Hey fellas headed out to CO next week for my first solo archery hunt. Feeling pretty good about the whole plan. I'm coyoting out for 4 nights. Anybody have any last minute tips or tricks they want to give up. I figure in gonna learn a few things the hard way. However I would much appreciate a jump on this curve.
Tips and Tricks
- Thread starter NHK9
- Start date
There are a few things I like to focus on. There are books written about your question.
If it gets cool, try not to sleep in the bottom near water, it will really be cool down low. Even a couple hundred feet up on a bench from the bottom of the draw will stay more dry and warmer at night. You may be OK in Sept in CO.
Make sure someone you know well knows where you will be and when you will be out to make a phone call. Solo is not dangerous, but if you get dinged or hurt solo, it can turn that way. A satellite phone is handy. I hunt solo a ton and have not had any problems, I just take extra care in how I hunt ie, what I will climb up and down in the way of cliffs, etc.
I'm sure you have read everything under the sun in the way of elk hunting with a bow. # 1 is always consider the wind, elk can smell us 1/2 mile or more away and have no tolerance for us. Be patient, don't call too much when trying to locate elk. Call during the night and spike camp near the bugles so you can be there in the morning at first light to stalk into them. If you find an active wallow, and it is a hot day, sit that wallow from 2 pm until dark on the downwind side. When you do call elk, always knock an arrow and make sure you can move your feet without making a bunch of noise, clear the ground under you. Some elk will just come in silent or they may run in - I learned this the hard way.
Take a range finder, elk will look huge to you compared to deer and it will be harder to judge distances. On the shot, don't try to snug the shot into the shoulder pocket. Elk have huge lungs and there is a dinner plate kill zone behind the shoulder, mid body vertical. There is no need to flirt with the armor plated shoulder blade of an elk.
Make sure you drink a ton, and use something like Wilderness Athlete to replenish your fluids. Be sure to journal your hunt some way, so you can remember it in a few years and so we can all read it when you get back. It is a blessing to be among elk in the mountains. Best of luck and be safe.
If it gets cool, try not to sleep in the bottom near water, it will really be cool down low. Even a couple hundred feet up on a bench from the bottom of the draw will stay more dry and warmer at night. You may be OK in Sept in CO.
Make sure someone you know well knows where you will be and when you will be out to make a phone call. Solo is not dangerous, but if you get dinged or hurt solo, it can turn that way. A satellite phone is handy. I hunt solo a ton and have not had any problems, I just take extra care in how I hunt ie, what I will climb up and down in the way of cliffs, etc.
I'm sure you have read everything under the sun in the way of elk hunting with a bow. # 1 is always consider the wind, elk can smell us 1/2 mile or more away and have no tolerance for us. Be patient, don't call too much when trying to locate elk. Call during the night and spike camp near the bugles so you can be there in the morning at first light to stalk into them. If you find an active wallow, and it is a hot day, sit that wallow from 2 pm until dark on the downwind side. When you do call elk, always knock an arrow and make sure you can move your feet without making a bunch of noise, clear the ground under you. Some elk will just come in silent or they may run in - I learned this the hard way.
Take a range finder, elk will look huge to you compared to deer and it will be harder to judge distances. On the shot, don't try to snug the shot into the shoulder pocket. Elk have huge lungs and there is a dinner plate kill zone behind the shoulder, mid body vertical. There is no need to flirt with the armor plated shoulder blade of an elk.
Make sure you drink a ton, and use something like Wilderness Athlete to replenish your fluids. Be sure to journal your hunt some way, so you can remember it in a few years and so we can all read it when you get back. It is a blessing to be among elk in the mountains. Best of luck and be safe.
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
- 3,938
- 3,254
Good advice there.
Keep the wind in your face and an arrow knocked when practical. If you are there to call elk. Call elk. If you are there to kill an elk have your bow in your hand and be ready. Many a men have been caught with their pants down on an elk slipping in..I know im still having nightmares about a bull that snuck in on me and busted me on public land. He was quite a bull...
Keep the wind in your face and an arrow knocked when practical. If you are there to call elk. Call elk. If you are there to kill an elk have your bow in your hand and be ready. Many a men have been caught with their pants down on an elk slipping in..I know im still having nightmares about a bull that snuck in on me and busted me on public land. He was quite a bull...
Solid stuff guys thank you. I have read a ton of book, articles, and online stuff. I just know the guys that have been doing it will have little tricks to make things easier.
Thank you
Thank you
RICMIC
Veteran member
Try to place your camp where it is not visible by your quarry, yet you can sneak to a place to spot from. Avoid camping too far from water (but not right next to it), as you will need to replenish your supply often, and in a pinch a cold stream or spring can cool your meat down quickly.
Matthoek21
Veteran member
Great advice.
Pre hydrate to help avoid altitude sickness. And I mean drink a lot of water. Even to the point where you pi$$ every 15 minutes. Take care of your feet. Hope you have good hiking boots and not hunting boots. Wear merino wool. Satellite phone is nice to have. My dad broke his leg out there one year on the first day about 6 miles from the road. Sat phone came in handy to get him out. SAR came and got him. Thank god cause I don't know what we were gonna do otherwise...probably put an arrow in him and leave him for the buzzards and coyotes.
Pre hydrate to help avoid altitude sickness. And I mean drink a lot of water. Even to the point where you pi$$ every 15 minutes. Take care of your feet. Hope you have good hiking boots and not hunting boots. Wear merino wool. Satellite phone is nice to have. My dad broke his leg out there one year on the first day about 6 miles from the road. Sat phone came in handy to get him out. SAR came and got him. Thank god cause I don't know what we were gonna do otherwise...probably put an arrow in him and leave him for the buzzards and coyotes.