New guy on the block

[Luke Downing]

Wanted to drop in and say hello to everyone here. I just signed up to the forums here hoping to fet some information and some ideas on a hunt out west I would like to do. Hoping to do an elk hunt in the 2015 season. I have never been out west and have always wanted to and hopefully I will be able to in 2015. Will probably be asking quite a few questions. Also planning on getting the eastmans magazine also for information also. Hope to learn some stuff from you all




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[ScottR]

Glad you found us! No matter where you live we love to see what you have been up to in the outdoors, lets see some pictures!

Thanks for joining, I hope you find the information are looking for!

 

[Hilltop]

Welcome. What state do you want to hunt in and what preparations have you made up to this point?

 

[marcusvdk]

welcome to the forum theres lots of great people on here.

 

[Alabama]

Welcome. Where are you from?

 

[RUTTIN]

Welcome to the EF. Just a word of warning, once you come out West you are hopelessly addicted and will have to come back every year, hope your hunts out West are always successful!

 

[Squirrel tail]

welcome....be sure to not forget you camera where ever you go

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Welcome to the forum. Lots of great info here for all.

 

[Luke Downing]

Thanks for the welcome everyone. To answer a few of the questions I live in central Missouri and am primarily a whitetail hunter. I am die hard archery guy also.
As far as what state I would like to go to on a hunt I really do not have any preference As to which one really. I know some are draw and some are OTC tags like Colorado. But I really am not sure which one to try and go for.
I know most for draw tags you need preference points to get a decent tag or a tag at all so more than likely I will probably go to Colorado since tags are easy to get. But I am all for any one giving some opinions

And I am not against using a guide either. And that might be the best thing for me to do since it would be my first time out there

This will be for a hunt in 2015 so I have some time to choose. And I will also need to get some gear and so on


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[Musket Man]

Welcome Luke! I went to sedalia, MO last year. First time in my life I ever wanted to take a shower every 15 minutes, I never knew it could be so humid anywhere! What weapon would you be wanting to hunt these elk with? I would also look at a WY antelope hunt for your first western hunt. I would recommend getting all of Mike Eastmans books and reading them cover to cover a few times, and subscribe to EBJ and EHJ! Tons of great info in them to help plan your first hunt!

 

[Luke Downing]

I have a good friend of mine that has been out west quite a few times and is sending me a bunch of eastmans magazines to read through.
As for weapon I'm taking my bow. I'm a die hard bow hunter and just wouldn't feel right for me to take a rifle.



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[bluecat]

Welcome Luke, Since you're a stick slinger I know you would have a blast with elk in Colorado. You said that you weren't opposed to a guide and that is a good option for a first hunt, but don't forget about trespass hunts or even DIY. I've done both and always found elk which was always what I feared the most. Just apply your whitetail scouting to elk and you will be all right.

 

[CrossCreeks]

Glad your hear, this a great place to gather information on hunting out west. Like you were told before " beware it is very addictive " Good Luck !

 

[Hilltop]

Thanks for the welcome everyone. To answer a few of the questions I live in central Missouri and am primarily a whitetail hunter. I am die hard archery guy also.
As far as what state I would like to go to on a hunt I really do not have any preference As to which one really. I know some are draw and some are OTC tags like Colorado. But I really am not sure which one to try and go for.
I know most for draw tags you need preference points to get a decent tag or a tag at all so more than likely I will probably go to Colorado since tags are easy to get. But I am all for any one giving some opinions

And I am not against using a guide either. And that might be the best thing for me to do since it would be my first time out there

This will be for a hunt in 2015 so I have some time to choose. And I will also need to get some gear and so on


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Luke,

You have a ton of options to explore. Wyoming is another option for you if you buy a preference point this summer. With one point you can draw a general tag in 2015. IMO elk is the most challenging western big game hunt so you may consider antelope for your first time? It makes for an easier hunt and is lower cost and lower stress usually. Either way lots of people on here to help. I have a lot of experience on the ground in Wyoming if you need any help or advice- feel free to send me a PM.

 

[Luke Downing]

Hilltop thanks a ton for the info as well as the offer.
I am not opposed to Wyoming either and am planning on buying a point this year also for Wyoming


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[ScottR]

Hilltop thanks a ton for the info as well as the offer.
I am not opposed to Wyoming either and am planning on buying a point this year also for Wyoming


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Stick round here Luke! There will be a lot of information that will help you plan your hunts for the future. If I were in your shoes I would look at a digital subscription. You will be able to access back issues as well that should help you research hunts into the future.

 

[Luke Downing]

Scott
A friend of mine has been a subscriber for years to Eastmans. And he is sending me a ton of magazines.



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[HuskyMusky]

It's not too late to buy a pref point in WY for elk...

I would strongly suggest doing that! even if you don't want to hunt elk in WY in 2015, although you could do much worse than Elk in WY, def a solid elk state!

 

[Luke Downing]

I do plan on buying a point this year as well as next. A good friend of mine has been giving me ideas and so on for elk hunting as he has been out west many times and we are planning on trying to do a WY DIY hunt in 2016 so I'm gonna buy a point this year as well as next and hope we both get tags


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