Going on my first elk hunt....any tips/advice/critiques?
 

Hi everyone!

I would have posted this question earlier, but I just found this forum late last night while doing some late night research.

Looks like there is quite a bit of information here, and I really wish I found this forum earlier, because my first Elk hunt is tommorow morning. :D Truth be told, its also my first hunt for anything.

The hunter that is taking me has already gotten deer this year, and this is the only available time he has, so Elk it is. He already has a couple spots that he knows about that are good, and not very crowded, so we will be hitting those, and heading out before first light.

I have been prepping as much as possible since I found out last weekend that we are going. As it is, I already spend a lot of time in the woods doing photography, and have even tracked Elk a little to photograph them a few years ago, but never with a firearm.

I have all my camo, and any underclothes that I might need depending on weather, washed in a scent killer type wash w/o UV brighteners and stashed in a plastic tub, which I also washed out with scent killer type stuff. All of my other gear has been also sprayed down with scent killers, and stored in the same tub. I also put a couple of drops of pine scent in the tub and on the boots.

I have sighted in the rifle I will be using w/ 180gr .30/06 SP.

Got my license and my tag, both stashed in my coveralls.

I picked up a cow call and have been practicing my calls.

I have been hitting the nordic track pretty much everynight (missed thursday) so I won't be sucking wind after a hike. I am in pretty decent shape as it is.

I have been reading everything possible about Elk, behaviour, shot placement, where they hide when pressured, etc.

So, any advice, tips or critiques about how I have planned, so that my first hunt can be a more succesfull hunt?

I know the odds of getting a Bull on my first hunt are very stacked against me, and I am fine if I come home with nothing more than knowledge in my brain, and mud on my clothes. But it would also be nice to get some meat for the freezer.

Thanks in advance.

FF.

RE: Going on my first elk hunt....any tips/advice/critiques?
 

Concentrate on learning as much as you can and enjoy the experience.If you kill an elk it will be a bonus.

RE: Going on my first elk hunt....any tips/advice/critiques?
 

sounds like your pretty set be sure to have fun lol :D

RE: Going on my first elk hunt....any tips/advice/critiques?
 

If a lot of deer hunting is wat you guys do mostly youll prob want to beef up your bullets a little. from wat i hear a lot of people who hunt just deer with their rifles shoot 140gr or lower bullets. elk are a lot tougher than deer and i would be caught dead hunting with any less then 180 gr. bullets. 160 will work ok but they are a lot less forgiving on slightly misplaced shots. Good luck

RE: Going on my first elk hunt....any tips/advice/critiques?
 

sorry was in a hurry and didnt read full post (I hate when i do that)

RE: Going on my first elk hunt....any tips/advice/critiques?
 

Really.So tell us just how many elk that you personally have killed.I have only killed 14elk myself and have witnessed first hand another 10 or so,but my limitedexperiences have shown that bullet construction is far more important than bullet weight.A bullet like the 168gr tsxor the 165gr failsafe or barnes xwill out penetrate much heavier bulletsof different construction including most 180gr to 220gr bullets.I have killed several elkusingpremium 140gr 7mm bullets with no problems at all.

RE: Going on my first elk hunt....any tips/advice/critiques?
 

You will never forget it. I've been going for four years now and will return to Colorado to go until I physically cant hang. The cardio workout will help but you will still be sucking wind. Just be prepared for it. The best advice i can give you is to hunt this year and learn. The population of gun hunters is overwhelming. You will no doubt have parts of your hunt ruined by other hunters that walk up on you, scare Elk that you are watching and on and on. Like I said, hunt this year with a gun and learn. Next year buy a bow and avoid all the hassle of gun season. Remember, you gat a month to bow hunt, 4-5 days to gun hunt.
Scott