Who here has killed an elk?

[kbetts]

One of the first spots we camped had a reservoir. It was hard to concentrate on elk hunting with trout sipping dry flies. I love fly fishing and keep telling myself I need to go on a fishing/scouting trip in the spring.

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[aes7.5x55]

Sitting here in my boring office, I'm really enjoying your pictures and daydreaming about the mountains. Thanks!

 

[kbetts]

First pic is the moon over the reservoir where we fished.

Second pic is one of my favorites. This "kid", who looked not a day over 17, shows up at the trailhead in an old F250 with a trailer and two horses. My buddy Drew is shooting the crap with him and he tells us he had a couple days off so he thought he'd take the horses in for the weekend. Had been there the previous week but went home and shot a bear, so he thought he'd come back. Not many young men on the east coast are going to do that. I think he had three arrows....blue jeans and flannel.

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[reggoh75]

My 2nd elk trip was a gun hunt but here are more pics to fire you guys up

Good shot

We managed to catch a few fish too

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[Oakridge]

Do elk tend to hit water holes at a certain time? Like mornings, midday, afternoon? I think I’ll be packing in my saddle to sit some waterholes

 

[kbetts]

They do, but the areas are so large that it’s not always the best tactic. You have to find them first and if you’ve never been out west......being tied to a tree is not the first thing you want to do.

I could see it if you were covered up in them and needed to get the wind or stay away from eyes but otherwise, I want to be able to move on them. They aren’t white tails.

 

[Oakridge]

That makes sense. I guess I can just keep it in my back pocket.

 

[Tbird]

I’ve been Elk hunting 5 times and killed 3 bulls. There is no substitute for cardio. My 1st trip I was 235 right out of college and jacked-7000 ft in NM I thought I was gonna die. Last trip last year to wyoming at 9500 I was 190 super lean and felt good. I’m a flat lander from ms so will take more than 24 to get your wind. For me I don’t call much esp on public cause everyone else is and have seen them shut down at times. While I’ll bugle to locate, as long as he is talking I sneak in. Elk are noisy as they move so if you on a stalk don’t let your noise bother you just keep going. Elk cover a lot of ground at a reg walking pace so try to stay or get in front of them. Behind them is last place you want to be. I also like to look for the bull that’s lonely that bugles a lot, while he is not the herd bull, he is a lot easier to kill esp for your 1st hunt. If I lived closer I would probably give up deer hunting for elk. Amazing experience, beautiful country and the trip itself is an adventure!

 

[jbogg]

This was 1992 somewhere near Meeker CO. A couple of buddies and I rented horses and did a DIY trip for a week. Packed in about 10 miles from the trail head and camped at 9000 feet. There were no cell phones or GPS back in those days so it felt like a big adventure to this Georgia boy. I was shooting a High Country bow set at 80 pounds. Maybe that explains why my shoulders don’t work so well today.

 

[Melankm]

Great recommendations listed by the group. I too am a flat lander from Lafayette La. I was transferred to Houston with my job in 1985 so I guess Houston is home now. I elk hunted from 1999 until 2006 and those years were the best hunting adventures of my life. I hunted the San Juan mountains in southern Colorado. I was an aggressive elk hunter as well. I would call (bugle only) until I located a bull then I would shut up. I then would go hard after him until I felt I was a 100 yards or so from where I figured he was. I would then start my bugling sequence again trying to sound like a younger bull. I quickly learned that being by myself was a disadvantage since they could pin point exactly where the bugle came from and come right in your lap giving only a frontal shot which I would not take. So once I thought I had a bull committed I would move 20 yards or so to the side of my original position. This seemed to work pretty good. My recommendation is to find bleachers at a ball field and do some serious climbing training. I worked at a high rise and my office was on the 17th floor so I would take the stairs instead of elevators for months getting ready. Your physical conditioning will be directly related to your enjoyment of the hunt and your potential success. Each year I had bulls within 40 yards but only had a few opportunities within my self limit of 20 yards with trad equipment. But as mentioned, each year just the hunt itself was worth it all.

 

[vabwhntr]

First trip to Colorado to chase em. It has been my experience that most critters don't stand a chance against a river rat Cajun southern country feller. But I feel an overwhelming sense that just getting in the same zip code as one is going to be the hard part. I've done my share of packing and hiking in the mountains, so I know what to expect there.

For those of you who have poked a hole in one, what's your advice for a greenhorn? No advice is too basic or insulting for me - I'm a sponge right now.

Lay it on me - and thanks in advance!

How did the trip go?

 

[Scoutman]

Headed to Colorado hopefully May 1st to scout, we have a cabin, so gonna work on it too. Applied for points, last week.

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