Looking for the hardest Elk hunt??

[Kevrod3]

A buddy and I are looking for a OTC DIY hunt that will push us to the limits, physically a mentally! What was your hardest hunt?

[cnelk]

Elk hunting is hard enough by itself
Why would you want to make it harder?

With that said, some of the hardest hunts I have been on included NO elk.
Is that what you are looking for?

[Kevrod3]

no, more like a mtn range that just really impressed you. I don't know it just seems that its hard to determine what one person calls hard, and someone else sees it differently. I guess have you ever been on hunt where you saw elk, but they were just to hard to get to and you told yourself it wasn't worth trying to get to them. Kinda looking for spot like that!

[Swede]

For a really ugly elk experience try the coast range of Oregon or Washington on a late cow hunt. No fair staying is a trailer or motel. Rough it. Get up in the morning damp, stay wet all day and climb into your sleeping bag still damp. Be sure to go where the elk are in those nice wet, brushy, deep canyons. If you really enjoy it rough, I hope you get a big cow in the bottom of the deepest, brushiest canyon around.

[Z Barebow]

Most every place I have hunted has places such as you describe.

In the late 90's, I hunted in NM and befriended an outfitter down there. At the time, NM gave out 4th choice tags for an adjacent unit. (A fouth choice tag is typically for units with very low population, poor/difficult access or both.) The outfitter would take a few clients into that unit. Although they used horses, he said the best way to get a bull out there was with a match and a fork!

[BrentLaBere]

Bob Marshal Wilderness Area. " The BOB"

[JohnFitzgerald]

Snake River, Oregon.

[Swede]

John: The Snake River/Hells Canyon is way beyond anything I could handle without pack animals. I used to hunt along the top, but would never penetrate deep into it. It is flat out UGLY. I believe anyone going deep will waste any elk they shoot, unless they have pack animals. The deep canyons on the wet side make for a tough hunt due to mostly different reasons. The greatest thing I can think of in hunting Hells Canyon would be to get nothing. I would not want to pack a squirrel out of there.

[JohnFitzgerald]

John: The Snake River/Hells Canyon is way beyond anything I could handle without pack animals. I used to hunt along the top, but would never penetrate deep into it. It is flat out UGLY. I believe anyone going deep will waste any elk they shoot, unless they have pack animals. The deep canyons on the wet side make for a tough hunt due to mostly different reasons. The greatest thing I can think of in hunting Hells Canyon would be to get nothing. I would not want to pack a squirrel out of there.

The guys from On Foot Films did it, twice. It would be extremely tough, but doable.

[cnelk]

I got to ask a question.
Why?

There are times to test yourself and times to go hunting. Why mix them?
Does the risk over balance the reward?

Maybe the answer to this question is answered with age or experience?

Help me understand

[JohnFitzgerald]

To some, it's not about taking the elk but more about rising to the challenge. Climbers can climb Mt Hood but not the same as climbing Mt Everest.

Same goes for those who pass on small bulls/cows. The challenge is more important than having meat in the freezer.

Just my 2-cents.

[WapitiTalk1]

Mixed Martial Arts or Classic Boxing? What's your flavor Kevrod3? See, this is why I like this forum over all others (no inquiry, question, or referenced potential scenario is taboo, and, nobody jumps to a slingshot vindication...they just ask/pose probing questions to better understand the OP and provide some feedback from their experience, trials, values, etc.). Wow, I've gotta take break after all those big words in one sentence, at least two of them... Deep breath............... So, are you after something so remote that no sane person would hunt, but, has relatively untouched elk and the toughness of the terrain is an acceptable trade off for getting into said undisturbed/untouched wapiti? I can relate to that even being so old that I remember when BTO and Olivia Newton John were on top of the charts (and MTV actually played music). Perhaps you and your partner(s) are Rambo incarnate and wish to physically test yourself to the absolute limits on your hunt and the kill is a secondary goal (perhaps the kill is not as important as the ba!! buster hunt, satisfaction of going where no man has gone before, to you and your buds)? Just trying to understand what you're asking for/about.

[Swede]

Hells Canyon will take some people who think they are in excellent condition over their limits. They do not call it "Hells Canyon" for nothing. Here are some things to think about for anyone considering going in. Hells Canyon is not too hard to get into. In some places a crew could take an elk down to the river or hump it up over the top. The Snake River is not the Suwannee through the wild section. In archery season Hells canyon can be very hot and dry. What are you going to do if you kill an elk 7 miles down and 13 miles above the River? I understand John's and RJ's point. Just beware.
Where I suggested for someone wanting a tough hunt, it can be miserable and challenging. Hells Canyon is not for this old boy! I have looked down in that hole, in total awe, a few times. I am thinking about going hunting with Brad. His hunts sound a whole lot better, and I bet the elk are just as good.

[ElkNut1]

Kevin, tough to give an answer to ones "hardest hunt" -- Heck I seem to get into those tough/challenging elk hunts everyear whether I'm looking for them or not! (grin) All of us have our limitations & they all most likely will vary when age & distance is considered. Yes, terrain & elevation can really dampen the spirit & put nearly anyone to the test. Where I find the most challenging parts of our hunts is the packing of the meat out, this is where those scars come from that are burned into my memory, I have only 3-4 that have left those scars that I'll never forget & quite honestly do not want to repeat! (grin)

Are you looking for tough country to just challenge yourselves or are you in hopes of finding remote enough country to look for that special bull & not putting limitations on yourself to find kill & packout?

ElkNut1

[redtop]

Give it twenty years and you'll find they get harder without doing anything different. No really, just pick an area and go deeper with less gear.

[pointysticks]

sprinkle in some grizzly enounters for excitement?

should i be bummed because i think they are ALL difficult? i dont think i have ever skated thru a single elk hunt. lots of cussing, minor injuries, major weight loss. pretty universal for me.

[pointysticks]

now wait a second! you think this was just a sneaky way to get us to tell him some secret spots? hahhaha.

imagine?

why yes! my hardest hunt was in unit 3B in new mexico. even the trail head parking lot at head of the trail sucked. we got our truck stuck in the mud. dont park at Chili trail head campsite, whatever you do. trust me. once we dug out the truck and got our gear on. you go up La Birria trail until it turns right into Los Muertes Peak. the trail ends and you climb east up 4187 feet of the nasty trail-less, sidehill, uphill, downhill, X-country until you get to Widow Meadow. there you find an unknown spring that never runs dry. the elk were so dumb, but that trail up made it so difficult. it really sucked that we four hunter each arrowed a 6x6 elk, (if you dont count the 3 weird tiny kickers on my elk)..So, 4 hunters, 4 downed elk!! we took down 16 loads of antlers and meat. 4 trips each!! it was hell. we were so happy to have the entire ordeal behind us, that when we got to town, we found a soda shop (in the town, (Pecco Mesas) with a map of the mountains. one of my buddies drew devil horns and a pitchfork on the map at the exact spot we found the elk. we re-named the area Devil's Playground. it was just that bad. that was the HARDEST elk hunt in my life. trust me, dont go there.

too much?

[FemoralArchery]

John: The Snake River/Hells Canyon is way beyond anything I could handle without pack animals. I used to hunt along the top, but would never penetrate deep into it. It is flat out UGLY. I believe anyone going deep will waste any elk they shoot, unless they have pack animals. The deep canyons on the wet side make for a tough hunt due to mostly different reasons. The greatest thing I can think of in hunting Hells Canyon would be to get nothing. I would not want to pack a squirrel out of there.

I'll be sure to tell my camp to stop hunting in HC without pack animals.

Well, my budy Red is kind of an animal. Shane can vouch for that.

[elkaholic]

John: The Snake River/Hells Canyon is way beyond anything I could handle without pack animals. I used to hunt along the top, but would never penetrate deep into it. It is flat out UGLY. I believe anyone going deep will waste any elk they shoot, unless they have pack animals. The deep canyons on the wet side make for a tough hunt due to mostly different reasons. The greatest thing I can think of in hunting Hells Canyon would be to get nothing. I would not want to pack a squirrel out of there.

I'll be sure to tell my camp to stop hunting in HC without pack animals.

Well, my budy Red is kind of an animal. Shane can vouch for that.

Lol. You got that right!

[Jaquomo]

My hardest elk hunt was when it snowed almost 4' when packed in 3.5 miles with my ex-wife (obviously wife at the time). We were stranded in a little dome tent, couldn't do anything except exist in basic survival mode. Even if we'd managed to get out, all the roads were closed. Imagine being marooned like that for 8 days with an angry, bad-tempered Irish-Italian who thinks you're to blame for pretty much eveything on the planet. With a loaded firearm.

I'd skip down into Hells Canyon in flip flops before enduring that ordeal again.

Kevrod,if you're looking for a serious elk hunting challenge, I can hook you up with her.

[Swede]

Lou: I consider Hells Canyon extreme+, but your offer is down right evil and sadistic LOL

[cnelk]

Jaq
I had one of those too! 21 years!
Im wondering if they were sisters?

You were flip flops, I'll go barefoot

[Swede]

All I can say to you hunters who have been going into Hells Canyon on foot: parts of he Canyon are ugly, and parts are easy enough for grandma. My hat is off to you if you are going into those deep holes, miles from the nearest road.

[Z Barebow]

Jaq- you might not think so, but that is funny! Or can you laugh about it today?

[Jaquomo]

Z, unfortunately there is little about that period of my life that I can laugh about. I took it as a learning experience to guide the rest of my life. Sometimes you think you know someone, but........

When the roads opened after that ordeal, we packed out as fast as we could and got on a plane to the Keys for a week.