My brain hurts, information and options overload

[Willie makit]

Willie: That would make a great introduction for a new thread. If you let us know a little more, lets see how well we can advise you on preparing for a relatively inexpensive viable elk hunt. First let us know what basics you have and how and where you want to hunt.

I’m a 45 YO country boy from the bayou state that has been hunting whitetails since age 10, about 20 years now with a bow and am really only interested in doing my first elk hunt with a bow.

As for equipment, all I’ve accumulated so far is a backpack, water filter/bladder, sleeping pad/bag, everything educational Paul has to offer on elk hunting and the desire to go.

Right now 2014 looks as it might be tighter on funds so I’m not sure about putting in with a guide again for this year. Additionally, the equipment I’m short on is going to be about that $ anyway. If I can get an OTC backup plan nailed down I’ll be focused enough to put in all the overtime I can muster.

I wouldn’t mind hunting with someone else, or at least camp with other(s), but I’m not about to drive ½ ways across the country and put myself in any situation where I’m relying on anyone else to be there. This is too much $ and too far to get bailed on because my “hunting buddies” dog back home needs a haircut.
A drop camp has weight heavily on my mind but I hear mixed experiences with that, plus being dropped somewhere where the elk aint is always a possibility Im sure. My thought process is to bivy a couple days from my truck then move if no luck locating some elk, or maybe this is the wrong idea?

As far as where I want to hunt, there is no one state preferred over another. It’s so hard to pick a unit/area when you can’t even decide on a state. Why would a noobie like me choose one state instead of another, other than distance? I just want my first trip to be a hunting trip not just a camping adventure. As of right now I’m free from September 5 til 25th, but can move earlier with no problem. So my first question would be given my about information what OTC state and why would you choose?

Am open to any and all criticism, comments or suggestions.
Thanks in advance and with santi-claws in the area I know everyone is just bored to tears so Ill jump the gun and say Merry Christmas to all.

[Indian Summer]

Ha ha. To me it sounds like you've been paying attention anyway. "bailed on because my partner's dog needs a haircut" LMAO!

Montana. Licenses aren't technically OTC but the "draw" is 100% and they have been selling leftovers first come first served into August.

I can put you in drop camp without worrying that you'll be where "the elk ain't" Ain't going to happen.

Feel free to go to Bowsite and check the recent reviews for Indian Summer Outfitters. Look at quality and quantity. They were not only drop campers but also first time elk hunters. Very interesting to note that the one group lives only 45 minutes north of where they hunted in Missoula. They even knew where they would be parking and hunting but still felt it was worth the money to be set up with everything they needed and the knowledge of what was going on with the elk. Then... even though they killed a big 6 point only 15 minutes from the trailhead which might make them decide they didn't need us in the future.... they plan to rebook. I think that whole deal speaks for itself.

The MT licenses are good for 6 weeks of archery and a little over a month of rifle. If you did a 1 week hunt and didn't punch your tag you could go set up roadside and hunt on your own afterward..... with a few tips from us of course.

[bnsafe]

willie, if you cant afford it indian summers would be a great way to go. a drop camp with him would save you from wondering if you will even see an elk or not.
with that said, if you cant afford it an money is really tight, come to co an buy a cow tag. use the cheaper tag to learn about elk an hunting them then come back with a either sex the next year. sounds like all you really need to come is a good tent, an gps. you can get a good tent for around 200 an a gps for the same, roughly of course. I have no recommendations for a tent, but when you get a gps spend the extra an get one that takes sd cards. its worth it. call the co hunt planner line an they will help you.
I was almost in the exact same boat as you as far as hunting experience age etc, all I really needed was the courage an desire to come. everything else fell into place. when I planned my first hunt I was coming out by myself. my cousin decided to come with me about two weeks before I came but I didn't need anybody else to come. so you've got the right idea there. a partner will make it a lot more fun (or ruin it) but don't count on them. also, you said you had like the 5th thru the 25th. everybody is different, but if it was me I cant hunt more than a few days then I need a good shower an good nights sleep. if you plan on coming out here an hunting 20 straight days your prob gonna go home with your tail between your legs an mad at yourself for "quitting". personally I would plan on a few days of hotel an sight seeing, but that's just me.
so, get a tent, gps, cow tag, get in shape, an get out here.

[Swede]

I like the Indian Summer option. I hear you about wanting someone reliable to hunt with. It appears you have no one close that wants to go on a hunt with you. Having a couple close friends to share expenses with would help a lot. I am sure Indian Summer has enough mules to take three or four of you in to a good area.
On the short run having I.S. set up a drop camp with your bow, tooth brush and sleeping bag may also be the least expensive. Mostly what you need to do is get to a rendezvous point and load up. Of coarse you have to find your elk and shoot it, but that is the fun part.

Another option would be for you to pick a place to hunt, get you own equipment, including tent, kitchen and spike camp if that is how you hunt. If you choose the second option, start right away determining where you want to hunt so you have a good idea where you will find elk when its time.

A third option would be to ask on this forum for some suggestions on where to hunt. I can suggest some places in Oregon that I know have elk, and even suggest a place to camp. What I cannot tell you is how many other nimrods will be hunting that same area or if the elk are getting chased mercilessly or not. I have hunted my area so long, I would have to make an calculated guess on another area and just go for it.

[Willie makit]

Thanks guys, yes sep 5 to 25th is my window to hunt including the travel(4-6 days), I can move the time forward or backward a week. It's like I tell my wife when I go to the Midwest deer hunting. I'm off 12 days if I fill my tag on day 1 I'll be back in 2 days, otherwise don't look for me until day 11.99. She understands my hunt style, hunt hard til the tag gets me back home or the work schedule does. This will be different and much harder, but if I tag early, I plan to stay and "play" with the elk learning all I can during this time or help anyone else if I can; assuming i can preserve the meat. The wife is the one who encouraged me to save one extra vacation week to allocate for the elk hunt to help with the travel time, I'm lucky there!

Joe, I thought I saw where you were doing other options instead of guiding next year? I looked up your website link on the Montana guide list and got the 404 error a while back. I'll definitely check out the Bowsite website, but I've read enough to put you high on my respect list and your a capital letter in my elk algebra equation.

Bn, your right with the straight days, after 5 days at our camp I'm definitely ready for a shower, after a week I'm sure I'll be ready to burn my shorts and roll around in the dirt to get clean. If nothing else but to mask the sight of my bad smell. I had hoped to either be able to find a stream or I'll use my trusty baby wipes to scrub down and be able to change clothes a few times during those days. A soft bed and short run to town would be a great recharge. All that depends on just how far I am from civilization, it will kill me to lose hunting time though. Dang, I need to be more laid back like my dad.

[>>>---WW---->]

Well Willie, if I wasn't hunting a draw area, I'd invite you go along with me. Best of luck finding a good hunt and Merry Christmas!

[Willie makit]

Thanks, but before I impose on any of you experts, first thing I got to find out for myself is if these elk don't just scare the pants off me and if the mountains don't chew me up and spit me out.!

Merry Christmas and a blessed new year!

[Indian Summer]

Yep... website is down for a complete overhaul. If you're happy with a cow I could point you in the right direction for that really easily in Wyoming. In places with easy walk in access the bulls can vanish but the cows still go about their daily routines and are easy to spot.

[Willie makit]

Thanks IS that sounds like a good plan d, that might b a trip to gamble on with someone else. There is one guy that I work with that said he would go, he is ok guy but not sure I'm all up on a 2 week trip with him. Maybe a week, especially since we would split cost of trip, not to mentioned could drive non stop. Would preferably rather take my dad but not sure if he up for that.

Ill give you a call later in January when my deer season slows down. I've got a few ideas that I'm scrambling around in my brain and like to get ur thoughts. The more i dwell on this the more i think id like a day or two with a guide. On the other hand it would boost my confidence (and ego) to get one solo, we'll see.

Hope St nickel & dime was good to all.

[easeup]

how to choose my words appropriately so as all who read will get the intent......
many of us who are grayed up learned this addiction by trial and error or other schooling of hard knocks, so coming in that way there was no unrealistic notion of instant success, or idea that we would learn it all in a trip or two. Putting in some time and boot leather, keeping your eyes and ears open, and waiting on a blessing from above, is basically what got is to this stage of success.
A new generation of elk newbies is amongst us and very few will select this path to success. Modern communication and social media provide the perceived fast path to success if you will. I too must admit, it surely can help cut the learning curve especially for the NR elk newbie.
With that intro, here is the information overload support and brain relief,..... stress is the result of thinking that if one can gather up all of the worlds knowledge and put to work for you, you can have instant success and satisfaction. Not saying it ain't so. But I am sayin that all that cookbook knowledge can sure lead one down a path of unrealistic ideas (see the Indian summer post in Docs office about hunting partners). It also corrupts the mind a little to tune out and to miss some of the best parts of the hunt. Going with a seasoned guide is absolutely the best idea, not only to learn the hunt, but more important is to learn the calm by which one moves through the mountains, with ease and confidence. You can get there without a guide too. These things usually come with experience which only comes with time well spent in pursuit of a dream.

[ORelksniper]

easeup, in my book your thoughts are dead on the money.

[Swede]

I too agree with easeup. I believe modern teaching tools like "how to" books have tremendous value and can get you into the game, and keep you on course, but hunting is still hunting. When a hunt is not going well for me, I just keep on hunting. Besides a good foundation of hunting knowledge, I rely on patience and persistence to bring home the game.
Ultimately if it is of paramount importance for a hunter to bring home an animal from every hunt, then go where there are high fences surrounding a very limited hunt area. Go where a farmer feeds your critter in a trough.
Learn to love the hunt, and you are going to keep going back. I get disappointed when I fail, but am always looking forward too. September is coming.