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Needing assistance in finding options for my first Elk hunt, hunt will be solo DIY, Bivy style hunt, Archery. I’m in pretty good shape but will be in better shape by time hunt rolls around; hunt will take place in mid-Sept. I have been looking at stats in both Colorado and Idaho since hunt will be OTC/General tag. I have been leaning towards Idaho’s Beaverhead Elk zone; anyone have any input on this area or be willing to offer in-put on other area’s to look at? My overall expectation of this hunt is to have a great experience and possibly harvesting the first legal elk that I see if possible, just seeing an Elk in wild is going to be a bonus. Thanks,
I can't comment on that zone, but I'd STRONGLY advise you to hunt from a base camp and be extremely mobile. Then if you find elk to hunt that are too far to hike in-out daily, go in with your bivy/spike camp and hunt them.
This is especially critical since you've never hunted elk before.
Otherwise you might just have a nice fall backpacking trip, which is also a great experience.
so jaquomo.........if you don't mind explain a typical elk scout. so do you hike in as far as you think there may be elk then call/glass, and stay on the move until you have either found elk or not? generally how long do you give a spot before you go somewhere else? and also how big of an area do you cover?
Man Jaquomo nailed it... packing gear in somewhere means investing valuable time and energy. it also means committing to that area.
Instead keep your options. Hunt from the vehicle until you have a good and valid reason to bivy hunt. The fact is many guys who are successful are always hunting from their truckside camp.
The other thing worth mentioning is that you can get a guaranteed general elk license in Montana and there is some great hunting there. Application deadline is March 15th and after that they will continue to sell unsold tags until they are gone. Typically they last all summer. Sounds like you weren't aware of that. Less competition there than Colorado too by a landslide.
Best of luck to you. I love seeing another elk hunter being born.
I have hunted that zone many times if you get the tag let me know and I will tell you about that zone.
Kentuck... looks like we were typing at the same time. A typical elk scout starts NOW. Try to find a spot through word of mouth from someone with experience. You can also call the wildlife biologists for some info. Do your best to qualify your spot before you set foot there.
Also.. once you do that it's time to look over some topo maps until you are crosseyed. Find saddles in ridges, benches on otherwise steep slopes, and other likely places to find elk. In short... make a gameplan before you hunt. Have a plan B and C too.
Last... keep your goals reasonable. There is a learning curve to elk hunting. Don't expect too much at first. The mountains are a beautiful place so appreciate your time out there. Spend some time learning to hunt those hills and eventually success will come your way.
I will add to answer your question, that you don't always have to go X miles to be into elk. There are many many places where good elk hunting is within a mile of a road.
Big Dan was typing while I was... dude, there is your inside scoop right there. I don't know how long you've been around this site but that guy is the only one you need to talk to.
Thanks for the feedback guy’s, Mule Power I am aware of the Montana General Tag but seemed to be little pricey but still is an option, I have heard it gets pretty crowded but that’s all I hear about with any state or area I’m looking at, I haven’t looked at their stats yet either, think I ‘m going to pull up the website and do some looking as well, just so much information it starts to get overwhelming after a while. I have been around long enuf to know when Mr. Dan talks you listen. BigDan correct me if I’m wrong here but I can get a General A Tag for Beaverhead Elk Zone OTC? I’ve been between Colorado, Idaho and Wyoming DOW page so much I might be mixing them up.
kyhunter, I plunge into areas I've pre-scouted during the winter via Google Earth, topos, and DIY Hunting Maps. I look for drainages that are off the beaten path, with north-facing timber for bedding, some benches that may hold wallows, and some open meadows, clearcuts, or parks where they like to feed at night.
I look for saddles, long, narrow ridges and pinch points that will possibly focus their travel routes.
I go in during the late morning when they are bedded and start checking the edges of all the potential feeding areas. I look for trails and tracks, and keep moving until I find some. I look for water, seeps are great.
In my part of CO the wind is bad from about 9:30 a.m. until an hour before sunset, if I'm lucky. Sometimes not until sunset. So I do as much figuring out as I can and then find a good pinch point or travel route downwind of a trail in the transition between bedding and feeding, where a bull will need to get within bow range to see me. I then hang out out of sniffing distance from any bedding areas until the wind settles.
When I call, I bang sticks on logs, break branches, pretty much use up the pile of kindling I've gathered around me. About half the time the bulls come in totally silently, often after a half hour. Last year in my new area, 12 of the 14 bulls I called in came in without a peep.
In the morning I get in early and listen. I let out a couple locator bugles and watch for silent bulls again. I'll hunt the transition between feeding and bedding, knowing elk move miles in the night sometimes. If I've found sign but no elk, I decide whether to give it another day or check back in three or four days.
FlatLander, you are correct. The archery season in the Beaverhead is from Aug 30 to Sept 30 for any elk. And it is OTC.
Thanks Sarge I did go back and double check. Again guys thanks for the information I'm 60% on where I want to start my hunt going to continue to go over maps and try make heads or tails of something's. I guess I need to quit worry and just pull the trigger.....
Jedd...HEY JEDD !!! Bigdan just offered to assist you!! If you don't happen to know, he's just about the most successful elk hunter ALIVE!!! It just don't GET no better son....
I'm definitely going to take up his offer of assistance, I would be stupid not to plus I'm going to make sure I get the tag and understand the zone a little more before I hit him up so he knows he's not wasting his time or vast knowledge on someone not committed to the hunt.
Just don't mention anything to Bigdan about a "HOOCHEY MAMA" or any other cow call for that matter! Mike
"Just don't mention anything to Bigdan about a "HOOCHEY MAMA" or any other cow call for that matter!"
Ding Ding! LOL!
BigDan's version of a cow calling contest would involve how far you can throw them!
Someday I hope to hunt with him so I can cow-call a big bull AWAY from him! :-)
Bigdan can help you out there. Gotta get the tag first though.... that's the deal... =D
Hunted the area a few years ago and glassed up another hunter across the fence in MT.... good grief it sure looked like Bigdan at first, but it wasn't. Glasssed up another hunter above him headed out and he looked even MORE like Bigdan. WTH???
Then saw Maggie running up the hill toward the second hunter.... Maggie I recognized. Yep, confirmation.... that's Bigdan.
The first hunter was his brother. Moore's all over the place, like a pack o' wolves....... LOL!
Lol, I will definitely not be saying anything about HOOCHEY MAMMA. I haven't even thought about calling at this stage of my preparation. A year or so back I listen to a interview he did with Pat is that still on the sight?
a lot of great info....like stated above looking at all this info online....maps...stats....topos....it is getting overwhelming. just when I think I have a spot narrowed down I end up back to square 1.......is there an actual list of otc units as well as a list of point requirements for the non otc units? I have looked at cpw web site so much I feel like im missing something
There's a link on the website showing minimum points to draw every unit. Keep in mind that if one guy drew with that number, it becomes the "minimum" number.
You guys fairly new to elk hunting should order Matt Dworak's excellent book, "Public Land Elk Hunting". It's the primer for learning how to hunt elk. You can get the hard copy on Amazon, and it's also available as an e-book.
I've been bowhunting elk for over 40 years and still learned much from it.
The books jaquamo talks about is great. It is a big help for someone who has never elk hunted.
Thanks for the info Jaquamo.