????????

[tdirks]

So here's the question or questions. First a little bit of a personal background. I'm a lifelong bowhunter,60 years old, live in Southcentral Ks., and have had a burning desire to hunt Elk since reading Jack O'connors storys in Outdoor life in grade school. Finally a few years ago I decided it was now or never because of my age and a tiny bit of financial wiggle room that I went on my first hunt. Over the counter,cow tag, back pack,and my total cost was doable. Three hunts and three years later I have loved every minute of it but I have seen a total of four cows,not heard one bugle or even seen a bull. I am more determined than ever to do what it takes to at the very least, have an encounter with an Elk! I have spent so many hours in front of the computer looking at everything that could possibly help me including but not limited to: state stats, websites, (mostly this one), forums, and pursuing the knowledge of anyone that will talk to me that has any personal experience. This search has been both gratifying and frustrating. To kill a big buck I have to hunt where there is one. Obviously the same holds true for Elk. Is it even possible to find an Elk in one week total time for an out of state hunter? Every time the question is asked by someone on an Elk forum looking for help as far as location is concerned the response is silence or derision. Don't get me wrong I totally understand the silence! Are there any avenues I am missing as far as gaining the knowledge to significantly impact my efforts? My wife is starting to worry about my computer time:) I realize that I can probably count the years I have left to do this on one hand!! I have been hunting in Co. as it is the closest. (cheapest) Do I just have an illogical dream??

[Still Hunter]

It's a realistic dream. I did it for decades as a NR in Colorado.

I assume you're a bow hunter if you bought OTC cow tags? Tell us how you hunted, and what units you hunted. It will be easier to tell you what to do if we know what you've done already.


btw You have many more years left than you can count on one hand.

[tdirks]

Yes Still Hunter, bow only. I have hunted 55 but mostly 56 as it was closest to Buena Vista where my folks owned a home in Trail West. Last year the success rate in 56 was dismal. I do have 2 pref. points. Thank you for your reply.

[Still Hunter]

Ok, unit 55 has plenty of elk. Along with plenty of hunters. Bow season is a good time to hunt there.

So, tell us how you hunted?

[Swede]

tdirks: Welcome into elk camp. You have an excellent question, and I understand your frustration. A part of that frustration is how easy magazines, dvds and internet forums, like this one, make elk hunting seem. If it was all that easy, there would be no magazines, dvds or internet forums. Your question has been raised in one form or another many times. You will probably get several reasonable answers. Here is my take on things.
I don't know exactly where you are hunting, so it is hard to say if you should have seen more elk where you hunt or not. As a tree stand hunter I also don't see a lot of elk during any week of the season. I believe you need two things. You need some good information on places to hunt. You also need patience. I know that more patience is hard to swallow, but learning elk hunting and elk country takes time. Your learning time can be shortened by reading all you can. It can be shortened also if you can find an experience hunter to go with. In your situation, I believe you would be far ahead to book a hunt with Indian Summer. You will learn more and faster going with a professional. Tell Joe you want to go with his best teaching guide. Best wishes.

[tdirks]

When I hunted 55, I hunted the Sanford Basin area. camped at the bottom, got up early and tried to be somewhere up in the middle at shooting light. Probably made all the newbie mistakes.

Thanks Swede. You see out of the advice you gave the most critical ones are the most difficult to obtain! Two Especially! Tim

[Still Hunter]

Still need to know how you hunted. Spot and stalk, still hunt, ambush, tree stand, calling, or just hoping the elk gods smile on you?

[cnelk]

Tim
Howdy and welcome!
Are you hunting alone?
If so, is that your preferred method?
Or, are you maybe looking to join up with someone?

Any info you can contribute will make your goal closer to becoming reality!

[tdirks]

Still Hunt,mostly still hunted with some spot and stalk. also probably called more than prudent! Of course even a slight grin from the Elk Gods would be OK. Thanks Cnelk. The first year I went it was with two other aspiring elk hunters but they quit. The last couple of years my son has gone with me and we have decided to alternate the tag each year so we both can enjoy the experience every year. A caller and a shooter. He loves it as much as I do. Hooking up with someone that knows the ropes would be both wonderful and nerve wracking. Impeding someones hunt would be unacceptable. I do love the challenge and want to learn!

[Indian Summer]

Like Swede I know nothing about where you hunted so I can't comment on that or even make suggestions on how you might hunt the area with better result.

Every time asks the number one factor in having elk encounters I say the same thing: Location! You've already said you know that though. And I think you've already shown plenty of patience. So with that, although I appreciate Swede's kind words and I'd be glad to line you up with a hunt.... you don't need me. I think a guy like you needs to start by just seeing some elk. You already have tons of self motivation so I think if you actually laid eyes on a herd I have no doubt they would be in trouble. And so...... PM sent!

[Lefty]

Stick around this place and read, watch the video, all the DVDs you can find. Being a longtime archer you will be able to separate the real stuff from the fluff
New to the Rockey mts Rifle hunting I saw a handful of elk, killed a couple nice bulls and a cow.
This was my 5th year archery hunting,.. found a place I could hunt, learned the area, every year Ive gotten in on a big herd each year Ive been under 25 yards with bulls each year, passed on cows a number of times and Im in darn poor elk county where I hunt,

My hunting experience and drive like yours will make you successful
Sometimes you may need to change where you hunt ( I hear that all the time) Like fishing, the very best tend to take the most. Your woodsmanship is likely much better than average. Your time will come.

[Glacier Country]

tdirks, So you said you were calling... Can you do a location bugle? You and your son have the time to learn to do that before the season. Are you a turkey hunter? The transition from a turkey mouth call to elk sounds is not that hard. Can you use a mouth reed? You can at least buy a bite call and use that. I can teach almost anyone to use a bite call in less than 3 minutes. I know if you can locate elk with bugles or cow calls you will see more than 4 elk in 3 years. You said you were calling too much?? I think that if you know the right sounds to make in the right situations you will also get better at knowing how much to call. I call a lot more than some guys, but I KNOW that is how I am going to kill my elk. I am a caller and that is how I choose to hunt for elk. If you can learn how to do very good location bugles you will be taking a big step in the direction of locating bulls. I said Bugles.... Most guys would be miles ahead if they never tried to do grunts and chuckles... I say that because most guys do not practice enough to make grunts or chuckles that sound very realistic. That makes a big difference when hunting OTC pressured elk. Make the sounds that you can make that sound Realistic.

[itsnlkthing]

Tdirks, I feel your pain but being here and asking your questions will help a bunch. Even in the best areas, about 8 out of 10 go home empty handed. Time, experience and knowledge of your area all begin to stack the odds in your favor.

[tdirks]

Glacier, I do hunt turkeys and I can do a location bugle. I have watched Elknuts DVD's and others and have driven my wife and others away with my practicing. I use a diaphram for bugles but just cannot make good cow calls with one so I have several different reed calls that I use that sound OK. I do not use grunts or chuckles, and keep the bugles few and high. I just think that limited time makes it extremely difficult to put myself where there are elk to even hear my calls.

[Still Hunter]

Since you don't see any elk using calls. You might try hunting without calling. Especially, if you still hunt like you said.

Did you know elk were in the area you still hunted? It won't won't if you don't.