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

[rodney482]

Most newbys take too much gear.. Including too much food and clothes... The good idea fairy can weigh your pack down fast.

 

[Jon Boy]

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.

With this being your first BC hunt, I HIGHLY recommend hiking out for a recharge. You'll be amazed at what it does to your mental game, and anyone whose hunted the mnts knows, its 90 % mental. If the hunting is off the charts with screaming bulls and your having fun then by all means stay. But, the chances of that happening aren't incredibly high and your probably in for a typical OTC public land hunt, it aint easy.

 

[COlineman78]

With this being your first BC hunt, I HIGHLY recommend hiking out for a recharge. You'll be amazed at what it does to your mental game, and anyone whose hunted the mnts knows, its 90 % mental. If the hunting is off the charts with screaming bulls and your having fun then by all means stay. But, the chances of that happening aren't incredibly high and your probably in for a typical OTC public land hunt, it aint easy.

I completely agree, a day off the mountain will make for a welcome break. One thing that we have done is run by a hotel (preferably non-chain) and ask them if you could get a room for an hour just to shower and they will usually hock you up for a descent price. A shower, burger and some ice cream will get you pumped to finish out the trip. Archery season in CO is usually too hot to see much activity during the day.

 

[charvey9]

First I'll say that I'm no expert, and still learning every time I go out. It depends on the area I'm hunting, but I generally get my miles in scouting which are almost always 10+ mile days. I try to find a base spot with multiple areas I can day hunt. I was always taught to move at the speed of the forest while hunting, and truth be told I usually see more game when I'm just taking my time and paying attention. Especially if you are I a spot where the elk are or should be. I have no problem sitting down for 30" here or there to just listen and watch, and am not above just camping on a wallow all day if it looks like it is getting a lot of activity, especially after a good rain.

It is usually a dawn till dusk excursion. Unless I know where the animals are (bugles at night), I tend to wait for a little light before I leave camp. Same goes for the return, I like to have shooting light most of the way back to camp if possible. For me, nothing is more discouraging than bumping animals in the dark.

I'm not a napper, but like to read while hunting and will spend the afternoon sitting in a good spot reading a book if I can. I usually take my stove, a meal for lunch, snacks, and my water filter whenever I leave camp. Bag and bivy if I think it could be an all nighter.

 

[Brandon Pattison]

AMann, 5MilesBack is a killer.

 

[EC4reel]

Well, I usually start the truck up well before daylight. Stop by gas station for a bag of chips and keystone. Hit the gravel at daylight. Drive at approx 3mph for 4hrs to 5hrs, stopping every once in while to rip a bugle. I also know that letting any pass me could blow my hunt so I don't ever pull over. At lunch, we run back to town for McDonalds or KFC. Then its back to the grind, evening hunts we bump it up to 5mph for another 4 to 5hrs. I leave a trail of Keystone cans to find my back out in the dark.

 

[jdmdavey]

Well, I usually start the truck up well before daylight. Stop by gas station for a bag of chips and keystone. Hit the gravel at daylight. Drive at approx 3mph for 4hrs to 5hrs, stopping every once in while to rip a bugle. I also know that letting any pass me could blow my hunt so I don't ever pull over. At lunch, we run back to town for McDonalds or KFC. Then its back to the grind, evening hunts we bump it up to 5mph for another 4 to 5hrs. I leave a trail of Keystone cans to find my back out in the dark.

This is more common that not..
Train those bulls! they hear a truck and a bugle shortly follows...they should run like hell.

 

[darcytribe]

Hey Finch,

You're probably going to have a blast, especially since you have been training hard, "hitting the books" so to speak, and will enter the BC well prepared. I'll be doing my third season of BC this year, so still learning myself. First off, a 9-10 day trip is a long one for your first trip. Don't be surprised when it becomes mentally difficult for you and your crew. You can train your body but if you've never done this before, there is a lot of mental learning that is going to take place after the initial few days. I tend to agree that a mid-trip hike out and to town for a meal, a call to the family, and a little civilization might be a good tentative plan. I've not yet done one that long but am planning on a 7-8 day trip this Sept. to the same state as you. I've noted a strange combination of feelings doing this. In the midst I find it mentally tough and each with trip I've done, there are points where I question why I am doing this and at times have questioned if I'll ever do this again. I miss my family, my comfortable bed, nice food, and rest. Then when it's over, there is an incredible appreciation for what I have just experienced and accomplished. Then about an hour into the trip home I'm beginning to think about and long for the next trip in The BC is an incredible place to be and experience, magical place. If you are fortunate enough to have a screaming bull zeroing in on you, well, words can't describe that! I'm so thankful I live in a country where I can do this and for my God who created it all for us to enjoy. Excited for you to experience it too.

 

[HunterHawk]

If you are going somewhere you have never been as it sounds like you will be here is what I would think your week would look like.
day 1-2 set up a base camp. take compass reading and take GPS or phone if you have signal to use as your GPS. I usually take my phone and GPS because I want to be able to call for help incase I do get hurt or whatever. I would obviously also take my bow and day pack.. very minimal stuff in there but make sure you take enough stuff to stay out the whole day and incase something goes wrong the night.. doesnt have to be a t ent but maybe a light weight tarp or something.... Anyway I would keep making trips from base camp as more of a scouting/hunting trip until you find elk.

Once you find elk thats when you can hike/hunt/take camp back in that direction until you set up camp towards the elk (not too close) Ill leave that up to you.

this way you didnt take all the heavy stuff around with you everyday trying to find elk. however you will have 2 heavy pack outs at least if its a good trip! one for you packing back in camp and 1 or 2 i guess depending on if you guys are successful...

I am no expert but this is what I do when I try out new areas and it seems to work pretty well for me.

i then hunt from just before sunrise and when I get back to camp all depends on attittude/weather/elk activity/sign and all that.

I wish I would have done all this online research and got this much help before i came out! you are definitely on the right track! I definintely did get a lot of help but this forum is awesome for outwest hunting!

 

[COlineman78]

This is more common that not..
Train those bulls! they hear a truck and a bugle shortly follows...they should run like hell.

I have only shot off the hood of the truck once... In all serious though; there is a mid December damage control hunt (cow only) in the high plains near Craig that is antelope style hunting for elk. Drive around until you find a herd; see if you can catch them on public land, if not move on. This was my first hunt ever as a kid; great first time hunt for anyone but not the real hunting experience. Jumped right into ML the next year.

 

[Brendan]

I think you're going to need to play it by ear when you get there. Last year was my first trip, and after hanging out here on Rokslide I was convinced I was in for an extended stay in the backcountry. Turns out I started running into Elk a half mile from camp on the first morning, spent the bulk of my time camping at the truck with a couple nights out exploring, then shooting my bull a half mile from the truck on the last day.

What I did realize is that everything got really, really slow for 4 or so days in the second half of my hunt. I have a feeling I over-hunted one area and stuck around based on what I saw in the first half, and probably should've moved on, but ended up getting lucky.

My schedule for middle of September in MT - Up at 4-5, leave camp 5-6, stay out all day. I prefer to be getting back to camp not too long after it gets pitch black (8-9) - mainly because I want to get a good night sleep...

Be prepared for anything is the best I can say!

 

[Double Creek]

I find it very hard to eat when I get to that 10K feet range of altitude. I have to force food down. After 3 or 4 days I have to either go back to town or the truck and get some real food and calories in my body. It does make a big difference and helps clear your mind and gain focus.

 

[Coveyleader]

I don't know how one can hunt all day without clearing the mountain of elk. The winds late morning through the afternoon in the areas I hunt are never consistent and will give you away.


My day is hunt the AM until wind gets iffy, then find a tree and sleep it off until 5 when I get back on the elk, after 5 is even better.

 

[Finch]

Guys, I just reread this thread from start to finish. A ton of great info in here! Definitely have a better idea what to expect. I'll take the advice of packing enough food with intentions of staying the entire time in case we're just covered up in elk everyday. I liked the idea of renting the hotel room for a few hours to get cleaned up if we do make the trip into town.

I went hiking the other day and a bad storm rolled through. Lightning was real close and the thunder was almost deafening. Luckily, I wasn't far from the truck so I went to take cover. I can't imagine a storm like that while I'm about 10 times closer to the heavens than I was here. I'd say a bad lightning storm would startle the manliest of men. Do you guys just hole up somewhere in those situations? Try to find a meadow and get away from all the trees?

Any other useful advice?

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I'd say a bad lightning storm would startle the manliest of men. Do you guys just hole up somewhere in those situations? Try to find a meadow and get away from all the trees?

Any other useful advice?

You gotta die of something, better to go out with your boots on.

 

[Finch]

I can think of better ways of going!

 

[COlineman78]

It's a little different when you get up high. Nothing's weirder than a thunder storm while you're in the clouds. I experienced it last year shortly after 2 people were killed in RMNP and it was in the back of my mind. Being down in a valley I wasn't too worried, but couldn't help but thinking about it. Good advice here:

http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com/lightning-hiking-rocky-mountains.htm

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I can think of better ways of going!

Nah you'd go out having fun and never know what hit ya

 

[Finch]

It's a little different when you get up high. Nothing's weirder than a thunder storm while you're in the clouds. I experienced it last year shortly after 2 people were killed in RMNP and it was in the back of my mind. Being down in a valley I wasn't too worried, but couldn't help but thinking about it. Good advice here:

http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com/lightning-hiking-rocky-mountains.htm

Good info, thanks!

 

[Carlin59]

I'm far from the manliest of men, but lightening is definitely my #1 concern in the mountains. Just today, a bunch of people (and a dog ) got struck on one of the 14ers: http://www.thedenverchannel.com/new...people-struck-by-lightning-on-mount-bierstadt I like to turn my Delorme inreach onto "track mode" in lightening, so at least my family would know where to find all my gear!