What time do you come off the mountain durning archery elk hunting?

[roadrunner]

Depends on the action. Sometimes I head out at dusk and other times using a headlamp.

When it’s sort if slow, you can hunt your way out and be at the truck or trailhead right at dark.

 

[Fetty Wapiti]

In Colorado… oh dark 30. Bring a headlamp. Here in NW Wyoming we go back to camp mid afternoon. I would never leave a critter out overnight with or without grizz, but I sure as hell ain’t breaking one down in the dark without horses and a crew. I would just hunt and have fun.

 

[ndfb35]

I don't. I sleep where I end up for the night.

 

[TaperPin]

Navigating at night is one of those things that gets easier the more you do it. Eventually you’ll feel as comfortable at night as you are in daylight, but it takes time. Just getting used to living with a headlamp takes some a number of nights to adjust to. When kids are old enough that they are ready to start learning more about staying out and route finding at night, there’s nothing better than picking some nice summer weather and just doing it. Approach it like it’s fun.

Same for adults, just do simple things in the dark and it takes all the mystery away. If you don’t have time after work for long hikes, maybe take one evening a week and do it half in the light and half in the dark. With our hiking club I used to organize a 4 hour round trip up a small peak every Wednesday so we’d be on top to see the sun set, then work down in the dark. A couple times a summer it can be fun to take a long hike or go backpacking at night. Peak bagging leaving the trailhead at midnight is one of the most unforgettable things a fella can do.

How viable bushwhacking is varies a lot depending on vegetation, topography and game trails. One area 5 miles from the trailhead has a big well defined set of game trails and easily identified openings to stay oriented and coming down hill is fast, super fast, like the fastest 5 miles you’ve ever hiked. Other areas have barely defined tiny game trails that always peter out, lots of blow down, patches of thick small trees that are horrible to work through, rocky knobs and projections you have to work around, big drop offs, avalanche chutes, or random super wet areas bordering the creek you have to cross. Rocky dry creek beds with big boulders may be passable, but just going up and down all week can be extra hard on the joints.

 

[NVbowhunter05]

Im usually camping where im hunting. But if not, Im leaving after dark. Sometimes well after dark as i will use locator bugles in drainages at night to locate bulls for the morning..

 

[Oakman]

Last light is one of the best times to hunt, unless you’re dealing with steep climbs or navigating tricky checkerboard land. If that’s not the case, it’s worth staying late and following the map tracks, or spend the night there

 

[Rock63]

If you don’t have a plan to hunt last light in elk zone you are giving up valuable hunting opportunities

 

[il_cop]

What time do I come off the mountain?
When I'm packing an elk out or the season is over (?)

Headlamps and power naps will serve you well.

 

[SleepyJones]

I usually arrive back at the pickup when it gets dark. I chicken out and head back early too often. It would significantly help my odds to not leave my spot until after legal light though. I am staying out later, but I lack the courage to stick it out sometimes. I have never packed out an animal by myself at night and have a lot of respect for guys who have! For my 2024 AAR It's definitely on my list of improvements both to get to the area I want to hunt before first light, and to not leave until after legal shooting light.

 

[TradLife406]

You've never lived until you've walked through griz country alone in the dark


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[Joetech34]

Typically walk out at dark.

 

[Mikido]

Oct 1

 

[Beendare]

So many things that will GET YOU in the dark, bears, boogie men, Sasquatch, etc....by all means be back in camp before it gets dark. Then if you shoot one at dark, why would you want to pack when its cooler in the dark- scaaarrry.


Why would you want to hunt at prime time anyway?

 

[Diamondback]

FlyGuy nailed it.

For me, I got tired of wasting all my energy hiking in-and-out everyday. I also found that I was spending the very best daylight hours to hear bugles (the first and the last) hiking and not really hunting. So I invested in a solid but lightweight bivy set up and I now hunt off my back. I pack camp, 3-8 days of food, water purification, etc. when I find elk, I hunt them. When it starts getting dark, I make camp, eat dinner and rack out less than an hour after dark. And, I can sleep till about an hour before legal, enjoy a hot breakfast, and still break camp before shooting light. But I don’t have to be moving b/c I’m already where they are (or close to it). I’ll never go back (trailhead). I can remember feeling that gnawing anxiety every afternoon, pushing me towards the truck to avoid hours of hiking in the dark. It’s so much more relaxing now, b/c I don’t ever have anywhere to be besides where I am. Also, if you put an elk down at dark, once you get him into game bags, you are done for the night. Move the meat away from the gut pile, then Go up the ridge a bit and make camp. Get a good nights rest and start packing in the morning.

 

[jmez]

Start back when I can no longer see through the binos. I don't mind walking in the dark, it's actually really peaceful. First couple years we stayed at trailhead, like Flyguy, getting back into camp 10:30-11 sucked. Most nights we didn't even eat. Just went to bed. Two years of that and we bought lightweight stuff and set up spike camps on the mountain.

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[realunlucky]

I've left plenty early and will again when it's crazy blow down.

It's miserable even when you can see and you can try to pick and weave your way around but when it's dark and it's a never ending wall, I'll happily sacrifice the best evening hours to avoid that misery.

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