Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

I've been shooting my Allegiance and my Guardian pretty regularly in preparation for my first elk hunt this fall... I just knew I was going to be taking my new Allegiance because of the weight savings, but I gotta tell ya -- this Guardian is just one sweet shooter!

At least I'm making good progress on 1/2 of the equation... the shooting. This isprettyconsistent with what I'm getting at 30 out of the Guardian with five arrows. Most of the time, Ishoot at different spots.

Now if I can get my butt in gear and start working hard on my cardio, I'll be happy! :)



Man, what a shooter!

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Those bars sure look sweet Greg [8D]

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Very nice!!!!

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

I hear ya Greg. I need to buy myself a new target, as I've outshot my current 2. I'm heading to Idaho this fall for the first time chasing elk, unless I draw in my home state of SD, then I'm not heading that far West. I've been running and lifting on a regular basis now that it has warmed up outside.

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

That is very good! I only hit the black ring, but I did great every year. :D

Kidding. I got similar result @ 40 yd.

Now go exercise...:)

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Looks real ok, now locating and holding those animalsstill ,,and holding them long enough to get an arrow off.

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

uh hmmm


practice
















practice




















..practice

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

I have a feeling I'm the only one who is going to look at that and say great shooting ....BUT.......your bow isn't sighted in.;)
LOL
A touch low left for the center ofthat group. (Upper right arrow is the flyer.)
:D

And you and me both on the cardio buddy......you and me both. (But I'm workin' on it fatty [8D])

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

I think I saw somewhere you are going to Colorado. Where about?

You will have a blast chasing those bulls around Greg. I went for the first time in '05 and it was awsome. We went outside Taos, New Mexico, on public ground and saw 1 other hunter and lots of elk. I was planning on going again this year but had to cancell when my wife was diagnosed with Lukemia last Oct.

Here is the results of my first elk hunt. Hope to see you in a picture like this in a few months.

You are right, you need to be in shape. The air is mighty thin out there, not a lot of oxygen in it.

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Definately work on the cardio and pronto. You should be able to run til your out of breath, grab the bow and shoot with pinpoint accuracy.....trust me...lol

I know when I shot my bull, I was at full draw for what seemed like forever....when my bow went off, the bull dropped, I was on all 4's trying to suck air....all that oxygen and I couldn't get any. It was the elevation for me. I thought I was in pretty good shape and I was, my muscles never fatigued however, oxygen was hard to come by...lol

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Man, those Wild Thing stabilizers are the GOOFIEST looking things I think I've ever seen....But they sure do work!!

Greg, I've gotta say, I've never really been envious of you......but I think I may be now.....Elk hunting you say??? You bumb.....:D

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Well, actually this thread accomplished exactly what I was hoping it would... get some people on my case to kick it in gear and get my butt in shape!

John, I've commented on your elk before, but it never hurts to again -- that thing is a beauty!! I would LOVE to take one like that! We're heading out to Montrose with a gentleman who's been for like 20 years in a row to the same area. Last year he saw a couple smaller bulls at 45, but he didn't feel comfortable with the shot at that distance. I'm going to do my best to make sure I don't feel the same way...

What style of hunting did you guys employ? One guy 75 yards or so behind you calling? Did you just call yourself? Or were you more stand/blind or waterhole hunting?

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

We had 2 hunters per guide. The guide would put us in position and then call from 50-100 yards behind us, depending on the setup. The time I got my bull I was standing next to a big tree on the edge of a meadow. We heard the bull bugleing and getting closer. All of a sudden 6 cows and young ones came running right at me. They passed on both sides of the tree I was standing next to. I could have almost touched them. Then the bull came out and stopped broadside at 30 yards. The arrow hit him right behind the shoulder and he ran maybe 150 yards and my hunt was over. I was speechless with what had just happened. It took us till midnight to get him skinned and quartered and hauled out. But I still wasn't tired. Adrenaline has an amazing effect that way.

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Atta' boy Greg, I'm on the same track you are. I've been doing some serious cardio the last 3 weeks and it's paying off. Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday I run the two-mile for time and then shoot 10 arrows...Now that's exciting :D

The chicks dig it when I run around the OU campusin my hunting boots with a giant camo pack on my back:D:D:D

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Two miles for time... Ugh, that brings back some memories! I remember when I finished MP school I was timed at 10:18 for two miles... I'd be lucky to reverse those two figures and get it in 18:10 these days! [8D]

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Greg,

Hey bud, if I may add a couple things. I've had Pat Ely, Rybo and Bowhunt and hisbro in law "J"out here from PA and Iowa. Of those 4 they all had shot opportunities on bulls at less than 40 yards. Rybo passed and so did Mike i.e. Bowhnt..Pat and J both missed bulls. I am bringing this up NOT Because I think these guys are poor shots. THEY ARE NOT...they are excellent shots.....but they have spent the majority of their hunting from treestands on whitetails...... Judging distance from the ground on the run..heart pounding/winded like Rob says.. down slope or up slope...etc.. while a bull is pissing and bugling ormaybe he comes in like a whitetail purely silent.....its a different world


Sitution/scenario shoot/practice as much as you can.. Try to simulate what you will expect shots out there to be like..

Practice shots literally while your on the move before setting up on one knee...alot of ground hunting elk shots are going to be off a knee. UPSLOPE< DOWN SLOPE>. DONT range it, or step it off.. It rarely works like that in the world of HUNTING PRESSURED BULLS.....they show up and can be gone like the wind...giving you a short time to set up..and get a quality shot off.... you have to make quick yardage judgements and then shoot or PASS. I often walk out through my range at home and lay arrows at various distances.. then moving from arrow to arrow I practice shooting one at a time from all angles mixed distances..changing it up andmaking myself judge the distance...I also incoperate slope with these shots....if your planning on ranging (range finder)every shot, then maybe you dont need this type of practice..I will say, more often than not..here...bulls that have suffered consequences their entire lives dont always give you time to RANGE them then get a shot off...its just too much movement and ELK here donttolerate that....like some of the half tame elk on TV.

Second.... Being a kinesiologist and life long elk hunter in steep country, let me add.. not only will your cardio need to be in tip top shape..your quads, hams, calves, abs...etc.. need to be prepared for lactic acid build up! In other words don't just work the flat ground cardio type training..get on that stair stepper...climber..etc.. get both your cardiovascular and muscular endurance in shape...whats gonna give out first.. lungs or leg muscles..flat ground training will only train your muscles for flat work.. get on the inclines..you'll revitalize muscles you forgot you had! LOL I only say that causei'm no spring chicken either!!! but there is nothing that gets me in better shape for inclines and declines ( downslope can be hard on the joints and stresses the muscles) other than actually training on them.. I know Mike and I talked about it a lot while he was out here.... (the down hills).. Ryan and J they are just young and tougher than boiled owl chit..so they had no problem.. :DRyan would admit though ..I think that elk hunting can test you, especially when the big boy bails about 2000 feet straight down the mountain and your after him...

Then finally.. when you pack that big 6x6 bull off the mountain on your back ...via pack frame..you'll be dang glad you put forth all the sweat and tears now... Best of luck bud, I wish you the best.. elk hunting..the works often begins...after the KILL...especially in steep country.. who knows maybe you have a helicopter to do all your dirty work?? :D

I'd love to hear what Bowhunt, Rybo and Pat Ely would chime in and say..

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

I might add to what shed said that its always better to have one leg longer than the other. ;)

Bobby

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Hey good luck Greg on the elk. Dont forget to drink lots of H2o to keep your body good and hydrated to.

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

I've been training for Idaho for three months now. An hour on the eliptical on a high slope. Now I am outdoors doing 75 minutes with my pack on my back at a brisk walk. I am up to 35 pounds in the bag and try to hit all the hills. Do you experienced guys think I need to do some running besides? How important is upper body conditioning?

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Very Nice Groups! Looking Good.;)

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Ill add to what shed sugests , to practice shooting from your knees , both shots I had last year were from my knees .

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

As Matt said, you need to move that sight......[8D].

I gotta say I am also envious of your trip. I am fortunate to have my cabin/property in PA to hunt but unfortunately I won't be able to go on any cool trips like these until I have the place paid off in a few more years. Hope you shoot a big one!

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

For us flatlanders.
I have the same problem with elevation. My buddy has been bugging me to get back to the Rockies and hunt elk again. But, I'm getting to be more firm with the elevation restrictions. Nothing over about8,500 for me. Last time we spent the whole trip in the 11,000 range and it whipped my butt. Once you loose your breath up there, it takes about 5 minutes to get itback. Was in the best cardio shape of my life too. Problem is that there is no real way to train for elevation and lack of oxygen in any safe way except for spending a lot of time in the mountains. Some people are better equiped and not as sensitive then others though. Maybe I'lljust carry an oxygen mask next time. :D

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Sure there is. Put a plastic bag over your head and run up and down the stairs.

Good luckGreg.I am currently on the opposite end of thespectrum for my caribou hunt. I am gettingback into pretty good shape, but I have not shotnearly as much as I should. Hopefully we will both figure it all outprior to our respective trips.

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Amen Bob, that was the case. I shot my bull at just over 10,000'. It seemed I could walk forever and not feel it in my muscles however, I did get short of breath. Around home, I could push the limits and not get short of breath for longer time frames.

Your right, there is no real way to train for it, all we can do is be in quality shape at home and hope for the best.

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Thanks guys... I REALLY appreciate all the tips, and even more than that the push to start hitting it hard. I'm just not as young as I used to be and sorta dread diving head-long into this getting-in-shape thing again. And I know -- that's all the more reason to.

And Matt and Rick... You're right, obviously... I've been concentrating on good form and groups moreso than impact point, though I'm proud of how my shooting has been this summer. I haven't messed with really fine tuning things because that's not the sight that's gonna be on my bow. That's an HHA ELT-5000 with a moveable sight pin which came on a bow I won a couple years ago from LeEarl over on AT when he made his tuning DVD.

I think this is an awesome sight (it's by far the brightest pin I've ever seen with over three FEET of fiber optics wrapped up in its housing)... and I want to shoot a multi-pin sight for my elk trip. I'm afraid at the moment when that elk stepped out there and all that adrenaline was flowing, I'd forget to loosen the nob and slide the pin to the setting it would need to be on... Hence, the lack of fine tuning on this one.

I've been shooting my Allegiance mostly this summer, and it's spot-on... but I'm slowly giving way to thoughts of taking the Guardian as my primary bow in the fall.

But the main thing is... I need to get in shape! :)Two more weeks of working on putting together this 90-page PowerPoint presentation to complete my new-hire training for my medical sales job I started six months ago, and my free time will go WAY up so I can start doing what I need to -- and feel mentally refreshed in the process.

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Greg - sounds like you have a pretty firm grasp on what to expect. Montrose is only 6,000 feet in elevation - but I'm assuming you will be hunting somewhere uphill of the actual town :). There are lots of elk at 8,000 feet in that area, but in September the big bulls are often in the big basins up near timber line - like 11,500 feet. I would also suggest you get a multitude of cow elk calls and practice extensively. Some of the best sounding calls are either diaphrams or the ones you bite down on. There are some good CD's out there . . . .

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Thanks, Roscoe.... I bought the whole Primos elk-calling kit which has the Hoochie Mama, a couple diaghram calls and a bugle. I can give her hell on the Hoochie Mama! :DThe rest of them needs work! ;)

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

your elk hunt will not hinge on the difference between a 3" group or a 4" group and it will not be decided on whether your bow is going 320 fps or 340 fps and it will not matter if you've got 65 pounds of KE or 75 pounds of KE

if you do not have the legs and lungs, your elk hunt will most likely be unsuccessful. Spend a lot more time getting in shape and less time shooting your bow. Yes, that is true, as unpopular an opinion as it might be. You can shoot your bow once a week and be shooting groups fine enough to elk hunt with. You cannot excercise once a week and then go to Colorado and have expetations of a successful hunt.

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Dick Kirby (Quaker Boy) gave my son this call (heattends our church). I have to tell you, it is one of the best calls that I have ever heard. Don't know how much the elk like it though, have not had a chance to use it yet. You may want to check it out.

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Greg, here is a link to Rockie Jacobsens bugling bulls and beyond instructional series.

Rockie is a not on only a world champion elk caller, he is a resident here in Idaho and gets it done on public lands. I've met Rockie, hes a great guy, he really understands the different levels of elk vocalization. His DVDS are excellent instructional guides for learning how to successfullycall ineven the most pressured bullelk.

http://www.trophyshotsports.com/products.asp?cat=17

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Greg,

You know I've been there done that. With that said, Every person's opinion on this subject has been spot on! Hunting elk is easy. Killing them is another matter. You need to be in the best mental and physical condition of your life! Mentally-the moment you stop thinking positively, your hunt is over! Push yourself to look over that next hill-down in that next valley. Kill them where they stand! Even if it means being four or five miles from the truck (call me, I'll help you get it out).

Get here a few day early, The altitude will kick your arse! I live here and itdestroys me (Commercial pilots fly with oxygen above 10,000' with a loss of cabin pressure). It's that serious! Go easy at first and build up. Your body will let you know if you're pushing too hard. But, be ready!

I've seen too many guys show up with crappy boots. They cannot walk beyond the first day due to blisters. Have your boots ready to go and well broken in. I like an agressive sole.

Your shotscould range from mere feet out to 60 yards (at least mine do on elk). They can be very steep uphill or down hill. Know what your bow is capable of doing under these conditions. Hunt uphill in the morning and down hill in the evening-expect constant swirling winds midday.

It's magic...welcome to the game! Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

I received a nice little bonus for the upcoming elk season. I drew my second Mt. Goat tag in sixteen years. You can bet I'll be hunting above timberline.

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Awesome guys!! Keep it coming!

I just got a new pair of really nice boots for the trip; I'll be sure to have them broken in by the time I get out there.

This is the kind of stuff I'd like to learn more about... Any places that are especially good for cutting elk off as they move back to their bedding areas (I'm assuming this is where they're heading...)? Any other suggestions as far as strategy goes?

Thanks a ton guys!

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

As far as calling goes, we let the guides do all of the calling. They were set up 50-100 yards behind us. No need to have the bull looking right at you. Better to have him walk past you looking for the cows. I had a hoochie mama just to stop him if he didn't stop on his own, but didn't need it.

When we set up we stood in front of the cover, not behind something. Trust your camo, the elk didn't seem to pick us out like whitetails do.Just don't let them wind you, one whiff and they are gone.

We had good luck getting them to come out into open meadows in the evening. It is really tuff getting shots in the thick woods.

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Thanks, John. I won't have the luxury of guides... self-guided, public lands :)I am going with a couple guys, but the one who's been like 20 years in a row is probably going to stay closer to camp and my bet is he might be in a treestand (seems like he wants to hunt them like whitetails; it works every so often for him). I'll probably be on my own every day.

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

You rarely see a treestand used for elk hunting. A good ground blind is worth the trouble for hunting a wallow - or for ambush hunting along some natural funnel. Elk are prone to run uphill through a saddle when pushed. And a seriously wounded elk will break off downhill - while the rest of the group escapes on an uphill route. Otherwise, travel light and be prepared for "running and gunning" - heading toward the sound of bugling bulls and trying to lure them into bow range once you are close enough.

I assume you have a good GPS. Particularly, be prepared for very rapidly changing weather conditions. It is amazing at 11,000 feet, how one little cloud can come by and block the sun for a few minutes - drop the temperature significantly. Thin air just doesn't hold heat. Nighttime lows in September will generally be aroundthe upper 30's in the mountains- although they can be a lot colder. And daytime highs can range from shirt sleeves to the gore tex parka over the polar fleece. This is a great time of year to be in the Colorado high country - just be prepared for the worst.

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Cool... Thanks again. I just bought a sleeping bag from Cabela's that goes to -30 (I like to be toasty at night :)), and I've got a GPS although I admittedly need to become a lot more intimate with it. I've got a buddy who captains our local National Guard battalion whom I'll hit up for some pointers; they used the heck out of 'em in Iraq, he told me.

So far, I've got: 1) Get my butt in shape! 2) practice shooting from my knees, and/or one knee, and 3) start working on my calling a bunch!

Keep the tips coming gang! :)

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Greg,

Elk live within a given home range but are totally nomadic.It's hard to pattern them per se. When I'm out and about, I look for tall tale signs of elk. The biggest thing I look for is fresh grass cropping. The elk tend to stay in a given area that provides food. They stay in the area for a few days unless pressured. If you can find where they're eating, you can lay in wait for an ambush. Other than that, it's putting down boot leather.

Hunting wallows and water holes is a joke. Avoid that. It works in New Mexico, but not here. We have springs popping up everywhere. An elk can simply bend his neck anytimes he cares to drink. Again, success is all about the boot leather. There are no funnels when hunting elk. At least not here. They go wherever and whenever they want.

Keep this in your bag of tricks...Elk do not like to be hot. They will seek out the coolest place they can find. A small therometer is a handy tool. Find those places on the mountain which are cooler than normal. It's generally where some evaporative cooling is taking place and on the north side of a slope. You find that spot and the elk will be close by. This is a great place for midday hunting. Your focus should be on the ground and in the shadows. A lot of times, if you pay close enough attention, you can kill them right in their beds. Watch for twitching ears....

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

listen to iamyourhuckleberry, he's an elk hunter

if its really hot and dry - find the water and wet areas, that worked like a gem for me one year in a normally wet area

when you call, MOVE, do not stay where you called, MOVE if its even just a few yards. turkeys have nothing on elk when it comes to locating exactly where a call came from

I hunt bedding areas. Hey, I'm hunting 7-8 days and I'll go to the extremes to get an elk. I actually jumped a bull from its bed one day and hoochie mama'd it back to me. Don't happen often, and that bull was missed, but he could have filled my uncles tag just as easily. You can't kill elk if you aint near them

Speaking of, if you aint seeing much elk sign, MOVE. Spend a day to move, do not waste your hunt in areas that aint got elk. If you're there to camp, fine, stay but if you're there to kill a bull MOVE

Dont' try to get big and fancy with triple bugles with a series of grunts, learn to moan, squeal a bit and then shut up. Elk do not do the fancy triple bugles and grunts etc often IMO not anymore anyway

hunt snowslides, they are magnets to elk. the steeper and harder to get to the better. I can take you to one that I 100% promise you and will bet $5,000 on the first day of elk season 2007 you'll see a 5x5 or better bull crossing. hunting that choke fest 65 degree slop is another matter :)

eat food, drink water, hunt smart, watch yourself, things can go wrong really fast in the mtns

RE: Preparing for elk season.. 1/2 way there
 

Not very important. Having big biceps won't get you up the mountain any faster. have strong legs and good cardio are infinately more important. That being said, having a strong upper body won't hurt you either. It always feels good to get atotal body workout. If you have limited time to work out spend as much time as you can working out your legs and treat the upper body as "extra".

Also, to add some advice about calls: The hoochie mama is nice because it's very easy to get a decentsound out of. However, it would be worth your while to learn to use diaphram calls. Not only can you vary your sound more when you get the hang of it, but you will be glad if you find yourself at full draw on a moving bull and need to call to stop him. This is something you can't do with the hoochie mama in your pocket.

And to add what has been said about boots: good socks can also help to avoid blisters. synthetic/wool socks work well and dry fast. get a few pairs of midweight hiking socksby Smartwool, Thorlo, Bridgedale or Danner. They can be more expensive but your feet will be better off for it.