Priorities and Attributes

[Swede]

What makes one hunter generally successful in taking game, while others come up short? I have noticed that often it takes years of dedicated effort. We want to get to a place where we become satisfied that we have all it takes to kill elk, and the rest is just up to God. On this and other forums, including magazines, we read about the importance of physical conditioning, but older hunters do well, and probably better than younger hunters. We read and hear about skill. I should practice my calling more. Is that the key? Is finding a great hunting place what it is all about?
These factors and more are trumpeted as important or even paramount in being able to succeed in our elk hunt. What do you think? I would like you to list, in order, and give relative values to what you believe is important. Along with your list, let's see where you need to place the most effort to improve.

[Trophyhill]

I think one thing that plays into it is the speed in which a person can comprehend and process what is happening in real time. Often times we read into the encounter things that might make sense to us at that moment not taking into consideration the animals thought process therefore complicating a seemingly uncomplicated situation. We need to keep it simple I think.

[msd1228]

I think it just comes down to how much you care about being successful. Joe blow who buys a tag and hunts 2 days from his truck before heading home "because there are no elk here" will never be one of the 10%. The guy that busts his hump, plans ahead, tries to learn things will be successful at some point. Skill in calling, etc, is all well and good, but it won't trump hard work. The best caller in the world isn't going to kill an elk if hes hunting where there is no elk, or if hes not willing to get into the woods and get into the action. Example - I know a guy who just started elk hunting last season. He has no idea how to call and has never hunted elk before, but he worked his bag off. He was always out trying to find where the elk were hanging around, moved in and set up trail cams to find what trails they frequented most, then once the season came he sat those trails until he was able to take a nice 6x6 bull. He did the work that 90% of the people aren't willing to do, that's why he'll remain in the 10% for years to come, whether he learns to call or not.

[UtPreacher]

I think that ones ability to listen trumps all other attributes of successful hunters. Here is what I mean by that. The person whether a rookie or a veteran who listens to what successful hunters say and thinks about them and applies them is most likely to learn. Also just like what Trophyhill said the people who listen to the "situation" or the "woods" and learn from all experiences will train themselves to act according to each different setting he finds himself in. The younger folks tend to have more vigor and oomph for the hunt because they have prepped themselves physically due to what the wiser more experienced hunters have told them. While the wiser more experienced hunter uses their bank of knowledge to play all the variables he finds on the mountain and place them in their favor.

[Indian Summer]

I guess nothing is easy. Experience and knowing how to hunt and make decisions takes time. Nothing can replace experience. The other thing is knowing the area you hunt extremely well. That also takes time and nothing can replace that either. That's one reason I always say it's nice to have an area you're happy with so you can avoid wasting any time and get right down to learning it as well as you can.

[riverbeav]

I think one thing that plays into it is the speed in which a person can comprehend and process what is happening in real time. Often times we read into the encounter things that might make sense to us at that moment not taking into consideration the animals thought process therefore complicating a seemingly uncomplicated situation. We need to keep it simple I think.

This! Some people are able to control their excitement and make quick decisions like choosing a shooting window or judge correct distances without a range finder in an instant. Others are overwhelmed when an elk is in their sites and forget to use the correct pin, or can't think fast enough to move up ten yards to that spot where the elk will come in to an area where there will be an open shot. These people are only able to kill an elk when everything goes perfectly as planned, while the former takes elk in situations where they had to physically make it happen in the moment.

[easeup]

no matter what skill you have or how much experience, one must be in good elk country to get in the game. Especially for the NR hunter.
plug for hunt out west services here. LOL

now next is to be a killer. learn the art of stalking and closing the ground on wild game so when the chance comes you make the wise decisions my friends right above me stated.

[Swede]

He did the work that 90% of the people aren't willing to do, that's why he'll remain in the 10% for years to come, whether he learns to call or not.

I agree. This trumps knowledge and experience. Patience and perseverance along with some knowledge will win the day. The toughest part of patience is waiting a full hour on a cold call set up. It is waiting all day in a tree stand. It is waiting, and backing off until the time is right opportunity for a stalk. Perseverance is hanging in there when you are tired and miserable until and want to quit. Perseverance is sticking it out to the end, even though you have done this 10, 20 or 30 times before this season.

[WapitiTalk1]

In no particular order, here are some principles I believe contrubute to success. Bear in mind that I do not shoot every legal elk that I can, but, consistently get within bow range of legal animals every year I hunt. I opened a word document this morning when I saw Swede’s thread so I’ve been adding to this all morning. Geesh, didn’t realize I’d added so many things (blah, blah, blah). In no particular order:

* Hunt where there are elk. Seems simple enough, right? It’s a tough decision on a backcountry hunt to pack up, head back down (or up) many miles to the truck, and drive to/hike in to another area. Same thing for hunters who set up an elaborate base camp that are unwilling/unable to move to another area if necessary. Hunting pressure/lack of rut activity are a few reasons I will relocate. We only have so much time in the elk woods and no sense in staying in a spot that is not producing.

* Successful/experienced hunters (not necessarily the same thing) have a daily plan, oftentimes two or even three, that they execute. Don’t be so anxious to change your morning plan to hunt a pre-planned spot that you know hold elk (and have patterned to be in the vicinity when you will be there) merely because you heard a locator bugle the night before from “another” spot. Use that vocal bull for a future hunt if necessary.

* Hunt more than camp. You have got to be in the woods when the elk are out. Elk are diurnal which means that they are most active at dusk and dawn. Cloudy days may increase the time elk will spend in the open. I’m certainly guilty on occasion of not following this rule.

* Learn to understand and speak elk. Elknut’s instructional tools can cut the learning curve on this one way down.

* Know the area you hunt, the lay of the land so to speak, elk patterns, and as much as possible have the thermals/prevailing winds patterned. You can’t fight the thermals/wind. They will always win if not paid attention to.

* Physical shape. No, I don’t believe you need to be in world class athlete shape but both hunting the elevation changes in the mountain states, the daily long ingress/regress into hunt areas, and, packing out several large chunks of elk will kick your butt if you’re not in good shape.

* Know what you will shoot, and, have realistic goals. The old adage “never pass up on the first day what you wouldn’t shoot on the last day of your hunt comes into play”. When an elk is standing there while you’re at full draw is not the time to have second thoughts on if you want to harvest that particular wapiti or not.

* It's important that you get to your hunting area prior to the natural time that elk should be there, or, moving through. You'll most likely need to travel to and from your hunting area with a headlamp.

* Hunt in/hunt out of your hunting area. Another of my yearly mistakes.

* Be comfortable. Clothing is gear. Don’t have to spend a ton, but wearing/carrying the correct gear that keeps you warm, dry, cool without being naked, comfortable, etc. goes a long way in the mountains to keep your mental and physical well being at a high level.

* Practice how you will hunt. As season approaches, I practice with a pack on, shooting from odd angles/elevations, and confirm I’m drawing my bow "straight" back effortlessly to minimize movement.

* Prepare mentally for your hunt. It’s the plague of many hunters to become fatigued and disillusioned after several to many days of not seeing game, or, pinned down in a tent with bad weather. Oops, another one of my shortcomings during some years.

Persistance, persistance, persistance. Postive mental attitude on every hunt.

Sorry about the long winded rambling. It’s Swede’s fault

[wawhitey]

* Hunt in/hunt out of your hunting area. Another of my yearly mistakes.

id be embarrassed to even hazard a realistic guess of how many animals ive jumped during the last 100-300 yards back to my truck or quad after giving up the hunt for the day/location

[Swede]

RJ, that was awesome. Your post is as good as it gets. Great stuff.

Prepare mentally for your hunt. It’s the plague of many hunters to become fatigued and disillusioned after several to many days of not seeing game, or, pinned down in a tent with bad weather. Oops, another one of my shortcomings during some years.

I have to admit that is my favorite.