What did you learn this elk season?

[Rob5589]

You need a partner that is on the same page.

You cannot elk hunt with someone that isn't also elk hunting.

 

[UglyDog223]

Always be ready before you start calling. Completely screwed up on a nice six point that ran in silent within 10 to 15 seconds of a locate bugle to 25 yards broadside as my pack and bow lay 15 yds behind me. A mistake I’ll NEVER make again. Still kicking myself on that one!

 

[DavePwns]

I learned that is is a heck of a lot harder to bugal with a diaphram call when you are out of breath after storming up a mountian to challenge a bull within 100 yards. I sounded like a dying Goose

 

[Poser]

Bring more cord and carabiners and hoist your meat up on 2-3 separate rigs vs. a single rig, otherwise, the trees bend too much under the load of 275# of meat and your meat only ends up actually hanging 6 feet off the ground vs. the 12 you planned for and, as a result, a bear swipes open the bottom of your game bags and eats your venison

If you have chamomile tea and a flask of cask strength whiskey, combine them for a hot toddy.

 

[Skull10]

I learned that I had way to much gear on my 1st archery elk hunt this year. I carried 8 days of food in and 12 liters of water. I was told the area we were hunting was dry.

It wasn't dry, found water close by camp. Came out after day four to go to a different area. So I carried 4 days of food back off the mountain.

Also realized I don't need a backup piece of gear to everything, possibles bag was a bit large. I have good gear and just need to trust it. Never again will I carry an 80lb pack. Unless it's got an elk quarter in it.

 

[prm]

At 53, hunting solo and getting the meat out of a distant wilderness area is harder than when younger. Need to really work at conditioning and be honest with what my knees, and everything else, can really take. 4+ miles with a crazy steep ascent going out, and decent when packing meat out is tough in knees.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Dont get stuck on a plan you spent months putting together....be able/ready to adapt and change plans. Left on a 2 week trip with 2 different tags and a "plan". Original plan was ditched about the same time I hit mountian time. Drove an hour farther than planned and filled both tags in 2.5 days was home 2 days later with almost 375 lbs of meat. Did it go down how I planned nope not even close..Still had a great time and filled my tags...

 

[Pigdog]

I moved and started learning a new area about five years ago. I've seen animals every year, but this year is the first time things really started coming together. I used to hunt on Washington coast in big clearcuts where there were elk everywhere, now I hunt on the west slope of the Central Oregon Cascades where there are way fewer animals. Ive learned that I really need to start by finding animals before I start hunting. Walking around in the woods all day and being quiet used to do the trick, now its just a nice walk. This year I really focused on covering more ground to locate animals. Still didn't kill anything, but I'm much more optimistic about next season and am spending less time daydreaming about hunting the costal rainforest.

 

[Elk97]

Learned a couple of things.
1 I can call them in if there are any around, had 4 within 50-75 yds bugling at me.
2 Just because you can call them in doesn't mean you are going to get a shot
3 When they come in but get hung up move toward them or get very aggressive with your calls
4 357 (or 10mm) isn't nearly enough for a big grizzly bear
5 hunting solo in the dark in heavy griz land isn't a lot of fun

 

[DmrbigEshotT]

I learned that, even though it seems common sense, a lower 1/3 vital shot is always the goal. Makes for much easier blood trails in the mountains.

I learned the importance of setting up next to cover on a ridge line or just below the dip of the ridge in order to get a clear shot.

I learned that sometimes not calling back to a bull is the best move.



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[BeaverHunter]

I learned that moose quarters are a hell of alot bigger!

Why did you leave the lower leg bone and hoof on? Just curious as I’ve seen other people do this also on elk and never understood why somebody would do that.

 

[S.Clancy]

Don't pass up elk with a bow. I like eating elk too much for that s***.

 

[mtwarden]

this season was an unusual one; don't know if it was the September snow storms or much colder weather than normal, a combination or something completely different.

I hunted five different areas that I almost always see elk, none of those areas panned out and was forced to try several new areas- a couple were not worth the effort, but now have a couple of more good areas to hunt in the future

 

[ncstewart]

Arrow weight is nice to a point..... don’t go crazy cause trajectory is more important. Chalk me up to been there done that.


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[Southforkguy]

Lightly scout prior to season and be ready to kill your elk day 1. after the pressure hits the hunting gets wayyy more difficult

 

[Elkhntr08]

I learned what “glunking” sounds like and knew what it was. Thanks ElkNut!
Learned that I need to be in better shape!

 

[Rich M]

Don’t take “maybe” shots. Take “definitely” shots.

This is for all game. Only take the shot you know will kill.

 

[Lou Sid]

I learned to never expect the same thing. One year they are bugling every morning and the next year I hear 3 bugles in 10 days. Bugle was hot one year. Cow call was hot the next. Elk are always there. If they aren't talking, hike to where they bed, make a cow call, wait 20 minutes, repeat.

 

[Fullfan]

Hunted Colorado for the first time in second rifle, Lots and lots of hunters. Had to get further away from the crowds to find elk. And on day 2 I shot a nice 5x5.

 

[Marble]

I learned that I didn't draw a tag (again) for 2019. I also learned that I may have to start thinking about OTC tags as a back up plan for 2020. Although not elk related, I learned that I may need to get some insoles for my Lowa boots. I STILL have sore feet from my backpack style backcountry mule deer hunt in November. I learned what plantar faciitis is!

Lathrop and sons will custom cut a a special insole for you. I had them dome for me. I had the same issue as you and it's now fixed.