You Got to be in the Right State of Mind to Kill an Elk

[Huntography]

http://youtu.be/3M4MqcBCLVc

What do you think fellas?

After hunting a spot that was great the year before,last year we ran into hunter after hunter and no elk. So we went to town and at a little local burger joint, this old time hunter overheard our conversation about where we should hunt next and decided to share his wisdom.

"You Got to be in the Right State of Mind to Kill an Elk", is what he said.

It certainly helped us get into the elk in the following days.

Rudy

[WapitiTalk1]

Agree 100% Rudy. I've killed a few where the stars just lined up right and an elk just happened to walk by and offer to become steaks for no apparent reason but the majority of the handful I've shot were when my switch was "on". Not sure what to call it, but the right state of mind rings true. I see threads pop up now and then that ask "are you a hunter, or, a killer". I believe that question has merit and warrants self analysis also. I love to be in the mountains but there is a difference between camping (you can do that anytime) and being in elk camp readying yourself for the next hunt. The switch has gotta be "on" while on the hunt to be successful. Not sure if this makes sense but I do know that when my switch is off (wrong state of mind), I am not normally successful. RJ

Cool short little VID.

[zpd307]

I agree with both of you. i know I have said this before, about my hunting partner, but I keep having to go back to it. even though I haven't been able to kill an elk up close and personal, I am satisfied that I have at least been able to get into them. I feel that I am in the right state of mind. I am there to kill an elk. my partner on the other hand has treated it as a camping trip and cant put in a little more effort. and then pisses and moans that he cant find any. we have gone rounds on what we/he could be doing different. but he is a negative nancy who had obviously given up. hence, why we don't hunt together anymore after last year. he seems to be changing his tune after many conversations since last years hunt. we will see come sept... so, long story short, attitude is everything!

[Swede]

I have never thought about it. I guess if I can get a legal elk I want, where I can make the shot, I am in the right state of mind.

[ElkNut1]

Rudy, very true sir! A good portion of successful elk hunting is mental, I mean a sort of mental toughness! This "toughness" may vary from hunter to hunter! You did awesome last year & I certainly wish you the best this year! Good Luck, you're a good man!

ElkNut1

[otcWill]

Good post, Rudy! First, I am crazy so keep that in mind when reading this. I prepare for my elk season as a warrior might prepare for battle. I am in the shape of my life. My equipment has been gone over meticulously. I leave absolutling no stone unturned in terms of preparation. Then I hunt as if my life depends on it until I tag out even if this means freezing, going without food or water for a time, not sleeping (locating all night), walking thru blisters, or hiking over things only an elk or goat would walk over. In my experience, this passion leads to bloody arrows every time

[Indian Summer]

Good point Huntography. I think one of the obstacles that new hunters have to overcome is just the fact that they are not at home in the mountains. If a person has never roamed the Rockies then they have a mindset like a little kid in a candy store. Thoughts wander and so do the eyes. They are in explorer or discovery mode. There's is nothing wrong with that and to become familiar with your area, and mountains in general this is a necessary part of the process.

But to me an important art of being in the right state of mind requires us to feel comfortable in the hills. To me being a critter like all the others using my animal instincts so decisions aren't made but instead seem to come easily and naturally is what it's all about. Maybe having that 6th sense.

Phantom says he loves the mountains. So do I. So when we are there we feel at home which means I feel like a part of everything going on instead of feeling like a spectator. That is the state of mind I like to be in. Does that make sense?

[Huntography]

Agree 100% Rudy. I've killed a few where the stars just lined up right and an elk just happened to walk by and offer to become steaks for no apparent reason but the majority of the handful I've shot were when my switch was "on". Not sure what to call it, but the right state of mind rings true. I see threads pop up now and then that ask "are you a hunter, or, a killer". I believe that question has merit and warrants self analysis also. I love to be in the mountains but there is a difference between camping (you can do that anytime) and being in elk camp readying yourself for the next hunt. The switch has gotta be "on" while on the hunt to be successful. Not sure if this makes sense but I do know that when my switch is off (wrong state of mind), I am not normally successful. RJ

Cool short little VID.

Thanks Phantom16! I like the way you put it about how your switch has to on.

That old timer did share more with us about his theory about killing elk, some of it which believe it or not crosses that fine line of being on/off.

Rudy

[Huntography]

I agree with both of you. i know I have said this before, about my hunting partner, but I keep having to go back to it. even though I haven't been able to kill an elk up close and personal, I am satisfied that I have at least been able to get into them. I feel that I am in the right state of mind. I am there to kill an elk. my partner on the other hand has treated it as a camping trip and cant put in a little more effort. and then pisses and moans that he cant find any. we have gone rounds on what we/he could be doing different. but he is a negative nancy who had obviously given up. hence, why we don't hunt together anymore after last year. he seems to be changing his tune after many conversations since last years hunt. we will see come sept... so, long story short, attitude is everything!

Zpd307, I completely understand what you have experienced. It's almost like they are half serious about the hunt whereas for us, everything about elk hunting consumes us.

In the past, I learned to find other passionate like minded friends to hunt with instead of my other happy go lucky friends.

Rudy

[Huntography]

I have never thought about it. I guess if I can get a legal elk I want, where I can make the shot, I am in the right state of mind.

[Huntography]

Rudy, very true sir! A good portion of successful elk hunting is mental, I mean a sort of mental toughness! This "toughness" may vary from hunter to hunter! You did awesome last year & I certainly wish you the best this year! Good Luck, you're a good man!

ElkNut1

Thanks Paul. Ditto. I appreciate all your 1:1 help last year.

I've been lucky to film so many hunters over the years, each of which had their own level of passion about hunting.

As I think back, there is something to be said or the level of mental toughness/seriousness one has towards hunting.

You either have it or you don't. But either way, being in the right state of mind can help lead to better decisions and outcomes.

Rudy

[Wyo67]

Great post...

Agree 100% and to tag along with zpd307 - It helps to have a motivated partner. Not only to discuss game plans, setups, etc.., but to help you overcome the mental obstacles that elk hunting puts in our way, such as the everyday 4am wakeup to go walk another 10-12 miles in search of cooperative elk, other hunters blowing your setup, or missing a shot.

[zpd307]

well, I am definitely consumed..... a huge weight was lifted off on my shoulders last season when we figured out that it was ok to have two different mindsets for the hunt. I don't care much hating my best friend....

[Lefty]

,...... I mean a sort of mental toughness! This "toughness" may vary from hunter to hunter! ,,,,,,, ElkNut1

That applies to many "hard" situations.
Im originally form Minnesota,.. so I developed a mental toughness about cold and wind that I didnt even know I had living in Idaho is a piece of cake,.... And I know I would be challenged in many parts north of Idaho such as the Yukon.
Many athletic activities many dont reach their prime until older. While in physical conditioning may peak 10 or more years sooner than their "prime" How many endurance runners do you see over 50, and very successful,
all in the head including elk hunting

[zpd307]

,...... I mean a sort of mental toughness! This "toughness" may vary from hunter to hunter! ,,,,,,, ElkNut1

That applies to many "hard" situations.
Im originally form Minnesota,.. so I developed a mental toughness about cold and wind that I didnt even know I had living in Idaho is a piece of cake,.... And I know I would be challenged in many parts north of Idaho such as the Yukon.
Many athletic activities many dont reach their prime until older. While in physical conditioning may peak 10 or more years sooner than their "prime" How many endurance runners do you see over 50, and very successful,
all in the head including elk hunting

very true, I have been passed by many old timers during a race...

[Csrbowhunter]

I agree with both of you. i know I have said this before, about my hunting partner, but I keep having to go back to it. even though I haven't been able to kill an elk up close and personal, I am satisfied that I have at least been able to get into them. I feel that I am in the right state of mind. I am there to kill an elk. my partner on the other hand has treated it as a camping trip and cant put in a little more effort. and then pisses and moans that he cant find any. we have gone rounds on what we/he could be doing different. but he is a negative nancy who had obviously given up. hence, why we don't hunt together anymore after last year. he seems to be changing his tune after many conversations since last years hunt. we will see come sept... so, long story short, attitude is everything!

I know what you mean! I hunted a couple of years with this one guy that was all about hiking to the tallest mtn! It was like all he cared about was climbing the highest mtn we could go. One time we went to a new area and we had a mtn to the left and one to the right. The one on the right was way higher but didn't have any trees on it. The one on the left looked perfect for elk,trees with a few saddles on it. He said to me" well here's what we going to do, we are going to go over this mtn and on the other side there should be elk". I looked at him and said you go ahead but I'm going left. He wasn't happy about that and we didn't hunt much longer after that. Two days later I started hunting by myself and killed my first elk! Luck well I don't know but I do know I was wanting to kill an elk and he just wanted to say we hiked 12 miles that day! So I do think its a state of mind. You just need to find another guy that is in the same state of mind to hunt with. Good luck this year.

[zpd307]

thanks and good luck to you! I have resorted to hunting by myself. he is my buddy and partner at work of 10 years and we have hunted a lot of stuff together, been on some nasty calls together, got married and watched our families grow, so it isn't that easy. he was also the only other person to start elk hunting with me and I guess that was why it was painful to see him give not put a lot of effort into it and be so negative. it boiled down to him not being there for either of our first up close elk.... he wants to still go out west so the best plan is to hunt by ourselves and meet back at camp at night. we get along better that way!