I've lived in nebraska my whole life and have hunted deer, turkey, small and upland game as just about everything else there is to hunt in eastern nebraska. I recently moved to Fort Collins Colorado where i want to pursue a rocky mountain elk. I know my deer and turkey gear will not be efficient for the tough and rugged terrain of Colorado. I worked at Bass Pro the past couple years and have racked up a huge amount of reward points. I have a scent-lok suit but was wondering what other clothing you would recommend, i know that wool is a good choice but what brand do you use. I should also mention that i am towards the end of my schooling (CSU, Fishery & WildlifeBiologygo Rams) and although i may not be able to hunt the '07 season the 08 is a definite. If any of you would be willing to join your hunt i would be eternally grateful and if you would like i will film the hunt for you (i have created several turkey and deer hunting films of mine and family members. Any advice is helpful.
First and foremost- get a good pair of boots. You'll want something that has nice stiff soles (i.e. Vibram) for walking on the rocks.
A nice daypack/fanny pack stocked with survival gear is another must-have item.
For clothing, dress in layers. I wear synthetic long underwear as my base layer. Contrary to what Cabelas and Bass Pro would have you think, expensive outerwear is not a must have. In the fall, I wear a pair of simple Carhart pants and some camo chamois shirts my uncle got too fat to wear a few years ago. In the winter when there's a lot of snow, it's a good idea not to wear cotton. I have a camo gore-tex shell, a wool undershirt, and some silent waterproof pants. Army surplus wool pants work good too. For my feet, I wear wool socks.
Another item not often mentioned is a scope cover. You'll be glad you have one if you go out in a snow or rain storm in the mountains.
And finally, good binocs if you don't already have them.
That's all I can think of for now. Good luck.
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well i live in colorado as well (GO BUFFS) and hunt up in the nw corner of colrado and down near the san juan is great also. u need like he said some good boots, long underwear, orange of course,....
Wool is always an excellent choice, I like Columbia brand the best. You will also want to have some good rain gear. I like Browning brand Goretex clothing. It is very quite, or at least quite for rain gear. If its not wet out I prefer to hunt in my Army surplus wool Field Trousers. You can pick them up at any surplus store for under $20. You can spend the extra $ at Bass Pro if you wish but I find that the WWII era surplus clothing is excellent. You can also pick up some polypropolene underwear (long Johns) at the surplus store.
Long johns, field trousers, Goretex pants to cut the wind or rain if needed, Surplus wool Field Shirt, a Goretex parka (to cut wind/rain), wool socks, and a good pair of boots would just about do it for ya. Especially in the early parts of the season.
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"Well, If'n I had me a horse pistol like that.... I wouldn't be afraid of no bogger man." Rooster Cogburn
Well wyotimberghost pretty much nailed it right on the head.
You want a base layer that will deal with sweat good such as under-armour codl gear, helps keep you warm and helps get ride of sweat. The most important thing is a pair of warm comfortable boats, good scope cover to keep snow, twigs and other things out of your scope, powerfull binocs cause you if your after a bull you'll have to pick him out of 60 other elk to want a strong pair of binoc's and have as little stuff in your backpack/fanny pack as possible cause it will make your hike a whole lot more enjoyable.
You might look around the class room and ask the same questions! There ought to be somebody in your line of study that can take you in, fully equipped, and bring you out with meat in the freezer.
Most items have been covered in previous posts, now for the real important stuff . . . Get a big gun! You been hunting game in Ne. you probably don't have enough fire power to properly and ethically hunt something as big as an Elk. My personal choice, .300 Win Mag. Packs a wollop, shoots very flat, and there's lot's of over-the-counter ammo available.
Also, be prepared to "fail". National average for legally taking an elk, once every five years! That's an 80% failure rating. Not that I judge a hunt by how many animals I shoot, but it does stick in your craw.
Purchase a good cow call and a bugle and practice, practice, practice. Do it in your car on the way to class or the grocery store. I like the Primos Hyper lip Single for the cow call, and the E.L.K. Inc. Power bugle. Very realistic and versitile calls.
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I want to leave this world like my Grandpa . . .
Happy and asleep.
Not kicking and screaming like everyone else in the car!
1St you need to look at how you are going to hunt. Are you a stand hunter or walker.[hunt the way you normaly do] Do not try to change the way you hunt like many many people will tell you you need to.
Walking
I like silk/wool long underwear.I have allso found it best to get shirts you can unbutton at the top to like heat out.
The woolrick shirts are hard to beat.I allso use a wool sweater camo. Do not get windshear close if you want to walk. I allso would not use sentlock.The lining will make you sweat tons.
For walling allso get unlined wool.[Like columbia GI wool works good allso]If you are doint lot walking in snow get some gaiters. I have allso did the same thing to my pants by adding a extra layer and a zipper.I add zippers to all my wool pants.
A good hat is allso needed.I do not like stcking hats. They make it very hard to hear.I like the stormy kromer, or a good fur bomber.The 2 are very good.
Gloves you will need at least 2 pears. 1 cheep ropper cotton gloves for skinning/guting. But your main pear should be mittens with a shooting finger hole,Or the fingerless gloves that have the fold over mittens.[do not forget the cheep pear skinning with no gloves sucks if it is very cold]
Boots Get ones that fit.If they move around on your feet at all you will pay with short hunting days.I like tall boots that are full leather and gore-tex lined.With the full leather I will allso add water proofing.Wool or silk socks.
Now if you are going to stand hunt for hours.
1stGo a heavy weight polartec long underwear.Than go a wool with lining or heavy wieght. sleeping indian woolis heavy. weatherbe wool is lined.There is allso more just this is what I use.
Now the coat needs to be LONG to go over your but.Just about all of the name brand coats are heavy. I have a filson.
Gloves and hat are the same.
Boots I use pac boots.I allso have ice treackers. They work very good at long sets.Thick wool socks.
Not many guys use a scarf. I do in very cold weather.Peace of wool como about 2x2 ' is very good to have with you. If you tear your nee in your pants you can tie it around your lrg to keep snow out.
Do not skimp on Gloves,Boots or your hat.I allso have taken the safty blanket[wife ask me to ]with me when going deep in. So far I only used it 1 time but man was it nice than.Normal fire starter items.
I do not beleave the 80% of elk hunters go with out.I have only hunted elk 10 years . This year I went with out.I had bone cancer on my leg bone and could not go as far as one shout to hunt.
There is alot of hunters that walk far and long and never see anything.You do not want to folow in there foot steps.This was the main deal for elk hunting.If you folow the crowd you will get there left overs.
Game4lunch
Not giving you a hard time. leave the elk calls at home. If there is no hunters with elk calls the elk will talk all day.The hunters make the elk quiet.
I see few elk called in. Most are killed by setting or intercepting them on there path.Not to mention the few [very few] killed by walking trails.
[hunt the way you normaly do] Do not try to change the way you hunt like many many people will tell you you need to.
Really? I shoot an elk nearly every year with calls.(Mostly archery). I'll keep hunting my way thank you.Calling is a delicate tool. My experience tells me to use them sparingly, smartly, and to immitate, not instigate the elk with them. There are many times I don't call at all. More than anything, I use them to locate, go to, andstalk to get a shot. But I have them with me and the confidence to use them smartly.
I acknowledge your implication that there is too much calling and the elk have become call shy. Just makes my task that much more of a challenge. I still get a big kick out of bringing in a hunter now and then too!
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I want to leave this world like my Grandpa . . .
Happy and asleep.
Not kicking and screaming like everyone else in the car!
AS you stated game :} Use your calls to find the elk. Do you call many to you and shoot them? I allso use calls to locate but in 10 years have only called 5 bulls to me.4 where killed by hunters I was calling for.
Sorry I did not under stand .The way I read it was to call the elk to you.That is very hard for a new guy .I see way more guys mess up calling than kill elk.
If you ever get to hunt a spot where no one hunts at all.You will not have to locate the elk. They will be very very loud.Bugle most of the day and come running if you do call.
Do you think it is better to know how to call or when? I think it is better to know when to call and sound like crap than to call very well and not know when to call.
Elk hunting gear
