2014 Elk Hunting Resolution?

[cnelk]

What is your 2014 elk hunting resolution?
Something you want to do or change?

[Toby]

Mine is to get into as good of shape as I was 20 years ago. I am starting p90x tomorrow. I turn 64 in September and want as many good years as possible chasing elk.

[Swede]

I want to scout out a new area. I will hold onto the one I have hunted for years, but want to check out some new scenery. I want to shoot a medium sized bull and have RJ and JF poke fun at me for shooting a "calf" because theirs was much bigger.

[cnelk]

I want to spent a night or 2 in a new spike camp location.
I know the spot, just need to do it

[Still Hunter]

Mine is probably obvious. I want to learn to call properly, and use it to get an elk.

My old way of not calling works fine for me, but i'd like to try something new.

[Trophyhill]

For me it's to gain discipline. As of now I haven't let any elk walk when an opportunity is presented and ate well because of it the last 5 years but I really want to take my game to the next level.

[Elkonthebrain]

I would love to call in and shoot my first branched bull.

[stringunner]

Punch an elk tag. Spend more time introducing my oldest son to the elk woods. And have my new mule in-training ready for September.

[WapitiTalk1]

Perhaps, just perhaps not worry quite so much about helping someone else get an elk? Nah, that isn't me Probably need to investigate some new pockets where it hunt in ID. A ton of country that I haven't touched. As I am another year older, I really need to start my 'get in elk' shape regiment earlier. Lastly, be steadfast in my daily elk hunt plan and not waiver. Plan each days hunt and work that plan..... At least until I get shamelessly lured off the ridge by an anonymous screamer. Be my old aggressive self and don't over think. Hear, locate, get close. Oh, figure out how to properly use the lone wolf hang on stand coming in the mail . Arrow a bigger bull, or call one in for buddy that he shoots, that's at least 3 pounds larger or at a minimum 'stinkier' than the elk Swede or JF get

[ORelksniper]

I'm gonna continue to help my brother get his first elk. Thanks to JF and others around this campfire I've got some new strategies to try out. Can't wait!

Finally, I want to meet up with Swede. We've talked on the phone and exchanged PM's but never face to face. We hunt across the highway from one another but I never seem to make it to the other side. When I get in elk country I tend to get the "stare" and forget about everything else.

[Trumkin the Dwarf]

Kill a cow on a secondary archery tag so I can use my general tag on a big late November bull. I'd also like to hunt archery season with my grandpa before he can't draw a bow anymore.

[bnsafe]

main goal is to kill a mulie. I wanna learn my hunting areas better so will spend more time scouting the actual area this year instead of just trying to learn the general area.

[BrentLaBere]

I have a really long list of things but for the most part I will keep it simple.
Increase mental toughness. Allowing me to hunting longer into my trip and go deeper into the back country to check out new territory. Hunt from first light to last light every day afield.
Patience.......and then more patience. With this one I just received John's book in the mail and I am hoping to reference some spots I know and how to approach using these areas for a possible plan or back up. Broadening my tunnel vision.....

[Swede]

Brent: You remind me of the fellow who prayed "Lord give me patience. Right Now." I may have been the inspiration for his prayer, and even the reason he became a praying man.

[Harmy]

Not to allow my work to interfere with my Elk "Vacation" time...

[BrentLaBere]

Uh oh, didn't see myself as the demanding type. "Lord give me patience. Right Now."

[Texasdan]

My resolution is to go!

Saving up leave and maps downloaded, marked etc.

Just need the draw to be done so I can see where exactly I'm headed.

[Lark Bunting]

Ugh, where to start...it'll be my second year hunting, so...pretty much everything!

I've been accumulating gear, practicing my calls, virtual mapping, will be practicing my shots when my new-to-me bow gets here.

A lot depends on whether we draw the unit we're putting in for or if I'm doing OTC again.

Scouting will be HIGH on my priority list this year!

[Swede]

Brent: I don't think the man was particularly demanding. He was just very needy.

[G Posik]

Find some new dirt to hunt. The places I have hunted in the past are getting crowded. I even like to get into some nasty areas. The last two years I have seen more hunters in the mountains than elk.

Glenn

[Screaming_btf]

Increase Mental focus and toughness, be more aggressive, Judge the distance of ELK sounds more accurate and find a dedicated hunting partner.

[Mikeha33]

Last year, prepping for my first hunt I spent too much time on my gear, and not enough time learning about the actual animal I was chasing; it's terrain, habits, language, etc. Last year was more of a "hunt while on a survival trip" expedition, this year, with a little backcountry experience under my belt, it will be a hardcore hunting trip. So, I am focused on learning everything I can about the animals. I will milk you guys for every ounce of info I can squeeze out of you I'm also hoping the buddy that I am going with will become a life-long elk hunting partner, he's been my best friend since kindergarten, and he's a deer killing machine, with a crazy passion for the outdoors, maybe even more so than myself.

[SoCo Mark]

My resolution is to incorporate calling into my hunting. This includes not only learning how to make the sounds, but when to make what sounds, where to make them and the proper times to make them.
I've got a couple of books from this site, and I think between them and this site in general I can easily learn what I want about calling. Last year was my first real archery elk hunt, and I came really close a few different times. I believe I have a good area, I believe I have a fairly good knowledge of the area, there are plenty of elk and not lots of hunters. I just need to incorporate more strategies into my hunting, and this year it will be calling.

[WapitiTalk1]

My resolution is to incorporate calling into my hunting. This includes not only learning how to make the sounds, but when to make what sounds, where to make them and the proper times to make them.
I've got a couple of books from this site, and I think between them and this site in general I can easily learn what I want about calling. Last year was my first real archery elk hunt, and I came really close a few different times. I believe I have a good area, I believe I have a fairly good knowledge of the area, there are plenty of elk and not lots of hunters. I just need to incorporate more strategies into my hunting, and this year it will be calling.

Mark, I think you're all over this like a mink on a minnow in the shallows It sounds like you've made a commitment to improve your understanding of elk language, and the when/where/how/why/, etc., to make the correct elk noises given the situation you're in. It takes time to become a good caller so I hope you're starting now buddy.. Practice, practice, and more practice till your significant other runs screaming out of the house and/or banishes you to the garage.... If you don't have Elknut's sounds of the elk CD and his DVDs, it's well worth the price of admission and will certainly stand with you in battle against these big galoots in 2014. RJ

[Backcountry]

Get better at reading maps. Scout more. Be more patiently aggressive in my calling. Get my hunting partner a bull!

It's going to be a great 2014