Putting it All Together

[Trophyhill]

Ok my ever expanding elk brain is at it again. After several conversations with a few great elk killers these last couple days......in your mind, what constitutes putting it all together as an elk hunter?

[zpd307]

david, youre getting awful itchy up here. I already feel like time is in super slow motionnnn

[Trophyhill]

david, youre getting awful itchy up here. I already feel like time is in super slow motionnnn

Roflmao

[Indian Summer]

in your mind, what constitutes putting it all together as an elk hunter?

Meat in the freezer... rack on the wall after putting together my own master plan and of course overcoming a few hurdles along the way.

[Trophyhill]

in your mind, what constitutes putting it all together as an elk hunter?

Meat in the freezer... rack on the wall

This is the end result of "putting it all together". Can you break this down in terms of getting there? there are a lot of guys on the web these days who want overnight success. Is this realistic?

[Swede]

Trophy: I am not sure I have the answer you are looking for , but to me "putting it all together" is having a plan, having the knowledge, and having the confidence you can do what you set out to do. It does not mean you will be successful every single time you go out. It just means you have done everything you can to prepare. It is really fun when you can say to yourself, "okay elk, let the games begin."

[Trophyhill]

Trophy: I am not sure I have the answer you are looking for , but to me "putting it all together" is having a plan, having the knowledge, and having the confidence you can do what you set out to do. It does not mean you will be successful every single time you go out. It just means you have done everything you can to prepare. It is really fun when you can say to yourself, "okay elk, let the games begin."

I'm not looking for short term but rather long term big picture there are many looking for the instant gratification that comes with our fast paced lifestyles, but probably many more (myself included) that plan on doing this until they can't physically do it anymore there are things that can lead to early quick success for sure but being consistent and joining the 10% club is what most are after I think.

[Toby]

I think that someone who has reached the point of putting it all together could be dropped into strange elk country in any state and could put together successful strategies immediately. This category of hunter would be adept at various methods of taking elk. They would be comfortable calling, and could of course speak the language, and could also locate prime tree stand locations. They would have many options available to them and could determine which was best for any given set of circumstances, weather, rut stage, Hunter density, etc.

Most of all, they would make it look easy/natural. Like anyone who is really good at something, their confidence in themselves makes their endeavors come easy to them.

[Swede]

I am really not wanting to offend anyone here, but to me confidence, based on knowledge and skill is what it is all about. The hunter that has put it all together does not carry a Playbook in their day pack. I feel confident, Elknut has no need to carry a Playbook with him. The Playbook is designed to assist the person that does not have it all in their head. The hunter that has it all together can operate within the guidelines of a Playbook or venture outside when the opportunity presents itself. Another way of putting it would be to say, if Paul was calling for you, he might try one thing, while another equally experienced person would do something else. Both hunters would be operating within the boundaries of what works to kill elk, but both could use different sounds or tactics in any given situation. In this scenario both hunters have put it all together.
If you want to get it all together, don't memorize the "rules". Determine why different tactics work. Establish in your mind what will happen when you do one thing or another.

[ishy]

For me it's having elk within shooting range. No matter how it happens, getting elk within that 50 or so yards leaves you pumped regardless of how you got there. Always feels better closing the deal, but just being close to elk gives me something I can't realy put into words.

[easeup]

In this scenario both hunters have put it all together.
If you want to get it all together, don't memorize the "rules". Determine why different tactics work. Establish in your mind what will happen when you do one thing or another.

well said.......so friends, don't try to cook book a list of do's and don'ts and expect established rules of the universe to work.


of course your results may vary....lol

[slim9300]

The closest thing to instant gratification that I know of is buying Paul's material and memorizing it. Then covering ground come elk season (this may take a few miles) until you find elk and apply.

Works for me.

[Trophyhill]

The closest thing to instant gratification that I know of is buying Paul's material and memorizing it. Then covering ground come elk season (this may take a few miles) until you find elk and apply.

Works for me.

You my friend are an exception to the rule

[Swede]

I concur with what Slim and Trophyhill are saying here, as long as Slim is able to correlate what is in the material he has, with what is happening when he encounters elk, and I assume he can. That is why the book and other material is presented and why hunters that want to help others share information here.