- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Elk hunting tips
Posted on 5/7/23 at 4:29 pm
Posted on 5/7/23 at 4:29 pm
Myself and two buddies have drawn in Montana. We have done some hunting out west so we aren’t entirely new to it but we have not hunted elk.
It’s archery in early September. We are backpacking.
Any advice is appreciated.
It’s archery in early September. We are backpacking.
Any advice is appreciated.
Posted on 5/7/23 at 5:00 pm to Finchboyz
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
Examine: using Primos active wind app
Posted on 5/7/23 at 5:20 pm to Got Blaze
Elk with a bow is 100% the best hunt on the planet.....
Hunt all day
Patience
Elk come in cold some, bugling not always available
Find the herd with fresh sign, set up, and call but not too much
Decoys have woreked for me
Enjoy, it is a blast!
Hunt all day
Patience
Elk come in cold some, bugling not always available
Find the herd with fresh sign, set up, and call but not too much
Decoys have woreked for me
Enjoy, it is a blast!
Posted on 5/7/23 at 5:53 pm to Finchboyz
Get in shape now. Your success is largely predicated on how much ground you can cover.
Posted on 5/7/23 at 6:09 pm to Finchboyz
Hopefully going on an outfitted rifle hunt in 2024 for elk have hunted mule deer in Montana once before. Here’s what I have from my own observations and what others that have hunted them or live with them have told me.
1) you will never be in enough “shape”’for elk
2) you will never cut off or catch an elk that’s moving
3) shoot the first legal bull if you have never shot one
4) when you think your in shape refer to rule number 1
1) you will never be in enough “shape”’for elk
2) you will never cut off or catch an elk that’s moving
3) shoot the first legal bull if you have never shot one
4) when you think your in shape refer to rule number 1
Posted on 5/7/23 at 6:52 pm to Ol boy
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!
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!
Posted on 5/7/23 at 8:07 pm to BillWilliamson
I just got back from turkey hunting in Montana and elk sign everywhere! Lots of trails from beds to crop fields. I would try to find these areas and maybe intercept them looking for cows. Enjoy the hunt!
Posted on 5/7/23 at 9:26 pm to BillWilliamson
You recommend bear mace or a pistol?
Posted on 5/7/23 at 9:33 pm to Finchboyz
quote:
You recommend bear mace or a pistol?
Search “meat eater bear spray” on YouTube.
It will help you make up your mind on carrying bear spray, you may still carry a pistol but your mindset will be different in what’s more effective if needed.
Posted on 5/8/23 at 5:50 am to Ol boy
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.
Posted on 5/8/23 at 6:32 am to Finchboyz
Buy the best hiking socks and boots that you can afford, if not you’ll spend most of your time near camp.
Posted on 5/8/23 at 7:17 am to deltafarmer
quote:
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.
Yeah no doubt my last trip to Montana was over ten yrs ago and the even though I was in shape an running 2-5mil every other day the elevation ate my lunch.
I’m gonna try an elevation training mask and weighted vest this time I go and give myself 9mt to prep for it.
Posted on 5/8/23 at 8:56 am to Finchboyz
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
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
Posted on 5/8/23 at 10:32 am to Ol boy
obviously there's nothing you're going to do in LA to prepare for hiking mountain terrain at elevation.
But you can be in shape cardio wise, and you can spend $100 on a planet fitness annual pass and go do the Stairmaster for 30 minutes every day, which will wear you the frick out and is the best thing you can do to prepare for hiking.
To be honest, i don't find the elevation to be that much of an issue. Yes it is the first day or two, depending on how much you've acclimated before your hunt, but most days i feel it the first 30 minutes of the day, and after that i'm fine.
I think one of the best feelings is when you get back home after hiking that much at elevation for a week, your body is exhausted, but you get back to LA and i feel like a puppy that needs to run around. There's so much energy in me when i get home and it's like i can't get tired. The wife loves it.
One more thing. practice shooting your bow from weird positions. Shoot off one leg. shoot kneeling down. Shoot with one foot up on something. Rarely are you going to be standing on flat ground to shoot an elk with a bow.
Practice holding back for at least a minute, and strengthen your back muscles b/c ou never know when you're going to pull back and have to hold it while waiting for that elk to move into shooting position.
But you can be in shape cardio wise, and you can spend $100 on a planet fitness annual pass and go do the Stairmaster for 30 minutes every day, which will wear you the frick out and is the best thing you can do to prepare for hiking.
To be honest, i don't find the elevation to be that much of an issue. Yes it is the first day or two, depending on how much you've acclimated before your hunt, but most days i feel it the first 30 minutes of the day, and after that i'm fine.
I think one of the best feelings is when you get back home after hiking that much at elevation for a week, your body is exhausted, but you get back to LA and i feel like a puppy that needs to run around. There's so much energy in me when i get home and it's like i can't get tired. The wife loves it.
One more thing. practice shooting your bow from weird positions. Shoot off one leg. shoot kneeling down. Shoot with one foot up on something. Rarely are you going to be standing on flat ground to shoot an elk with a bow.
Practice holding back for at least a minute, and strengthen your back muscles b/c ou never know when you're going to pull back and have to hold it while waiting for that elk to move into shooting position.
Posted on 5/8/23 at 10:54 am to Finchboyz
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.
Learn about thermals.
Practice out to sixty yards.
Get in great shape.
Sit waterholes.
Posted on 5/8/23 at 4:17 pm to Ol boy
quote:
1) you will never be in enough “shape”’for elk
2) you will never cut off or catch an elk that’s moving
3) shoot the first legal bull if you have never shot one
4) when you think your in shape refer to rule number 1
What he said...
I've hunted the western slope of Colorado several times. If you haven't started getting into shape you are way behind. Drink plenty of water before going up to help with altitude sickness. I got that on my last trip and was miserable plus I missed the first two days of the season.
Take a camera and take pictures, enjoy the scenery, and just have a great time whether you see elk or not.
I always carry a GPS with me, I turn it on and turn on the tracking so I can always find my way back in case I get turned around, plus I can upload that to Google earth and see where all I walked. 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. Have a good flash light and head lamp. A good pair of sunglasses that you don't mind if they get scratched up, it's dry and dirty.
Get a good pair of hiking boots and break them in before you go.
Posted on 5/8/23 at 4:37 pm to Farmtiger
quote:
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.
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.
Posted on 5/8/23 at 4:52 pm to Finchboyz
One thing I’ve learned about bow hunting elk compared to whitetails is back cover is more important than front cover where it’s somewhat vice versa for for whitetails. If you are lucky enough to experience a bill bugling back to your calls and coming into range on a string it’s an experience like none other. There’s no other better adrenaline rush in all of hunting. If you do have the opportunity get set up in front of the cover and mentally practice all the different scenarios that can play out and mentally practice what you would do. It’s amazing the quick seconds that it takes to happen but it’s something you’ll never forget for as long as you live.
Shot hundreds of whitetail with my bow and some elk with my gun. The 2 experiences I’ve had with elk while bow hunting while clean missing on one and having my arrow deflect off a branch on a 12yd shot we’re 2 experiences I’ll never forget.
Shot hundreds of whitetail with my bow and some elk with my gun. The 2 experiences I’ve had with elk while bow hunting while clean missing on one and having my arrow deflect off a branch on a 12yd shot we’re 2 experiences I’ll never forget.
Posted on 5/8/23 at 5:40 pm to TeddyPadillac
quote:
i would bet money they would have come looking for me and found me.
Hugged you when they found you and cussed you for making them climb up there to get you... hahaha
Posted on 5/8/23 at 7:32 pm to Finchboyz
I went for the first time in Montana 2 years ago. Me and two other buddies who have never hunted anything in their lives.
My buddy had a “giant bull elk” in the binos. I put my scope on it and see a massive bull moose. That’s how the hunt went.
We had fun but we froze our asses off in November. We were unsuccessful, but mainly because we weren’t prepared.
A lot of lessons learned
My buddy had a “giant bull elk” in the binos. I put my scope on it and see a massive bull moose. That’s how the hunt went.
We had fun but we froze our asses off in November. We were unsuccessful, but mainly because we weren’t prepared.
A lot of lessons learned
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News