How Long?

[Swede]

If your job and money were no constraint, how many days would you be out elk hunting? For this hypothetical question you are limited to two just States, but you can hunt with any weapon you choose, and can kill up to three elk. They can be either sex. You must hunt with just your equipment, no guide, and can have only one companion maximum.
What two States would you likely hunt?
How would you hunt each State?
I would archery hunt Oregon and I am not sure what else. Idaho, Montana and Colorado would be likely choices unless I had a limited entry tag for an area with big bulls. I think I would be ready to quit for the year after about 50 days of hunting. Ok: I could go on if the hunting area was interesting and the hunting was good.

[pointysticks]

1 valles Caldera. i would hire a pro guide.

2.bribe that Western Hunter, Nate to take me along on one of his brutal lung burner backcountry hunts..DIY, public land.

3. hunt with my brother, unit 36 New Mexico. i know this spot..shhhh.

in no particular order.

all bull elk, all archery. i could do 10 days each..but i would have to do some sweet talking to the wife. with diamonds. lots of diamonds.

[bnsafe]

i would hunt Colorado archery for the full season, but only 4-5 days at a time then come home for a couple then head back. I need the time to recharge. second state would be new mexico or Montana. all archery. no problems with the wife on hunting.

[stringunner]

I would go Oregon archery for the first three weeks and then Wyoming archery for another three weeks with three days drive time in between. That would probably just about cover my obsession for the year.

[cnelk]

Stringunner
6 weeks of hunting elk?
Not going to happen.
It's sounds cool and sexy, but the chances of that being done are slim.

In 2005, I spent the entire month at elk camp. Cooked over the fire each day, chased elk
It was HARD.

Your body prob won't let you do that length of time day after day.

BUT....
Swedes style of hunting may allow for that.
Is that your style too?

My two states would be Colorado and Wyoming.
I I would do two 10 day stints with a ten day break between.

Goal would be 2 bulls, one cow

[JGH]

If your job and money were no constraint,

Well, wouldn't that be heaven? (Perhaps it will be!)

Since I live in Wyoming, I'd hunt the usual grounds, and then apply for limited-entry bull tags in other states. If none are drawn, Colorado.

Cnelk has the idea on timing, I think. There is a reason that people say there can be too much of a good thing ... but if "job and money were no constraint" I'd likely spend that middle 10 days travelling the west, spending time in high-dollar towns drinking good bourbon and eating in fine restaurants, visiting museums to learn local history, and maybe helping out with conservation projects or just riding horses around.

That is ... if job and money were no constraint!

[otcWill]

I hunted a total of 28 days this year between Colorado and Wyoming. The vast majority of that time was spent in Colorado and I was tagged out helping friends. I just absolutely can't get enough! I'd hunt CO otc archery until I tagged out and then head to Wyo for another bull As many days as it took since I can hunt right into rifle in Wyo

[BrentLaBere]

I would like to go to Montana for the first 10-12 days of the archery season, take a break and then drive down to Wyoming. Hunt the last 10 days of the season in a Limited draw unit. I am hoping to do just this in a few years after gaining enough knowledge and points for Wyoming. I would like the break to regain strength and go into the next hunt with a fresh mind.

[stringunner]

Yes cnelk I would try 6 weeks. I have a job currently that allows me to take up to 6-8 weeks off during late august through October if I want. I have spent the past four years averaging 26 days in the field during August and September. I hunt from a base camp in a trailer so the length of stay isn't to much of a problem as it is fairly comfortable. I mix it up between tree stands and running and gunning. Adding an extra couple weeks to hunt wyoming in addition to Oregon would be awesome. Now my wife and kids my think otherwise!

[Jaquomo]

After 24 days of elk hunting (never mind the scouting, etc..) I'm about ready to move onto other things. I love elk hunting, but also love other stuff too - plains muley hunting and fall fishing, maybe helping with someone's rifle hunt in October.

I plan to spend somewhere around 20-25 days on the plains in November-December if needed to kill a big buck or not).

So considering I have an intense full-time job, I manage a total of 45-50 days of big game hunting a year, if needed.

[twinkieman]

1. I would hunt Ore., until Sept.15 acrhery
2.I would hunt Id. until Sept.30 archery
3. I would hunt in Co. on a late hunt of some kind any weapon

[Z Barebow]

Arizona in one of those single digit units. 12-14 days. And then I would move on to either NM or WYO for another 12 days or so. I would have around a week break in between. My body needs time to recover and replenish. I can't afford to lose much weight and eating cheeseburgers during my break would help build me back up.

Bugling bulls with Archery in both states. I have been to NM and WYO. I love hunting in both of them. But WYO is closer to my home. Since we are talking no constraints, I would probably take a long road trip to NM.

[ishy]

I was thinking 10 days is all I've done, but I did do the guide thing for a couple years. It was sweet. Three and a half moths straight in the hills. Usually took hunters out and in every seventh day. I loved it never got old, that being said we had pack animals. I wouldn't use them how I hunt now, but anything over about that ten day mark and if you've got good stock and your smart in how you push, you just keep going.
Anyway back to the ? I would love three weeks (if you read my response in the why I quit thread you know this isn't happening soon). Arizona and Utah would be my choices...no points for Arizona but have 12 for Utah and am chomping at the bit. I get a decent fill of the otc idaho units each year. Trying to get the home in order before pulling what will likely be once in a lifetime tag for me (After the waiting period I doubt I'll have the patience to wait this long again for an upper tier unit).

[elkmtngear]

For Archery, I think I would try to take an early Season spike in Utah, then head to Colorado to try to tag a branch antlered bull (or a cow). Not sure how I would break up the 30 days, it would depend on how quick I could tag out in Utah.

Then I would do a rifle hunt in Oregon for 10 days or so, since it is closer to home for me.

[easeup]

this is a good dreamer isn't it.

the whole month of Sept ...no problem. 1st two weeks up high while my legs are still good....Wyoming backcountry.
then after I'm tagged there off to the Enchanted Land of elk ( that is NM for you northern guys). where I can buy any tag I want with that pocket stash I have for this. Lets see; two bulls down and got a few days left. With the monkey off my back, Lets go to Colorado and fish a little and ride my ponies. Oh God, that is beautiful country up there. At this point it is rifle season by now, lets find a young man to mentor to fill his life and mine!

nice dream

[Fridaythe13th]

Idaho for 10 day with stick and string. camping
Colorado for 7 days on a rifle hunt with friends and family and wife (who doesn't hunt). staying in a condo. that is the only way I could get to go on 2 trips

[Washington Wapiti]

I'm in for the whole month of September! Archery for all.
Washington: First 7-10 days in my usual, go to area. 2nd week; Southern WA, in scattered areas that I found scouting while living in the area, but didn't have much of a chance to really dig into and hunt. I would hunt my main area and one of the areas south out of a treestand. 1 bull, 1 cow.

Utah: Last two weeks of September. There are many great areas to hunt elk in Utah, but for me it's gotta be the 215,000 acre Deseret CWMU. The sheer number of pronghorn, mule deer, elk, and all other kinds of wildlife is just . . . I've never seen anything like it. I would be lodged at a bunkhouse on the ranch . . . the elk and deer poop on your front porch. You don't have to go far, LOL. I want one of them big 'ol Deseret bulls! No treestand here. Boots to the ground, and lots of glassing. Some of the more open areas would be extremely challenging to bowhunt, so I'd stick to the taller Wyoming Sage Brush, Gambel Oak, or Aspen. Having a caller would be preferred, so I'd rope my brother into calling for me. We'd both have to work on our semi-crappy, but adequate vocalizations.

[Still Hunter]

I'd just hunt all 9 days of the muzzy hunt here, or until I got an elk. Just like I always do. I'm way past going to other states to hunt.

[Indian Summer]

Archery on the White Mountain Apache Reservation in Arizona. I've always wanted to hunt elk in a southern state and they have 400+ inch bulls. I'd hunt for a month with a break every 5 days. Bulls only and nothing small!

No question the other would be Pennsylvania because it's my home state and we have monster bulls as well as some great non-typicals. Also archery and the season isn't that long so I'd hunt like a starving dog for the whole thing. Even though I think it may be a bad choice compared to choosing a Utah LE unit in muzzleloader.

If I could pick any partner it could be MtnMutt because I think she is really dedicated, appreciative, and is due for her first big game animal. I really enjoy being a part of a hunters first kill. Otherwise no question it would be Jaquomo because we're way overdue for a pow wow.