Where to begin

[Fulker250]

What is the best way to start elk hunting? I have most of the needed gear, just don’t have any knowledge of where to start with getting permits and where to go. Any advise would be greatly appreciated

 

[Donk]

Well, I’m prob not qualified to answer. I have killed three elk. They all were killed when I lived out west and could scout and hunt more. I have been going the last several years. Have done Colorado several times, Idaho, and New Mexico twice.

Step 1. Take the Elk 101, University of Elk hunting. Even after living out west I learned several things from this course. I’m working on my Bachelors degree in this thing. I sign up for it every year. Usually the discounts you get through the course will pay for the cost of the course depending on how much gear you buy in the off season. So it’s pretty much free.

Step 2. Watch all the Randy Newberg e-scouting videos on YouTube. I think there are two different series.

Step 3. Pick a spot and go for it. There seems to be a cruel blessing with elk hunting. The elk gods seem to bless new hunters, like they did me, with early dumb luck and success. Once you are hooked they turn the tables on you and put you in the 90% pool for eternity. Might as well go get them backstraps.

 

[One-shot]

1. Call your local State Division of Wildlife and ask to speak to one of the game biologists for an area your interested in hunting.
Hike the area off season and learn it while looking for elk sign - Pooh, tracks...
2. Target practice at your local range and be able to nail 300yd shots
3. Watch a video or 2 on how to field dress/gut.
4. Do you cook? Know cuts of meat? If you’re back in from roads a ways you’ll want to bone out elk to pack it out. Packing it out may take days depending. Have a frame pack for this, but use a regular hunting pack for the initial kill. If close to truck, jus quarter the elk, put meat in game bags, and ice ASAP . Same goes for boning out.
5. Take a friend. Friend can help scout and serve as pack mule.

 

[4rcgoat]

What is the best way to start elk hunting? I have most of the needed gear, just don’t have any knowledge of where to start with getting permits and where to go. Any advise would be greatly appreciated

Elk hunting, like life,is a dance......you learn as you go.

 

[elkguide]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[11boo]

Read thru this forum, tons of good info here . Don’t ask us for any specific locations, poor form.

if you are willing to work hard and keep going when it looks bad, you might get lucky, like my friend who had never been elk hunting. First year, last day of the hunt he arrowed a nice bull right near camp. Don’t count on that, but it happens. He was beat from many miles the week before, but kept grinding.

good luck.

 

[Fulker250]

Thank you for everything

 

[iowawhitetailnut]

Thanks all for the advise. I am a newbie on this site as well and planning for a DIY elk hunt fall 2020 as well. Need all the help i can get! The experience itself will be a blast!