So I decided to get my hunting license this year and put in for some tags here in Nevada where I live. I was expecting not a single tag and was hoping to go with some friends this year for the experience. I figured I would get a few points and maybe get something in the next few years. Well the luck that I have, I managed to get a late 051 bull elk. Now I?m shitting my pants. Any info on the area, hunting elk, rifle, not dying, any advice would be highly appreciated
Never hunted before and got an elk tag, In desperate need of advice...
- Thread starter Mjblk78
- Start date
gonhunting247
Veteran member
- Jan 21, 2014
- 1,216
- 797
luckynv
Active Member
Hi Welcome to the Forum, a good first step would be to jump over to the new member posts and introduce yourself. We get a bunch of "New One Post Wonders" each year. Most on here wont give up much until you spend a little time and get to know people and then they will give up all except their "Honey Holes". Get a couple of books on Elk Hunting- Eastmans has lots, Get into great shape if your not already, Call the Biologist assigned to 051 and pick their brains. Look at past harvest reports some show where and when. Put some boots to the ground scouting! Lots of great info on rifles in that section on here. You have some time, utilize it well and Good luck to you. God Bless
Use the search function and see what you can come up with. Great Advice ^^^
As you go through your research come back and chat here, stick around and be a part of the forum and you will get plenty of help.
Welcome to the forum.
As you go through your research come back and chat here, stick around and be a part of the forum and you will get plenty of help.
Welcome to the forum.
Slugz
Veteran member
You need to put in for the lottery.
1. Scout it, a lot.
2. Get to know elk behavior, find pockets of feed with cover for that late season hunt. If it is steep good chance you will find a bull.
3. Find a friend who is an elk junky, more than likely you can get some help.
4. Glass is your best friend in elk country. Use your eyes more than your feet, your feet will get abused plenty on the pack out.
1. Scout it, a lot.
2. Get to know elk behavior, find pockets of feed with cover for that late season hunt. If it is steep good chance you will find a bull.
3. Find a friend who is an elk junky, more than likely you can get some help.
4. Glass is your best friend in elk country. Use your eyes more than your feet, your feet will get abused plenty on the pack out.
wy-tex
Veteran member
Utilize those friends. And welcome to the forum.
Pick their brain on how they hunt and get some help lined up.
Pick their brain on how they hunt and get some help lined up.
Yeah I’ve heard that I need to get a lotto ticket. Not to many people pleased with me right now lol. I’ve looked at the area on google maps and all the info I could find on ndow for that area. I’m planning on camping and scouting it throughout the summer. I’m planning on getting a gps, and glass this week. What do you recommend as far as binoculars, single sight, or distance sight? I’m leaning towards binoculars but not sure if there’s a better option? Thanks for the advice ...
JimP
Administrator
A good pair of binoculars are worth their weight.
For me a pair of 10x42's will do quite well as long as you are not trying to put antlers on a animal 5+ miles away. Stay with the major brands such as Vortex, and Leupold just to name two of them. Others will chime in with what ones they prefer. Some will say to get a spotting scope but until you decide that hunting is going to be your thing I would stick with binoculars.
As was mentioned YouTube is going to be your friend. Once a elk is on the ground the real work begins and if you have never cleaned and cut one up on the ground where he fell you are in for a real experience, especially if you are by yourself. Just remember these are big animals.
Without knowing the area that you drew out in and with you saying that you have a late bull tag where you find the animals in the summer may be miles away from where you will find them during a late hunting season depending on the amount of snow and if they migrate very far. Talk to the game and fish biologist for that area and pick his brain for where to hunt. These guys know the area and the animals and will be a lot of help to you.
For me a pair of 10x42's will do quite well as long as you are not trying to put antlers on a animal 5+ miles away. Stay with the major brands such as Vortex, and Leupold just to name two of them. Others will chime in with what ones they prefer. Some will say to get a spotting scope but until you decide that hunting is going to be your thing I would stick with binoculars.
As was mentioned YouTube is going to be your friend. Once a elk is on the ground the real work begins and if you have never cleaned and cut one up on the ground where he fell you are in for a real experience, especially if you are by yourself. Just remember these are big animals.
Without knowing the area that you drew out in and with you saying that you have a late bull tag where you find the animals in the summer may be miles away from where you will find them during a late hunting season depending on the amount of snow and if they migrate very far. Talk to the game and fish biologist for that area and pick his brain for where to hunt. These guys know the area and the animals and will be a lot of help to you.
HogsFly
Active Member
Congratulations! I am looking in Webster's right now to clarify the difference between "jealous" and "envious."
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That makes no sense at all.
You can't even buy a hunting license in NV without already having a hunter safety certificate.
quicknick
Active Member
Man I know where you are at right now. I have hunted my whole life but I have never had a bull tag (only had cow tags in the past), and have hunted with buddies who had bull tags. Now I am sitting here with an archery bull tag (061 and 71)and I am just a little nervous.
Good optics, and good boots go a long way. Also Make sure to shoot your rifle from different field type positions to get comfortable using your pack or other improvised rests. Depending on the weather during the hunt you will need to think about access road condition and availability and whether or not you should camp or stay in town. If it is a November hunt the bigger bulls should be in solitary mode. If you find huge groups of cows and small bulls it is likely you will not find a big mature bull. During November feed and cover are paramount.
I am sure some other guys on here have better info about that unit specifically.
Good luck
Good optics, and good boots go a long way. Also Make sure to shoot your rifle from different field type positions to get comfortable using your pack or other improvised rests. Depending on the weather during the hunt you will need to think about access road condition and availability and whether or not you should camp or stay in town. If it is a November hunt the bigger bulls should be in solitary mode. If you find huge groups of cows and small bulls it is likely you will not find a big mature bull. During November feed and cover are paramount.
I am sure some other guys on here have better info about that unit specifically.
Good luck
I'm sorry that made no sense to you. I was just trying to give some good advice to a new hunter. In Wyoming, where I live, you can purchase a tag without showing proof for of Hunter Safety ID # even though your are required to have one when hunting.
Zim
Very Active Member
Mjblk,
I was very lucky as a nonresident to draw a Nevada elk tag with only 6 points back in 2007. Although I live in Illinois, by that time I had been on many archery elk hunting trips and harvested 3 bulls. I hunted hard, passing on a 400" bull twice due to bad angles, and ended up harvesting a 350" bull on the 10th day. While hauling him out, I gotta tell you, I drove past three other elk camps who stopped me to look at the rack, which was on top my Jeep. They were all residents, who sadly were in your exact situation. No experience, just put in for the tag. One tag holder didn't even have any calls, so I left her mine. I wish I'd had time. I would have guided all of them. All had applied with 10+ points I believe? Anyway I've never seen this in any of the other 12 states I have hunted. And it was a shame because that was unit 114 highest demand hunt in the state now. In the best elk state on the planet. I would just urge you not to take it for granted at all, and devote all your free time from now to your hunt preparing in all aspects. And as others have said, take one or two guys with you who have expensive experience if you can't afford an outfitter. You will need all of it. Don't be like the dudes I met in 2007.
Start a workout regiment now if you are not in great shape. Push your legs & lungs to the best in your life. You will regret it otherwise.
I was very lucky as a nonresident to draw a Nevada elk tag with only 6 points back in 2007. Although I live in Illinois, by that time I had been on many archery elk hunting trips and harvested 3 bulls. I hunted hard, passing on a 400" bull twice due to bad angles, and ended up harvesting a 350" bull on the 10th day. While hauling him out, I gotta tell you, I drove past three other elk camps who stopped me to look at the rack, which was on top my Jeep. They were all residents, who sadly were in your exact situation. No experience, just put in for the tag. One tag holder didn't even have any calls, so I left her mine. I wish I'd had time. I would have guided all of them. All had applied with 10+ points I believe? Anyway I've never seen this in any of the other 12 states I have hunted. And it was a shame because that was unit 114 highest demand hunt in the state now. In the best elk state on the planet. I would just urge you not to take it for granted at all, and devote all your free time from now to your hunt preparing in all aspects. And as others have said, take one or two guys with you who have expensive experience if you can't afford an outfitter. You will need all of it. Don't be like the dudes I met in 2007.
Start a workout regiment now if you are not in great shape. Push your legs & lungs to the best in your life. You will regret it otherwise.
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That advice made tons of sense to me. Knew a girl that drew a moose tag and had to complete hunters safety. Kind of wild how rules vary from state to stat!
I hope you are in shape. That country is big and rough. Buy the best pair of 10x42 binos you can stomach price wise. Borrow a spotter from one of your buddies. Talk to the bio. They are usually pretty helpful in Nevada. We have seen elk in the big canyons in the South half of the range. Both East and West side.
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