Where to hunt

[Shrek]

As a fellow NE Florida resident I can tell you for sure that unless you're in superb cardiovascular shape the San Juans will kick your butt. It's not just getting there that counts but getting an elk out in a timely manner. I'm hunting much more sedate areas in Montana and it's plenty challenging.

 

[cshore93]

First hand experience right here. I thought I was going to go to 77 in my first elk hunt. I had it all planned, found some great spots on Google earth to scout. When I got there I immediately knew I was way in over my head. Like everyone else said, rugged rugged rugged, oh and did I mention rugged? But in all seriousness go check it out before you make a decision. I was glad I did. I'll definitely go back there someday but after I get some experience. Plus you have to know the capabilities of your partner. I'm taking my father with me and I knew he would not be able to trek through the terrain for a week, let alone pack out a bull if we got one. Good luck!

 

[Bar]

I was going to move to that area until I checked out the hunting areas. I realized I had gotten too old to hunt there. No matter what shape I got into.

It's only a little better where i'm at, but a little better goes a long way when hunting.

 

[Kevin_t]

I live in the San Juans and it is primarily where I hunt. It is steep and daunting. Most out of staters have more fun enjoying the area than they do hunting it. In my opinion, by mid muzzleloader, most elk are either on private , or in areas I don't care to pack them from. Yes, you can find them in hell hole, get there ... but think about getting it out. The elk are not dumb, and they leave a place for safety so fast it will make your head spin. One day you have elk all around, and overnight they vanish without a trace basically and when you relocate them you say to yourself "how many friends do I have to help with this job, what will a pack out look like". If it looks feasible go for it , but often times it is not. I called in an out of state hunter last night. His comments were basically "I thought I was in good shape ... but this is rough country. I do know one big bull is in this certain area and I tried to get in there and finally said no way I can get one out".

 

[Deepshax]

x4 what Justin says. I'm one of the out of staters he's helped. This was my first trip out west and I can hike for days at 3k feet. At 11-12k ft you're dealing with 40% less oxygen per breath. The issues with elevation are real for people not acclimated to it. My HR was generally fine, and never really spiked too high, but I was constantly stopping to catch my breath even on kinda level ground. He suggested I go out 6-8 miles. I made it about 5, realized there was zero chance I would be able pack out an elk from the hole I was about to descend into so I stopped and hunted where I was. I found two elk carcasses in some different places, but no live ones on the hoof. I averaged between 8-10 miles a day according to my GPS and anywhere from 500 to 1,500 ft of elevation change. It was all I could handle. Ultimately, a combination of the elevation and my feet did me in and I had to call it quits there. Beautiful country, but it sent me home with my tail between my legs. All the respect to guys that can do the legwork in that area, but it's not for me.

It was an eye opening experience.


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This is similar to my experience this year. Had grand plans of getting back into some holes but after a few days of hiking/camping at 10k'+ knew these spots weren't going to be possibilities without calling in a packer (an area I had not done any homework) and ended up hunting where we were. Had a great time and saw some BIG mule deer within 20 yards (wish I had a tag!) but no elk :/

 

[Metagross]

Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness: After lean years due to unlimited tags, forest fires, and mountain lion predation, bull elk ratios are finally on the upswing in the famous Blue Mountains hunting grounds of southeast Washington. Over-the-counter tags restrict hunters to spikes, but if you draw a coveted any-bull tag, you’ll have a chance for a trophy in the roadless areas in this section of the Umatilla National Forest.

 

[DEHusker]

Do a deer hunt there first to get your bearings and find out what works and what doesn't. Then once you've hunted it for an animal you can pack out in one trip, come back ready for a 650lb bull. If you try to hunt elk in any rugged part of elk country it'll humble you right away and if you are not prepared your meat will spoil - the worst possible travesty. Good luck. It's addicting!!
DEH

 

[Bearshirt]

The thing that got me the most was hiking back to creeks that didnt have water. We had planned on spike camping into a few spots but when we were in there none of the creeks had water. Made finding water tough. Also none of the areas where we did find water had wallows. After talking to a local they claimed wallows dont get used until later in the season. We covered a lot of ground to find little sign.

 

[MinnieHeather]

The thing that got me the most was hiking back to creeks that didnt have water. We had planned on spike camping into a few spots but when we were in there none of the creeks had water. Made finding water tough. Also none of the areas where we did find water had wallows. After talking to a local they claimed wallows dont get used until later in the season. We covered a lot of ground to find little sign.

So how do you cope with the difficulties of getting water ?

 

[njdoxie]

This is similar to my experience this year. Had grand plans of getting back into some holes but after a few days of hiking/camping at 10k'+ knew these spots weren't going to be possibilities without calling in a packer (an area I had not done any homework) and ended up hunting where we were. Had a great time and saw some BIG mule deer within 20 yards (wish I had a tag!) but no elk :/

Hey, Deep, I talked to you this past summer, how about a full recap? How was your fitness? What surprised u? You going back? I head out for 2nd rifle on Oct 20 to same place I always go.

 

[Mmcan]

All good advice, except the elevation training mask. All it'll do is restrict your workouts and waste your money better spent on gear that works.

Agree with this. You can only train for altitude by training at altitude. Those masks only impede airflow, not the amount of O2 you're inspiring. There are circuits you can buy that are structured so that you rebreathe the air, removing O2, but they have to also have a way to remove CO2. They should only be used safely with someone else in your direct presence and while wearing a pulse oximeter. NOTE. They can be lethal if not properly used.
Just get in the best shape possible, read about high altitude problems and possible ways to prevent them, namely acclimate.
Huge topic and tons of info. Keep it safe.

 

[plumber1969]

Guys we really appreciate all the help. We are on the fence about using a drop camp outfitter or not and possibly looking toward Wyoming as an 1st chance since the terrain doesn't appear as daunting. We will keep you in the loop as we are getting closer. Plus Wyoming allows for crossbows so my wife could hunt during archery as well.

 

[MesaHorseCo.]

I think my wife thinks I have a some bad addiction to this elk porn stuff. Glad she has a sense of humor. I will look in to the altitude mask and we are training tonight with packs for the first time. No hills to speak of over here but we will take what we can get. For some odd reason I keep leaning toward the San Juans and I don't now why. I never did anything easy in life so why start now when I am almost 50!

You should probably lean somewhere else, or youll be leaning over a rock wondering why you picked the san juans

 

[justinspicher]

No more folks need to come to the san juans, it suck here, the elk don't even like it.

 

[Poser]

No more folks need to come to the san juans, it suck here, the elk don't even like it.

Hope you have room for one more


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[plumber1969]

Justin, better hope my wife does not get a liking for this elk business or I will have to relocate some alligators and crawfish to the San Juans to make myself at home

 

[chindits]

So I've hunted some of the so called San Juans, but not the southern parts. I've been mostly 76 and 66. I will say, when me and the wife did a backpack trip from Durango to Creede, I was actually blown away by all the people in the Weminuche. We didn't shake the crowds until we were a day or two out from Creede. I can't say it's the same during hunting season, but I saw more hunter trash there then some of the OTC units I've kicked around in central CO.

As far as fitness, I'd say a year is good acclimation time frame for the mountains. I've been here since 91 and that first year I never felt like I was at my low elevation levels of trail running and Nordic skiing. So move now and you will have that covered. The elevation is only one aspect of them mountains. The other aspect is just the sheer steepness of the terrain, which isn't just the dominion of the San Juans. So although everyone focuses on the lack of oxygen, I think actually dealing with extreme side slopes, and climbs/descents where if you slip you will probably slide 10-20 feet before you will catch yourself. Soooo the ideal training environment would be steep slopes of those nature at night with a headlamp simulating you trying to make your way back to camp at the end of your hunt while trying to protect that precious and vulnerable expensive bow in you one hand. Last year I broke my quiver twice on falls and knocked my sight hard enough that it was off 6-8 inches at 12 yards. Don't ask about the shot I took that revealed that.

However, I am not really trying to discourage you. I recommend the SW just for the visual candy alone.

 

[justinspicher]

Sadly, we had our folks haul out about 750lbs of trash from the Weminuche this summer. People are slobs and it infuriates me.

 

[Poser]

So I've hunted some of the so called San Juans, but not the southern parts. I've been mostly 76 and 66. I will say, when me and the wife did a backpack trip from Durango to Creede, I was actually blown away by all the people in the Weminuche. We didn't shake the crowds until we were a day or two out from Creede. I can't say it's the same during hunting season, but I saw more hunter trash there then some of the OTC units I've kicked around in central CO.

As far as fitness, I'd say a year is good acclimation time frame for the mountains. I've been here since 91 and that first year I never felt like I was at my low elevation levels of trail running and Nordic skiing. So move now and you will have that covered. The elevation is only one aspect of them mountains. The other aspect is just the sheer steepness of the terrain, which isn't just the dominion of the San Juans. So although everyone focuses on the lack of oxygen, I think actually dealing with extreme side slopes, and climbs/descents where if you slip you will probably slide 10-20 feet before you will catch yourself. Soooo the ideal training environment would be steep slopes of those nature at night with a headlamp simulating you trying to make your way back to camp at the end of your hunt while trying to protect that precious and vulnerable expensive bow in you one hand. Last year I broke my quiver twice on falls and knocked my sight hard enough that it was off 6-8 inches at 12 yards. Don't ask about the shot I took that revealed that.

However, I am not really trying to discourage you. I recommend the SW just for the visual candy alone.

I agree that the San Jauns are hell on your gear. Boots get thrashed from all the rock -especially The heels. You get holes in your pants from sliding on your butt, and falling is a daily occurrence. I've come home black and blue with bruises as well as scrapes and cuts from gnarly falls on steep, loose rock. Trekking poles will have a short life there. I've never done any goat or sheep hunting, but elk hunting in the San Juans seems like it would be extremely comparable in terms of ruggedness and steepness.


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[kstatemallards]

I went to the San Juans this year. Elevation was pretty intense. Had plans of going 8 miles in. Made it 5 before I setup camp. I trained a ton before the season and I was in pretty good shape. My legs never got tired or sore...but it was hard as hell to breath. The first couple nights we stayed at 11,500 feet and I would wake up in the middle of the night taking deep breaths.

We shifted to an area that was 9,200 feet after and it was much better.

The terrain was brutal, the elk were gone but I will be back...probably for another beating.


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