WOW!

Thank you all for your helpful tips and your insight.

In response to some of your questions Elkamp...

1) As for sleeping and keeping warm...we' re just planning tents, camp fires and sleeping bags...my bag is rated to -15 degrees. We' re really planning to rough it out there. Very minimal in terms of supplies (other than the obvious survival gear, food, drink, clothing and the like). We would like to remain as mobile as possible, in case we have to move camp to another location mid-hunt.

2) We have a GPS unit, compasses, we' ll probably use flourescent nylon to tie to trees for path markers, etc.

3) We have actually planned 9 total days for the trip. The actual hunt itself is 5 days, we' ve planned 2 days for travel and that leaves us approx. 2 days for scouting on the front end before the hunt. In addition, we' d like two days to prepare for the change in altitude before we begin any strenuous activity in hopes of heading off any altitude sickness.

Rather_Be...

We feel pretty sure that we' ll encounter some drastic changes in weather while we' re out there...so layering clothes has been something we' ve discussed extensively. In addition to waterproof clothes. I have some gortex duck hunting gear that I' ll bring along...very good stuff. I' ll be bringing two pairs of boots, one set of Rocky gortex 600 grain hiker/hunting boots and another pair of Rocky pac boots that are about 1000 grain. In addition, several pairs of socks (cotton, wool, polypro and some sock liners) for any occasion.

Thank you for the tip regarding calling: I' ve been practicing with the Primos Terminator and RMEF Buglin Fever mouth calls for about 3 months now. I guess it never hurts to know them...even if we won' t need them that much. Someone I talked to over here basically said to leave your bugling at home and ONLY cow and calf call. said that bugling is a waste of time.

Thanks for the tip on the water sources...other tips I' ve been told...look for aspen stands and if found assume elk to be in the dark timber surrounding it, they like the openness of the aspen and tend to bed in the dark timber around it.

Another is too look for saddles along ridges, check for recent burn areas, cover areas tend to be upslope while feeding areas tend to be downslope, check N and NE facing slopes, try to find the hidden benches and holes, find the lush green meadows near dark timber or hidden within the dark timber.

Robert Scott-

We' ll definitely have plenty of game bags with us...now...we just hope we have to USE THEM! :-)

Thanks again fellas!

Big TK