Another New Elk Hunter

[Wagnon89]

Hello all. I'm Justin from Alabama, 31 years old and I'll be going on my first elk hunt this coming September. I've been lurking here for a few weeks before signing up and there is a ton of great info to look over. I also just ordered the ElkNut #3 package, so I'm exited to get my hands on that as well.

We are going to going to Southern Colorado GMU 81 in the South San Juan Wilderness for an OTC archery hunt. We are planning on being there for opening day and staying 7-8 nights as of right now unless something changes. Our group will consist of 2 hunters (me and another) and 2 campers/hikers/fishermen. We all work together and are in descent shape. We've already started training to get in better shape as we are planning on hiking in a few miles to spike camp and try to find the elk (hopefully we get lucky). It will definitely be a different experience than chasing the whitetails we are used to around here.

I've got a good gear list together (I think) and have started buying some of the stuff up that I didn't have already. We bought a few topo maps of the area and are studying the heck out of them. Might try to post some "X marks the spot" threads to get some better ideas also. I still need to choose a new arrow/broad head setup and get my bow tuned to them. I plan to start practicing a little everyday if I can. I also plan on taking a few hiking trips up to the Smokey Mountains to test all my gear thoroughly before we get 1500 miles from home.

I've got a ton of reading to do and questions to ask ahead I'm sure but I can't wait to get out there and get after them. If anybody has any pointers or suggestions or has hunted the South San Juan before I'm all ears!

Thanks,
Justin

[ChukarNUT]

Welcome!! You can and will learn a ton here on the forum and with the elknut material! GET IN SHAPE!!! no joke, the mountains and elevation--especially CO will kick your butt, especially while packing out that 6x6 you drop!! but honestly, best advice: HAVE FUN!!!! its not a contest--your not cameron hanes (are you??!!)-and its a VACATION!!! lol PRACTICE with your bow....ALOT! elk are tough, incredible animals and even good shots go south, so know your limits and practice. if your not and avid backpacker and backcountry guy my advice is basecamp first time around--i live in the mountains and i am running the hills on every day off i have, and am a very avid backpacker and backcountry hunter---it kicks my ass every time--NO LIE. its tiring--mentally and physically, and just plain tougher on every aspect. not trying to sway you, but there are alot of elk to access from basecamps--and the last few years for us more elk in close than out in the wilderness and backcountry. learn as much as you can about elk and calling and have at it!! HAVE FUN!!! any questions on gear or anything feel free to PM me!

[easeup]

welcome to the fire mr. wagon and good luck in Southern CO

[Wagnon89]

Welcome!! You can and will learn a ton here on the forum and with the elknut material! GET IN SHAPE!!! no joke, the mountains and elevation--especially CO will kick your butt, especially while packing out that 6x6 you drop!! but honestly, best advice: HAVE FUN!!!! its not a contest--your not cameron hanes (are you??!!)-and its a VACATION!!! lol PRACTICE with your bow....ALOT! elk are tough, incredible animals and even good shots go south, so know your limits and practice. if your not and avid backpacker and backcountry guy my advice is basecamp first time around--i live in the mountains and i am running the hills on every day off i have, and am a very avid backpacker and backcountry hunter---it kicks my ass every time--NO LIE. its tiring--mentally and physically, and just plain tougher on every aspect. not trying to sway you, but there are alot of elk to access from basecamps--and the last few years for us more elk in close than out in the wilderness and backcountry. learn as much as you can about elk and calling and have at it!! HAVE FUN!!! any questions on gear or anything feel free to PM me!

Lol! Nope, definitely no Cam Hanes. I read his book though. The guy is crazy extreme. You are right. It is a vacation. A big reason of why I'm going is the experience of the backcountry and to learn. Killing an elk would be a huge bonus. A very tasty bonus!
The difficulty of the mountains is giving me a very good reason to get back in great shape and I'm actually looking foward to the challenge. Although I may eat those words when we get out there. The only time I've seen the Rockies is from an airplane so I really don't fully know what to expect. I live on top of what yall would probably call a knoll and it's one of the highest points in my county at 1200 ft. That's the mountains around here. Lol!

[ChukarNUT]

Right on!! Seems you have a great attitude--and the wilderness aspect is a huge reason i hunt. i love being out there--night and day--and live amongst them. there are huge advantages to having camp on your back--you can keep moving until you find them and then stay with them until you get a shot! start training now--push ups, sit ups, jogging, stair climber, hiking with weight in pack, etc. will make a HUGE difference if you start now! also keep tabs on your gear and try to go as light as possible!! it will be a blast and im sure you will become addicted like all of the other elk addicts around here

[Trophyhill]

get ready for silent elk. early September in Southern CO can be silent and frustrating! that doesn't mean they cannot be killed but it won't be like any elk hunt you've seen on TV.

[Wagnon89]

welcome to the fire mr. wagon and good luck in Southern CO

Thanks!

[Wagnon89]

get ready for silent elk. early September in Southern CO can be silent and frustrating! that doesn't mean they cannot be killed but it won't be like any elk hunt you've seen on TV.

That's what I've heard so far for opening week. With our work schedule early is better. I've got a lot of learning to do but I'm planning on trying to find fresh sign and travel routes to ambush them in case they are not talking yet. We are hoping to get on them before they get too pressured by other hunters.

[Trophyhill]

get ready for silent elk. early September in Southern CO can be silent and frustrating! that doesn't mean they cannot be killed but it won't be like any elk hunt you've seen on TV.

That's what I've heard so far for opening week. With our work schedule early is better. I've got a lot of learning to do but I'm planning on trying to find fresh sign and travel routes to ambush them in case they are not talking yet. We are hoping to get on them before they get too pressured by other hunters.

it's been very dry there the last couple of years. they hit water in the dark and head to the bedding areas at first light. they don't dilly dally around and neither should you. find their travel routes and you will up your odds for an ambush situation. Paul's stuff will tell you all about blind/cold calling too when you are near elk and they are silent. just because they aren't talking doesn't mean they won't come in to calls.

[Wagnon89]

get ready for silent elk. early September in Southern CO can be silent and frustrating! that doesn't mean they cannot be killed but it won't be like any elk hunt you've seen on TV.

That's what I've heard so far for opening week. With our work schedule early is better. I've got a lot of learning to do but I'm planning on trying to find fresh sign and travel routes to ambush them in case they are not talking yet. We are hoping to get on them before they get too pressured by other hunters.

it's been very dry there the last couple of years. they hit water in the dark and head to the bedding areas at first light. they don't dilly dally around and neither should you. find their travel routes and you will up your odds for an ambush situation. Paul's stuff will tell you all about blind/cold calling too when you are near elk and they are silent. just because they aren't talking doesn't mean they won't come in to calls.

Thanks for the tips!

[Indian Summer]

Welcome Wagon! Always nice to add another family member. Sounds like you have a pretty good plan. Good luck.

[cnelk]

Welcome to the site buddy.

But I got to wonder why all the Non-res love for GMU 81???
Sounds like its gonna be a busy place

[Wagnon89]

Welcome to the site buddy.

But I got to wonder why all the Non-res love for GMU 81???
Sounds like its gonna be a busy place

We liked the area because it looks pretty remote, which is what we wanted. Also it is one of the closest areas west of I-25 as far as driving distance goes.
I may be wrong, but I couldn't find much info on people talking about hunting GMU 81. From what I saw GMU 78 to the west was the crowded one. Granted, this is just Internet research. We won't know till we get out there of course.

[cnelk]

Here is a tip

You wont find experienced elk hunters talking about any specific units they hunt....

[Wagnon89]

Here is a tip

You wont find experienced elk hunters talking about any specific units they hunt....

Can't really blame them for that. I don't talk about what trees I hunt out of around here either.

I'm sure there will be other hunters wherever we go. Hopefully we will be remote enough that it won't look like a South Alabama deer drive! Lol

[Trophyhill]

I hate to sound like a downer but it is an OTC unit and there are no secret areas in 81. With the onslaught of light weight gear and the great packs you might be surprised at how many guys are hiking into the back country. I'm not trying to discourage you, just want to prepare you for reality. There will be lots of horse trailers/outfitters at the trail head above Platoro along with back country hunters hiking in. Any where there is a trail head into the wilderness there will be traffic. And lots of roads in the areas that aren't wilderness area making for easy access to anyone and everyone. This is why having about 10 backup plans is so crucial in a unit like 81. If you can I highly suggest you get some boots on the ground before the season. Just a heads up

[Swede]

Welcome to camp Wagnon89 and best wishes on your hunt. It is neither productive to get over confident or discouraged. Just be patient and persistent.

[WapitiTalk1]

Welcome to the forum. Glad to have another elk hunter on board.

[ABQ_Chica]

Welcome! Elknut is a good place to start--both these forums and the DVDs and Playbook. There is a lot of good regional/local advice here, too, as you've noticed. Hunting in most public land OTC areas isn't easy (and rarely like the hunting shows). But the elk are there, and heading out with strategies can give you an edge. Having a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, etc. doesn't hurt, either. It's a blast just getting into the high country. Good luck!

[Toby]

Welcome, as stated by others, get Elknuts dvd's and play book, best investment you can make.

[Wagnon89]

Thanks for the welcome guys!

We will definitely try to have a few backup plans in place before we head out there. I wish I could get out there sometime before the hunt, but with the 24 hour plus drive and a little one at home with mama, I don't see being able to swing it. I might look into a 3 day trip if we can fly out though. Maybe do some scouting and a little fishing.

[Mikeha33]

Great to have you! It is definitely "the" spot to be when it comes to elk hunting!! I am still pretty new to all of this, but I am little familiar with the area you spoke of. I really enjoy seeing new faces pop up, especially guys that are new to the sport, because you can think of new questions, scenarios, and problems that I might not have thought of, or haven't asked yet. You'll find the fire warm, drinks cold, and the BS so deep you'll want your waders!!
I sent you a PM, by the way.

[Jaquomo]

Welcome to the campfire. I'm the guy who tosses firecrackers into the fire; who everybody wishes would shut up and go to bed.

You're in for a monster adventure. As others have said, be versatile and not afraid to change up. Understand that in heavily-hunted wilderness there may be more hunters than elk "way back in there". That's a relatively new phenomenon with all the eager, "beast-mode" go-getters plunging back into the wilderness areas. So think out of the box, study your topos, and figure out where elk will go when pressured in the backcountry.

And don't get discouraged. Stay positive and believe. You might only get one opportunity, especially starting out blind, and that chance could come in the last half hour of the hunt. Keep your spirits up, and if you start to get bummed, change the scenery, take an afternoon off to hunt someplace totally random, or head into town for a shower and good meal. Smell the roses. It's about the experience and the adventure.

[Wagnon89]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the advice. I think I'm already hooked on elk hunting and I've never even been yet. It's worse than when I started bow hunting whitetail for sure! I'd like to look into applying for some of the limited draw units and building points for the future also. Do some of yall put in for multiple states and units every year?

[8upbowhunter]

Welcome to the addiction Wagnon89. This past September was my first elk hunt and being a flat lander myself (my house is barely above sea level) take these guys advice and get in the best shape that you can. We hunted the last 2 weeks of Sept. in an OTC unit which also had lot's of hunters but believe it or not we only saw 1 other hunter the 2 weeks we were there so you can get away from the crowds. The thing that frustrated us most were the thermals!! I don't care which way you go the wind is always blowing on the back of your neck lol.

[Jaquomo]

Definitely apply for (or buy) as many preference points as you can. WY points can be purchased online after July. You'll need at least 1 to draw a general unit, more for better units. For CO you can apply for a preference point as a first choice, then buy an OTC tag or apply for a less popular draw unit with a second choice. If you start applying for CO now, you may be able to hunt a couple of the better limited units in 10-12 years, if point creep slows down. But there are some sleeper CO units that only take a couple points.