Elk Hunting Advice: Your Do's and Don'ts
12-08-2002 | 08:01 PM
#11
Typical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 572
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From: Rocky (by God!) Mountings
RE: Elk Hunting Advice: Your Do's and Don'ts
Thet water purifier tip is a fine one. Those things are light, an' you can git dehydrated so easy, it doesn't make sense not to have one in yer pack or saddle bag. Used to be you could drink outta most the streams an' springs in my unit. Now all the yuppie backpackers an' too many outfitters an' horse campers make thet impossible. Water is the single most important thing to support life (assumin' you already got clothes on). Also, keepin' hydrated will make you hunt and feel better. I hate them powerbars but allays have a big snickers and some jerky with me.
BJ
BJ
12-09-2002 | 05:49 PM
#13
Typical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 852
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From: golden co
RE: Elk Hunting Advice: Your Do's and Don'ts
DON'Ts
Bring GQ and O magazines to camp.
Stiff ArticBowMan on the tip after the dance.
Going heavy with the beans on the menu.
Share camp with prolific snorers.
DO's
Hunt into the wind.
Ditto- wear quite clothes, I like polartec myself.
Ditto- those filter bottles are excellent and save weight.
Ditto- carry survival gear, compass, & a map. Chains in your vehicle.
Ditto- get in shape.
Treat your feet kindly- wear broken-in light boots, good socks (not cotten), trimmed toenails, and first aid if that fails.
Hunt into the wind.
there is no subsitute for quality
Edited by - Losthwy on 12/09/2002 23:41:16
Bring GQ and O magazines to camp.
Stiff ArticBowMan on the tip after the dance.
Going heavy with the beans on the menu.
Share camp with prolific snorers.
DO's
Hunt into the wind.
Ditto- wear quite clothes, I like polartec myself.
Ditto- those filter bottles are excellent and save weight.
Ditto- carry survival gear, compass, & a map. Chains in your vehicle.
Ditto- get in shape.
Treat your feet kindly- wear broken-in light boots, good socks (not cotten), trimmed toenails, and first aid if that fails.
Hunt into the wind.
there is no subsitute for quality
Edited by - Losthwy on 12/09/2002 23:41:16
12-10-2002 | 05:51 PM
#14
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 527
Likes: 0
From: Scottsdale Arizona USA
RE: Elk Hunting Advice: Your Do's and Don'ts
DO-All the do lists on this thread. DON'T-give up the spot and move too quick after first light as they will surely walk within ten yards the minute you get impatient and move. Patient hunters kill more elk.
12-13-2002 | 05:15 PM
#17
Typical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 572
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From: Rocky (by God!) Mountings
RE: Elk Hunting Advice: Your Do's and Don'ts
I'd say you gotta have wool with you, at least. We've had some hot weather in the early season thet makes wool uncomfortable past 9:00. I wouldn't be 'thout some woolies jus' in case, though.
BJ
BJ
12-17-2002 | 10:47 PM
#19
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,964
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From: Rocky Mountains, Colorado
RE: Elk Hunting Advice: Your Do's and Don'ts
Robert, thanks for the "haybag" explanation; fits right in when applied to the context used earlier.
A few "watch out for's" regarding backpack management:
1. It may seem obvious, but poor decisions are made in the heat of the moment - make sure you absolutely, positively, without fail know the spot you are dropping that pack before you leave it and hunt/sprint on ahead. A good rule is if it is not a "landmark" you can find with your eyes shut, then don't drop that pack! An exception would be marking it with a GPS. If you plan to drop it anyway, then ask yourself if you can get back to camp without it, before you walk/run toward that elk opportunity.
2. BEFORE the hunt, be careful to correctly seperate the items that should always be on your person no matter what (license, ammo, knife, water, etc.) from what you keep in your backpack (clothes, food, etc.) That way, if you do drop that pack, you don't end up a mile a way (downhill) with an elk down and missing something critical (like a knife or a tag).
Solving this seperation problem is where I like the heavy duty, cloth hunter orange vests with multiple pockets and a (very) light back pouch. The advantage is you will consistently have all the items you need "at the ready" and always in the same place regardless of how you are dressed from day to day or regardless how many layers you add or subtract through a given day. This garmet is always worn and always on top. This gives you have three pockets for all the stuff you don't want in your pants pockets (calls, compass, GPS, extra rounds, 1 knife, etc) and a place to throw your water if you drop your pack and bolt.
3. Watch out for camel backs! It's great to be able to easily get a drink as often as you want, but this advantage is partially offset by the ease with which your water can get away from you even with one of the "sip its" on the end of the hose. We took a pack horse in with us the opening day of elk season and put four of our packs in the pannier and let the horse carry them since it was a 2 1/2 hour walk in the dark to get to our stands. I used a lashing rope to wrap up the packing job; however, it compressed the pannier and the packs inside in the process. Two of the four camel backs emptied out and two of the backpacks froze to the bottom of the pannier! Nice mess, will definitely have one of those water filter bottles next year and/or carry my own water!
4. Especially if you hunt in early season, the extreme mountain terrain can cause skies can open up and dump an amazing amount of rain and hail is a very short time. A fierce rain storm can be nearly as threatening as a blizzard and much more common. Carry an industrial strength 55 gallon barrel liner/trash bag in your pack or even on your person. It don't weigh much and can be an oasis of shelter. Fall thunderstorms usually don't last long but can quickly soak you to the bone. Even if you have a poncho or a rain suit, just holing up in the bag for 15-20 minutes can put you ahead of the game since many folks won't have the rain pants or a hood or a wide brim hat (BJ).
5. Aerobic conditioning (walking/jogging etc.) is fine but as the season approaches start working out with both your pack on (at hunting weight) and your hunting boots on. This allows time to toughen up both your feet AND your joints (especially knees) which have to endure non-typical abuse during elk season. This way you can top that ridge and won't be out of breath or have blisters or have knee pain.
EKM
Good judgment comes from bad experience! Half of elk hunting is knowing what NOT to do!
Edited by - ELKampMaster on 12/17/2002 23:56:14
Edited by - ELKampMaster on 12/17/2002 23:57:05
Edited by - ELKampMaster on 12/18/2002 08:08:13
A few "watch out for's" regarding backpack management:
1. It may seem obvious, but poor decisions are made in the heat of the moment - make sure you absolutely, positively, without fail know the spot you are dropping that pack before you leave it and hunt/sprint on ahead. A good rule is if it is not a "landmark" you can find with your eyes shut, then don't drop that pack! An exception would be marking it with a GPS. If you plan to drop it anyway, then ask yourself if you can get back to camp without it, before you walk/run toward that elk opportunity.
2. BEFORE the hunt, be careful to correctly seperate the items that should always be on your person no matter what (license, ammo, knife, water, etc.) from what you keep in your backpack (clothes, food, etc.) That way, if you do drop that pack, you don't end up a mile a way (downhill) with an elk down and missing something critical (like a knife or a tag).
Solving this seperation problem is where I like the heavy duty, cloth hunter orange vests with multiple pockets and a (very) light back pouch. The advantage is you will consistently have all the items you need "at the ready" and always in the same place regardless of how you are dressed from day to day or regardless how many layers you add or subtract through a given day. This garmet is always worn and always on top. This gives you have three pockets for all the stuff you don't want in your pants pockets (calls, compass, GPS, extra rounds, 1 knife, etc) and a place to throw your water if you drop your pack and bolt.
3. Watch out for camel backs! It's great to be able to easily get a drink as often as you want, but this advantage is partially offset by the ease with which your water can get away from you even with one of the "sip its" on the end of the hose. We took a pack horse in with us the opening day of elk season and put four of our packs in the pannier and let the horse carry them since it was a 2 1/2 hour walk in the dark to get to our stands. I used a lashing rope to wrap up the packing job; however, it compressed the pannier and the packs inside in the process. Two of the four camel backs emptied out and two of the backpacks froze to the bottom of the pannier! Nice mess, will definitely have one of those water filter bottles next year and/or carry my own water!
4. Especially if you hunt in early season, the extreme mountain terrain can cause skies can open up and dump an amazing amount of rain and hail is a very short time. A fierce rain storm can be nearly as threatening as a blizzard and much more common. Carry an industrial strength 55 gallon barrel liner/trash bag in your pack or even on your person. It don't weigh much and can be an oasis of shelter. Fall thunderstorms usually don't last long but can quickly soak you to the bone. Even if you have a poncho or a rain suit, just holing up in the bag for 15-20 minutes can put you ahead of the game since many folks won't have the rain pants or a hood or a wide brim hat (BJ).
5. Aerobic conditioning (walking/jogging etc.) is fine but as the season approaches start working out with both your pack on (at hunting weight) and your hunting boots on. This allows time to toughen up both your feet AND your joints (especially knees) which have to endure non-typical abuse during elk season. This way you can top that ridge and won't be out of breath or have blisters or have knee pain.
EKM
Good judgment comes from bad experience! Half of elk hunting is knowing what NOT to do!
Edited by - ELKampMaster on 12/17/2002 23:56:14
Edited by - ELKampMaster on 12/17/2002 23:57:05
Edited by - ELKampMaster on 12/18/2002 08:08:13
12-19-2002 | 09:55 PM
#20
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Elk Hunting Advice: Your Do's and Don'ts
Looks like a fair number of people visit, but not too many leave anything behind to help others. For those that have, thanks! If I had found this website before I went hunting this fall things would have went a bit better! I'm a greenhorn, 2002 was my first year, spent nine days in the high country, had a reasonably good time, learned a lot but didn't even fire a shot -- figured elk country was no place for target practice even though I was itching to shoot at something! Even though I can't pass on any first hand secrets of how to get an elk, I did learn a few things on how to avoid getting skunked:
(a) Don't hunt with folks who aren't as serious as you are in terms of doing the work and enduring the discomfort, (b) Don't run a cold camp, you need some heat to keep you going day after day, (c) Do figure out, specifically, how you are going to get from your camp over to where you think the elk will be in the dark and then get back in the dark all without getting lost, (d) Do get up earlier than what you think you will need to, it seems like it takes longer to get up and get out of camp than what it should and sunrise don't wait.
Eager to learn, any help - especially the specifics - is appreciated, Cold Hunter
(a) Don't hunt with folks who aren't as serious as you are in terms of doing the work and enduring the discomfort, (b) Don't run a cold camp, you need some heat to keep you going day after day, (c) Do figure out, specifically, how you are going to get from your camp over to where you think the elk will be in the dark and then get back in the dark all without getting lost, (d) Do get up earlier than what you think you will need to, it seems like it takes longer to get up and get out of camp than what it should and sunrise don't wait.
Eager to learn, any help - especially the specifics - is appreciated, Cold Hunter