Sooo, How Should I Get Out West To Hunt Wapiti?

[WapitiTalk1]

BLUF (bottom line up front) as we say in the Army, what is the best path to head on to get me out west to hunt the mighty elk? Let's say I want to plan a hunt for next year (2018) with a buddy of mine, or, my brother, or, my daughter, or another like minded hunter, etc., etc., and get into the mix; the elk battle as it were. I've been stomping deer for XX years in (insert state here) and I have a serious hankering to head to the other side of the big river and try my hand at elk hunting. I have/own the hunting weapon of choice, either have or am willing to get what gear is needed, and am willing to study whatever is beneficial to at least get me in the know/shorten my learning curve. What is (BLUF) the best way for me to get out hunting elk? What should I be concentrating on between now and when I purchase my tag? Do/should I only concentrate on preference points in a certain states? Should I absolutely just concentrate on a state with OTC tags? Outfitted? DIY? Hunt plan? Give me a plan (what you would do/or have done) that will get me out into the elk woods before it isn't an option in my life anymore?

For the purpose of this ultra scientific thread, please give me an xyz of what I should do (perhaps state, type of hunt, resources to learn from, etc.)... If I don't get into the elk woods soon, I feel I've missed a calling in my life that may haunt me forever! Thanks. Signed by.....guy living on the other side of the big river from the elk :D

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[N2mywake]

Broad topic for sure. since I live so far from Elk country (the ones here don't count because getting a tag has proven futile), I have to plan my vacation in advance for that time (sept 11-27 this year). Here are a few of the key points I tell people

1. plan it and do it now
2. get guys you can rely on to carry their load and that you won't kill after that many days in camp together.
3. start out with someone who knows a bit, or go guided(I've not done that)
4. get the best gear you can afford (no cotton)
5. quality mountain/hiking Boots and backup boots are a must.
6. Walk... A lot... Daily... on incline. even those in the best shape coming from flatlands to altitude suffer. your lungs will thank you for the prep cardio workouts you do in advance.
7. practice with your weapon and know your effective range (use a rangefinder)
8. Measure your success from the experience and what you learn, not from the game you kill or don't kill.

That's a start. I'm sure we can all talk on this for days.

[Tigger]

I think one of the most intimidating parts of planning a hunt is where. Start at the state level. Hard to beat Colorado, so I would advise the new elk hunter to start there. Grab a pref point this year and that opens up some options for next year. Okay, got the state.

Next the unit level. Study your harvest stats and pour over hunting forums. Maybe it would be wise to subscribe to one of the hunting services like the GoHunt Insider. Take into account what type of terrain you want to hunt (desert/scrub, black timber, more open country, above treeline, etc). Somewhere along this route, you need to pick a unit. Once you have started down this trail aways, the next best step is to hire Indian Summer to provide a hunt plan for you. this will save you countless hours and will put you in a place where you stand a chance of shooting an elk.

If you decide not to enlist Joe for a hunt plan, then your research really starts. For the next few months, you will spend more time with Google Earth and Caltopo than you do your wife. Talk to the game warden and the USFW biologist for that area. The anxiety here is that you don't know what you don't know. Is it overrun with hunters? Are the grizzlies thick (if you pick a bear state)? Did a fire ruin what looks so good on Google Earth? Are there access issues you don't know about? A road on a map is not necessarily a road you drive down with your urban grocery getter. I would recommend you pick 10 places that you feel are really good elk hunting spots. Of these, there must be a minimum of 3 distinct areas so when one flames out, you have at least 2 more areas that aren't impacted (ie a forest fire).

Oh, how do you pick those areas? Well first you decide where you are going to stay. Hotel? Trailhead camper? Tent? Backcountry tent? All have pros/cons but the most basic is that a hotel is furthest from the elk and a backcountry tent may be in amongst them. How far do you feel comfortable going back into the woods? A major consideration that always must be forefront in your mind when scouting out places to hunt is how will you get one of those big beasts out of there before it spoils? What is the weather likely to be?

Meanwhile, you are getting in shape, procuring equipment and learning elk. Oh, speaking of learning elk, buy the Elknut playbook and memorize it. Really, this is #1 on your list of things to do.

Wanna skip all this? hire a guide. Wanna skip most of this but still have a good DIY experience? Hire Indian Summer.

[saddlesore]

On the website, 24 hourcampfire.com there is member that goes by KC. A couple times a year this question is asked and he posts a 2-3 page write up that just about answers all questions.This has taken him years to accumulate .
Not detracting from this forum at all, but anyone highly interested should go to that forum and PM him to get a copy.
Mostly directed towards Colorado,but much of it can be applicable to other states.

[Old school]

Good advice by all. Saddlesore - I did that exact thing a couple years ago, printed it out and put it in a binder. Very good, basic information.

I'd only add or re-emphasize a couple things. If you think you are in shape, you are NOT. If you are in shape, you are NOT in mountain shape, so there will still be some adjusting the first few days. Its impossible to be "overprepared" physically or mentally. Start with a state that is OTC and just go do it. While you are hunting OTC you can start applying for points in other states, but you might as well be learning with "boots on the ground" in an OTC state in the meanwhile.

Your biggest challenge may be a mental one. Be prepared to get beat down mentally at some point during your hunt. Determine ahead of time that you are not going to quit when it gets tough. I've learned a lot after I've pushed through the mentally tough times. Like going 7 days without seeing sign or hearing bugling, and in spite of that, you just keep on pushing (or change spots) and boom - you are into elk. I'm a novice, so I'll stop there and let the more experienced elk killers guide you on.

--Mitch

[Swede]

Your decision really depends on what you want. Your answer could be as easy as calling Cabelas or some other service to hire an outfitter and shelling out the money.
How good of shape you need to be in depends on how you want to hunt. I want to continue on hunting for years to come, but will be 70 this coming season. I don't think I am at any particular disadvantage because of my age. I don't buy the best clothes either. Much of what I get is from Mal Wart or Goodwill. Elk hunting for me is getting out and doing it. The most important thing is to be patient and persistent. If you can afford the time off, an elk tag, the cost of travel, and you are set up for Whitetail deer and camping in the season you plan to be out; you can hunt elk too. Some people say they can hunt out of State for under $1,000, but I would plan on $2,000 for a DIY affair if hunting with a buddy or two.
Personally I would find an elk State where I can buy otc tags and put in for a quality hunt until I draw. The first place I would start my planning is right here on W.T. by asking questions. Go to the State wildlife department web site to check out unit success. Then I would PM someone that I trusted to give me some good information about their State and get pointed in the right direction. If you are being told to go to a 5% success unit and there are 20% units around, ask specifics about the 20% unit. Spend some time on G.E. and some mapping server.
The biggest thing is don't be intimidated.
You are not going to be a big elk hunting expert after the first tie you go out, even if you are lucky and get one, but who cares. That is not what elk hunting is all about. Get out, enjoy yourself. It does not need to be a painful experience. Stay out as long as you can and learn as much as possible. Come back and share your experiences here and learn some more. You will learn more here on W.T. after you have some experience.

[Lefty]

Your decision really depends on what you want. ,......

From my point that is where you start.
Do you want to kill and elk?
Is it the hunt? the place?
Is it a vacation? an experience?
An adventure?
A family thing?
Ive done some weird things by many peoples standards, Ive passed on mature 6x6 bulls at 40 yards, Ive hunted all wrong!Dont get me wrong I want to kill a huge bull ( and will if I don't die first ) Like some Im not shooting the turkey in the roost, a deer in town, a bull beside the road.

Maybe the first time hunt as a feeling out trip. what do you like. A one-on-one guided trip will be different than a wilderness solo bivi hunt, or a private ranch hunt or a DIY camp in a campground in NF

An eastern whitetail are not western elk

As a 13 year old I was able to experience Canadian deer hunt All I wanted was to kill a deer. Now I enjoy being in the woods,.. even better with a new experience.

[saddlesore]

I think a person wanting to go on an elk hunt ,pretty much wants to kill an elk.If not they could probably just go on a camping trip.
That being said,the person should have a realistic goal, such as a cow, a branch antlered bull or a +300 class 6X.

Each of those dictates what type of hunt to consider. To get your feet wet and figure out what to do, I' d suggest a cow hunt, since, in Colorado at least, there are about 5 times as many cows as bulls and success is much more likely. That could be a late season landowner tag or a draw tag in a fairly robust elk herd environment in a DYI hunt. A branch antlered bull might be in draw area with a higher percentage of kill ratio or just an OTC tag with about a 18-20% success rate.That could be anywhere from a DYI hunt to a fully guided hunt.For big bull,a first time hunter had best look into a fully guided hunt on private if they won't taken anything smaller.

No option is ever fully guaranteed

[Swede]

I always like to read Saddlsore's perspective as his experience oozes through the things he writes. I would add we need to be realistic when we plan on an out West elk hunt. As he saddlesore wrote, everyone wants an elk, but we are not all alike. This desire runs the gamete. Some will be ok retuning home empty handed. Some will take a cow. Some have to explain to mama why they wasted the family money "for nothing". Still others want a big bull only and will cheat to get one. There are all kinds.
My advise is to never hunt with someone that must get an elk at all costs. You can know them as they are the poor losers you deal with. It is ok to be driven and to hunt hard, but almost all of us come up short at one time or another. We either have both a great hunting location, and know very well what we are doing, or we will fail sometimes. Yes I say "fail" because I go after elk, and am not just camping, but I am ok with myself if I gave it my best and came up short.

[saddlesore]

True words Swede.

I really don't care any more if I kill an elk,but when I go elk hunting, I give it all I got.

[Tigger]

Hey Swede, I agree on Saddlesore, he oozes! Elk wisdom that is!

He Saddlesore, how is the injury coming along? Got that sucker fixed up and ready for elk season yet?

I just had an idea. We should pick a charity and auction off an evening around the campfire with Saddlesore picking his brain about elk hunting! Trouble is, no one could afford what it would be worth. Crisp mountain air, blazing aspen leaves, crackling fire......

[saddlesore]

Tigger, All the hurt is gone and I have limited use of my right arm. I can lift a rifle up, but I need to set it on a shooting stick.
I found a surgeon that only does shoulders. He told me I can't hurt/screw it up any worse than what it is now , as three of the tendons are torn thru and can't be sewed back. He will do a reverse shoulder implant that will put the socket on my arm and and the ball in my shoulder as I still have one tendon left.vHe says I will still be able to shoot a rifle,but no heavy lifting and no high impacts. I plan to squeak by in 2017 and then have my shoulder replaced in spring 2018 after grass greens up and I can turn my mules loose on pasture or feed them with small bales which I don't have now. Plus I need a year to get my nerve up to git'r done.

I can probably get 2-3 shots of with my ML or muzzle braked .06 before my shoulder barks too much. Thought about archery,but drawing a bow back is not possible.

When I hurt it,I couldn't even pick up a cup of coffee and could barely move it.

Thanks for asking .Appreciate the concern from all

[wawhitey]

Goin out west? Need advice? Ask tom waits, hes the expert

[WapitiTalk1]

Yikes.....

[Elkduds]

http://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/EHU.aspx

This is the Colorado Parks/Wildlife Elk Hunting University. Read/watch all the chapters, it will advance you far along the learning curve toward putting boots on the ground in pursuit of elk. The price is right FREE

[boliep]

Very good link and helpful too.