The Countdown Has Begun!

[ElkNut1]

Yes sir, Elk Season is officially upon us! What is everyone still working on in preparation for the hunt?

Working on getting in better shape?

Still searching for specific gear?

Vehicle maintenance?

Practice to be a better caller?

The list for many of us can be long! (grin) So what's top priority on your list? The season will be upon us quicker than we think!

ElkNut1

[Trophyhill]

In addition to your list, top priority for me right now are my bow's. They are both in the shop for a tune up and getting new arrows.

[Wyo67]

Always trying to work on getting in better shape. Got off to a good start earlier this year, but my time commitment to local youth baseball always puts a damper on it until its over in mid-July.

ATV maintenance needs to get done. That Kawasaki drives me up the wall. Too stubborn to trade it in.

Re-started calling practice a couple of week ago and continue to shoot the bow in the backyard. Love the Rinehart target the boys got me for Christmas last year...

Need to find time to go through ElkNut's DVDs a few times before the season!

[BrentLaBere]

Elk sounds - I have been working on these even more since the competition. Listening more and more to you tube videos and trying to mimic bull sounds. Craig had mentioned in another thread about being "tone deaf". Not sure I fall into that category, but trying to train myself to break it down further and understand each note. Tongue pressure vs more air pressure is something I need to work out.....
Cow/calf sounds - I may need to go back to a single reed and really get back to the basics. I have been working on a double but not sure I am comfortable with it just yet.

Map reading and GE scouting - RJ put the bug in me to scour over more maps and different areas. I plan on posting a few spots up to see what others think. Ive been over these areas I dont know how many times, but, going back and picking out details is making little holes and benches jump out at me that I might have to try.

Shooting - Simply maintain form and muscle memory. Make sure the bow is tuned and grouping properly with the broad-heads of choice. Not much adjustment here.....like I said maintain for 85 days.

Getting in Shape - maintain in this category as well. I haven't stopped working out for more than a week or two since last October. But stepping it up a notch once July 1st rolls around to really expand on my lung capacity. There is a thread out right now that makes perfect sense. Be Mentally tough! I think you can build on this in the off season by pushing your limits (working out) and breaking down walls now and when that wall hits during your hunt....you know how to push through.

Not one stands out above another for me. They all need work and attention before I hit the hills.
Gear is always something I am testing throughout the summer. But I find once you have what works. Just make sure it is still in good shape to do what it needs to do.

[twinkieman]

First priority for me is practicing my calling, practice, practice , practice. I plan to switch broadheads this year, so making sure all is well with my bow setup and arrow flight will take second priority. I'm already in shape, so just maintaining, along with several backpack trips will keep me ready for elk hunting.

[elkaholic]

I am increasing the intensity of my workouts, working on first arrow accuracy beyond my normal shooting range, and doublechecking the equipment to make sure it is in working order. Once draws come out I will know for sure where and when I am going so I can start fine-tuning scouting plans. The wait is driving me nuts

[ishy]

Had a first interval run with a group of tri athletes yesterday, and I did pretty good if I don't say so myself. I have run a bunch the last couple years, but intervals are a whole new beast.
It's a mile warm up, then 20 800's alternating sprinting and slow jaunt. Held up pretty good with about a 6 min mile pace on the sprints.
My big thing in the summer is trying to shoot more often with less shots each session. More focus on each shot.

[Indian Summer]

I have been making sure the truck is squared away. New BF Goodrich all terrain tires, fuel filter, and 2nd battery. I've been checking out some new freeze dried meals from Wise. They don't market to hunters but instead are more about survival. Running discounts and giving out free samples right now. Figured I'd expand since it's been exclusively Mountain House in the past.

Other than that I do one sit up every day... to get out of bed. I've been going to as many barbeques as possible and stopping by Rita's Italian Ice for the occasional Gelati. Drinking more beer than I did earlier in the year too. On the 21st I leave for 9 days of muskie fishing on Lake St. Clair which means 12-14 hour days sitting on my butt eating snacks followed by big meals & night life on the deck. Exercise will consist of turning the steering wheel & reeling in a couple hundred big muskies. After that though I'm buckling down... to as much motorcycle riding as possible. I did cut the grass a few times. I hope my horse is in good shape.

[Screaming_btf]

This year I am focusing on hiking with Heavy loads in my backpack 60-80 lbs for a couple miles each night, hopefully this will allow the normal weight I hunt with to feel like nothing and not weight me down after a few days. I am also getting to know maps allot better, working on ELK sounds, and shooting.

[Swede]

I am still in the planning phase. I need to do some scouting soon, but will wait a few more days to see if, by some miracle, I get drawn for a quality hunt area.

[WapitiTalk1]

* Currently increasing my hiking distance/pack weight; getting my hike on at least 4 days each week. Will start mixing in some MT biking rides starting next week (same hilly area, just farther distances) .
* Shamefully, I haven't been shooting my bow much; that'll pick up very soon.
* Remote scouting continues for new area. If the stars align, I'll take a road trip to the area to put BOG and do some terrain familiarization, glassing from up high, sign scouting, remote scouting/mapwork point of interest spot checking, GPS marking, hunting campsite research, water point(s) locked, maybe putting out some cams. Quad maps need ordered.
* Calling practice continues
* Equipment is pretty locked down. Need to get my day snack packs loaded (quart zips lock for each day with pre packed chow), get another case of MH meals, jet boil fuel, etc.
* Need to play around with my new tree stand/climbing sticks a bit more so I know how to deploy the gear properly

Besides that, I'm tracking pretty well for this fall's hunt!

[Lefty]

Ive been shooting a few times each day
Monday: Washed and packed all my gear.
Filled the gear and clothes with dried sage
Spent Tuesday evening yesterday and this morning looking for elk in my "new " elk country, lots of miles on foot and a bit of sun and wind burn.
smoking fresh tracks are exciting
Still working my leg from last years hip surgery
Hinted to my wife I might want a new bow Sure loved shooting a bow with 80% let off
Tomorrow and Saturday the wife said l"ets go look for elk" up at a neighbors ranch Food, gear and ATV will be in the truck when she get home

[wawhitey]

My top priority is shooting! I shoot longbow and I've been neglecting my practice because I have a lot of other stuff on my plate. All other things considered I need to shake the rust off my shooting skills because it doesn't matter how good you are at calling or anything else, if you can't put an arrow where it needs to go you have no business hunting. This is my number one priority for the summer. Time to get back to basics.

[ElkNut1]

Good to see I'm not the only one still polishing up a few things! (grin)

Wawhitey, I hear ya on the longbow! When I was hunting with one it seemed I had to shoot a few arrows at least 6 days a week. If I skipped a day or two the rust really crept in fast! Good luck & have a blast!

ElkNut1

[easeup]

I have been making sure the truck is squared away. New BF Goodrich all terrain tires, fuel filter, and 2nd battery. I've been checking out some new freeze dried meals from Wise. They don't market to hunters but instead are more about survival. Running discounts and giving out free samples right now. Figured I'd expand since it's been exclusively Mountain House in the past.

Other than that I do one sit up every day... to get out of bed. I've been going to as many barbeques as possible and stopping by Rita's Italian Ice for the occasional Gelati. Drinking more beer than I did earlier in the year too. On the 21st I leave for 9 days of muskie fishing on Lake St. Clair which means 12-14 hour days sitting on my butt eating snacks followed by big meals & night life on the deck. Exercise will consist of turning the steering wheel & reeling in a couple hundred big muskies. After that though I'm buckling down... to as much motorcycle riding as possible. I did cut the grass a few times. I hope my horse is in good shape.

ROLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now there is an experienced elk killer!


Post up a thread on the Wise stuff. We too are always looking for good BBQ supplements.

[ishy]

So in the last seven days shot both cda and sandpoint shoots. Sandpoint included a cool new ironman course 10 targets up and down a pretty good hill, timed with 40 lb pack on pretty good stuff. Can't say my heart rate has ever hit that level at a shoot before. Full Draw Tour in the middle, and a fund raiser for the Foundation for Wildlife Management to round the week off.

[nrocchio]

I am doing close to the same as everyone else here so far.
- practicing my calling is a main priority
- scouting maps to the point my girlfriend is getting sick of me showing her where i want to go camping this summer
- spending too much money on backpacking/hunting gear, but I am about done with my shopping list

I have been shooting the bow a lot. Got a new string installed and tuned it up, and put new vanes on the arrows a few weeks ago. Getting in shape is not really a concern. I have been competing in MMA and Jiu-Jitsu for around 10 years now and training regularly for that keeps me in pretty good shape. I live in the high altitude, so the adjustment to the high country won't be as severe. My main obstacle is learning more about early season elk hunting. This forum has helped me a lot with that already though.

[Toby]

Getting both bows ready, need to fine tune my compound. And, I am taking my longbow as a back up, so need to get arrows and broad heads tuned and practice, practice, practice.

Need to ramp up my conditioning, went at it hard March-April, slowed down some when the winter broke.

Calling practice has to move up on my list.

My wife is insisting on going this year, none of our guys can make the trip, and she doesn't want me to go alone. So, if she goes, and I would love to share the experience with her, my gear/camp plans may change some.

Summer gets in the way sometimes

[razorback]

Fix 4wd on truck!, practice calling, keep working out. Bought new arrows and have bow all sighted in to 60 just need to start my daily shooting routine. Buy an X2 pack and configure it for bivy and day hunts. Buy some quality rain gear and sleeping pad and then pack. Oh yeah keep studying maps and checking in here for tips.

[brun]

Fitness, shooting, and calling. Pretty much the same as everyone else. I also have been spending quite a bit of time estimating distances. I don't want to be totally dependent on my range finder.
Two of the last three times I have shot at our public range there have been elk on the hill just beyond the targets. That got me fired up!

[Texasdan]

Trying to drill down between some areas. Just a noob looking for the elky stuff on maps and stats.

Still have to settle on a pack.
Specific gear will be bought over the next couple months. Dry runs out in the Texas heat.

Other than that I'm ready to hunt

[LongShot]

Shooting between 80 and 120 arrows a day from between 20 and 50 yds, concentrating on consistent form. Jogging up and down my 300 ft long drive (elevation change about 150 ft bottom to top - 2 switchbacks!) about 10 times a day. In July, I'm switching to shooting about 75% fewer arrows and concentrating on putting each shot into an 8" paper plate. I"ll also randomly be shooting from different positions (kneeling, bending, on knees, etc) as well as shooting from different elevation angles. And then there's gear - a bugle call, more arrows, rubber boots, and a new frame pack. The 10 weeks until my hunt are already flying by!

I just wish I could still prep like Indian Summer!.