Who all is going elk hunting this fall?

I won't make it this year, but have spent a lot of time there and just love it.

My advice to you would be:

Get in shape - there is often a hell of a lot of walking on uneven terrain and at higher altitudes, so the air is thin.

Bring a good variety of clothing - there is sometimes a 40 degree swing in temp from night to day, so within a week's time you can deal with freezing and upper 90 degree weather. Even in the early seasons, you can catch a snowstorm.

Plan to drink the hell out of water. You have to force liquids even when you aren't thirsty just to stay ahead of dehydration and altitude sickness. Neither are serious, but can may you feel shitty enough to ruin your day.

ETA: just so you know, I am jealous as heck!

That’s awesome man. Yeah I’ve been working out pretty hard for a while now and have recently started doing some hiking with my pack to get used to it. The weather thing makes me a little nervous bc I like to plan. I’m also a little worried about the altitude. The more I read about it the more I’m convinced I’m just going to shoot the first legal bull or cow I can bc succes is far from guaranteed.

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The more I read about it the more I’m convinced I’m just going to shoot the first legal bull or cow I can bc succes is far from guaranteed

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do this baw. killing a legal elk with a bow is something to be proud of. don't get caught up on what the headgear looks like, you'd be going home with a pile of meat and an awesome experience.

Headed to montana for rifle shoot

Want to do bow hunt next year

Me and a buddy, both first timers from Louisiana.

Montana - Unit 310 and Unit 314 (Big Sky/Paradise Valley)

9/6 - 9/12 - Archery
-Fall Equinox is 9/22, bugling should be very high the week we're there, and the herd bulls should be running/fighting instead of herded up and impossible to pull off cows (fingers crossed/praying for this)

100% DIY - no guide, no packers, tent camp/backpacking in and out

Elk101 student. We'll be bugling and running and gunning looking for a bull that wants to play our game. Eliminate areas using the bugle. They don't want to play the game? Move areas. Our base camp is at 9,500' and we can access 4 different high elevation basins within a 1 mile hike from our tent. We'll be running high line bugling routes in the morning catching the updraft thermals, circling down the drainage around midday to hunt the down draft afternoon thermals back to camp. Once we get an aggressive bull responding my buddy is going slingshot him in running the calling from 25-75 yds behind me in the shooter position (he doesn't have a tag so I'm all-time shooter).

I have weight-lifted almost daily for a decade. I added cycling (40-50 miles/week) and running (8-12 miles/week) right after the 4th of July to the weights.

We did a scouting trip in July....piece of advice PACK A THERMACELL. Born and raised in south Louisiana, I've never seen so many mosquitoes as I did in Montana that weekend. It was brutal. I hope Sept will be better, but I'm not taking any chances.

All my gear is in and sorted. My food is en route. flights booked, processor in the valley for packing for airline contacted and on notice.

I plan to do an in depth thread with pics after we get back. At the end there will be a 300" ish 5x5 or 6x6 dead on the ground from my arrow.

And if not, so be it. I'm in this to become a tried and true every season elk hunter, not to kill one elk and be done for the rest of my life.

I may go back end of Oct with a rifle if I don't tag out in Sept. Montana tag is valid for any season, which is pretty damn nice.

ETA: to my fellow OBer Elk hunters this fall. Here's to hoping every one of you/us sees lots of this in the next few months

Our story/plans are oddly similar


Me and a buddy, both first timers from Louisiana.

Colorado - Gunnison area

9/15-22 - Archery

100% DIY - no guide, no packers, tent camp/backpacking in and out


Me and a buddy split an either sex tag. I'm the shooter, he's the caller. Elk101.

Driving up on Friday after work set up camp on Saturday night and get going

Started training specifically for this in February. Lost close to 30lbs and feel fantastic.


I am excited, nervous, and anxious all at the same time

I like forward to y’all’s trip reviews. Definitely a bucket list adventure for me.

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I like forward to y’all’s trip reviews. Definitely a bucket list adventure for me.

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I bought a little journal to bring with me. Just for the sole purpose of writing down little notes when I get a chance. Small things that I might not remember later on

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I'll probably do it next year or the year after

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I've said this for a while. You'll keep saying it if you don't just dive in and do it

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I am excited, nervous, and anxious all at the same time

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yep, very much so