Advice to aspiring elk hunter…

[WapitiTalk1]

Howdy! My name is ######. I’m getting ready to start hunting elk next year. What are some things, maybe top three things, I need to start concentrating on to improve my success/experience?

[Elkhunttoo]

Welcome to Elk hunting ######....just a few pointers to get ready for elk hunt

First thing i would suggest is to get yourself mentally and physically prepared. You think about your elk hunt for months if not years to get to go elk hunting. You have 10 days to get to actually hunt elk. If you are not mentally and physically ready you will end up cutting that 10 days of hunting into about 7 days.

Second thing to focus on will be to study the area you are going to hunt. Learn the terrain. If possible put boots on the ground in that area. Online and in person scouting to try and up you odds to be into elk as fast as possible. Look for saddles, water holes, bedding and feeding areas, traveling routes and so on....places where elk will be elk and doing elk things

Third thing...practice and prepare...Practice with your weapon and be ready when the time comes....prepare, if you are archery hunting, prepare for the style you plan on hunting. Tree stand, calling, spot and stock...there are endless you tube elk hunting videos you can find...Elknut had some seminars on calling that are great to listen to. Corey Jacobsens destination elk series are exellent for learning about different styles of hunting. Pick up Swede's Tree Stand hunting book and study that if thats one of the hunting styles you want to try.

Last thing is enjoy it!!! enjoy the beauty of the Mountains and the peace this elk hunting vaccation will bring you

[Swede]

#1 Pick a good unit to hunt. Don't worry about which State is best. You are not going State hunting. A 20% success unit in one State is as good as a 20% success rate in another unless you want a particular size or gender of elk. The State statistics can refine your search a lot. After you find the unit(s) you like, then narrow things down from there. Call the area fish and game office and ask for some help. Tell them what you are looking for and how you plan to hunt.

Most of elk hunting success is being mentally prepared. I will be 79 this season and I believe my chance of success is better now than it was when I was age 22. Finding elk is not the hard part though that is not a given by any means. Killing a legal elk is a bit more involved. You can read here and on other forums stories about the one that came close. Your hunt comes down to less than five minutes, and often less than thirty seconds where you either make it happen or something goes wrong.
Things can and do go haywire for any hunter, but some still manage to be consistently successful.
#2 Don't mess up when your magic moment arrives.

#3 Elk calls are tools. Too many newbies think of them as some kind of magic wand. Most archery elk hunters rarely or never call in an elk they can kill. Learn to elk hunt then add a call to support your hunting technique.
BTW: I purchased a new bugle this last winter that I plan to use this coming season. I hope not to wear it out by making 2-4 calls per day. I like to let any elk that hears it know there is a new elk in the area. It should pique their interest. I will let them come to figure it out.

[Tigger]

my first thing is figure out how to get a license. Weird name by the way. how is that pronounced?

[>>>---WW---->]

my first thing is figure out how to get a license. Weird name by the way. how is that pronounced?

I think it is pronounced ###### Boss Man

[>>>---WW---->]

It might be a good idea to hook up with someone who knows a little bit about elk hunting. If you are lucky, they might invite you to tag along. Most of us on here probably learned from the school of hard knocks. I know I did! But basically the more you hunt and the more shoe leather you burn, the better you will become. Chasing elk can really get in our blood. Get in reasonable shape. You don't have to be a marathon runner, just reasonably fit. The country elk live in can be mighty rough on a fella. Watch videos, read books, attend seminars. If you happen to have a few bucks burning a hole in your pocket you might even consider hiring an outfitter to show you the ropes. You don't have to swallow the hype and buy all the fancy hi dollar equipment that is out there now days. But good solid stuff will help you in the long run and maybe even give you a little more confidence.

[Swede]

If you happen to have a few bucks burning a hole in your pocket you might even consider hiring an outfitter to show you the ropes.

Intuitively that seems to be a good idea, but it has not been my experience. I went on two guided hunts. One was for caribou and the other for turkey. We bounced around in an aluminum boat all day for several days until we found a good caribou bull. For a turkey, I set on some different hills in some bushes waiting and waiting but never saw one.
I think a good, guided elk hunt would be worth the money and should be a great experience, but hunting some ranch is not likely to help you learn how to hunt them. Going with a guide on accessible public land may not be a great learning experience either.
Personally, if I was starting out, I would prefer to tie in with the likes of Saddle Sore or WW and pump them for as much information as I could get away with. Those old boys are not just two elk wonders; they have a vast amount of experience and elk knowledge. Even if you did not get an elk, it would be a great experience. And BTW; if someone guarantees you success on your elk hunt it is not going to be a good hunting experience.

[>>>---WW---->]

Thanks Swede! I consider that a complement and I'm sure Vince does as well. But don't pump me up too much or I might have to think about coming out of retirement.

[Lefty]

Swede kind of covered it

Attach yourself to someone that really knows elk inside and out,,,, the rest will come. Also realize even the very best know they dont know it all , keep learning

There are times a person of knowledge can save you a lifetime of challenged learning.