Formal Introduction

[Lark Bunting]

I've been reading this forum since mid August. Thank you guys for putting together one of the best guides on elk hunting I've found on the internet. The forum is educational, and while there is some good ribbing, it's not full of a-holes like some of the other popular archery forums I've been reading .

My name is Tom, I am a Colorado native and live in Castle Rock. I grew up fly fishing and love the outdoors. I hadn't planned on hunting big game this fall but learned about the OTC license option from a co-worker. I am the true definition of a green horn when it comes to hunting and was inspired a couple years ago by my son who at the time was eight or nine. Sadly, I didn't grow up in a hunting family and know practically nothing about hunting. He was too young to take the hunter's safety class so I waited. At 9.75 they allowed him to take the class, we passed and started researching. Immediately he wanted to go kill an elk. (My neighbor had brought over some elk steaks one summer and we grilled them up. My son LOVED them.) I read up on putting in for a license and it asked what GMU I was going to hunt...I knew nothing about GMU's, what it meant, or what to do...so, I put a hold on that whole ordeal and focused on rabbit for our first hunt. Last fall: He was armed with his new Ruger 10/22, me with a 12 ga (probably overkill but what the heck did I know?!) We saw a rabbit but I'm pretty sure he still hasn't stopped running. My son decided pine squirrel was on the menu. Sure enough, he got a few and I cleaned them and brought them home. My wife was NOT happy but the kids ate them. While he claimed to have liked them, he still prefers elk.

Anyway, this spring I had put in for a deer tag with a preference point as my second option. I didn't draw a deer tag so didn't plan on hunting big game. That's when I learned about the OTC elk tag and started planning for the burn area west of us. My son, now 11, joined me on every adventure this year. We truck camped each weekend and found a LOT of deer, no elk. That was kind how it went for the month of September. It was a lot of walking, a lot of rain, a lot of deer...

Last weekend of archery hunting: We were driving up to Rampart area heading through unit 51 and I'll be damned, two cow elk were just off the side of the road. Sadly, they were about 1.5 miles north of where we could hunt. We set up camp while it was lightly snowing, ate a quick dinner and went to bed. The next morning it was 25° and we were pretty chilly. We hiked to a spot we had seen fresh sign but some jackwad was running his dirtbike along the game trail we had been hoping to hunt. The last night of the season though was awesome... my son, who had been practicing his calling, actually called in two cows. We were about 100 yards downhill of them and I was so impressed with what he had learned went to give him a thumbs up and the elk scattered out of there.

It's been a fun experience learning something new, spending time out in the woods with my son and we can't wait to get back out there next year. I am setting a goal to do something each week to be better prepared for next year's hunt. Working out is on the list but I run obstacle races so I'm not too concerned with conditioning. Buying equipment as necessary, reading up on a new area to hunt (unit 12), practicing calls, reading up here, etc.

I see several folks from the front range on here. If you'd ever be up for a beer or three, I'd love to hear your stories, tactics, and advice for a new hunter.

Tom

[pointysticks]

welcome aboard!!

you and your kid sound super cool. he sounds like a fun child!! for the record, i think a 12 ga is a perfectly great rabbit gun.

[Swede]

Welcome to the forum Tom. This is a great place to come and learn from different elk hunters. If you hang around here you can learn a lot in a relatively short amount of time. I started hunting elk about 50 years ago. At that time the only literature I had to learn from were Outdoor Life magazine articles, and they were sparse. The rest was completely trial and error. Now that is a very long process.
Many of us here started off that way, but others had mentors that could help. I am pleased that Elknut has set up this site and manages it the way he does. Here we can have a civil discussion on the different hunting subjects. These discussions are a help to everyone interested enough to take the time and read and/or participate. I think it is beneficial that you can get different perspectives on different questions. I believe strongly that is the way it should be. After all we do not all have the same experiences and background. We were not all made from the same cookie cutter pattern.
Again welcome.

[Lark Bunting]

Thank you.

Swede, I'll be picking your brain a bit as you are the tree stand hunter. I've been invited by a couple guys to hunt unit 12 next fall. One of them prefers the stalk style hunting, the other prefers the tree stand hunting. I'm a little nervous as I've never been in a tree stand and from what I can tell, he's never used a harness. I rear reports all the time where people fall out of those things. Do you use a harness? Lifeline? Etc.?

It's funny, some days I think to myself that I can't believe I have to wait 10 more months to hunt elk. Other days, I can't believe I only have 10 more months to prepare.

[bnsafe]

first off welcome to the site an the world of hunting.
second, swede has a book on tree stand hunting that I would highly recommend, an elknut has a book. both are on his site. you will learn a lot. if you have been reading this forum since august you know that I to am a beginner elk hunter. I ask a lot of questions im sure the guys just roll their eyes at, but they answer. I know some of the answers before I ask but as a former newby flatlander I try to think like those guys an ask questions that will benefit them.
good luck, think safety

[JGH]

Sounds like a great intro season ... I'll second the recommendations regarding the books by Paul and Swede ... and Paul's DVDs ... VERY helpful.

[Swede]

Lark Bunting: I use a full safety harness from the time I leave the ground until I have my feet back on the ground. That means I attach to a safety drop line with a Prussic knot. Hunter Safety Systems offer the ones I have purchased. I recommend using a climbing harness when you when you go up to rig a tree. HSS offers them too. I am not afraid of heights, but the idea of landing hard after falling causes me to use care when I go up a tree. There is a lot of good comfortable safety equipment available now that was not there just 25 years ago. We went from having nothing to using a safety belt that went around our waist, to where we are today.
I do not know how severe your fear of heights is, but always being attached to a good line should help. I would also recommend a large safe tree stand. The Millennium M100 is my favorite. You can save a few dollars on small light stands that are easier to carry, but you will not want to sit in one a wait long. For the tree stand hunter patience and perseverance are very valuable traits to possess. Those rascal elk I hunt have never learned to come in on my schedule. I have to wait for them. A safe and comfortable makes a huge difference in your hunting experience.

[elkmtngear]

Lark Bunting,
Sounds like you and your Son were bitten by the hunting bug...that's awesome!
I can't think of a better way to spend quality time with a young person.

Nice to have you on the Forum, looking forward to your input

[AmericanBwana]

Tom,
Welcome to the forum.

I live up in Lone Tree, just a couple miles from the Cabelas. Maybe we can get together to share idea's and lessons learned.

I'm actually starting to look for a hunting partner going forward. I have a decent area (I hope, I've always seen elk scouting), but you do need to hike in.

AB

[Lark Bunting]

Tom,
Welcome to the forum.

I live up in Lone Tree, just a couple miles from the Cabelas. Maybe we can get together to share idea's and lessons learned.

I'm actually starting to look for a hunting partner going forward. I have a decent area (I hope, I've always seen elk scouting), but you do need to hike in.

AB

That sounds great Dana! I'm planning a hike in trip for next fall. I'm procuring the necessary items and am nervous as heck that I won't have essentials or that I will over pack and burn out before even getting to the site. On that particular trip my son is not going. I'll be heading up with a guy I used to work with and was in the area last year. He saw a lot of elk but was determined to shoot a bull. He went in sols and after four nights decided packing out an elk by himself was not something he would want to do.

I know with the Holidays coming and it being the internet it'll be tough to get together but I'd seriously like to meet up. I am dead set on learning as much as I possibly can about elk hunting.

Let me know what works for you and we can arrange a time and place. Actually, I pass the Cabela's each night on my way home. A slight detour would be great, even during the week.

[Indian Summer]

Totally off subject but I for one am so glad to see that we attract people like you to participate on here. Makes it all worthwhile really.

You sound like a really smart guy who has a great plan and has fun while patiently going about it. You may have already figured out the secret to success! You and your son are lucky to have each other.

Very best of luck to you. Sounds like you're doing good on here already. Game on Bwana!

[Lark Bunting]

Totally off subject but I for one am so glad to see that we attract people like you to participate on here. Makes it all worthwhile really.

You sound like a really smart guy who has a great plan and has fun while patiently going about it. You may have already figured out the secret to success! You and your son are lucky to have each other.

Very best of luck to you. Sounds like you're doing good on here already. Game on Bwana!

Thank you all for the warm welcome.

Indian Summer, hunting with a little guy definitely made me be patient. While he never complained he just doesn't travel as quickly as I wanted at times. Also, I had to make sure the entire trip was fun for both of us. My stubborn arse could sit in a rain storm for hours...miserably, and be fairly happy as I was convinced we would see an elk any minute. For his sake though, I limited the time in the rain by asking him to build the best lean-to shelter he could...sort of a ground blind. He loved doing that and we were able to sit out for a bit longer, win-win.

One weekend our campsite was overrun by cattle. My son was laughing so hard at all the cattle coming through our site he was gasping for air.

Another day, during the heat of the day we played "Camo hide and seek". I'd give him two minutes to hide while he was in full camo then I'd go looking for him. We did this back at our campsite so as to not disrupt the forest. He still talks about that game.

I, on the other hand would have loved to hunt all day, keeping the game face going from sun up until sun down. But, that would have made for a bad experience with him. I figure right now it's an investment. I'll sacrifice a little hunting time to keep him entertained so that when he's older he'll WANT to go to the woods with his old man. I hope it pays dividends.

I am looking forward to my backpacking trip next year. It will be nice to cover more ground with other adults and to really hunt all day.

As for us being lucky to have each other...I agree. I am lucky to have him as a son. We went pheasant hunting last weekend for the first time. After walking the first field he asked for help taping up his feet. He had blisters the size of quarters on each heel. I asked him why he didn't say anything and he told me "he didn't want to interrupt the hunt." Turns out his feet have grown quite a bit since elk season. Looks like I get to buy him some more boots for Christmas so he can finish out this season and PREY they still fit for elk.deer next fall.

Anyway, sorry for the ramble, thanks again for the welcome.

P.S. Bwama, I sent you a PM.

[JJ Overkill]

Welcome. There are a lot of great guys on here. Ive learned a ton on here. Do you hunt archery or rifle?

I hear ya about hunting with your son. Im enjoying every moment of with him. Hes 14. My kid missed two elk this yr with a bow but he hooked for sure. Its great hunting with him though. If your ever near the springs give me a shout.

[Lark Bunting]

Welcome. There are a lot of great guys on here. Ive learned a ton on here. Do you hunt archery or rifle?

I hear ya about hunting with your son. Im enjoying every moment of with him. Hes 14. My kid missed two elk this yr with a bow but he hooked for sure. Its great hunting with him though. If your ever near the springs give me a shout.

Archery only. I've owned a bow of some sort since I was a kid. I have loved the personal challenge of archery since I learned as a child. Unfortunately, my Hoyt is 13ish years old. I'm getting a new bow soon and I'm getting my son a Bear Apprentice soon as well. He will be old enough to big game hunt next year. I can't wait.

[Washington Wapiti]

Welcome to the best little elk hunting forum there is LB. I also highly recommend Swede's book. It helped me immensely this early season. I have yet to order The Playbook myself, but if Paul's videos are any indicator I'm sure it is gold! I had not looked at the M100 until I just saw you guys talking about it on this thread. WOW. Talk about deluxe model. This just may be the next purchase I make. One thing I learned this year from "field testing" a couple of stands is that I would be willing to pay the cost of a little more expensive stand for the benefit of the comfort. I have a Gorilla King Kong, and an Ameristep. Both are hang-ons and are relatively inexpensive. The Gorilla I actually like quite a bit and can do a full-day sit in it. I did get a little achy - knees and back, but I have issues with both body parts. The Ameristep just about killed me after 3 or 4 hours.

I'm somone who has never had a fear of heights or had any kind of motion sickness in the past. But for some reason, in August, I experienced a weird kind of vertigo while getting into a stand for the first time. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th times I sat up in it, the same thing. Funny how it went away when that bull came down the trail. Being anchored to the tree with a lifeline will make you feel more secure for sure. Also, trees with a fair number of limbs give the perception of less exposure, so that took a little bit of the edge off. It is a little more nervy when the entire bottom portion of the trunk is branchless. I like having things to grab onto lol. Take a look below

Gorilla

treestand1.JPG (208.63 KiB) Viewed 6774 times

Ameristep

treestand2.JPG (191.59 KiB) Viewed 6774 times

[Lark Bunting]

Thanks for meeting up today Bwama!

[ElkNut1]

Tom, very nice Intro sir! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it & can see a true bond there of Father & Son. It appears your Son wants to keep that "fire" burning as much as yourself, very cool indeed! I too grew up in a non-hunting environment, the sky is the limit for you two, enjoy the ride! (grin) Thanks for stopping by & being a part of the Forums!

ElkNut1

[AmericanBwana]

Tom,
Good to meet you yesterday. It would seem you and your son are off to a real good start. You definitely have the desire and elk finding mojo.

Like I said yesterday, figure out what you are looking to get out of hunting, then find a partner or group that is compatible with that goal. It may take a couple of seasons for you to figure it out.

Having said that, you'd be welcome to tag along with me this year if your other group doesn't pan out. I may not be the fastest person, nor the greatest hunter, but I am willing to teach and show you what I know.

AmericanBwana

[baddaddy]

Welcome Aboard Tom. Great info and a great group here.