Assuming we are both satisfied with an elk of any variety (cow or bull), how realistic is it that we would both have an opportunity on a 5 day hunt? Looking for some insight from those who have done this a time or two.
Likewise, in a primo NM unit, we both killed bulls, but his took 4 days, and mine came on the morning of the 10th and last day of the season
I guess my point is that it CAN be done in 5 or less days, but I sure wouldn't bet on it. But. . . Wouldn't you hate to have the chance at a double, and not have a tag?
Bake
Believe me, I don't want to make it a 4-5 day trip, but with the season opening when it does and my teaching schedule, that might be the best I can do (being a public school teacher might be easier this way, unfortunately I am not).
On the issue of the 4-5 day trip... that's really short.
What I would do if I were you, if your start day at work is what's ending your season, then still take the 10 day trip, but leave earlier. Spend the first 5 days before the season starts finding the elk. Actively hunt them, but without bows. You will then be set up to kill on opening morning while everyone else is playing catch up. (don't bump them)
One important mistake that new elk hunters make is hunting where there's no elk because of the deer hunting mind set. Deer are generally not too far away wherever you're hunting them. Not so with elk: You could be hunting an area where there isn't an elk within a mile, 2 miles, 3 miles, etc. You have to find elk via spotting live animals, spotting fresh sign, or hearing bugles.
It's not unheard of to take a few days to find elk. On my first elk hunt in CO, it took me 3 days to find my first fresh sign and I was doing some serious mileage.
Also consider taking a 2-3 day weekend at the end of the season if you don't fill.
I killed my first elk after an unsuccessful opening week trip drove me to fly back friday night after work closing weekend. I killed my elk on saturday and flew home on sunday. CO's not too far from Nebraska. If you both did it, you could drive all night taking turns and get some quality hunting in Saturday. You'll be amazed how motivated you are when you only have 24 hours to hunt.
I had the same thought as most of you, but my buddy thinks it might be wiser to do one. If it makes him feel better about it, I suppose I should let him shoot first.
He lives in Wisconsin Idyllwild, so I'd be going solo, but I hear that packing an elk out solo for the first time isn't that hard...
Summer scouting gives you terrain data. Scouting the day(s) before you hunt gives you animal data.
That being said. I am a teacher and in my 19 year career I have only taken an entire week off of work to hunt once. As a was driving to my hunt I had a kidney stone episode and spent the day in the Flagstaff hospital The next few days was spent passing a stone in camp and by Thursday I was good to go. Teachers may have a lot of time off but it is rarely during a hunting season. So I know what you are going through.
For what it is worth, I have been very successfull but it is because I have gotten to know the area I hunt very well. I have learned the habits of the elk in the area and how they react to pressure. I would advise you and your friend to find an area to hunt and learn it real well. You don't need 10 days to kill. I usually hunt the first 3 days of season and then try to come up the next weekend and hunt Saturday - Tuesday. Good Luck and have fun.
That isn't even the point. As others have touched on, you may decide who the shooter is going to be, but the elk may have different ideas. If the one without a tag gets the shot opportunity, you both lose. Party hunting (shooting an animal on someone else's tag) is illegal in Colorado. With two guys hunting together, no matter what you do, you can't plan well enough to know who will have the opportunity.
That entire 10 day trip, I was always the caller and never the shooter. I also was the only one to tag an elk.
Correction... THINKING about packing an elk out solo isn't that hard. Or maybe packing an elk out solo the first TRIP isn't that hard.... 3rd or 4th trip things change up some...
You will find WHERE you have to pack is actually more important than how far. I'd rather pack 3 or 4 miles on a good trail than 1 mile through vertical with blowdowns...
What they said above. If you can swing it, buy two tags. It's very true the caller may be the only one with the shot. And calling isn't the only way elk get killed, my first was walking back after a morning hunt and basically stumbled on a bedded solo spike. He wasn't sure what woke him up. Stood there and took it like a man. You really never know. Success is when preparation meets opportunity. Don't screw up an opportunity by not being prepared.
It may also be prudent to separate the fist day or so as well to locate elk, unless you get on em early. Then flip a coin to see who shoots first (if it goes according to plan that is....)and alternate.
We always state up front as well, somebody hits an elk everybody helps in recovery ("difficult" recovery.... first blood tags it. another reason to have two bows along) and/or packing. Everybody splits up meat evenly as well. Saves wizzin' and moaning later on....
I have no problem with both of us having a tag, it's convincing him that we should both do it. I think he'll understand both of us doing it.
From what's been suggested I think we'll try and plan for a few days before season opens to scout, then if I haven't tagged out try to squeeze in a few more weekends if I can.
TD, I know it's hard stuff, just trying to interject a little good natured humor in this serious group of elk hunters.
Thanks again guys!
Time, even if it has to be scouting before opening day, is a giant advantage.
If you've put in your time just before the season and know exactly where they are roosting the night before...yeah, your odds certainly increase.
My experience with elk is in many places.... day after opener can be anybodies bet. They don't just relocate when pressured, sometimes they change zip codes...
"one trinever mp" is subjective. Personally 10 days IN THE FIELD is my goal on an elk hunt. Two days travel each way so a two week trip. I've killed elk on the last day.
IMO, DIY, 10 days will be 3 or 4 times more successful than a 5 day hunt, not just twice as a person may think.
EDIT: "one trip OUT" OK, never mind....read closer when it get later at night....
The answer for me is no way in heck. A bull is 4 loads if you are normal , 3 if you are feeling your oats and not fighting blowdown in and out, and 2 loads if you trim the heck out of it, are in great shape, and crazy or don't need your legs for the next couple days. If he has a big rack, that, the cape and some backstraps are a decent load.
Hey, y'all, watch this!
Last year, my wife was set in front of me just off a trail, with elk coming along it. I was opposite side and 40yds back, 'calling'. At 34yds, the leading cow ambles/grazes left and skirts around my wife (the shooter), and takes a big arc that puts her 21yds from me. And of course the little group follows the cow, and all I have to do is wait for the bull.
Now, we both had tags; we have meat in the freezer. How well does your buddies one tag idea work?
Flip a coin for first shot- but sometimes the animals decide for you.
4-5 days for a hunt is way too short. Keep in mind that on opening weekend there is a good chance they might not be very vocal which will make them harder to find.
Yes, you might find them and kill one within that time but it might take you 4 days to pack it out. I've killed elk that have taken me 4 days to pack off the mountain. I got 300 pounds of boneless meat off of my bull last year. But if you guys are only hunting 4-5 days you probably won't get far from the truck and you'll have less chance of getting away from hunting pressure or finding elk.
With elk hunting everything is magnified. You don't (typically) just drive out west, run into the woods, kill an elk and just drag it back to your truck. Especially in an OTC unit. No offense intended but I think you guys are in for an education; hopefully not a disappointment.
I can't imagine driving all the way from WI for a 4-5 day hunt. He'll spend almost as much time driving as hunting.
I think we are in for an education, and I don't think any of us are pinning our hopes on killing a bull. We will learn, and we're going to have fun regardless, because it's a new adventure for us. Would I love to kill a bull? Hell yea I would!
That's why I came here, to get as much info and knowledge as I can, so our learning curve out there is a little less steep, though I know our learning will never end. At that time of the year we'll be looking for waterholes and travel routes. Thanks Cheesehead, and everyone else, I'm hoping all this pays off.
But.. even if you were lucky enough to show up, set camp, find elk on day 1 and kill one on say the 2nd day... it could take you the entire 3rd day to get it back to the vehicle and taken care of properly. On day 3 you would be a tad worn out.
Then, if your schedule is so tight that you'd need to be done packing the 2nd elk out on day 4 that means you only have day 3 to kill the 2nd animal.
On our first 2 elk hunts nobody killed an animal. Very very common I might add.
If you were to pull that off you should tell yourself it's all downhill from there!
If you want the best chance to kill one elk it would be smart to both have a tag.
You will have a blast. Definitely look for water holes, travel routes, etc, but with a limited time frame I would look for elk. We have a saying in camp that the only tracks that really matter are the 4 the elk are standing in. I've spent many days sneaking through elk country with lots of sign and not a lot of elk because they moved on. They drift around from drainage to drainage and decide to move any time.
Have a plan B and C area if you aren't getting into them. When you do get in them, treat it like gold and make it happen. Elk lord giveth and he taketh away just as fast. More than once we have had banner days with lots of elk and you know that tomorrow is the day, only to find that aliens must have abducted them all while we slept :^)
It'll be a great experience no doubt, and that's what we're looking forward to on this thing. We've been talking about doing an elk hunt since we met in high school 12 years ago, and we both decided it's time to make it happen.
If you can swing it, I would make sure that you each have a tag in your pocket and a bow in your hand. The caller is often the one who will get the shot. If you just can't swing it, I would still go, as any day chasing elk is better than a day dreaming of chasing elk. You have a great attitude about the realities of being a first timer, as you will likely get more education than opportunity. If you start your education now, you will be better prepared for the future when you can get more time off or start putting in for more difficult to draw units.
Also. Don't feel like you have to walk ten miles in to kill an elk. One time my dad and I came back to camp to relax after a TOUGH day of hunting and decided to just check out right next to our campsite for the evening hunt. Called in a spike and a big 6x6 about 200 yards from the trailer. I missed after my arrow hit an unseen limb about ten feet in front of me.
I think the only "reality check" you'll experience is that it's the heroin of the hunting world! You'll be hooked.......
Just have fun and don't let anyone put any type of intimidation in you. If you're not comfortable with the thought of taking out an elk five miles away from a road, don't go five miles. Don't put too much thought in it. Be prepared but HAVE FUN!
Sorry if I sounded negative, that wasn’t my intent. I just wanted to make sure you guys had realistic expectations.
I’ve had quick success on some of my elk hunts in the past so anything is possible. In ’06 I drove solo all the way to Idaho and killed a 5x5 on the 3rd day. In ’09 I killed a nice 6x6 in Montana on my 2nd day but it took me 3 days to pack it out. In ’10 I killed a little 4x4 in New Mexico on my 2nd day hunting but it took a couple days to get it out with rented horses. In 2011 I killed a nice 6x6 on the 4th day but again it took me 4 more days to pack it and my camp out. Of the 10 elk I have killed, 8 of them have been the first time I hunted the area. I’m not intimidated or discouraged by the fact that I’ve never hunted an area before. I think sometimes past experience in a unit may influence you and may cause you not to have an open mind. If you’ve hunted there before you may have a tendency to go back to the areas that worked in the past, whereas if you’ve never been there before you may have more of an open mind and will keep searching new areas until you find elk rather than wasting time trying old spots.
I think a basic understanding of elk habits/needs and a good understanding of maps is very helpful in developing a game plan for your hunt. You should study maps thoroughly and have a game plan and a purpose when you get there so you can hit the ground running rather than waste precious time figuring out what to do. I always thoroughly study maps long before my hunt and have several options in mind. I enter map coordinates into my GPS so I can easily navigate to good looking areas. Try to pick an area with multiple options such as the convergence of multiple drainages. If you put all of your eggs in one basket (drainage) and that drainage doesn’t work out you could waste a lot of time relocating. It’s a lot easier to be able to move a short distance and hunt another drainage rather than hiking/packing out and driving to another area.
I don’t know if you plan to hunt out of a truck base camp or plan to spike/bivy out. If you plan to spike/bivy out I would have your packs all packed with everything you need (except water) so you can just grab your packs, add water and hit the trail. Trying to pack your pack at the trailhead is a waste of precious time and will make you feel rushed which will make you forget something.
If your goal is to get into elk in an OTC unit I think your best odds are to pack in away from the trailhead. If you plan to hunt out of a truck base camp, keep in mind (in my opinion) your odds for getting into elk will be reduced. If you’re more interested in a comfortable base camp and just enjoying 4-5 days in the mountains there’s nothing wrong with that, just adjust your expectations accordingly. You’ll have a great time either way.
I agree with what others have said too about both of you having tags, the caller often gets the shot.
The attached photo is of a bull I called in for my buddy Les last year. I had killed my bull the previous day, I was calling for Les and this bull came to within 20 feet of me when he shot it. The story will be in an upcoming issue of Extreme Elk.
Simple, tell him YOU are buying a tag without question every year you are on the hunt. What he does is up to him, if he is satisfied being a caller/packer/camp cook, great. A friend who wants to somehow compel a hunter to not actually hunt is not much of a hunting partner.
However, it can happen that as 'partners' one of you might, on occasion, kill an animal or otherwise do something such that it ends the other guys hunt if time is limited in order to assist, so be it. stuff happens. But hunters generally do not wander the woods without a tag in their pocket when a tag is available, IMO. Especially for a first ever elk hunt.
#1. Go into the woods during season without a tag if one was available to me.
#2 Use some of my limited time off to scout before the season.
Look at the odds - its about 12% in CO for either sex. That includes experts to newbies.
So you have an 88% chance of coming home empty handed even if you are the shooter.
I think you are asking the wrong question. Which of the below questions are you really asking:
Do I want to go elk hunting?
OR
Do I want to go elk killing?
If you are trying to answer the second question then I wouldn't go DIY and I would pay a great guide with great land.
Otherwise buy the tag and enjoy the trip. Go prepared to kill an elk but know it's about much more than that.
I know my post sounds a little weird but guys are always asking the wrong question and then ending up unhappy with the results because they didn't understand the realities of the question they were asking.
There is a whole raft of sage advice on this thread (and others like it); one salient point above all else is that opportunity to take an elk can come when we least expect it, novice or veteran
'Elk are where you find them, rather than where you'd like them to be...'
Most of the posts on this thread are by guys with a whole lot more money and spare time than I've got! Maybe someday!!
Simply put... elk hunting if done right can be so demanding that there is no way your mind will convince your body to do what it takes unless your mind knows there is an elk tag in your pocket. Trust me on that.
You can trust Mike and Sage too. Candy coating things does no good. They are realists with experience.
In 2012 I killed a 6 pt bull on day one 30 minutes after sunrise. Took 25 years for something like that to happen and it would never have happened without some tips from a good friend. If nothing else you need to come up with a good ""we got a flat 38 miles into the mountains" story for your boss. 7 days is bare bones minimum!
Like Sage said... are you really planning a hunt where not killing an elk is perfectly fine? I never have regrets but I certainly plan to kill one every single day I leave camp.
