What's your goal this year?

[WapitiTalk1]

So Elknut friends, what is your goal this year? I know it's dependent on your tag but just curious, what will make your hunt successful in your mind, which really is all that matters.

A. Simply, experiencing the elk wood and learning about these big galoots and hopefully getting a shot.
B. If it's legal for the area I'm hunting, it's going down to China town on the arrow or Remington express and onto the BBQ (brown and it's down).
C. First legal bull.
D. Top my previous best rack size (hold out till the last few days in anticipation of besting your previous best).
E. Other.

Just curious Certainly no wrong answer here. RJ

[Trophyhill]

my goal this year is to hopefully interpret what's going on a little better/faster and become a better elk hunter

[dapper]

Since we are backpacking into a wilderness again this year, our goal as a father/son team is to get at least one bull elk. To experience the hardship of breaking the elk down and hauling him off the mountian.(thats why I always say an anorexic bull with big antlers is the ultimate prize)
Last year we got skunked, the experience was awesome, but you could say we were basically backpacking with a lot of extra gear! Which included, bow, arrows, game bags, and the list goes on and on.
We've primarily hunted whitetail and black bear, so this was definitely the most physical hunt I've ever been on and we didn't get to the real test, hauling out the animal. We want that part, even though we'll be wondering why, if that time comes.

[JGH]

I'll have a really difficult time passing up a legal animal.

First time my wife ate an elk steak, she looked up and told me very clearly: "Don't let another one of these walk without trying to kill it."

And, frankly, I'm there for the experience, not the antlers. I thoroughly enjoy the feeling of satisfaction of being "done" with time to spare, leading a horse packed down with meat. A real "bluebird on my shoulder"-sort of feeling.

[cnelk]

Goal 1 -
is to shoot an elk, sitting in my tree stand, over a wallow, with my 'new' 1969 Bear Kodiak Magnum recurve.

Goal 2 -
Shoot another elk with my new 2013 PSE Drive

Goal 3 -
Scout and set up a spike camp in a nasty ol' hole full of elk...

[RockChucker30]

It would be tough for me to pass a cow that wandered by a mile from the road on day one.....my wife and I like elk meat too much.

Though if I were back in where I was last year it would be a tougher decision to shoot a cow unless I had help.

[Backcountry]

#1 is to put an elk down. Anything legal.

#2 I will be hunting new areas, I wish to learn these as much as possible.

#3 Continue to learn how to speak elk

#4 Become more confident in my decisions.

[Hackbow]

This will be my fourth elk hunt, third to the same wilderness area. My goal is anything legal with the exception of a calf. My idea of a trophy is found in the number of pounds of meat, not the inches of antler. That may change down the road as I (hopefully) become a better elk hunter, but for now I'm enjoying the learning process and craving my own stash of the best meat on the planet.

I also hope to help my two hunting partners pack out their elk. 3 for 3 would be cool. A lot of work, but very cool.

[welka]

Shooting for lofty goals

24.....as in 6x6 times 2. A double for me and hunting buddy.

Have done it once before, but been a while so here's to hoping for a great '13. Good luck to all.

[bnsafe]

spending some time with my cousin in the backcountry, learnin more bout elk and hopefully just seein a few and some wallows etc. the last thing i would love to do if find an area where i can walk out of my basecamp and start hunting. i want to find someplace i can drive back in a ways on a 4 wheel road and put up my tent etc and have a nice comfy fun camp, but still be able to hunt out of it. that would be my ultimate goal this year. killin any legal elk is strictly a bonus.

[mtnmutt]

1) More days out in the woods hunting. Beats being inside at a desk.

2) Get into more elk than previous seasons.

3) First elk down: anything legal except for a calf or cow with calf. Then come on the forum and thank everyone here for their help.

4) Bury my first elk ivory or piece of elk hide at my step-father's grave in Arlington National Cemetery.

[elkmtngear]

1. Get into elk on every full day of hunting (or at least see one)
2. Fill a tag within the first four days (any legal animal)
3. Get a good encounter on Film for my hunting partner
4. Take more still pictures
5. To truly become tuned in to the rhythm and feel of the elk rut

[kjv1959]

Well gettin an elk would definitely be a plus! But just being 10+ Days in the mountains with my sons..... well I guess that means more to me than anything.

[POk3s]

A would like to kill a 3 1/2 year old bull. that was my goal last year and I didn't quite get it done. On September 22nd I called in a raghorn 4x5 to 40 yards and he stopped broadside. Bad mistake. (see avatar). I was within 100 yards of 6 different 6 point bulls and even called a small 6 point to 12 yards. He came right at me and at 12 yards I tried to draw as I had called him through a meadow. I thought I could stop him after I drew. nnnnnnnah! He was in another mountain range by the time I got the bow all the way back.

With all that said a 3 1/2 year old bull. good 5 point/small 6 point is my goal. Anything better than that will be icing in the cake.

[JohnFitzgerald]

Kill a bull 250+

[Arapahoe]

Taking my oldest Son on his first Elk hunt in Wyoming. September. My goal is to fuel the desire in him at age 19. I started way too late. lol

[easeup]

1) .........................

4) Bury my first elk ivory or piece of elk hide at my step-father's grave in Arlington National Cemetery.

I am humbled again. a tissue for me, please.

[flystrait]

Kill any mature bull. In the areas I hunt its usually 280+. I will pass on anything else

[LckyTylr]

Goal: Kill my first Elk

Specifics:

Weapon: Bow (Only, 3 blade death or tag soup)
Sex: Bull, no spikes (let 'em grow). I'd kill a cow after the first two weekends
Method: Spot-n-stalk or Calling. I don't want it to be dumb luck, I have been "almost lucky" for the last few seasons, I feel like I know enough now to get it done with purposeful intent.

[planebow]

Hoping to draw an extra cow tag, if I do I would like to fill it for the freezer then try to get a mature bull.

[pd]

Hey Phantom, I hope that you don't mind me responding to your query.

First, this post just cuts me to the bone:
"First time my wife ate an elk steak, she looked up and told me very clearly: "Don't let another one of these walk without trying to kill it."
Happy Mother's Day to that beautiful wife.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled question.

In your neck of the wet woods, I really hope to get my knucklehead nephew to realize that he has a whole lifetime ahead of him chasing beautiful creatures in the forest. It's kind of like fly fishing in a way--I no longer care if I catch the biggest fish, or the most fish, or even the most biggest fish. I just want to stay out for several days, slog through the wind/rain/snow/mud and have a lot of fun, and if foresaid nephew can even hear/see/smell a bull Roosevelt elk or two (or, 3X3+), then I will be happy.

[WapitiTalk1]

Hey Phantom, I hope that you don't mind me responding to your query.

First, this post just cuts me to the bone:
"First time my wife ate an elk steak, she looked up and told me very clearly: "Don't let another one of these walk without trying to kill it."
Happy Mother's Day to that beautiful wife.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled question.

In your neck of the wet woods, I really hope to get my knucklehead nephew to realize that he has a whole lifetime ahead of him chasing beautiful creatures in the forest. It's kind of like fly fishing in a way--I no longer care if I catch the biggest fish, or the most fish, or even the most biggest fish. I just want to stay out for several days, slog through the wind/rain/snow/mud and have a lot of fun, and if foresaid nephew can even hear/see/smell a bull Roosevelt elk or two (or, 3X3+), then I will be happy.

Certainly not.. Thanks for chiming in pd. Really hope you can get the young man into the elk woods and he becomes "one of us".

[slim9300]

Kill two bulls. WA it's going to be the first legal bull due to very limited time and MT, the first decent bull. I decided two years ago that trophy hunting sucks for me. I like killing too much.

I may even have a chance to hunt three states for elk in September. We will see how that goes but it would certainly require some luck. I would also like to call in a few well deserved bulls for a few of my friends.

[snake]

To just learn to elk hunt and enjoy the trip. Hopefully either me or my hunting partners will be able to get a shot at one. Mainly just hoping to have an enjoyable first elk hunting trip.

[Mikeha33]

For 2013, I am changing my goals around due to the new found Elkoholism addiction that I already have, & I havent even ever been, but it is consuming my every cell. Usually its whitetail hunting, and to kill a B&C Whitetail, then to slam as many ducks and geese as humanly possible However, This year is different. I am going after an adventure. To experience life at 11,000 feet. To survive a backcountry hunt. To get in touch with the legendary Wapiti on many different levels. To learn things about myself, that one cannot with all of the luxuries that we take for granted daily. To build comradarie with my hunting group. And as an added bonus, if the good lord sees fit, to take a legal elk. First and foremost, I am not anticipating killing this year. The success rate for the area I am going is about 15%. Low. But, I like those odds. I am as competitive as anyone I've ever met (hell, my wife wont even play Monopoly with me!!!), and will put forth every effort humanly possible to harvest an animal, but if I don't, I know that the experience I will gain will never be lost, and that in itself is priceless.

[BrentLaBere]

My goal is to have a fun and safe hunt in the back country. It will be my first time doing this in the mountains so those two are my first priorities. Shortly after that, my expectations are high, I have my goal set on another 6 point. With hunting a new area I also want to understand the lay of the land and be able to get away from the pressure and find elk.

[Harmy]

My goal this year is to help my 12 year old son with his first hunting season. We don't have our dra results back yet so we have no clue what we will do. But we will get after it.

[stringunner]

My goal is to have brown down, plane and simple.

[Swede]

I review the game cameras and the area. I watch and see what is happening and adjust based on what I believe is reasonable. If things look good, and they usually do at first, then I like to be a little picky. If the signs not looking great, and there are only few elk around, then I go for the meat.

[one_elk]

end my 3 year draught…..

[JJ Overkill]

my goals are plain ans simple get my son his first elk, then my first elk.

looking forward to spending some time in the woods with my son.

[WapitiTalk1]

Great and honest answers gentlemen. Thanks for participating. My goal? Carnage in WA and ID ... I want to get my friend Duke his first ever elk during the early WA archery season. In ID, I want to make Tim think he should have packed some depends at least several times before he finally puts his ID bull nose in the dirt... all in good fun of course. Ernie is my other priority, he hasn't knocked one down yet although he hunts hard and is a great guy.. So, two bulls down now. If Joe can make the ID trip this year (not sure yet).. would like to see him to get his second archery bull. After that, it's someone else's turn to call for me. Really looking forward to the 2013 wapiti season! We'll see how it shakes out (who commits to going and actually shows up) but if Slim9300 continues his early season elk annihilation in MT, I may be able to pick him up from the gate and quad his tall arse back into where I'm hunting for some high country ID adventures. Could be the best season ever

[wideangle]

If I draw my first choice tag in Oregon my goal is to kill a 5 pt or better elk.

[Da White Shoe]

My only elk-goal at this point is... draw a South Dakota tag!
I just can't swing an out of state elk hunt and Alaska in the same year... now, maybe if I wasn't married!

[Camo]

My goal is to bag my first bull elk. I have posted before that I have gone elk hunting, but only a couple of times and all on public land. However I have not yet been successful. I will get it done but it is going to be harder than I thought. I am just glad that I am in the physical shape to get it done and that I have the opportunity to hunt. I can't wait to see him on the ground.

[otcWill]

Actually a very clear goal for me this year: Put a good friend and his father on bulls here in Colorado, their first. I've got a bunch of hunts planned this year and I hope to be successful on all of them, but this is my only clear goal other than to enjoy every dang second of it! Although I'd love to put down a monster with every tag, I find it a bit stressful having specific goals for my hunts. I like to just see where the hunt takes me

[Waygoner]

#1 -draw muzzle loader bull in CO 67

#2 - scout as much as possible

#3 - shoot a 6x6 on opening day!