What does you typical day consist of while elk hunting? Couple other ?'s too.

[castandblast]

Finch-
Sounds like a great adventure!

I think your plan to resupply mid week has the potential to put you in a bind. Murphy's Law will result in you finally getting in the zone on some critters and having to bail out to get the rest of your food instead of putting the hurt on them.

You mentioned moving camp until you find them but knowing you have to get back to the rig mid-week will limit how deep you can chase them. I would want enough food to stick it out with me initially, even if I ended up caching some of it at some point. Just my thought, fwiw.

Looking forward to the story afterwards!

 

[PMcGee]

Finch-
Sounds like a great adventure!

I think your plan to resupply mid week has the potential to put you in a bind. Murphy's Law will result in you finally getting in the zone on some critters and having to bail out to get the rest of your food instead of putting the hurt on them.

You mentioned moving camp until you find them but knowing you have to get back to the rig mid-week will limit how deep you can chase them. I would want enough food to stick it out with me initially, even if I ended up caching some of it at some point. Just my thought, fwiw.

Looking forward to the story afterwards!

I agree with this. You don't want to find elk then have to bail because you're out of food. I'd carry all your food in and hang whatever you don't want to carry the whole time. Then you won't have to go all the way back to the truck. Maybe plan a route out on a map or Google earth and you can strategically place your extra food so you're not going that far out of your way to grab your extra food.

 

[Ross]

During archery in the woods early enough to hear bugling at daybreak, then if no Bulls heard it is off covering ground calling. Will typically call until 10-11.... Then it is either nap time in the woods or hike back,nap, get up take a dip and cool off,scrub up, shoot and head back out between 3-4...cover more ground and hopefully find a bull raring to go after his siesta. Many years afternoon hunts are better than morning hunts and the headlamps get a lot of use. For rifle season it is an all day affair most days staying out all day, trying to catch something either talking or crossing at daybreak and evening, doing a lot of listening and glassing in between. Rifle season seldom sees the tent in daylight.

A few things that never leave my pack; windicator the wind is the DEVIL!, extra batteries for headlamp, naproxen, extra elk calls, fire starter and lighter, knife.

 

[Finch]

It looks like we'll have 8 or 9 solid days of hunting. Never having done this before, I just didn't think we'd stay in the backcountry that long without resupplying or a trip into the nearest town for some real food and a recharge. So you guys would try to stick it out the whole 8 or 9 days?

Thanks again for all the help! Each of you are giving me ideas and things to think about.

 

[rayporter]

stick it out. ya going to hunt or going to eat?

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Yep stick it out. A trip out to the truck without meat on your back is wasted time and energy.

 

[Ross]

Remember your there for success but fun as well. If a day or half a day in to town for shower and change in mental mindset is needed Do it, it will rejuvenate you both mind and body if things are not going as expected.

 

[Finch]

Yep stick it out. A trip out to the truck without meat on your back is wasted time and energy.

Does anyone make a good freeze dried burger and fries?

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I've yet to find any real good freeze dried anything. After the 3rd or 4th day, about the only thing at all palatable for me is the candy bars and the butthole sandwiches.

 

[Finch]

Remember your there for success but fun as well. If a day or half a day in to town for shower and change in mental mindset is needed Do it, it will rejuvenate you both mind and body if things are not going as expected.

That's kinda what I was thinking. I just don't know how we'll be until the time comes. Neither one of us have done a hunt like this.

 

[Finch]

I've yet to find any real good freeze dried anything. After the 3rd or 4th day, about the only thing at all palatable for me is the candy bars and the butthole sandwiches.

I hear ya! Definitely gonna bring some BH sammys and candy bars!

 

[Randle]

A trip out is really worth it if things are slow, It will help you refocus and hit it harder, midday and nothing happening I say go for it,
Nothing saying you won't find elk on the way out or back in. I have had it happen before.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

That's kinda what I was thinking. I just don't know how we'll be until the time comes. Neither one of us have done a hunt like this.

These kind of hunts are absolutely on my short list of all time most fun things to do.

 

[rayporter]

that first step is a doozy, for sure. keep a good attitude and an open mind and dont sweat the small stuff. again dont sweat the small stuff.

start another food thread.

make your own dried burger now.

the shower takes some planning, and them mountain streams are a little cool.

 

[COlineman78]

Does anyone make a good freeze dried burger and fries?

http://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Foo...069787&sr=1-2&refinements=p_4:Fantastic+Foods

Haven't tried them yet, but here's a powdered burger mix. I know the vegetarian part is off-putting but I would be even more worried with a non-vegetarian powdered burger. Someone suggested throwing in a few pieces of preserved sausages to add some real meat flavor and grease/oil. They also make a taco filling that'd be worth trying for some backcountry burritos.

http://dehydratingwaybeyondjerky.blogspot.com/2013/04/french-fries-why-not.html

 

[Charina]

Remember your there for success but fun as well. If a day or half a day in to town for shower and change in mental mindset is needed Do it, it will rejuvenate you both mind and body if things are not going as expected.

I agree with Ross. I'm no good out there when I'm too far run down. I don't feel one bit of regret for sleeping in a day or two, or a lazy glassing day if I need it in order to hunt effectively the next couple days. Far better to lose one day and make the following three days effective than to be ineffective for all four days. Much more enjoyable too.

 

[Huntagain]

I certainly wouldn't make fishing a priority but I make sure I bring a fly and line in my day pack now for a little cane pole midday action. Camp fire roasted trout and a quick field stream bath rejuvenates me quite a bit. Those Colorado mountain streams are good for "icing" your feet after a long haul too. I'd stick it out in the woods if I where you... that burger will taste a lot better after getting a little blood on your hands. Where I hunt i'd pry feel more run down if actually went back to the jeep and came back to my spot. Good luck!

 

[5MilesBack]

That's kinda what I was thinking. I just don't know how we'll be until the time comes. Neither one of us have done a hunt like this.

Just do whatever you have to do to enjoy yourself and be as effective as you can. If you're so down and weak and exhausted to be effective, then take a break in town.

One year on a truck camp hunt my buddy and I had just blown it on a nice herd bull when we got busted by some cows we didn't see in time. I tried to keep playing with the bull but they spooked so good there was no chance. This was after about 5 or 6 days of straight hunting and I looked over at my buddy and said "Hey, what time did that restaurant in town stop serving breakfast?" He says "10". We literally ran off that mountain to get to the truck and into town by 10. We got there at 9:55 and had eggs, hashbrowns, toast, and chicken fried steak with coffee. Man, we felt great after that little diversion.

The next evening we were sitting in that same restaurant eating giant burgers after finishing packing out my bull that I'd shot that next morning.

 

[Z Barebow]

It looks like we'll have 8 or 9 solid days of hunting. Never having done this before, I just didn't think we'd stay in the backcountry that long without resupplying or a trip into the nearest town for some real food and a recharge. So you guys would try to stick it out the whole 8 or 9 days?

Thanks again for all the help! Each of you are giving me ideas and things to think about.

The longest I have stayed in is 8 days (Solo). It is a lot of food to pack. Do not sell short a "break" in the hunt. (As others have mentioned). Sometimes a greasy burger and fries can change your perspective greatly!

In 2004, I did just that. Hunted 8 days and I had blown it. Took me 5 days to find the elk. Had a close encounter on day 6. Pushed my luck on day 7. Found no elk on day 8. (IE I disrupted their pattern).

I went into town for a real meal. Talked to my packer. Moved to plan B and hunted some even better country (Which I would have never saw had I not "taken a break")

 

[rodney482]

The thermals can be your ace in the hole.

I like to base camp within 1/2 mile from where I think the elk will be.
(Ive had elk, deer and bear come right through camp)

Bowhunt early season (90% of my time is sitting in the dark timber over wallows)

Mid to late Sept, im on the go listening and calling. I will set up in an area and call for 45 min then move.... (Unless Ive located a bull) then its gameplan time.

Rifle hunt.. Hike high, glass and be in the exact area at first light.

Nothing wrong with gear for 5 days then re-stocking. I like a 10 day hunt.

I usually have 1000 calories in my pack, kill kit, 1st aid, katadyn, two headlamps and 1 extra battery. 1/2 roll of TP, hydration bladder.

My kifaru is the only pack I need and I will be prepared to bring out a load of meat on first trip to camp after the kill.

* it can get down right cold in the mountains at night. Most of the time I run a 20 degree bag and insulated pad.