Typical new guy questions after a CO 1st Rifle 2025

[rstriteq]

From your description, sounds as if you doing drop camps where you request the outfitters to put you in reliable locations vs. asking to be dropped in a location of your choosing since that appeared to be the original issue?

Yes, the two different outfitters we’ve used have wall tents set up in different areas that they then horseback us into, then say goodbye. These areas notoriously have elk. I just don’t have time to come out from Virginia to pre-scout. Then to also have horses to take you back in 1-3 hrs saves a lot of time and energy getting into elky areas. For us, it’s been the way to go and worth the 2k-ish/ person. You just need to do some research and find some reputable outfitters.
On one of our early bow hunts we did come across a places that would take you by horseback back into where-ever but it wasn’t an outfitter. I don’t think outfitters will typically do that.

 

[mwallen.wv]

The trick to elk hunting is finding them. They have a home range but it might be 20 square miles or more. They want to eat, drink water, bed and be left alone. Leave the beds alone and they will tend to use the same ones, but you're also not the only fellow on the mountain so they may spooked out. I had one rancher tell me that the elk would migrate down to winter range (I.e. private property) early and them migrate up as the hunting seasons progressed.

Oak brush is brutal. I was archery hunting many years ago and in one clearing in the oak brush, was a bull in the 360 class an a 200 plus mule deer buck. They were a quarter mile away. It took me half an hour to get a hundred yds in that mess before I gave up.

take good notes and learn from your trips.

I think I walked 9 miles the first day of my first elk hunt.

 

[kcm2]

I think I walked 9 miles the first day of my first elk hunt.

I walked 16 miles one day elk hunting and 35 total until a spike bull walked within 20 yards of me. One 270 round later and I got out the knives.