Rookie Mistakes

[BrianKY]

The mistakes thread got me thinking. A lot of the posts in that thread were mistakes that are made by all hunters and a number I have made myself hunting whitetail. What are some rookie mistakes new elk hunters make that I should avoid? I know people have said they have gone in while not in the best of shape and I am already working on that. What else is there that you see new guys doing wrong or forgetting? Maybe forgetting a piece of gear, what to and not to wear, or anything else. Just to fill you in on my situation, I have a friend who lives in CO I am going with and we will be camping for a few days while hunting OTC.

[Fridaythe13th]

The one thing I forgot and missed was an alarm clock. The first bull mistakes was trying to call a bull across a 300 yd valley because I did wan't to get to close and scare him. When I finally figure out he was was not coming across I tried to get on a level playing ground or the same side of the valley. The wind was very wrong and I did not want to walk all the way back around. Last I see or heard of them. Wind and thermals pay attention.

[Lark Bunting]

My rookie year was two years ago but I knew NOTHING about hunting. It was the first year I'd ever hunted so I consider last year my true rookie year. That said, I'd say make sure you have PLENTY corn starch or what ever it is you like to use for a windicator. I had a callous on my thumb from opening and closing it so often. Know what the thermals are doing in your area! You will NOT fool an elks nose.

[ishy]

Mole skin one of the greatest inventions ever!

[WapitiTalk1]

Not tempering expectations during the early part of an elk hunter's career. It's really quite difficult to harvest any elk, let alone a mature bull. The process of becoming a successful elk hunter, well, is a process. There are many things that must be saved in an elk hunter's kit bag (scouting and area analysis, physical conditioning, learning about elk manneurisms from first hand experience, having a good grasp of elk language interpretation, set up techniques, calling techniques, land navigation skills, etc.) that must be learned and become proficient in first hand before the shots come around and the follow on hero snaps, field dressing, and packing occur. Yes, it's true that every year a new elk hunter somewhere in (insert elk state here) has all the stars line up on their first outing and arrows a bull but that is not the norm. Recommendation? Get out there, learn, enjoy, and hunt but realize that most successful elk hunters have put in the time, over the course of years, to get to a point that they get into elk and know what to do in order to possibly get a shot opportunity. Comparison example? I've driven cars before but if somebody dropped me into an Indy race car and told me to race, I probably wouldn't do so well the first time or three out

[BrianKY]

Thanks for the input. I certainly have my expectations in check and know the diffuclty level of getting a shot at an elk. I just started whitetail hunting four years ago. I killed a small basket 7 point my second year, and really the only reason I took it was because it was on my grandpa's land and I know it meant the world to him. This past November I took a deer that scored a hair under 140 and was 6 1/2 years old. It was a long few years hunting hard by myself, learning things the hard way. But it all paid off. I am certainly not getting my hopes set on going out and killing a mature bull. I am planning on having a good experience, seeing some animals, and enjoying time with a friend I only see once or twice a year. Anything on the ground is pure bonus.

[erle1139]

I considered last year to be my rookie year since it was 10 years since I'd last been elk hunting. Back then I was younger and with a group of experienced elk hunters so I kind of just did what they said or suggested without really knowing why. If they said "sit here", I sat there. If they said "lets go up the mountain", I went up the mountain. It was the first time for my buddy that went with me, so he truly was a rookie. So for both of us it was the first time to plan an elk hunt, equip ourselves, and actually go do it on or own. I remembered how much different elk hunting in the mountains is compared our deer hunting in Texas and tried to convey that my buddy as much as I could, including having low expectations of actually killing something, but having high expectations of having a good time. My goals were to actually see elk and killing something was going to be a bonus. Since it had been 10 years since I last went, and he had never been, we wanted to see if its something we would enjoy enough to try and do every year. These are some of the things I learned last year:

Don't limit yourself to one area...we had paper maps and downloaded GPS of the area we planned on hunting, but that was it. We were pretty much limited to just that area then. It would've been better to have had a map of everything, including the other units that were included in our tag in case we wanted to move.

Get off the trails and into the woods...there was a main trail that led around the mountain maybe 3-4 miles long. We were there a couple days early to scout, walked the trail to get a lay of the land, pick a place we wanted to hunt, and didn't see anyone. Opening morning the trail looked like a busy sidewalk with people set up in every clearing along the way. After that we cut into the woods and went cross country. We saw more signs, trails, and elk. Even though we didn't kill anything, we enjoyed the solitude of being in the woods and actually seeing animals the trail walkers were pushing up the mountain towards us.

Scout as much as you can...being in Texas we couldn't physically go to the area we wanted to hunt, but we picked a place and studied every inch of topo map, GE, and Bing maps that we could for several months before we left. When we got there we had a great sense of where things were in relation to each other. Also get there a few days early if its some place new. The computer and paper studying was very helpful, but things are different in real life. A couple days of walking the woods helped immensely.

Don't be over-ambitious...while the plan you make may sound good when you're talking it over with your buddies at home over a few beers and maps, it may not be the best plan when you get out there and actually see what you were trying to do. This goes back to the "Don't limit yourself", don't only have back up plans to move in case you need to, but have back up plans in the area you want to hunt also.

We're going a different route this year by getting a drop camp. We gained a couple more people that want to go, none of us have the gear that would make camp living as comfortable as what we can get with a drop camp, and we want to get further away from people (hopefully) than what our feet can take us. While I may be contradicting some of my suggestions by doing a drop camp, we camped last year like you're wanting to do this year. Hopefully we continue to gain experience and learn, have a good time, and maybe get lucky.

[BrianKY]

Great post. Forgive me, but what is a drop camp?

[WapitiTalk1]

Brian, drop camps are an outfitter sponsored hunt. The outfitter takes you into a remote area via horseback (sometimes via airplane dependent on the state and availability of a landing strip or body of water for pontoon plane) and leave you for a period of time at a location equipped with wall tents, cook stoves, firewood, etc. Some drop camp locations have two way radio capability so the hunters can communicate with a base camp down the mountain. These are not guided hunts but rather more designed for experienced hunters. Your big game meat gets packed down the mountain via horseback when the outfitter comes back to fetch you. I believe this is the most common type of drop camp although I believe if a hunter(s) wants to go more minimalistic, some outfitters will take you back into a remote area with no wall tents, etc., and you do your hunt with lightweight back country hunting gear.

[TENFIVE]

Bryan,

Who is the drop camp outfitter you are going with?

[Charina]

Not being in adequate shape used to be my largest nemesis. I wanted to hunt harder and longer than my body was capable. For me, elk hunting is a year-round venture of strength (stairs) and endurance (running) training. 11+ months of effort pays off during the two weeks of the hunt. I don't exercise every day, but I have a set schedule, and I've only missed 4 or 5 scheduled exercise days since the first of November.

For me, boots are probably the most critical piece of equipment that I should have gotten a better pair of sooner. I can hunt and pack out just fine with a crappy walmart hunting backpack. Any knife will do, even if far from ideal. All sorts of calls can work. I can hunt in non-specialty clothing (although I'm very glad for base layers in cold temps, wool pants in wet conditions, and properly designed layering), and without the latest/greatest camo. But boots - my feet can't deal with multiple miles of walking and hiking every day without proper foot wear that fits me right, and is properly broken in before the hunt. Hike in the boots you hope to hunt in, and make sure they are proper for you!

I put off learning to cow call realistically with a diaphragm too long. Last year that changed, and there were a couple fun experiences from it (as we turned to leave one setup, my 18yo son came face to face with a 5x5 only 10 ft away as my son ducked under some brush - I'm not sure who was more surprised!!! The bull spun and ran off crashing through the brush, and my son yelped, spun, and almost crashed into me!). I practice with calls regularly now. No more picking it up in August/Sep and trying to tune it back in.

You don't have to get a super long ways from roads and people to find elk, but I see way too many people never get far enough away from their truck/atv to give themselves half a chance of seeing elk. Perhaps it's a UT thing. I can't count how many people I've talked to who complain they are not seeing or hearing any elk, while I'm into them most every day and hearing bugles frequently. Apparently they don't know how to use their feet? The first couple years I spent to much time too close to camp myself. I don't know how to explain how to identify "elky" spots, as I could read descriptions, but I couldn't understand it until I experienced it. So, I guess the rookie mistake is not covering enough ground, scouting enough, and figuring out where the elk feed, bed, and travel in the areas I wanted to hunt. I now generally plan to focus on likely elk spots that are at least 1/2 mile from the nearest road. One mile is better IMO, but that depends on several factors.

[Trophyhill]

By being on this forum you are cutting the learning curve way down. It took me a couple years to get over a rookie mistake. That mistake was a style of hunting. A passive style. Sure I had encounters and great stories of what could have been and managed to kill in my second year. But I was always hesitant to move towards animals knowingly thinking if they answer a call they would no doubt be coming in to take my arrow. I managed to call 3 cows in consecutive years and put them in my freezer. This was with a passive approach with many bulls hanging up and lots of hours put in. After finally taking heed and really listening to my mentors, I grew a set and got aggressive. Low and behold I killed 2 bulls the next 2 years consecutive. I guess what I'm saying is if a guy arms himself with the information put forth here, learns what elk are saying and how to call a little, don't be afraid to get aggressive both in your calling and in your actions. You will get busted for sure but this is where the experience comes from and teaches us how to read the situation. You have to put yourself in these situations. Hell I've heard Paul talk about moving in and getting busted and then he does something crazy like a scream and the next thing you see is a pic of a dead bull. The passive approach could lead to some success but aggressive actions lead to more opportunities at bulls imo. I don't want to sound like killing cows is a bad thing either because they're not safe when I'm in the woods but passive generally leads to long days with few encounters.

[erle1139]

tenfive,

was the drop camp question directed to me?

[TENFIVE]

erle1139, yes, that was directed at you. I shouldn't have typed "Brian". I am hunting with Eagle Mountain Outfitters. They are a drop camp outfitter in Colorado's West Elk Wilderness. It will be our 2nd time hunting with Eagle Mountain.

[erle1139]

Coincidence...we will also be hunting the West Elk Wilderness, with Bar Diamond Ranch

[djc5080]

Having a bull tag and only seeing cows, or vice versa. (First season, daughter and I had bull tags, and about 50 cows/calves paraded by us, unaware that they were in our crosshairs at 50yds) Nice to have all the bases covered if possible! The other mistake is not having good optics. My first big game hunting was antelope hunting in bright sunshine. My second season hunting elk, I knew where the elk were bedded, and was there before daylight. As it turned lighter gray and became legal shooting time, the elk had spotted me. I could not take the shot because my scope could not gather enough light and I could not be sure that I was shooting a legal animal and I could not get any closer. They got suspicious and bolted into the dark timber. After that hunt, I swore never again, and bought two very expensive 4-16x50 scopes with target turrets, one for my daughter and one for myself. After loosing a rangefinder in the excitement of a very long shot in the middle of nowhere WY, I now have my new and expensive rangefinder tethered to me at all times... Extra glasses, batteries for everything that runs on batteries are also high on my list. Be friendly even to the jerks out there that blow your stalk or bust a herd. My daughter asked me why we had to be nice, and I asked her, "Did you see that 12,000lb winch on their truck, and their ham radios? We might need them if we get stuck in the snow/mud!" Learn to put on chains before you need them (daughter and I learned in the woods!) Nothing beats wool for keeping you warm. Black plastic garbage bags - don't leave home without them. And lots more hints and funny stories I could think of. Makes me miss my daughter (gone off to college-lost my hunting buddy for now). Several ways to start a fire, moleskin, duct tape, maps+compass+gps. Phones don't always work, and go dead searching for service. DeLorme inReach is nice. A buddy who is an eternal optimist that can keep you pumped up and hopeful-or the ability to stay self motivated and not give up.
A Hunting Mom

[welcher83]

I made the switch to archery hunting 2 years ago - I still consider myself a Rookie Archery hunter.

Biggest mistake I made last year was not committing to a plan and getting side tracked. I have a spot that I hunted growing up and then again rifle hunting that I wanted to hunt hard in archery last year. My buddy (who hasn't hunted this area) and I just didn't commit to getting to and spending time in the spot where I believe the elk are. It isn't so much a matter of miles traveled, but a matter of the steepness you have to get through to get to a relatively small area that holds elk. We got into some sign, but I believe the next small bench (which is a steep female dog to get to was where we need to be), and we turned around and then moved on to other areas to hunt.

I have learned A TON from this site, and a lot of the information has both affirmed my thoughts about what we did wrong last year and also enlightened me on how/where to find elk.

We'll be hunting a new area this year - and I am excited for both the scouting process and the actual hunt. I had some good ideas on where to go before I found this forum, but after reading and learning from those on here, I think I have identified some potentially better places. And, more importantly, I know specifically what small areas to target (rather than standing there saying wow this sure is beautiful country and I bet there are elk here somewhere).

With a couple scouting trips, I think I'll be ready and have a number of areas that should be elky to hunt. If the first doesn't look like elk are spending any time there, then I will move to the next one, and so on. This should help us stay focused and in the right areas rather than just picking a random ridge or trail to walk (which does work sometimes), or drinking beers in camp (fun in it's own right but not what I go hunting for).

[Muskeez]

I've shot whitetails for 30 years and while I do get excited before and after the shot, no matter doe or big buck, I can hold it together pretty well for the shot itself. But, I can't even explain the rush it was to have my first elk within bow range. This cow elk came down the hill toward us out of curiosity to our rookie calling...She was about to walk through a lane. I range the log she would step over, 30 yards, she stopped behind a tree while I was at full draw, I drew and let down 3 times I think while she was trying to make us out. While at full draw my back leg was shaking uncontrollably! The cow turned went up the hill ten yards and stopped broadside, I said to myself, "she has to be 40 yards now" - and I still put my 30 yard pin on her like I had been trying to do 2 minutes earlier. Shot right under her. Rookie mistake. How to fix it, ?? Just keep shooting and getting those experiences I guess. It was still a blast!

[Muskeez]

Also should add that we got more aggressive on our second year with our calling and set-ups, but we still were too passive in the set-ups. We need to be more aggressive about getting in closer to the bulls before calling and expecting them to come to us. They came in, but always hung up at 25-40 yards - too far in the thick cover we were hunting. If they were walking by the shooter at 25 yards to get to the caller it would have been different. We will hopefully be more aggressive and be better callers this year. The elknut dvds that my buddy bought have helped a TON!

[Passin Thru]

Shot 2nd time and ruined a whole shoulder on a lung shot and bleeding badly. (I was a rookie, thought he'd run off) Snow storm, cold and wet and no campstove. Now carry a coffee can and stash it. Cut holes in top sides of can and makes a super hot stove. Have learned to layer and not leave that waterproof hoodie out of the pack. Stupidest was going deer hunting in Jemez NM and finding out it was either sex after not getting a buck. That's embarrassing because the F & G stopped us on the way out and asked what we brought down the mountain.

[hike2hunt]

My rookie year was many years ago. Back in those days it was more about putting food on the table, then enjoying the journey. Many moons later, and many journeys later, every moment in the woods has brought me to days that respect the journey, the quarry, and the camaraderie of great friends and family.