Elk hunting tips

Use Google maps or similar websites to locate several water sources & wallows. Then hunt the areas based on wind direction

Examine: using Primos active wind app

Get in shape now. Your success is largely predicated on how much ground you can cover.

I've been elk hunting Colorado and Wyoming since 2013. Personally I've been unsuccessful but a few in my party have gotten an elk. I've never bow hunted elk so I can't say much to that but I can tell you that being a good hiker will go a long way. I've hunted Freeman Reservoir several times out of shape. One year, (2016), I had gotten in really good shape and it was a world of difference being able to move around as I pleased without being worn out.

Outside of that, be prepared for an early snow in case it happens and we take trash bags with us to pack the meat out in if we kill something.

I'm sure you're already aware of dealing with bears and general camping guidelines if you've already spent some time out there.

Good Luck!

You recommend bear mace or a pistol?

It is hard to get in shape here in Louisiana for an elk hunt at 8-12,000 feet. It’s the altitude that makes it so much more difficult.

Buy the best hiking socks and boots that you can afford, if not you’ll spend most of your time near camp.

Cardio, cardio, cardio then more cardio.

Archery elk is a lot of glassing and moving, then circling around trying to get the wind right. Good boots/socks and be ready to cover miles and miles.

You can fool their eyes but you'll never fool their noses.

Download OnX, well worth it.

And more cardio

Be realistic about the backpacking. In the event of a kill, you’ll be packing all your gear back to the truck during a warm time of the year.
Learn about thermals.
Practice out to sixty yards.
Get in great shape.
Sit waterholes.

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Keep plenty of water on you and snacks, fire starter and something that will catch fire quickly (cotton balls with vaseline) just in case you need to start a fire.

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This too. On my second day on one of our trips, about 3 years ago, i had made it up to the top of a ridge that took me all morning to get up to, as i wanted to get up there to hunt the other side once the thermals starting moving up. went up and down making calls but stayed on that ridge. took a break and had lunch overlooking the valley, which was beautiful and when i got back up and started trekking again i started getting cramps in both of my thighs. I have never experienced cramps in my thighs in my life, but i literally could not walk. It was only about 1pm and i was a good 2 hours hike back to camp, but going down a mountain that steep ain't easy, and i physically couldn't do it. I tried walking after about an hour rest and still couldn't. I sat up there, with no cell signal, for a good 3 hours hoping the rest would help and i could walk out, and it eventually did and i got back to camp after taking it easy going down the mountain, which i did mostly on my arse.

Sitting on top of the mountain ridge, thinking i was going to have to sleep up there was a little scary. I didn't have my jacket with me as i took it off before i set out, didn't have a fire starter, and even if i did, it was all rocks where i was so getting firewood wasn't goign to be that easy if i couldn't walk. obviously there's wood around, but if i could'nt walk, then i couldn't get to it.



so long story short. always have plenty water on you (which i do), always have a headlamp (which i do) and always have a small medical kit, fire starter, and one of those aluminum foil looking emergency blankets just in case. And also, always go over with your buddies where you plan on going that day. My 2 friends i was with knew what my plan was that day, so if i didn't come back that night, i would bet money they would have come looking for me and found me.

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i would bet money they would have come looking for me and found me.

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Hugged you when they found you and cussed you for making them climb up there to get you... hahaha