How's the crawling coming?

[WapitiTalk1]

In the Army, we say that there are three stages to preparing for a mission/operation. Crawl (initial planning and prep), Walk (practicing your skills to proficiency), and run (mission execution).. Crawl, Walk, Run.. Well, we are only a bit over 9 months away from the next elk season. What are you folks doing during your crawl phase to prepare/plan for your next elk hunt? I'm locking in the guys that I will hunt with, confirming where I will hunt (Idaho more than likely), and determining what gear needs replaced or added. Additionally, I'm going over lessons learned from the previous season so as not to make similar mistakes, and, ordering my tree stand (first ever). Whaddya you cats working on during the crawl phase of your 2014 elk hunt?

[cnelk]

RJ
The shortest day of the year is Saturday.
I can honestly say that Im in the fetal position in regards to next fall elk hunting

[Elkonthebrain]

I'm gathering as much info on a couple different spots in Montana. Google Earth is an amazing tool. Getting my list of questions ready for the biologist. I guess just lots and lots of research.

[WapitiTalk1]

RJ
The shortest day of the year is Saturday.
I can honestly say that Im in the fetal position in regards to next fall elk hunting

Ok. I guess we'll have to coin one more stage

[ctdad]

Sold my bow so I'm shopping for a new one.

Joined a new gym which has been great motivation to workout through the winter.

Doing my own pack comparison bn a kifaru and stone glacier

[Swede]

There is another old army military I recall now. It says, "hurry up and wait." I am in the wait phase of the mission. I am keeping up on my exercise, have all of my gear prepared as much as possible, and have settled out my plans. I will soon be putting in for some draw hunts, but don't have enough points to go anywhere special, so I don't anticipate any big changes to my plans.

[bnsafe]

not much yet, im gonna focus on spring bear then mulies.

[WapitiTalk1]

There is another old army military I recall now. It says, "hurry up and wait." I am in the wait phase of the mission. I am keeping up on my exercise, have all of my gear prepared as much as possible, and have settled out my plans. I will soon be putting in for some draw hunts, but don't have enough points to go anywhere special, so I don't anticipate any big changes to my plans.

You're always welcome to crawl thru the jungles of Idaho with me. No draw required

[JJ Overkill]

how many people are you trying to get in your hunting party. whats the price of a NR tag in Idaho anyways? ive got some 17 days off in sept with the first weekends off. when is the dates for out there. I might have to take you up on the offer from a couple yrs ago maybe JUST maybe I can call one in for you

oh by the way im in a holding pattern, waiting for further intel from the state and fellow hunters. as always scouting other possible routes, I guess some training never dies

[wapitibowman]

I am buying some pack goats. So, I will be getting to know them and reading about how to take care of them. I am always scouring google earth and maps to find the next best elk honey hole. Calling fish and game for questions about herd numbers and the specifics on hunting areas. Exercising, making buys (boots, sleeping pad, etc.), dreaming about elk, and shooting my bow any chance I get.

Wapitibowman

[JGH]

Exercise is the main thing now.

I know:
Where I'm going, when I'm going, and who I'm going with

I know:
The gear I have and how to use it

I know:
The gear I need, and have specific plans on when and where to get it

I know:
The scouting that needs to be done ... not global scouting, but detail scouting, and I know roughly when I'm doing that

So now ... it's "Hurry up and wait", like Swede said ... and exercise is about all there is to do at this stage.

[BrentLaBere]

Crawl Stage:
-Trying to find out what weekend works for those returning to elk camp again this next fall. Should be the same time frame and hopefully adding two days to the trip. It looks like there will be only one or two of us going this year......
-January is just around the corner and application will be out. I am in the process of donating plasma to fund my trips , These out of state fees can be steep but at least there is a way to still hunt! Buying a Wyoming point again bringing me up to 3 total. Looking at two bonus points for Montana, hoping I don't draw where I apply, because I found a very good general area to hunt last fall.....just build points for when I would like to use them. And then there is the home state luck of the draw "big 3"-once in a life time tags for North Dakota. Big horn, Moose and Elk. Put your name in the hat for 5$ a piece and cross your fingers. I will be playing the game with Big horns and Moose, I have already drawn my elk tag.
- Also, just finished up my last 12 week training program so I need to start another. Cardio isnt the name of the game just yet for me although I try and run or bike two miles a day in the gym.
- Going over gear is fun for me and I have been making a list for what I need/want. That list grows smaller all of the time when I really break it down to what I need. Right now it starts with arrows and broad heads. Another big thing I want to add is a suppression girdle for my sleeping bag. When packing it I can save over half the volume it is right now.

(Walk).........as the snow will start to melt here on the frozen tundra I will start to shoot, practice calling and run outside.

[Still Hunter]

Hiking the mountains with my dog to stay in shape.

Since bear hunting is new to me. I'm doing tons of research on that for my fall bear hunt.

[Willie makit]

LOL, I'm too busy resetting my brains circuit breakers from not knowing a single thing that JGH listed above, plus add to that now not sure about my fund-ages. Least I got plenty of time to put in some OT!

[Swede]

LOL, I'm too busy resetting my brains circuit breakers from not knowing a single thing that JGH listed above, plus add to that now not sure about my fund-ages. Least I got plenty of time to put in some OT!

Willie: That would make a great introduction for a new thread. If you let us know a little more, lets see how well we can advise you on preparing for a relatively inexpensive viable elk hunt. First let us know what basics you have and how and where you want to hunt.

[Olydog09]

Looking at Google maps and acme mapping to nail down a new spot in Id and looking for a spot for a first season in MT. Will order some USGS topo maps of multiple areas and start planning dates to check each area out on foot.

[FemoralArchery]

how many people are you trying to get in your hunting party. whats the price of a NR tag in Idaho anyways? ive got some 17 days off in sept with the first weekends off. when is the dates for out there. I might have to take you up on the offer from a couple yrs ago maybe JUST maybe I can call one in for you

oh by the way im in a holding pattern, waiting for further intel from the state and fellow hunters. as always scouting other possible routes, I guess some training never dies

Hunting license is $154.75 and a NR elk tag is $416.75


Both my plan A and plan B are in place. Don't know if I'll be hunting alone or with some friends this year, but I will be hunting.

Looking forward to a new base camp setup, but my wife and I are (with any luck at all) buying a house this coming year, so new gear may be on hold.

[Toby]

Getting my new bow set up and trying to decide on an arrow/BH combination, getting there with some help from Elknut.

Need to start getting in shape, but am going to enjoy the holidays first. Need to study google earth more to get more familiar with my hunting area, this will be my third year there.

Practicing my calling after reading some of the great threads posted here.

Giving some thought to hunting alone this year, not sure any of the guys are going to make it.

[ORelksniper]

I'm low crawling into the dead of winter and I don't like it much.

My gear is ready for spring and I'll continue map scouting in search of the illusive "honey hole". Carry on.

[Willie makit]

Willie: That would make a great introduction for a new thread. If you let us know a little more, lets see how well we can advise you on preparing for a relatively inexpensive viable elk hunt. First let us know what basics you have and how and where you want to hunt.

Thanks Swede, I'll do that within the next few days. I'm not as good as joe is in writing stuff up.

[slim9300]

I just killed my WA elk two weeks ago. Immediately afterward I remember thinking how long of a wait it was going to be until Sept!

If it was September now I would be gtg!

[easeup]

digesting this in the off season...practicing at 160 yds....hmmm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4NrhBl2cXs

[Trophyhill]

started shooting my back up D350 today. gonna swap the primary 350 with over 45k shots on it with the other one with less than 3000 on it so it's time to make it an extension like I did the other one. haven't shot since Sept.

[8upbowhunter]

I am still in the middle of deer season right now so I am shooting my bow and hunting deer. As far as next years elk hunt prep I am running 4 days a week trying to stay in shape. After deer season is over on January 31st I will up the weekly running mileage and start planning for my September DIY hunt. So far it's only my son and myself that are going for sure but maybe 2 others will join us.

[ishy]

Crawling is not going good...my only goal is to keep the wife happy till sept. I must admit over doing the calling, scouting, watching videos etc which only irritates her to no end. I think excersizing is the only prehunt activity that doesn't rattle her chain. So I have been hanging christmas lights, helping cook christmas goodies for the neighbors. Keeping any elk noises off when shes home, everything is going good when she asks if she can go on vacation with a friend in September! All progress I made was lost! After the blow up realizing she only wanted a few days I tried to backtrack and say that we would make it work, but the damage was done.

[ORelksniper]

Ishy, my prayers go out to you. I walked that road for a long time myself. It sucks! The path I eventually took sucks, too. I have no good advice for you...I wish I did. Merry Christmas, friend and I hope you can find a measure of peace in 2014.

[JJ Overkill]

i feel for ya, though I don't know what its like, my wife of 14yrs knows not to plan anything in sept since we moved, it use to be oct due to duck hunting. now that she is starting to hunt with me it makes it easier for sure. ive told family and friends that if they get married in the months of aug, sept, oct, nov. count me out. I had a cousin get married on the opening weekend of duck season when we still lived in MN. I already had $500+ wrapped up in a trip. as you can imagine, the family wasn't happy with me. but id rather be thinking of there wedding in a duck blind than be at there weeding thinking about duck hunting.

good luck and marry Christmas.

[Willie makit]

ive told family and friends that if they get married in the months of aug, sept, oct, nov. count me out.

That's part of our hunting groups rules too, we aren't even allowed to get ill or allow any close friends or family to die during our nov, dec and jan hunting season. Unfortunately there always seem to be a rule breaker somewhere. I got to get an amendment to add September soon.

[ishy]

I was guiding the fall of our engagement and thought I warned he well by saying she had seen me more that year (on the mountain from mid august till oct 30th) than she would most. Apparently she didn't believe me.
Anyway I feel bad about being so negative on such an awesome sight. So no more pitty party an my behalf. I'll make the best of it however it turns out. Going to attempt calling wolves here in a few weeks with my dad. So that should be fun. Traveling to good spots is our only real concern, wishing we had some snowmobiles to get around.