Trying to plan a hunt in a couple years with my son and trying to pick a spot for next year and this year if I don't get drawn. It seems the more I look the more I am at a loss. It seems every time I find a unit in a state that would be decent I find lots of things wrong with it, lack of access, to many people, wilderness and need a guide, lack of elk. I am to the point of no return. I have elk hunted 3 times, once in Colorado and twice in New Mexico. Am trying to draw again in New Mexico but doubt lighting will strike twice but hope it does. The spot in Colorado had elk but you really need horses, don't have any. New Mexico was ok but want to build some points so my son can go with. How do you pick a spot?? I live in MN so scouting is very hard to say the least. Am I over thinking this??? Google earth is ok, but when you put boots on the ground---wow its different to say the least! Son wants to do his first elk hunt with a rifle even though he's a bow hunter. How would you guys go about trying to find a spot to hunt?
How to pick a spot?? Frustrating!!
- Thread starter tom338
- Start date
Maybe start with Antelope, little more manageable then work up to elk.
Eastmans' Staff Digital Media Coordinator
Eastmans' Staff Digital Media Coordinator
alaska2go
Active Member
May I suggest to build up some points for muzzle loading season in colorado and in a couple of years you will be able to draw to pretty decent area to hunt elk.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
ScottR has a good idea. When I was in Wyoming in 2012 antelope hunting, I scouted several new areas for deer and elk. I also scout here in Colorado. It is easier for me than a lot of hunters as I am retired and have the time to spend.
25contender
Veteran member
- Mar 20, 2013
- 1,638
- 90
Since I started hunting out west (to many years ago) I started out by picking a few areas that looked promising and concentrating on them. The better you learn those few areas the better off you will be. I just don't think that jumping around from place to place works that well unless you have a lot of time to spend scouting, a guide, or know someone that lives or hunts where you are going. I also think Bowhunting offers more options and fewer hunters to deal with once there. I like to Elk hunt every year and it is nice to go back and branch out from that core area I already know.
MWScott72
Active Member
Look for an area with the best herd numbers and sucess ratio that you can draw in the specified time that, in your mind, you would like to draw, then go from there. this can be frustrating but it's really the way to go. another option would be to find an area you like and then hunt cows for a year before trying to draw a bull tag. That way you get to know the area before putting on the added pressure of trying to score on a bull with zero time in the unit. Living in MN definitely puts a crimp on your scouting, but being willing to "get to know" a unit first can really help in the long run. A year of cow hunting would probably give you a wealth of knowledge you could use when hunting later with your son.
tim
Veteran member
I am one of the few guys that have actually stopped hunting with his dad. My dad and his group kept going to a new spot every year. They would pack in with horses and saw some great country, all over Idaho. It was a great expierecne and I got to see lots of country but, we never knew what the animals where doing. Around 2000 I stopped hunting with my dad and started hunting closer to home, solo. I went into the areas that where just to tough for the average guy to go. I started seeing elk, and using my dad as a pack mule when I got one.
What I am getting at is, you can have great elk hunting without horses, you can have great elk hunting within a couple miles of town. but you must learn where the elk are and, the elk are where you find them. and that is where they are not disturbed. You must also learn to go where there is no trail and be able to get around the woods in the dark. It took me years to figure out my 2 hotspots, and it will probably take you years to figure out a spot also. It won't be easy and it will be a lot of hard work. Lots of hard work. Also go where the average guy won't go. Hunt below the road, not above the road, Everyone wants to drag down hill, very few want to pack uphill. Also don't be afraid to fail and sometimes crossing off an area is almost as good as finding an area.
Can you combine your summer family vacation with a scouting trip, if even to cross areas off?
Mike Eastmans book elk hunting the west the Eastman way is a good book, that will help you with this question. however it will take a lot of research to find what you are looking for. Remember elk hunting is not easy and many people go for many years without killing elk.
What I am getting at is, you can have great elk hunting without horses, you can have great elk hunting within a couple miles of town. but you must learn where the elk are and, the elk are where you find them. and that is where they are not disturbed. You must also learn to go where there is no trail and be able to get around the woods in the dark. It took me years to figure out my 2 hotspots, and it will probably take you years to figure out a spot also. It won't be easy and it will be a lot of hard work. Lots of hard work. Also go where the average guy won't go. Hunt below the road, not above the road, Everyone wants to drag down hill, very few want to pack uphill. Also don't be afraid to fail and sometimes crossing off an area is almost as good as finding an area.
Can you combine your summer family vacation with a scouting trip, if even to cross areas off?
Mike Eastmans book elk hunting the west the Eastman way is a good book, that will help you with this question. however it will take a lot of research to find what you are looking for. Remember elk hunting is not easy and many people go for many years without killing elk.
NDHunter
Veteran member
I'd say not to be too worried about finding the "perfect spot" or looking endlessly for an area with lots of public land, lots of elk and high success rates. Everywhere has pros and cons about it. So many people say "go to an area with lots of elk." That's fine and dandy except lots of elk attract lots of hunters. And it's nice to have big blocks of public land but then you also have hunter pressure in that entire area chasing animals everywhere. If you hunt an area that has more of a mix of public/private, the elk will probably be using both and be less skittish since they won't be chased quite as much on the private.
I think just getting out there, learning an area, being persistent and working hard is the "secret."
I think just getting out there, learning an area, being persistent and working hard is the "secret."
2rocky
Active Member
- Sep 10, 2012
- 290
- 0
Elk hunting is 2 parts (actually 3)
1A) getting to know the country. Where the trails go, where the water is, and where the cover is.
1B) Finding the elk. Sign, and live animals
2) Hunting the elk and getting within killing distance.
2B) Killing the elk once within distance.
Some people do part 1 A&B before the Season. Others do it during the season, and go right into part 2. Just allow yourself enough time and patience and experience. It becomes a process of elimination.
1A) getting to know the country. Where the trails go, where the water is, and where the cover is.
1B) Finding the elk. Sign, and live animals
2) Hunting the elk and getting within killing distance.
2B) Killing the elk once within distance.
Some people do part 1 A&B before the Season. Others do it during the season, and go right into part 2. Just allow yourself enough time and patience and experience. It becomes a process of elimination.
YakCountry
New Member
In my opinion, set your expectations for 3 seasons without bringing home an elk if you're DIY hunting. Some have better luck than others, but don't count on it. 2% of licensed archery elk hunters in the west are successful in filling their tag each year according to Outdoors International. Not sure on muzzy or rifle statistics. Chances increase dramatically if you choose to hunt with a guide, but even guides need some luck to make it happen.
I recommend some heavy GE scouting, calling DOW and speaking to a game warden if you can. Study the statistics that are published. Then choose 3 perspective spots to either scout or hunt blindly. I agree with most of the others in regards to getting to know an area and out-work the others hunting there, however, sometimes you have to try a different hunting area, even if its a lot of work. That is why its important to have a few potential spots to hunt/scout.
If you are looking to dive deep into Google Earth, there is a series of new videos on YouTube that I just published (search "Google Earth Scouting" or "YakCountry" on YouTube).
I recommend some heavy GE scouting, calling DOW and speaking to a game warden if you can. Study the statistics that are published. Then choose 3 perspective spots to either scout or hunt blindly. I agree with most of the others in regards to getting to know an area and out-work the others hunting there, however, sometimes you have to try a different hunting area, even if its a lot of work. That is why its important to have a few potential spots to hunt/scout.
If you are looking to dive deep into Google Earth, there is a series of new videos on YouTube that I just published (search "Google Earth Scouting" or "YakCountry" on YouTube).
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
Don't expect to find a simple trick to discover a diamond in the rough. The demand for top tags on public land is fierce and it is only getting worse. There are guys (myself included) who for years have spent hundreds of hours every year doing research on hunting areas and new emerging hunting spots. After doing this 30 years, I can tell you that it takes a TON of work to locate a hot spot that is not highly publicized.
Since your son is already a bowhunter, I would strongly suggest he hunts with a bow. The most vulnerable time to hunt bulls is in mid to late September, and there are far more archery permits, even OTC tags, that occur in that time frame. When you see pics of great bulls, take notice of how many of those are bow kills. In general, firearm hunts for the rut are fairly hard to come by.
I have hunted elk 3 times now. 1st time a complete bust with a bow. 2nd time with a rifle, went 1 for 2. Third times a charm and went 3 for 3 with bows last year. Wish my son would do the bow hunt first but he has his mind set on using his 300 on his first elk hunt. I can't wait a long time to build up points, I will be 58 this year and work hard to try and stay in shape. Had a guide last year and I was the oldest bow hunter he has ever taken out. Learned tons last season during a 10 day hunt in NM. Have narrowed some things down in the last couple days and think I will get my son to build points in WY. I already have 3 points now and WY does average points so that will help out.
2rocky
Active Member
- Sep 10, 2012
- 290
- 0
In all seriousness, you could build Wyoming points and draw a General Wyoming Tag in a couple of years.
You could both hunt a unit for bugling bulls with a rifle with an outfitter if you put away 250 bucks a month for 2 years. It would give you access to some of the coolest wilderness in the West and let you and your son concentrate on hunting and having a good time.
In alternate years, you could do Deer or Antelope as DIY trips.
You could both hunt a unit for bugling bulls with a rifle with an outfitter if you put away 250 bucks a month for 2 years. It would give you access to some of the coolest wilderness in the West and let you and your son concentrate on hunting and having a good time.
In alternate years, you could do Deer or Antelope as DIY trips.
okielite
Banned
I'd try to find one area to focus on and hunt there every year. Then rotate tags between deer, antelope, and cow elk when you don't draw a bull tag. After hunting the same spot a few years in a row you will get comfortable and really learn the area as well as pattern the animals. It takes a few years of work but at some point you will enjoy the benefits of hunting one area instead of jumping around and starting from scratch every season.
NDHunter
Veteran member
That's great advice there.
Does anybody know if there are many outfitters or anybody else that you can hire to pack out an animal in the western part of the state in the general units? I think a NR could have great hunting outside the wilderness if he didn't have to worry about packing an animal out. Not to say you can't shoot an elk a mile from the road but if you knew you could get one packed out from 5 miles deep for $500 or so, I would jump all over that.
RICMIC
Veteran member
338, you mentioned that you had an area in Colorado, but didn't have horses. We rented horses from Sombraro Ranch, and it worked out well. Most outfitters are very busy during the fall, and if they even offer a pack-out, they are generally overpriced and not always available when you need them. If you're not somewhat experienced with horses though, don't even consider it as those big boys can kill you by accident. The advice about spending time to know an area is golden.
RICMIC
Veteran member
338, they delivered the horses with tack and feed right to the trailhead. I believe that you can also pick them up at one of several ranches. The horses and gear were great and did pack out one elk for us. We had bought a couple canvas saddle panniers before the hunt to help in that regard. It would have been nice for us to have a non-hunter in camp as a wrangler. We loaded down the panniers and led the horses to our camp site and were able to have a far more comfortable camp. In 2008 it cost us around $900 for two horses for a week. I think Sombraro covers most of northern CO., but check their web-site.
Dakota Drifter
Member
Sombraro is great to deal with but their prices did go up last year. We bought a cheap horse trailer and haul that out there so we can move to a different trailhead if we need to. If we decide to leave early and they cant get there to pick the horse up on short notice we can always bring it back to their location.
huntinman87
New Member
- Mar 11, 2015
- 3
- 0
I am planning a hunt for my dad and three brothers and I am trying to get some info on what units are good to hunt for elk we will be hiking but we will also have a base camp we are not scared to hike in and pack out meat and this year my dad turned 60 and a elk hunt in Colorado has been his dream and ours since I can remember and would like some info on some good units to look at but looking around white river national forest and around meeker any info will help thank you