First Elk hunt advice

[Ol' red]

My dad has been talking about going elk hunting for years. I've been reading several different sites, but I figured I'd ask for some advice. First, where to go? I've been in the Bob Marshall wilderness area although it wasn't on a hunt. I've heard some great things about it, but I've also heard some really good things about Idaho, NM, and AZ. Gear would be my second question. Outside of whitetail gear, what would you recommend? We are planning to rifle hunt. 3rd, when to go? Most of what I've read has said 2nd or 3rd week of September.

Any help/tips will be much appreciated. This is probably going to to be a once in a life time trip for us. Thanks in advance guys!

Red

[Navesgane]

Each state will have its own regulations, costs and dates. I would first look into those. If your set on a certain time frame look at what state that would be rifle season. If your set on a certain place, look at the rifles seasons, etc.

[Lefty]

This is probably going to to be a once in a life time trip for us. Thanks in advance guys!Red

question yourself! what is your hunt of a lifetime. Remote wilderness! Just to make a kill, kill a bull, kill a big bull, private ground, guided, DIY? some guys for get Canada has elk too,.. right
For me a hunt of a life time is leaving the lower 48, Yukon BC or Alaskan bush, drop camp from a plane, with a cook and maybe a guide, boat, horses or UHV.


For some A nice lodge each night, others a 1:1 guided, others, just want to kill something, I know many cant say this without getting into a fight but even a nice lodge on a 2,000-20,000 acre high fence might be what you want.

[Indian Summer]

Just curious... at your age why does it have to be a once in a lifetime hunt? It sounds like you are preparing to get the gear you need. Once you have that it just comes down to licenses and gas to get there and back.

Myself and the majority of people on here are all about the idea of a DIY (do it yourself) elk hunt. But doing that isn't usually a one time deal. Especially if you really want to kill an elk. Most likely you'll hunt your area one time and then go back again before you are really armed and dangerous with enough knowledge to get the job done.

So if it really is a one time deal I think your money would be best spent by hiring an outfitter. If you put in enough time on this website you can learn enough about elk hunting that you won't really need a full time guide. You could book a semi-guided hunt or even a drop camp where you have everything you need in a good spot including someone to get your downed animal out of the mountains.

The decision is yours. I'd talk it over with your dad. Have a look at my website if you want. I can help whether you decide to go DIY or want a reputable outfitter. All of the areas I have to hunt have guaranteed elk licenses and good elk hunting.

Have your dad look at my site too. Let me know if I can help.

http://www.headinwest.net

[Magic]

Welcome to ElkNut Forum, Ol' red. You are asking about Rifle hunts during September in several different states. Your questions are causing me to have questions. Their regulations would determine if hunts are available then? Many hunting seasons have quotas and must be drawn. Which states have OTC license available? Some outfitters have available license for their clients.

If you can pull it off, I wish the best for you and your Dad.

[Ol' red]

Thanks for the replies. When I said once in a lifetime. I meant the two of us together. I'm plenty young enough to do it again, but dad's in his 60s. We would both prefer a wilderness hunt. To each his own, but I'm not hunting in a fence no matter how big it is. Obviously, killing a big bull would be great, but a respectable bull would be just fine too. The experience is much more important. We're not trying to do this hunt this year. I want to put a good bit of planning into this hunt to get it right. We're looking at the 2015 season. As far as states and regulations, I haven't looked into that yet. I'm going to doing that this week though.

I'll definitely check out your website Indian Summer.

Red

[Indian Summer]

Montana and Wyoming both have licenses that are good for both bow and gun unlike some states where you can only hunt one... or must choose exactly which week you will hunt. Montana's bow season runs for 6 weeks starting the first weekend in September and ending in mid October. Gun is about October 25th to the Sunday after Thanksgiving. 11 weeks one tag. Draw odds are 100% as long as you have the applications filled out online by March 15th.

Wyoming has about a month of gun season in General License areas and some places start gun season in late September which is nice. Don't... I repeat do not get caught up in the word wilderness. There is LOTS of "wilderness" outside of government designated wilderness areas. The Wyoming license is also good for bow and gun bow starting at the beginning of September and running the whole month plus a week or even 2 in some places. Wyoming licenses have to be applied for by the end of January. For just under $600 you can apply for that tag and have a really good chance of drawing with one preference point. You can guarantee that tag with no points for double the money.

Right now, until the end of this month, is the time to pay $50 for a Wyoming point to save about $575 next year. You can buy it online in a few minutes.

I can supply you with a plan for a detailed do it yourself hunt plan in either state. Or hook you up with one of 2 outfitters if you want a pack in hunting camp etc. Best of luck to you Ol Red.

[foxvalley]

Indian summer has great advice,and you might want to consider what he has to offer,for the two of you for the once in a lifetime hunt. You will gain an infinite amount of knowledge,and will be much better prepared for a future DIY hunt.