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Looking to do a DYI elk hunt in 10 years out west. What states/units would be the best choice to look into in order to draw a tag? I have time to wait so just would like your opinion on some different options. Thanks
Sorry...I have a hard enough time figuring out where they'll be in 10 days let alone 10 years from now. A lot can change in that span of time..
If the wolves (which let's face it, they're coming) haven't ate all the elk in Colorado I'd say go there..
LOL Joe, I thought the same thing!
Don't wait. Go now. There is no time like the present and your cup will be just as full with an Over the Counter tag now as it will be with the "perfect" tag in 10 years. "Someday" never comes
tjhunt- Don't take this wrongly, but make plans to hunt next year. Make plans to hunt in 3-5 years and makes plans to hunt 6-15 years. (IE Short term, mid term and long term planning) . You don't want your first elk hunt to be a "top tier" hunt. You should be gaining experience in the mountains and hunting elk. If you make rookie mistakes on a once in a decade hunt, it is a long time before you can return. (And getting longer). And one thing you can depend upon is CHANGE. The rules to draw in 2020 will not be the same rules to draw in 2030. (The rules will be less favorable all, especially NR's, and this holds true for EVERY state. Just ask ZIM!)
I went on my first "once in a lifetime" elk hunt in 1998. (I was bs'ing my wife and myself). Now I am going every year until I can't. (To quote the great Randy Newburg- "You are going to run out of time before you run out of money")
Z Barebow X2 !
No matter how great the unit you draw on your first hunt...you're still a rookie elk hunter. Go OTC, lay down some boot leather in the Rockies, you'll never regret it, whether you kill an elk or not. The learning curve is exponential, with every hunt.
If you have ten years than I suggest you start building points in some of these states you dream about hunting! Always buy the best gear you can afford. It will make your hunt so much more enjoyable. Remember half the fun is in the planning! Good luck and never give up!
NM is random. NR odds for known famous units are slim. But theres some units that you have better chance than a once in a lifetime draw.
Wyoming, you can draw a general elk tag in 3 years or so. Learn a little bit and accumulate some PP for a LQ hunt later or just come hunt every few years on a general tag.
In 10 years you can draw a few mid-tier units in AZ and have a good chance at P&Y class bulls.
10 years? You should be planning for next year at the latest.
In 10 years who knows what will be happening. There are plenty of elk hunts, especially desirable units that have had quota, season, quality, or points needed change quite a bit in the last ten years. These are the good old days. We like to complain about the current stuff compared to how great it was 10, 20, 30 years ago (it was) but in 20 years what we have now will likely be better than what we will have then.
Don't know your age but go as soon as you can. OTC while building points or an easy draw tag to get your feet wet. WI to CO and back is around $150.00 in gas if you split with a buddy, tag and stamp are $680.00 and change. You eat whether you are here or at home. For under $1000.00 it's a ton of fun and it will likely be a lot more in 10 years.
If you will for sure be waiting ten years, just get some points started in a few states. As stated above, going on your first elk hunt with a long awaited tag often doesn't work out. Some experience with a "regular" tag lets you make some mistakes, iron out what type of gear you want and what style of hunting works for you with stakes that aren't as high. You also might just knock over a nice one.
I would offer the same advice I received twenty years ago, right here on Bowsite. Go ahead and do your research on draw tags and start building some points. But don't wait on those draw tags to start elk hunting. There are opportunities to elk hunt every year. Learn to elk hunt BEFORE you burn a bunch of points on a good LE draw tag.
You won't be able to get a tag 10 yrs from now.
Reduced price cow tags are cheap and a good way to learn, random draw as well.
When I did outdoor shows I had guys ask questions and take brochures for “future hunts”. They were often in their early 50s and sometimes referred to them as “retirement hunts”. 10 years late they walk... no LIMP up to the booth and say “This is the year I’m ready” Don’t be that guy! I’ve had guys in their 30s and 40s die before they saw elk country!
As has been said above, do not wait 10 years for that magic tag. You will most likely be disappointed.
Go now and as often as possible to learn about elk and elk hunting while building points for higher quality tags.
Get a subscription to GoHunt online and start researching. They have a lot of application strategy articles that you can start learning from.
Buy points in Wyoming and Montana when those open for points only.
Go elk hunting in Colorado this fall in an OTC unit. By yourself if necessary. Do some research on line to narrow down your unit selection. Good elk are killed every year in OTC units.
Shoot the first legal elk you get a chance for. Raise your standards slowly over the years as you gain experience.
Apply in as many states as you can every year. Many states have systems that issue random tags and you might get lucky several times with great tags along the way.
Good luck!
Great advice above. Especially , “Hunt OTC Units and cows” Often times You can hunt cows in trophy units. Learning about elk and the unit. Cows are often the cause of a busted stalk or set up. So learning to kill cows is not easy. They usually outlive bulls by 2 - 3 times in years. There are a lot more 10 yr old cows than bulls running around.
So shooting a savvy old cow is a worthy goal and achievement.
I have never felt that I experienced less of a hunt by shooting a cow.
I’ve shot goofy rutted up bulls and I’ve yet to find a goofy un alert cow.
All great advice. Every year I mentor one or two guys who have little or no elk bowhunting experience but used their bucket of saved points to draw a primo unit. Almost always strike out. Hunt elk when you can, where you can. Then when you use points you'll be much better prepared.
Finding an area that you want to build points for is a great plan. However, you need some elk knowledge for a successful hunt and you’re going to learn that in the woods. You would do well to do some over-the-counter hunting before you actually draw your quality tag
Finding an area that you want to build points for is a great plan. However, you need some elk knowledge for a successful hunt and you’re going to learn that in the woods. You would do well to do some over-the-counter hunting before you actually draw your quality tag
I don't disagree with the words above. However there are reasons that for the next 10 he just flat can't go. Maybe he is a high school football coach for example. So some answers to his question might help. As an out of stater coming to CO and assuming the game does not change. 10 point will not get you even close to the top tier units. With that said some of the units that take some points can be great hunts that should more than meet the expectation of new elk hunter. Pick a state or states you can hunt as often you can/would like. Pick a state that you can shoot for the moon at their top tier units some day.