Another new guy

[BFlatlander]

Hey guys
I’m new to the forum so wanted to say hello and thank you for the wealth of information good guys like you are willing to share. I’m a flatlander from MN and found a new obsession when I headed to west MT for my first archery elk hunt last year. After a few close calls my dad and I came home empty handed but with stories and memories that will last a lifetime. Needless to say, we are heading back in September for round 2.

Last year we arrived on the opener with hopes of hunting the pre-rut but were welcomed with several days in the upper 70s and very few bugles. We hunted district 270 which is brow-tine only. We missed out on a close call with a 5x5 and had few opportunities killing cows which was disappointing and had us wondering if we should be looking at surrounding districts that provide cow opportunities. After spending many days and hiking countless miles across the district, we are half tempted to return to country we are now somewhat familiar with. So for now, the plan is return to district 270 (or surrounding area) the first few weeks of September to fix our elk addictions.

My failure last year, if you can call it that, only fueled me to work harder and learn all I can about the area I hunt. My hope is that reaching out to like-minded guys like yourselves will only help in my adventures. I’m already appreciative of all the info on this site and can only hope to pay it forward to those following behind me.

Brian

[WapitiTalk1]

Welcome to 'the' elk forum buddy. Glad to have you join our campfire. Great intro by the way! Nothing better than being in the elk woods with your dad. RJ

[zpd307]

brian, a warm welcome form a fellow cold mn'r! where are you from?

[baddaddy]

Welcome Brian. Great to have you here.

[ElkNut1]

Brian, welcome to the Forum bud, very nice intro too! It's nice to see ones share the passion for elk hunting that has conquered most of us here! (grin) You & your dad did awesome! I would not even remotely consider your elk hunt a failure & true you have memories that many would pay to have! Great job on your hunt & 270 is a decent unit especially since you were in elk & had some close encounters. I'd seriously consider the same areas since there is familiarity there & more time spent there will help you to know it even better! You'll end up with some great feeding, bedding areas as well as water sources, wallows, etc. Finding these areas will only enhance your chances of success! Thanks!

ElkNut1

[BFlatlander]

Thanks for the warm welcomes guys and ElkNut for encouraging us to stick to what we're doing! September can’t come soon enough! In the meantime, I look forward to learning all I can!

zpd307 – Glad to see I’m not the only flatlander! I grew up in central MN, but love and work has brought me to the twin cities area for now. I see you're from Zumbrota...small world. Coming from the midwest, I'd love to touch base with you to see what barriers you felt had to be broken before being successful? I know for me I felt we were too passive last year with hopes that elk would come to us. Let alone the fact that the remoteness and isolation felt hiking into the mountains was, for lack of better word, humbling.

Brian

[Olydog09]

Welcome Flatlander! It sounds like you guys had a pretty successful first season all things considered. Like Paul said the familiarity of having a starting point is always nice on the second trip. Keep studying maps and Ge in the off season and go back in armed with knowledge. You may well be amazed on what you can add for knowledge in your second year that would give you an awesome base going into your third year. I think for guys like myself that are less experienced at killing elk having a good knowledge of your area is an important ingredient for killing an elk.

That being said you can pick out some likely looking spots before hand in units that allow harvesting cows and if the hunt is a dud you can always go check them out. Good luck!

[Indian Summer]

270... my back yard. I know every square inch of that unit. I was going to PM you and see where you hunted but you have to make 3 posts on here before you can send or receive PMs.

Welcome aboard and good luck this year!

[Toby]

Welcome Flatlander, it's good to have another Midwest guy hanging around. I'm from Wisconsin, just North of LaCrosse. I agree that familiarity with your territory is a huge benefit. Living so far away from elk country makes scouting tough for us guys, so once you find a decent place it is a good idea to stick with it and learn it better. You can waste a lot of time chasing strange country. I think that the better you know your hunting area, the more elk you will see and the more encounters you will have.

[BFlatlander]

Roger that Indian Summer...this would be my 3rd post!

[ElkNut1]

Yep, I'd definitely take up Joe (Indian Summer) on his offer, he's the man for that unit!

ElkNut1

[zpd307]

brian, send me a pm and we can chat

[Fridaythe13th]

More MN fan here Welcome Brian

[zpd307]

eric, you too. forgot where you are from, sorry, my bad...

[Deafirishman]

Welcome Brian from another flat lander from MN !!

[BFlatlander]

Wow, check out all the Midwest representation! Glad to be part of the crew! I look forward to learning from you all, and hopefully contribute something in return.

Brian