been very refreshing. I just wanted to say thank you to those guys and excluding "spots" it's inspired me to do the same. At the risk of sounding like some "one love" eutopia weirdo I do think that I as a hunters and outdoorsman really need to challenge my thoughts on feeling like an area or technique is "mine" not be shared at the risk of it being ruined or exploited by others. And start to look at it as "we" as hunters, it's ours and that the only people I should worry about are those that want to take away our right to public land and our right to hunt. I'm babbling, I just wanted to say thank you and hope I too can freely share what's being freely shared with me. I apologize if u read this and felt it was a waste of 3min of ur live. Lol

 

[Hayguide]

Your lucky, at least you were able to elk hunt before the family stuff sunk in. I had to wait until our boys were in HS, I took each out on a DIY Colorado hunt-they both shot an elk, 1 Cow and 1 Bull, then I took my wife out, and then my daughter out- 4 bonding trips in all- wouldn't trade it for anything. That was when I was in my late 40,s- Now I'm 57- I have gone 5 years in a row with another one planned this fall. So, keep tweaking the gear-you will get out again.

 

[BK Ammenwerth]

Your lucky, at least you were able to elk hunt before the family stuff sunk in. I had to wait until our boys were in HS, I took each out on a DIY Colorado hunt-they both shot an elk, 1 Cow and 1 Bull, then I took my wife out, and then my daughter out- 4 bonding trips in all- wouldn't trade it for anything. That was when I was in my late 40,s- Now I'm 57- I have gone 5 years in a row with another one planned this fall. So, keep tweaking the gear-you will get out again.

I'm getting out for a 16 day Idaho archery elk hunt otc. Can't wait!!!

 

[mavmskyb8]

Great Read! This sounds very similar to what I grew up with in Wisconsin & muskie fishing. My dad took me fishing in the 70's, and I learned a lot. As I got older, and ventured out on my own, very few people would share info on lake, spots on lakes, etc. Well, 40 years later, I share everything I know with people about lakes, the spots etc. I've had a few people on the site help me out last year when I ventured to a new area elk hunting. Pretty good group of guys/gals on here!

 

[ChasinBugles]

3 years without elk hunting would kill me!! I've been lucky to have a wife that is very understanding of my elk hunting obsession. I started bowhunting at the age of 23 in 2000 and haven't missed an elk season yet. Had 3 kids during that time. With every major decision in my life I consider how it will affect elk season. Kids were planned to make sure that it didn't fall in September so that I didn't risk missing their birth My kids are now old enough that I can get them out. My daughter was able to take a bull at the age of 13 and my boy took a cow elk on his first hunt last year at 12.
I got thinking and over the last 17 seasons I've probably spent 300 days hunting and probably half that much scouting as well. I feel very fortunate that I have been able to hunt elk this much.

Like you I am thankful for those who have shared information on tactics and techniques to help me be successful in the field and have tried to help others as well.