I am new to the forum even though I have looked and read on these forums for almost 5 years now. They have also been used as a resource for several antelope hunts that I have planned out in the past. This fall I plan on heading out west to complete my first elk hunt. I am a whitetail fanatic but the west has peaked quite a bit of interest in my the last few years. I have already harvest a very nice antelope in Wyoming and believe it needs another western friend on the wall since it is surrounded by whitetails. I have been doing plenty of research and believe that I would like to hunt Montana but am unsure which tag to apply for. As it stands I will be the only person going even though I have several friends that are on the fence about it and I plan on a DIY style hunt. I plan on doing day hunts for the most part from my truck until I can find the elk and then adjusting my strategy from there. I am 26 years old, from the midwest, and have only ever hunted antelope out west so I really have no idea what Im getting into other than what my research has told me. I have already began training and won't have any issues being in "good enough" shape once I reach the mountains. I plan on doing this hunt in Mid September(13th-23rd??) and plan on 10 days of hunting and 4 days of driving.
So my questions are: Is Montana my best option? What is the easiest/best tag to apply and draw first year? Should I do the general deer/elk combo? What concern are grizzlies? What gear should I have that many don't think about or forget? Is there a chance of shooting a mule deer in the areas I will find elk?
I am not asking anyone for their secret spot and anything above and beyond. I would love the opportunity to learn more about this type of hunting and what I should expect out of this hunt.
Thanks for any responses in advance!
Jeff
A addiction....... A need and want to go every year.......
Good Huntin Rob
Has anyone ever hunted unit 310? It seems that the odds are good there according to some of my research but it seems as though there has to be some kind of catch.
Bigdan, I haven't looked into the breaks units yet so I will do my research. Thanks for the tip!
Also I don't know how to call an elk, does anyone recommend a call and or dvd that would help me out with learning the lingo?
Since you are new here...be sure to ask Bigdan about his favorite cow call.
that's BS. by far most people don't even get AS. stay well hydrated and you should be fine.
I now have a buddy that said he would go, so there are two of us instead of me making the journey by myself.
Im fully prepared to put as many miles on my boots as possible, but am not quite sure what "elk areas" I should be looking for to find elk. I know exactly what good whitetail country looks like but don't know what to look for when conducting some internet scouting. Anyone have any tips??
Z Barebow's Link
As far as calling instruction, Elknut has some very good videos. He lives and breathes elk. And a super nice guy on top of it.
Z Barebow---Thanks for the link, this seems like it will be very useful in the near future!
The stats are against success so don't make the trip about killing an elk. If you do, you beat the odds. If you don't it's not too disappointing.
Listen to some of the elk geniuses in here and you might get lucky.
I would focus on learning an area, finding animals, trying to get close.
I would also try a few different techniques to see which ones you like/or are good at.
The best trips I have ever had was when I realized hunting was more than an animal on the ground. It's a hard thing to do because we all want a big animal down but it's NOT the only thing we want.
I only say the above because I have seen and met too many disappointed hunters who have come back from amazing places. The disappointment usually is tied to money spent but still no hunting trip should be a disappointment if you get outdoors and into the wild.
Anyway
An elk's sheer size can be overwhelming to someone who's never stood over one lying on the ground. The places they normally die only compound the situation. Make sure you have plenty of quality game bags, knives, sharpener, parachute cord, and a quality pack frame, preferably one with a waist belt, shelf and plenty of tie-off points. Once on, you don't want that weight shifting! A small saw can be invaluable as well for those trees and downfall they invariably fall into/against. Another item I won't be without are trekking poles. Not only are they great for balance when carrying a heavy load, they are a Godsend when used to stand up in the first place, for those of us whose backs aren't what they used to be.
Absolutely prepare for success, but be prepared for when success happens as well. Otherwise, your dream hunt can quite rapidly turn into a nightmare!
Expect incredible scenery. Expect an adventure. Expect great satisfaction in the hunt.
Will you see elk? Hear them bulging? Get close enough to actually kill one? Those are things you HOPE for, its what you're hunting for ....
But there is en enormity in what our goals are sometimes, just don't be expecting to get within 20 yards of several P&Y bulls the first year. Can it happen? Absolutely ! BUT ... I wouldn't expect it
Also, if you absolutely have to be back at work by a certain day, don't shoot an elk somewhere at the end of your hunt where it will take a couple days to pack it out. (Or like a guy from Mississippi I guided said, "Drag it out").
I know of a NR who had to make a plane to get back to work, was hunting alone, and killed a nice bull on the morning before he had to leave. I found out later he packed half of it out and left the rest for the bears.
He shot the bull, then figured out the logistics after the fact.