want to go eld hunting where?
 

I want to go elk hunting. I have never been. I would like to bow hunt. I am 43 and am in good phy. cond. I have always deer, duck, turkey hunted. Where is the best place to go? What outfitter? I cannot take 8 days and go I would need to be gone a max of 5 days.

RE: want to go eld hunting where?
 

There is no best place to go, the easiest would be Colorado due to OTC elk tags. Depending on where you live, I figure at least 2 days of travel leaving you 3 days to hunt. That is a VERY tall order for an elk hunt. Not trying to rain on your parade, but in my experience, 3 days is about enough time to find where you should be hunting on public land. Most outfitted hunts would be for 5 days of hunting. You might want to look into some kind of a private land outfitted hunt, where they know where the elk are and can get you into them in a hurry. Gonna cost some bucks though.

RE: want to go eld hunting where?
 

I agree also...but I really need to re-think your hunting time....5-6 days minimum for me...JMO

RE: want to go eld hunting where?
 

Idaho has great OTC opportunities for archery elk, but you must have an bow hunting certification to hunt with a bow in an archery only season if you are going DIY, as far as an outfitter goes go to http://www.fishandgame.idaho.gov/ and you will be able to find most of the info on costs of tags and licenses. I would personally not try and go after a big bull with only a window of 5 days. If you just want to get out on some elk and you make the trip out and get your tags I can point you in some directions of areas that hold elk pretty much year round. Shoot me a PM and we can chat!!!

RE: want to go eld hunting where?
 

What is a "bow hunting certification" exactly? I'm going to hunt there in Idaho maybe next year. I don't think Fla offers that kind of course, Hunter saftey yes but ..........?

RE: want to go eld hunting where?
 

Some states have bow certifications online, tests that you can take/pass and qualify. I think Utah and/or Arizona have one on the fish and game site. I've taken one or two online, mostly just for fun, they were free so just somethign extra to have, try that.

Also many times simply holding a previous hunting licenses/ archery tag in a another state qualifies you as bow certified.

RE: want to go eld hunting where?
 

Montana has one online also

RE: want to go eld hunting where?
 

ADV. Hunter - You have a PM.

RE: want to go eld hunting where?
 

If you go to the above Idaho F&G web site you go to the bottom of the page and click on the hunters education block. I am not sure about the archery tag from another state you can call IDF&G and find out. As of tomorrow I will be leaving Idaho for Kentucky for work.

RE: want to go eld hunting where?
 

David, to be fully honest with you 5 days max for a archery Elk hunt won't cut it. I've been to Colorado 2x's on archery hunts. Your travel time, getting prepared once there, climate adjusted, your looking at maybe if your lucky 3 days of hunting. That'd be pushing it. You'll go through it all, and regret only having that amount of time there. Both my hunts totaled from day of leaving my home to return 13 days. 5 days of that was driving from NY to Colorado. But of that you'd need 2 days flight time. My hunt was 6 days. 8 days at the outfitter. 1st day was adjusting, unpacking, preparing. Trust me you need a day before to get ready. Plus its a good climate adjusting time. If your looking at hunting Elk in the mountains out west. Your looking at elevations up to 11,000 ft. Just walking around gets you winded the 1st day. It'll take you 2-3 days just to adjust. I was 41 & 43yrs old for those hunts. I was running 3x's a wk, and biking 2 days wk to prepare. I felt like I was so out of shape my 1st few days. The thinner air is wicked. By my last couple days I was able to get around alot better.
So my best advice to you is if you really want to do this, and do it right you will need at least 10days. Otherwise I think your just cheating yourself from a incredible experience!!

RE: want to go eld hunting where?
 

I think 5 days is entirely too short. I live out here and I always take more than 5 days when I get serious about elk.

RE: want to go eld hunting where?
 

Several have commented about this...but you have some pretty big obstacles/hurdles here...

1.) only canned elk hunts can deliver in the timeline that you want...Elk hunting, despite magazines, is all abotu the experience, not the kill...
2.) no matter how good of physical condition you think you are...mountains dont care....
3.) if you dont have the time, dont waste the money...Elk are like kids...quality time is good but quantity is all that really matters...
4.) Best place...refer to #1 if your with friends, and the journey is good, that is the best palce (and not even trying to be sappy, just fact)

JMO, but, I live out west, and have hunted most western states...and you can find great bulls in every state...most of it depends upon what you think is great, and what you want...but none of the states will give you an easy bull (unless you are insanely lucky, or enough money to pay others to scout and track them down for you)

either way you go, have fun enjoy the west, it is the best!!

RE: want to go eld hunting where?
 

I wanna throw in a bit, I am 45 and going after Elk in sept. for first time. Wife's long time friends hubby a lifer hunting elk in OR. Bought my tags/lic. online at state web page. We will be on public land but very remote, they keep a campsite maintained there and hunt it each year. I had never considered a 2000 mi one way trip to hunt, butit fell together and I was overjoyed. I put in for a vacation of 2 wks. and have started to work on endurance for the walking. David, I dont know about you, but for me this is a once in a lifetime event... I wish I had 4wks of vac. time avalible for this !!! Point is, why go to the trouble to get it all planned out for a great time, then short change yourself from the start?
I dont know about you, but my trip may be my last, or it may be the first of many to come.... thing is you never know what lies ahead... And just between us, they are gonna have to pick me up kicking and screaming, and stuff my rear back in the plane to get me to go home!!!
I already know I am going to have a great time...because I am getting to go.....

RE: want to go eld hunting where?
 

What is a "bow hunting certification" exactly? I'm going to hunt there in Idaho maybe next year. I don't think Fla offers that kind of course, Hunter saftey yes but ..........?