In the stages of planning my first solo bivy backcountry bow hunt last 8 days of September season. I would love to hear from those of you who have attempted this. I've already got a few numbers of meat packets if I get a bull down. And I've been doing the google earth scouting along with my topi maps. I'm not asking where to go hunt , I'd like the know more logistics and hunting etiquette like after hiking in and your tired as hell and ready to stop and make camp but there's already hunters there how much further back do you go? And it being a solo hunt do you notify the local warden or forest service personnel of your hunt plan and route ? Stuff like that. Thanks.
Planning a solo DIY elk bowhunt in unit 15
- Thread starter RW2
- Start date
mgorm16640
Member
I have only done one bivy elk hunt, it was one of my first hunts after moving out west and it was a learning experience. I packed way too much food and water. I didn't have a firm idea on where I was going to find water so carried alot with me. You can't carry enough, so make sure you have a good plan for finding water. If you are lucky enough to live close to where you will be hunting or are planning a scouting trip, cache some water now and then you won't be stressing about it. Also thought I planned out meals pretty well. I had a large gallon zip lock bag with one days food in each bag, and I didn't eat everything I had packed. I do not the mountain house meals, which I learned on this hunt. Since then, I have been spending alot of time on lightweight backpacking sites. Looking for recipes I can dehydrate myself. If you have a dehydrator, you can eat pretty well and not pay the factory food prices. Try what ever you are planning on eating on this hunt now, to make sure you like it. Day 2 of an 8 day hunt is not the time or place to learn that you are not happy with menu selection. I took to many optics along, 10's 15's and spotting scope, with tri pod. I used the 15's a little bit, but all I really needes were the 10's and honestly my old set of 8's would have been ok to. I am not a trophy hunter and 10's are more than enough to let me know if an elk is worth taking off after. I was solo hunting and did get some use out of an elk decoy. I didn't back the poles, just had some 550 cord and quick clips that I could rig to a tree branch in a hurry. I can't take credit for the 550 cord idea. A friend of mine showed that to me and it worked out pretty well. Depending on how high you are hunting, it can get cold at night and in the morning. I took a 32 degree bag and slept in long johns and winter cap. It worked for me and thought I was cool some nights, I slept ok. I had a solo tent, but the weather was clear for the whole hunt and I never set it up. I don't know about the letting the warden know where I was going. My wife knew what unit I was hunting in and I told her what trail head I had planned on using, but once I was hunting I carried my camp with me and moved around quite a bit. I packed a book, but didn't read as much as I thought I would. If it was dark, I was eating or sleeping and if it was light I was looking for elk.
Things that I was glad I took. I good and bright headlamp. Baby wipes, can't have too many. Duct tape. tweezers. ibuprophen.
I was ultimately successful in this hunt, I managed to shoot a nice 5x5. My first elk. It is the rack in my profile photo that my son is holding. I ended up shooting him about 2 hours from my truck on the last day as I was headed back down. I packed out myself over 16 hours and 3 trips. I used an eberlestock bluewidow and the pack did ok. It was the pack I hunted out of all week. I do wish I had a freight hauler in the truck that I could have switched to after the first trip. Treking poles with a loaded pack were very helpful. I didn't use them much while hunting, but they were worth it on the way out, especially down hill trying to step over fallen trees until I got to a path.
What I learned in that I am an over packer and need to really cut back. If you want to find out if you are, pack all your gear including food and water and do conditioning hikes. You will quickly start stripping your gear list down to just the essentials.
This seems more like a list of what not to do, maybe you can take something from my mistakes. I am planning on doing better next go around.
Things that I was glad I took. I good and bright headlamp. Baby wipes, can't have too many. Duct tape. tweezers. ibuprophen.
I was ultimately successful in this hunt, I managed to shoot a nice 5x5. My first elk. It is the rack in my profile photo that my son is holding. I ended up shooting him about 2 hours from my truck on the last day as I was headed back down. I packed out myself over 16 hours and 3 trips. I used an eberlestock bluewidow and the pack did ok. It was the pack I hunted out of all week. I do wish I had a freight hauler in the truck that I could have switched to after the first trip. Treking poles with a loaded pack were very helpful. I didn't use them much while hunting, but they were worth it on the way out, especially down hill trying to step over fallen trees until I got to a path.
What I learned in that I am an over packer and need to really cut back. If you want to find out if you are, pack all your gear including food and water and do conditioning hikes. You will quickly start stripping your gear list down to just the essentials.
This seems more like a list of what not to do, maybe you can take something from my mistakes. I am planning on doing better next go around.
Thank you for the info. I don't live close by at all. South Carolina... I did purchase a Sawyer water filtration system so not too worried about that. Bought a Jetboil and planned on doing the Mountain house meals. Was on the fence about trekking poles but may opt for them. Living so far away and going solo into elk country I'm kinda at a loss for the cardinal rule of TELL SOMEONE WHERE YOUR GOING...game warden seems like a better plan than no one.
I've taken 2 elk in northern Idaho on drop camps first with bow and following year with rifle and there was no comparison to the archery one..total excitement! It's more about the adventure of the unknowns in a new place than sticking an elk. But my wife would like for me to make it back alive and in one piece.
I've taken 2 elk in northern Idaho on drop camps first with bow and following year with rifle and there was no comparison to the archery one..total excitement! It's more about the adventure of the unknowns in a new place than sticking an elk. But my wife would like for me to make it back alive and in one piece.
JimP
Administrator
One problem with depending on a water filtration system is finding water in the fall of the year, it might be over a mile hike downhill and then back up for it. Even water sources that you see on Google Earth might be dry depending on the time of year that the picture was taken.
I don't know where you were hunting in Idaho but be prepared for higher elevations here in Colorado. The last week in September you can have 2' of snow or 90 degree temperatures, you just never know.
I don't know where you were hunting in Idaho but be prepared for higher elevations here in Colorado. The last week in September you can have 2' of snow or 90 degree temperatures, you just never know.
Matthoek21
Veteran member
X2 what JimP said. This actually happened to us one year. Spent more time and energy trying to get water than we did hunting elk.
RICMIC
Veteran member
Books have been written about the "how-tos" of back country hunting. Read all you can. I'll address the personal safety issue; Carry a locator beacon or sat phone. Bring your own cell phone, but unless you have been there before, you can't count on it working. Even if they work on the top of the mountain, you may need to use it when you are in the bottom of a gully with broken body parts. Either have a recharger, or make sure you save some battery life for emergencies. A SPOT or Delorme In-Reach will give your wife some comfort, especially if you can check in regularly. Carry your device on your person and not in your pack. Your GPS coordinates as you move camp or get game down can be updated throughout your trip. Leave an itinerary with your wife, with location of the vehicle, description, lic. #, etc. Look up the Sheriff's # and list that too. Call the prospective packer ahead of the trip and ensure that he will be available for you and that there is a reliable method to contact him.
I have spent months on solo canoe trips, and have done solo deer hunts in WY and CO, but I would NOT do a solo elk hunt without a very firm arrangement to get the game out ASAP. If the conditions and situation are good, you may manage it yourself, but you can't count on it.
I have spent months on solo canoe trips, and have done solo deer hunts in WY and CO, but I would NOT do a solo elk hunt without a very firm arrangement to get the game out ASAP. If the conditions and situation are good, you may manage it yourself, but you can't count on it.
Slugz
Veteran member
RICMIC hits all the points. I'd use it like a checklist and try to do as many as possible. Its worth it when the unplanned for event .......happens.
K.I.S.S......have a plan B and C. I got snowed off the mountain Sept 23rd last year......and I was somewhere very familiar and I still came down.
If you have no one to tell where you are at I'd be happy to give you my number and email. I'll be in the woods but I go high once a day to electronically check in.
Most importantly keep asking questions. Lots of great guys, gals and info here.
K.I.S.S......have a plan B and C. I got snowed off the mountain Sept 23rd last year......and I was somewhere very familiar and I still came down.
If you have no one to tell where you are at I'd be happy to give you my number and email. I'll be in the woods but I go high once a day to electronically check in.
Most importantly keep asking questions. Lots of great guys, gals and info here.
JimP
Administrator
Another thing is that unless you are dead set on a pack in hunt i would truck camp it the first year. Then you can hike into the areas that you are thinking about packing into and see what is there and then decide if you want to pack into them.
Plenty of elk can be found within a mile of most all trail heads.
Plenty of elk can be found within a mile of most all trail heads.
Bonecollector
Veteran member
I agree with Jim on this, but if the OP wants to pack in 1-2 miles to setup camp, it would be reasonable and get him away from many of the guys who only circle in from the roads 1 mile or so. This is a bigger deal in rifle, but will also add to the experience.
Elkhunter96
Active Member
It's been a few years, but if my memory serves me, 15 is just outside of steamboat springs. Lots of water, bears and some elk. I have done it solo a few times. As others have said, take a sat phone and don't go to far in, it's a big job to get one out especially in hot weather
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
- 3,951
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I have a delorme in-reach. In today's day and age our loved ones really like to know that we arnt lost or dead.
My wife insisted and I didn't complain because the thing gave me an up to date weather report daily.
This year water was a struggle for us as well. We planned out daily excursion around water capture. It worked out ok though because that is where the few animals that were around called home anyhow.
I hunt alone a lot. Hunting alone 5 miles from the nearest road is practical but you better be a woodsman because if something bad it tends to escalate quickly..
My wife insisted and I didn't complain because the thing gave me an up to date weather report daily.
This year water was a struggle for us as well. We planned out daily excursion around water capture. It worked out ok though because that is where the few animals that were around called home anyhow.
I hunt alone a lot. Hunting alone 5 miles from the nearest road is practical but you better be a woodsman because if something bad it tends to escalate quickly..