Elk Strengths

[Trophyhill]

What are your attributes in the Elkwoods? What do you do well?

[Elkonthebrain]

Get excited and miss. That's what I'm best at.

[Swede]

Over all I believe I am a pretty fair elk hunter. I have some strengths and weaknesses. Poor eyesight limits me on the ground. I don't need great sight to see elk movement or kill them in the open at 40 yards or less. Probably my second best strength is that I don't get rattled when it gets time to shoot.

[WapitiTalk1]

Two or three years of doing it has given me a decent understanding of elk behavior. I think I’m a pretty fair caller. I think I’m pretty good at navigating in elk country using compass, terrain features, and just a map, or, using the battery powered thingy. I also think I’m borderline anal when it comes to planning my elk trips; I very seldom need to leave wherever I’m at for supplies or gear of any type. I also won’t flinch or falter when in close enough to kill.

[easeup]

the ultimate optimist lives here.
An uncommon abundance of common sense along with perseverance and faith that we can get it done no matter the hardship to endure.

"I don't care how hard it is. I am an elk hunter"..........Randy Newberg

[Toby]

Determination, perseverance and the curiosity to want to see what's over the next ridge.

[elkaholic]

Determination, perseverance and the curiosity to want to see what's over the next ridge.

This^^^^^

[ElkNut1]

The ability to read a situation. This applies towards rutting elk & quiet elk, to me both are equally important when faced with either situation. Once again this is where patience can come in! (grin)

ElkNut1

[Lefty]

I have a few limitations, my health still good overall, but I am overweight and my new hip does slow me down.
My advantages is Ive spent a lot of in the field time trapping when I was younger, have lived in Minnesota, South Dakota, Washington Utah , and here in Idaho.
My advantages: my woodsmanship, in different scenarios, the ability to quickly adapt to the specific area Im hunting . I have a good understanding of wildlife biology, most of that isn't elk but some information is generalized.
Ive developed the patience to hunt differently than most, I seem to "find game" better than most.
Unfortunately I tend to blow the shot at critical moments

[Kevrod3]

Overall comfort in nature. I feel like I'm at home when in the backcountry. As much as I love my family and miss them, I don't feel I have to focus on getting back to them(because my wife does a great job of holding down the fort), but to focus on the task at hand. Finding elk! Shooting ability, physical conditioning and survival skills are also strengths.

Been using the Playbook, and other elk info to bring in the finally piece of the puzzle for strength!

[Indian Summer]

"I don't care how hard it is. I am an elk hunter"..........Randy Newberg

Randy aka Big Fin is a friend and has an interesting approach. He has gone as far as to use helicopters to access quality hunting. I would say his strength is similar to mine and also Phantom's. Before he leaves to hunt he knows every detail of every day of his hunt. It's like writing a play and sticking to the script. No script means second guessing everything you do. Randy is a very intelligent person and I think his attention to detail is his forte.

The eternal optimist lives here too. I look at every elk tag with the idea that it's just a matter of time and sweat until it gets punched. Failure is not an option. That mentality results in a way different hunting attitude than if you were to leave camp thinking "ho hum... today will probably be no different than yesterday." The mind moves the body.

My other strength is my 6th sense. A knack for thinking "if I were an elk which way would I go" .... without actually thinking it. Lifting up the binos and knowing where to look instead of just panning all over the place hoping to spot an animal.

Finally... my other strength is feeling right at home living and travelling around in the mountains. Even ones I have never seen. I'm a mountain man!

[blackwolf]

My strength is perseverance, I don't give up. At 60 I can't get around like I used to but I hunt smarter and never let the elements get me down. I have hunted with people who totally give up after not seeing elk for a couple days. Better to hunt alone than with a hunt spoiler.
My weakness would be my body needing more rest these days. My other weakness has been in "closing the deal". I have called in countless bulls over the years but not able to get a good shot. I have had many chances with a frontal shot, but never felt comfortable with it. Will be doing more stand hunting the next few years, should offer better shot opportunities. Better yet, I need to teach my son to call for me.
Last weakness would be getting enough time off work to be in the mountains. I feel 2 weeks is minimum for a good hunt.

[ishy]

I'll go anywhere. Usually chase off a buddy or two each year just cause they don't think it's worth going through where I go, but for me that's part of the mystique of elk. Luckily I have never gotten really lost, and hopefully never will.

[Gselkhunter]

My strengths are simple: knowledge base, calling skills, stalking skills, shooting skills but above all good judgment.

[Trophyhill]

My strengths are simple: knowledge base, calling skills, stalking skills, shooting skills but above all good judgment.

Good to see you pop in Gregg. You are part of what I consider one of my strengths and that is my willingness to learn about elk. Learning the who, why, what, when and where of elk has opened up doors for me that are helping me unlock the "elk code" 1 experience at a time. It truly is or will be a life long endeavor to be "educated by elk" as long as I'm able.