First Elk Trip....
 

Well I booked a trip out west through Cabela's to go on any Archery Elk Hunt in Idaho.... I am looking for any tips, tricks, what to bring, advise, or anything else that will help me be successful...

I've been working out, running with my hiking boots and 20 pound pack about 2 miles, and shooting my bow out to 70 yards... So physically I should be ok, and with the bow (if I can keep the shakes away) I should be ok...

Other then that, anything from the vets would be great...

Also any ideas on the cost to get Antlers and Meat home...?? Just curious, I want to bring as much as possible back if I am successful...

RE: First Elk Trip....
 

OK, sounds like you're preparation is right on. If possible, practice shooting your bow at steep angles. Thatdefinitely may be an issue, especially in ID. Which unit are you hunting?

The cheapest bet to get meat home is probably have it frozen, wrapped in newspaper and packedin a cooler. Cehck it as extra baggage.

Buy some wicking long underwear. Depending on what elevation you're at, it'll probably be in the 20s in the morningsand could get to the high 80s during the day......

Other than that....good luck and aim for a spot on the animal, not just the animal.

RE: First Elk Trip....
 

FYI, from my experience..... when you think your in good enough shape, your not. Your about halfway there. Double your physical activites. You can't account for the altitude. To get ready for 10 miles at altitude you need to do 20 or more miles at sea level +/-. Trust me you can never be in too good of shape!

Shipping will be expensive. I shipped a set of 6X antlers home a few years ago and it cost me $150 then, no telling what it is now but I'm sure its higher.

As far as the meat if you can check some as baggage on your flight that would be great. I figure that you should get approx 300 lbs of meat from an elk.You will want to have a local butcher shop package it for shipping. they will box it in "meat" boxes of about 60#. Shipping it home on dry ice you can get by with 2nd day delivery, but the cost will still be significant. approximately $6 per pound. Regular ups ground is about $1 per pound. I once shipped some meat home that was completely frozen and on dry ice with UPS ground and it showed up in 2 days. Meat was completing frozen and the driver bitched that I should have marked them as frozen. go figure.

RE: First Elk Trip....
 

Up your Mileage on the walks , 2 miles is nowhere near enough . Cycling some distance is also good , work them leg muscles and lungs . I'm going on my first Elk hunt too and still feel i'm not doing enough .
Elevation shooting is a good idea too , something i had not concidered .

Good luck buddy

RE: First Elk Trip....
 

I am going to Colorado for the first time this year, and I keep hearing that I need to exercise more. Plus everyone tells me that water intake will increase due to a higher elevation, and more physical exertion.
Good luck, hope you have fun.

RE: First Elk Trip....
 

If your doing a fully guided hunt, and everythings basically done for you besides your hunting gear. Then don't over stuff your pack. I did this, and found 70% what I had didn't even use. Be sure to carry alot of water or good sized hydration system. I kept 4 bottles water in my pack daily. The one thing I did use. Also for altitude adjustment expect headaches almost daily. If your from lower elevations you will most likely experience some sort of alititude sickness. Carry Alieve & rolaids. They helped alot, and what my outfitter recommended when I went.

RE: First Elk Trip....
 

2 miles at at time? how often? once a week?

I'd add some variety to my workouts, but having the boots broke in and extra pack weight is good too.

maybe throw in a really long hike.....maybe some jogging intervals....for when you may have to move!!! right now!!! uphill!!!

RE: First Elk Trip....
 

Hey hvyhitter19, I am in decent shape as far as weight wise and can walk around this part of the country here in NY and the hills of PA. pretty good come hunting season, but I want to tell you when I was in Co. last fall I thought I was going to die most of the time, even when I wasn't in the mountains out there. Felt like I was out of breath all the time. My friend who went out with me runs 5 miles at least 3 to5 times a week was just as bad as I was in the mountains. Walk up the hill a little ways, and we were sucking wind. I thought he would have it much easier than I but he didn't. Hope you will have it better than we did. I don't know the elevations you will be hunting in, but we were around 9600 to 10600 ft. Good luck

RE: First Elk Trip....
 

I would contact my guide and follow his or her instructions tothe T!Good Luck!

RE: First Elk Trip....
 

If you are shipping you meat home as excess baggage then keep in mind the 50# limit on bags/boxes. If you exceed that limit you might be sent over to air freight to ship the meat.If you don't allow enough time to make a last min run over there because you just found out they won't take it as excess baggage then things can get a bit tight.

I know because that is what happened to me when I took meat as excess baggage and exceeded their limit. Fortunately I waschecking in at the time when air freight was open and the supervisor took pity on me after the check in agent blew me off. Still cost me $150 to ship 150# of boned out meat home in two boxes.

Good luck...

RE: First Elk Trip....
 

I shipped 220lbs of meat as baggage, cost me $320, this did NOT include cape and rack. It included my bow, and everything I went out there with (1 checked bag, plus carryon). I ups shipped boots, clothes etc, plus the rack seperate. I had 4 boxes of meat at 50 lbs, plus some shoved in my carry on.

As for getting in shape, I've hunted idaho 3 times, for some strange reason they didn't put any flat/level land in Idaho, you will either be walking up hill or downhill, seems you're never on flat land! I hunted area 8A and 10, altitude was not a problem as we were around 3000-4000 feet.

Depending on where you go altitude will take a few days to adjust, plan on it if its an issue.

Who are you hunting with?

RE: First Elk Trip....
 

Be sure to have good gear. Lay out your clothing and leave half of it at home ! Most guided hunts limit you to 50lbs of gear in addition to your bow, but check with your guide.

It takes a few trips to realize what you DON'T need.

My advise..have a great pair of boots, a good backpack that does not pull on your shoulders, and good quality clothing ! You have to be out there to be successful. If your feet hurt, or your shoulders ache from a poor cheap pack, your shoots will not be 100%. If your soaking wet and its cold, you day will be cut short guaranteed. You pay a good premium to be there. Do take along some duct tape as if you do get a blister, wrap your feet in duct tape, then put your sock over it. That will help eliminate your blisters from getting worse (that is an old mountaineering tip)

Good Luck

RE: First Elk Trip....
 

We were on a self guided hunt with some guys that have hunted this area for years. A lot of people say, ah you will be used toit in a couple days, well I didn't. The air felt so heavy to me out there, my chest was tight all the time. Even when weweren't in the mountains, it was at least 8000ft I think. I don't think you can train for that, you just have to acclamate to it after a while.

RE: First Elk Trip....
 

The main thing to prepare for and remember is to "Have fun". Don't let the prep work, and the logistics take away from the experience.
The more planning you can do ahead of time the more enjoyable your hunt will be, but don't take it to the extreme that it makes you not want to take another trip.
Early season in Idaho, be prepared for big temperature swings, depending on the weather, time of day, and elevation temps can vary from the 20's to the 90's. Break in your boots ahead of time, get exercise, and trim your waist line so your not packing that as extra weight also. Talk with your guide and follow his recommendations for gear, then add the little individual things you like or need to have with you. Your guide will also be able to advise you about meat and trophy shipping and packing.
Good luck, and have a great hunt, enjoy the scenery, and don't put too much pressure on yourself to where you can't stop to smell the flowers. The taking of an elk will depend more on your guide, luck, and you hitting your mark, than anything else.

RE: First Elk Trip....
 

[ul][*]Get yourself in the best shape of your life, especially you legs.[*]Start drinking extra water as soon as you start getting into the mountains (even while driving). If you start getting headaches, you probably under hydrating.[*]Have enough and the right equipment with you that'll keep you safe and alive and able to get out of backcountry, should you have to make it out on your own. (e.g. firestarter, emergency thermal blanket, high energy snacks, good sharp hunting knife, good length of strong rope, collapsible saw, water and/or way to make drinkable water, compass and GPS)[*]You're also likely going to be in Grizzlie and Mtn. Lion country in Idaho. Have repellent and/or sidearm, if legal to stop such a chance encounter).[*]Once your there and hunting put the thoughts of "how am I going to get the meat, antlers, etc. out" out of your mind completely. Put all into safely spotting, stalking and putting your shot on the Elk and you getting out safely.[*]Elk, especially in any numbers, can be the toughest game animals to get up on, especially bow hunting. Many eyes, ears and especially noses can bust you in a moment when the wind swirls or changes direction in the mtns. If your not down wind on them, you don't have a chance.[*]Have a great hunt and come back home safe. Those are the most important things to remember![/ul]
If you do all that, I'm sure you'll have a successful, fun time and will be back.

RE: First Elk Trip....
 

I'm about to go on my first true elk hunt where I actually expect to have a chance at shooting an elk next month as well. I hunted elk with my dad in Montana growing up a few times but thinking back on it in retrospect we basically carried our rifles through the mountains, we didn't really have much of a chance at shooting an elk the way we were hunting.

I consider myself to be in decent shape and normally can walk 10 to 15 miles in a day with some decent ups and downs without much problem. 3 weeks ago I was in Montana on vacation and did a measly 10 mile round trip hike but started at 5,600' and ended at 9,100' just 5 miles away. Quite the climb with a 30lb pack and I wasn't carrying a rifle. I thought I was going to have a heart attack those last 2,100'!!

I've been working out 5 times a week since then getting ready for my upcoming elk hunt in Wyoming. Thankfully the area we are planning on hunting in tops out at 7,400' so that will help some also. I'm up to running 4 miles each day and plan on getting to 6 miles before I leave. We also have an elliptical machine and I have it set to the hill climb excercise and I think that is the closest thing to actually hiking uphill that you can get. Of course the elevation won't be the same but it seems to work out the thigh musclesabout the same as actually climbing a hill.

The tip on shipping home your hunting boots, clothes and other non-essential items via UPS and hauling as much meat in your baggage as you can is a good one also. I'll be driving so I'm glad I don't have to worry about that. That problem is a good one to have though as that means your hunt was successful. I would advise though that you do somewhat keep the haul out in the back of your mind as you are hunting. If that awesome 6x6 or even 5x5 steps out you pull the trigger on it regardless, but it becomes a lot easier to pass on a raghorn when you think about the fact that you will have to pack it out 4 or 5 miles on your back!

That's my 2 cents, probably not worth that much though!

Nathan