Any Advice on Elk Hunting Montana/Colorado

Just remember the "break even" point when comparing to rentals assumes that there is zero residual value in the owned equipment. If you gave $1.5k for that equipment, you could likely get close to $1k after a few years. You'd be out $500 down the road, vs the full $1.5k by renting.

If you can come up with the money up front, buy once cry once. Good gear lasts decades. That said, if you can't afford to buy the gear don't let that steer you from going. Borrow from friends and rent if necessary to hit those hills!

 

Nope, it's not an issue of affording, it's just "use" how often will I use it? I have 3 kids and a wife, the odds of me using a 1 person tent unless I'm out west is slim. Same thing with the rest of the equipment, Michigan doesn't require this type of quality equipment.

Funny thing, you literally can't physically get your hands on a Tenzing backpack in Michigan,

 

Now we're talking. The number one thing that was holding me back from doing a trip was the cost of the gear to do it. Heck, I might hate spending a week in a tent sleeping in the dirt freezing my butt off eating nasty food climbing crazy steep mountains that I cant catch my breath in looking for an animal that I've never seen before and cant seem to find.
Thank you for that post and link.

 

I thought of you when I posted it.

 

Although I agree with Trevor and myself would prefer to buy - and even resell if it wasn't for me (the used market is strong for high end gear)...this is still a sweet option to have. Probably even more so for those that have the money and just don't have the storage space or time to use outside of 1 week per year. Pretty cool way to use different gear each trip if you are doing different hunts.
I would be sure to read the fine print on damage and replacement costs...I've taken a couple nice spills in the backcountry...it can be hard on gear...

 

Tent? Who needs a tent? I use a tarp it works great. An it weighs nothing when im camped 5 miles from the truck.

Im with trevor on the buying gear. But, if you only use it once a week every three or four years the way you are going may be the way.

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Nice find going to have to check it out. I agree with the tent and pack we might only use a couple times because who knows when this opportunity will come again. If I knew for a fact that I would be using it every year buying it out right would be the way. But honestly a pack like what we will need has no use for me besides this hunt and if I did it again. Just a thought though I would highly reccommend buying a pair of binos and a range finder, I never hit the woods without mine.

 

Another thing I just thought about is it would be nice to get comfortable with carrying the pack and everything. I know I will be wanting to be do a lot of hiking around with a full load before I go out and do it on the mountains. If you rent it kinda limits you from doing that

 

A pack is one thing I would NOT rent. They will pay dividends for years.

 

That might be the one thing going to have to buy then just sell after. For us flat landers we have no need for a pack like that. This is really the only hunt I can see my self using it for besides way way down the road if I ever make a Alaska trip

 

The gear rental thing is genius if you ask me. The thought of buying all the things I would need has always been too overwhelming to seriously think about a trip like this. If I am ever able to do it it would be a 1 time only thing more than likely and I have no need for for high end stuff like this for MD whitetails. Thanks for the idea!

 

Yeah, I haven't decided to rent or not at this point, but I saw it last night and thought it was a great option for someone who would love to do a hunt, but for whatever reason can't or don't want to purchase gear. It certainly opens the door to doing one of these trips for a lot of people.

I'd love to have a Tenzing pack, I know what I want, my problem is I'm a bit "old" when it comes to shopping. I want to physically put my hands on my purchase. I've went everywhere looking for a quality pack in MI, nobody carries them. There's just no possible way to get my hands on a Tenzing without purchasing it first.

The tents and other stuff aren't a problem, I've found everything easily at REI.

 

I never knew about the renting option. If I was only going to do it once or twice in my life I would look into renting depending on fine print etc. But things like binos, range finder, etc. are all things you use for deer hunting as well. A pack and wall tents may be limited use items.

 

IM going to do a little bit of research on the tent and what not, cause things like that renting would be a good idea.
Paul- I was at the cabelas in Saginaw and they had a bandlands pack not sure what one exactly but I really liked it. going to have to do a little more looking into it though

 

Just be careful...you might rent AND end up buying all the gear next year
It's hard for me to imagine someone not wanting to return to the elk woods ASAP after their first trip...but everyone's different.

Just a comment - many warned me - I thought it was a 1 time "check it off the list hunt"...I whiffed on that one.

Gearing up is fun too...you guys are doing it right with all the research...

 

You can make your gear as expensive or economical as you want. I use the same bag for deer as I do elk and coyotes. The pack frame is the only thing I've added over the years that has just been for elk. This year I do plan on adding a GPS that will be mainly for elk but I can also use to give coordinates to Division of Wildlife on bear and bobcat kills as we have to get pretty close when checking them in. I have a 0 degree sleeping bag that I use when camping but I also camp out on some hog hunts, ranch rodeo's brandings etc. Same for my stove and Tipee

 

How is cell service? I have Sprint. Do you use your phone for mapping, texting, etc. (At Will's camp.)

 

I hope thats not the case cause I have a bunch of other hunts I want to cross off the list in the future. I know I will be back elk hunting some day but then camp will probably be at the truck and just pack in and out every day. then I can use a normal pack until I need to pack out meat

 

I was at BassPro yesterday. They had the badlands packs, but the CI's weren't big enough. Only day packs.

I WANT a Tenzing, my runner up would be an Eberlestock. I'd take either and be perfectly happy. They don't exist in Michigan, you can purchase online, but that's it.

 

Ok, I pulled the trigger. I'm sick of thinking about it. BackCountry recommended I get the size smaller, but I decided I should go with the Tenzing 5000. I'd be heart broken if I bought the 4000 and just didn't have enough room for the trip.

I really hate buying stuff online.