DIY Elk hunting partner needed for SW Montana 2015

buckykm1

Member
Dec 8, 2011
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72
Vicksburg, MI
DIY Elk hunting partner needed for SW Montana 2015.

My Regular Hunting partner informed me that He is taking his Wife to Hawaii for their 40th anniversary in 2015. And he won’t be able to hunt in 2015 and he is retiring in 2016, so it doesn’t sound like he will be going then either.
I am 62 years old, married, I don’t drink or smoke. And my Wife prefers that I don’t hunt alone 1700 miles from home, and the hunt is more fun when you have a partner to share it with anyway. I made my first Elk hunting trip in 1986, and have gone almost every year sense. With the last 6 years to SW Montana, and have been lucky enough to get 3 elk in the 6 years.
So I am looking for one person interested in going with me on a DIY Elk hunt to Montana in 2015, and maybe beyond. It will be a Rifle hunt.
I live in SW Michigan, so it will need to be someone in MI. or a neighboring State, so we can meet several times to make sure that we can get along. And have similar hunting styles and ethics.
I will be leaving on Sunday October 18th at 3am and be back on Saturday, Oct. 31st.
I have all the camping gear, and it is all first class.
I have a 14’ x 16’ Wall tent with a 10’ awning out the front. porta potty, Shower, propane heat, wall to wall carpet. And a Honda Generator for power.
The 2 week trip will cost about $2000.00 each. That includes pretty much everything. the License, food at Camp, gas, Motel each way on the trip and the propane for heat.

I do have 2 Rules in my Hunting Camp that are ZERO TOLERANCE.
1 - No Drugs period.
2 – No Alcoholic Beverages during hunting hours.

If, you’re interested, send me a PM and let’s talk.

Kevin
 
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buckykm1

Member
Dec 8, 2011
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Vicksburg, MI
I have received several PMs from people interested in going, and I really appreciate there response.
But I live by Kalamazoo, Michigan. so you really need to be within a few hours of me, so we can meet several times to make sure we get along.
if your 500 or 600 miles away or more, I just don't see it working, unless you want to drive to Kalamazoo.
you need to be close enough to me so that we can leave from my house.

Thanks
Kevin
 

OregonJim

Very Active Member
Feb 19, 2014
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Oregon Coast
Kevin;
Good luck on hooking up with some of the fine folks on this forum.
It sounds like we would get along great but I'm clear out on the Pacific Ocean.

Good luck and enjoy your hunt!
 

buckykm1

Member
Dec 8, 2011
79
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72
Vicksburg, MI
Kevin;
Good luck on hooking up with some of the fine folks on this forum.
It sounds like we would get along great but I'm clear out on the Pacific Ocean.

Good luck and enjoy your hunt!

Thanks Jim
And your right, there are some very nice people on this site.
I have talked to a few that are interested, but they are 500 or more miles from me. so I don't think that would work.
I really need to find someone within 2 to 4 hours away or so.

Kevin
 

Hilltop

Veteran member
Feb 25, 2014
3,844
2,227
Eastern Nebraska
Nice camp! I am guessing many guys on here would love to come with you but few meet your proximity requirement. Have you tried your local sporting goods store? I have also made hunting buddies with several guys met at church through the years... Just offering ideas to find someone closer to home.
 

Colorado Cowboy

Super Moderator
Jun 8, 2011
8,327
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Dolores, Colorado
Nice camp! I am guessing many guys on here would love to come with you but few meet your proximity requirement. Have you tried your local sporting goods store? I have also made hunting buddies with several guys met at church through the years... Just offering ideas to find someone closer to home.
Good suggestions. I'd go in a heartbeat, but live way, way to far away!
 

buckykm1

Member
Dec 8, 2011
79
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72
Vicksburg, MI
Thanks guys
I have had a lot of response to this, but so far almost everyone is just to far away to make it work.
but I am sure sooner or later someone close by will respond.
And yes, I did put up messages in 3 of the biggest sporting good stores in town too.
But our weather has been terrible, with lake effect snow since I did, so I doubt if many have seen them yet. plus our Deer gun season is going on till the end of the month too.

Kevin
 

Team Kabob

Very Active Member
May 9, 2014
793
148
To bad I'm 650miles away. Nice set up. How many times do you plan to meet in person to shoot and do a gear shakedown as I call it?


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buckykm1

Member
Dec 8, 2011
79
0
72
Vicksburg, MI
To bad I'm 650miles away. Nice set up. How many times do you plan to meet in person to shoot and do a gear shakedown as I call it?


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Ideally I like to meet my partner at-least a couple of times in person.
plus talks on the phone.
during the Winter I go thru all my Camping gear and check everything over.
and in August I set the Tent up and wash it down let it dry for a few days, then put it back in its storage container.

Where do you live ?.

Kevin
 

buckykm1

Member
Dec 8, 2011
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Vicksburg, MI
I have had several people ask me about stopping and picking them up on the way.
that really just won't work.
I pull a 6' x 14' tandem axel Cargo Trailer out to haul all the gear, in the front of the Trailer is a 11 cu. ft. chest freezer, that almost all the Camp food goes out in.
and the Elk come home in.
if we had to get to that freezer on the way home to get to someone's Elk when dropping them off, 1/2 the Trailer would have to be unloaded to get to it. and then reloaded so I could go on home.
So we really need to leave from my house.

Kevin
 

Team Kabob

Very Active Member
May 9, 2014
793
148
The drive is part of the fun. I did a caribou hunt last year with I guy I met while working in Alaska. Ya I could of flown all the way to our hunting destination, but a lot of the memories were driving from Anchorage to Deadhorse with a loaded truck and boat.
Good Luck Kevin!


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Bonecollector

Veteran member
Mar 9, 2014
5,861
3,667
Ohio
Bucky,
I'm in Ohio and familiar with your locale due to working there a few years back. I'm just not sure about the cost.
Send me a PM if interested and want to speak further. I live in Eastern Ohio. About 6 hours from you, if I remember correctly.
Just not sure of my plans for next year yet either, but could be persuade. :)
 

buckykm1

Member
Dec 8, 2011
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72
Vicksburg, MI
Seeing that the cost was brought up, this will give you a idea on the cost. this it what the 2014 trip cost.

Montana Elk license is $844.00 each. needs to be applied for by March 15, 2015.

all other expenses are split evenly. ( I don't make a dime on the trip).

Gas bill for the trip in 2014 was, $1385.08. I average 9.3 mpg pulling my cargo trailer.
motel each way on trip was $148.57 for the 2 nights.
Food at camp, Paper Plates and other miscellaneous items needed, stacks, drinks, drinks include Coffee, pop, Gatorade, OJ and V8, and the propane for heat and cooking was $621.92.

Kevin
 
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buckykm1

Member
Dec 8, 2011
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Vicksburg, MI
I started meeting a couple of the people that are interested in this hunt this week, to see how we get along and get to know them some.
I plan on meeting with everyone that is interested in person, and then trying to pick the best hunting partner I can.
If, you are interested in this hunt let me know. Soon.

I really want to have this all figured out around the 1st of the year. so serious plans can be made.
plus the dead line to apply for the license is March 15th.

Kevin
 

buckykm1

Member
Dec 8, 2011
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72
Vicksburg, MI
I would like to thank everyone for their response.
I have decided to close this, between here and several other sources, I have 8 to 10 people to call and then meet over the next few weeks. This is twice as many as I thought I would have.
I don’t want to drag this out, or keep people wondering if they are going or not.

I hope to talk to everyone on the phone first, and then meet them in person, shortly after that.
My decision will be based totally on how we get along and hunting Ethics, weather you have ever Elk hunted or not, will have nothing to do with my decision.

This is a DIY Elk hunt, but it is also a 2 week vacation in God’s Country, so I want to make sure I pick a partner that I know I will get along with and have a great time whether we get an Elk or not.

PS; if you sent me a PM, and didn’t include your phone# please do so, if you’re serious about going.

If for some reason; I don’t find the person I am looking for from this group, I may reopen this.

Thank You
Kevin
 

Bonecollector

Veteran member
Mar 9, 2014
5,861
3,667
Ohio
Good luck Kevin.
I'm thinking of posting a similar "add". It's tough to find someone to commit and will actually go.