Groceries don't count. You eat no matter where you are, and the crap I eat on backpack trips is way cheaper than my meals at home. My Elk hunt will consist of the $800ish Montana tag, gas money from Colorado, and that's it. Unless I pay bribes to Dave to come help pack it out when I score on a huge bull! Lol never hurts to remain optimistic. For guys apprehensive because you have never done a trip like this. Just go! Buy the basic gear needed and go for an awesome week backpacking in the mountains with an off chance at scoring an elk. What could be better?
Your Alaska hunt was a big motivating factor for me deciding to do this. So I guess I owe you a Thank you and possibly a beer or 12.
Lol I may not know anything about being able to kill the animals out west, but I certainly know how to hike in and act like I am hunting them. The new challenge factor of the trip itself is as big a rush to me as scoring on the animal. But for Elk or Mulies, Dave and others deserve your beer. You'll gain a lot more knowledge that way than from me haha.
Tembry, why don't you give us a few pointers that you learned from your Alaska trip. Things you did, wish you would've done, and will never do again.
I am willing to pack! I am leaving for work here in a few but I will leave a detailed message for everyone tonight. I really want to see you his take this head on, no drop camp. It takes research but can be easily done. Hell, I'll even help you guys out with finding spots to hunt. Elk hunting is something everybody needs to experience at some point.
I'm looking forward to your post. Thanks. (Have you noticed that our member picture is nearly identical?)
My trip to CO came in just under 1000 in 2013. Otc public land. One of the things I did to save money was take the wifes car (40mpg) an leave my new Z71 at home. It's definitely possible. Dave and trevor can give you some good tips. The best thing I can tell you is be in top shape. I was in shape last year but packing that elk out nearly killed me. I will definitely be hiking the mountains around the house this spring with the weight of a quarter in my pack. Start researching and have fun. There nothing like chasing those critters! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk
Exactly! Dave and Trevor are miles ahead of me - so listen up when they offer to help! my .02...I have only done CO so will go that route (I think MT and WY might have some better areas): DIY-OTC Elk in CO. Tags up this year to $600, $200 fuel (4 guys, 16hours pulling trailer - 2 guys no trailer helps mileage quickly). As Trevor said food is not a cost - I absolutely eat cheaper during elk camp than I do at home (but still can't convince the wife I'm "saving" money) My fixed costs are $800. Gear is as crazy as you want it...but can also take time to aquire over the years. I bet you have enough to go right now - and even if you need to upgrade the 3 essentials (supportive boots, good pack, gps), there are ways to do that via sales or used on ebay for very, very cheap. I could get all 3 for $200 and keep first year trip at $1000. One year we drove out and camped in a crappy old backyard nylon tent, I put two old sleeping bags inside each other to stay warm, and we froze chili and stews before we left to cook up each night in a pot. We had a ball! But - this is not whitetail hunting, there are many days you don't spot an elk...but sure doesn't seem like any of us have cared and lastly - beer tastes twice as good in elk camp - and nearly 10x better when you haul an elk back into camp
I am planning a DIY CO elk hunt for Sept 2014. I already have most of the trip planned, since a bunch of us go out every year to ride ATV's. No one that goes on the ATV trip has hunted out there but where we go should be decent elk country as we see many elk every year while riding. What I am thankful for is the travel and lodging are already all planned and split up between any where from 6-12 guys depending on who can make the trip. The only extra expense this trip should cost me is the cost of the tag as I would already be going anyway. Looking forward to more tips from the guys that have already been.
I never counted food as a cost on my waterfowl hunts. Mans gotta eat no matter where he is. I've been going to ND to duck hunt for the last 12-13 years so I'm familiar with hunting away from home. But this mountain/elk thing is different.I always would pack stuff to cook with duck and we would eat duck for a week to stay under our possession limits. Part of the fun of the trip was the cooking. I think the last part of your post sums up the way I would approach it, just spending time in the Mtns. My worst fear is that I'll love it.
So, let me add some additional questions for the guys who are from the area and are recommending just doing a DIY hunt. I've gotta be honest, the idea of packing into the wilderness on horses and hunting for a week (the guided trip) is literally like a dream come true for me. But there are some intangibles that I wouldn't have control over. What if my hunting partner is a jerk? What if my guide is too? etc. There's something very appealing about going it with a partner that you've picked, not picked for you. Just walking in and controlling your own destiny. But you do give up some of the creature comforts, like packing in by horse, food cooked, ample water supply. etc. So for the guys who've "been there done that" here are my next set of questions. 1. Water...You guys can't possibly be carrying in enough water for a week? Are you using something like a Platypus water filter? 2. Are you really just backpacking in, or am I missing something. Are you being packed in by someone else's horses? 3. Are you keeping camp in one location throughout the hunt, or are you moving your camp throughout the trip? (not everyday, but whenever the mood strikes) 4. This is also bear country. Are you packing firearms as well? If there's only two of you, and you're both hunting, you've left the camp unattended. How are you controlling bears raiding your camp? Hanging everything in trees? 5. Packing the tent...Are you going for comfort or speed? In other words, are you packing a bigger tent, or are you keeping it as small as possible.
I'll give you my $.02 worth and you can take it for exactly that :D. I got my first elk license in 1971 so I've been on a few hunts. By no means am I a great elk hunter but I have experience enough to share a little. MichiHunter, I don't know how old you are but if you are up in years (relatively speaking) and can afford to go on the guided hunt I highly recommend it for several reasons. First, if you have never hunted elk before, you will learn more from a professional guide in a week than on your own in three seasons. If you have time later and want to do a DIY hunt in the coming years, the experience you got with the guide will be priceless. Second, like you said, a guided hunt like you are looking at would be a dream come true. My buddy and I are still doing our own hunts (I'm 56) and we love it. This is an area I grew up in and know very well, but we both have talked about experiencing a guided trip just one time. We've done pretty much everything DIY our entire lives and would enjoy a trip like this just for something different. We can afford it so why not? Third, DIY hunts take a lot of time to put together but the real issue is knowing the area and the patterns the elk move in during that time of year. Oh, you'll figure it out over time but if you have only 5 days to hunt, it may be a little frustrating for you. When I was younger I never would have considered using a guide. Things change with age. Good luck with your decision.
Thanks JGD. That's good info and much appreciated. Yes, I'm up in years. (45)....I can't believe I'm getting to the point where I'm up in years" the other day I was in a meeting. I looked around and realized I was the oldest person in the room by at least a decade.
All great points...you absolutely need to take into consideration age, funds, and ultimate goal of such a hunt...
Hurts your feeling don't it. I knew I was old when all of the women I thought were hot started calling me "Sir". Where is BackCountry? I've been waiting for him to get home from work all day. He clearly works too much.
Thought I'd throw this out there for those who're interested. It's for CO, but the information you can get from it (mostly novice Elk Hunting) can go for any state. Introduction to Elk Hunting. An Introduction to Elk Hunting | Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Being from Montana I would have to recommend a DIY as well. Lots and lots of quality access around the state. Also if you haven't I would look at some of the guides over here on the eastern side of the state. Beginning to get more and more elk over this way very year. Also look into the fort peck area if you are looking to chase them with stick and string. Both trophy class elk and mule deer every year come out of there. Anyways just my 2 cents best of luck this fall.
Honestly, I think trying to do a backpack hunt would be putting more stress in the planning than needed. I would be looking at an area with ample public land areas where I could simply camp at the truck and hunt from there every day. Backpacking is a whole different game. So, assuming you can find an area to truck camp you have now solved your water, tent, and food storage issues. Rather than doing multiple quotes and trying to answer every question I will simply go over what I would be looking for in an OTC DIY type hunt setting... 1. Location- Obviously our first step in picking out a location. I am going to be looking for a state with OTC tags, lots of public land, and units that offer either sex tags (My first hunt I would have sights set on ANY legal elk). I would primarily focus on areas that are +/- 3 to 4 hours from a major metropolitan area. This is going to eliminate a lot of your hunting pressures. Next, I am going to research to success rates for any GMU's that are peaking my interest. This will generally not play a whole lot into my decision, though. Most elk hunters can expect a 10% yearly success rate. Next, I am going to make sure I can hunt on the dates that I want too. I prefer anything from 9-10 through 9-25. The few days before and after the 15th are my favorite (My bull was killed the 15th this year). 2. Maps- Once I have established a GMU, or two, I am going to begin looking at maps, both aerial and topo. I am looking for areas of little to no road access. General rule of thumb is that guys typically will not go further than 1-2 miles in on a gated road and generally less than a half mile off of the road in either direction. People are lazy. I can go a LONG ways into reading maps, one step at a time. 3. Make the Calls!- Once I have narrowed down some specific areas (i.e. Dry Creek Drainage, Whistlers Point, etc..) I am going to call the states F&G department and speak to biologist's in the area. They know the area's better than most and are willing to share information. I like to ask about local ranch's in the area, hunting pressure, elk populations, and the populations of wolves (in applicable states). Now, taking the recommendation of the biologist I will re-evaluate my take on a specific area and try to pinpoint specific areas I want to check for elk. I will mark these on my GPS and check them when I reach the area. GPS usage is a whole different area that I feel very comfortable is discussing, feel free to ask! 4. Gear- This is fairly difficult area to broadly expound upon. I am going to make sure I have ALL of my bases covered and make sure I have all of the necessities (packs, boots, game care equipment, first aid). We can expand on this as we get more specific into gear selections. One point I would like to address, and I cannot express this enough, TRY OUT YOUR NEW GEAR BEFORE YOU LEAVE!! Elk country is not the place to be breaking the seal on new equipment. Yes, your wife will tease you when you set a tent up in the back yard. No, your neighbor will not appreciate the bugles lofting through the neighborhood all summer. Yes, you will thank me! 5. Meat Care- there is a lot to be said about dealing with the meat once an elk is down. Are you going to take to meat to a processor immediately? Bring big coolers? This needs to be addressed first and foremost. In the field meat care can be very difficult on elk. We can hit on this later. 6. Get in Shape!!!- Not just running and conditioning. You need to put miles on in your new boots. You need to take hikes with heavy (50+) pound loads in your pack. Hit the stair master or hills and get in elk shape. P90X is a great option. This is also a great time to get your at home and the the field diet figured out. 7. Shoot, shoot, shoot!- Elk come in at weird angles all of the time. When a bull comes in it can be at a dead run and you need to be ready. Study elk anatomy while your at it, they are different than deer. You can crowd the hell out of the shoulder. 8. Learn the Calls- A bugle is not just a bugle, it can literally mean 20 different things. Buy Elknuts videos, watch and re watch. Obviously these are generalities and there are a lot more precise discussion that is needed. I'm sure I've probably missed some things but we can take those in stride. As far as bear protection goes, its something to definitely consider. Personally, I do not carry either spray or a gun and have never felt the need to.
Thanks for taking the time with this BackCountry, I really appreciate it. I don't know if I'm in love with the idea of camping out of the truck for a couple of reasons (in my head anyway) 1. I think I'm as excited about the idea of camping in the mountains as I was harvesting an elk. 2. If I've got limited actual hunting time, I feel like I'd be wasting a large part of the day traveling back and forth to the vehicle? Am I overlooking something here? Obviously not familiar with the lay of the land. 3. I would love to harvest a big bull, but in reality, I've got no place to put those antlers in my house. I agree, cow or bull, I'll take the shot if I get the opportunity. I would love to throw in a little trout fishing for dinner. Location- Do you recommend any areas? I'm currently going through the MT hunting district map and comparing 2013 harvests in districts. I'm starting to get an idea of what Unit/District I'd like to be in. Some areas harvest more than others. Especially the units around Bozeman. But I'm making some assumptions.... 1. There are more elk harvested in these areas just because there are more hunters. 2. Because the unit is in/around Bozeman/Butte there are more hunters, because staying in/around Bozeman is easier on hunters. 3. Some decent numbers of elk being taken out of region 300. But I'm nearly certain it's overcrowded, pressured. Correct? Am I correct in this assumption? What regions would you take a serious look at? I'll definitely be doing my homework with F&G to try and get as much information as I can from them. I started reading about Grizzlies yesterday. Approx. 1700 in the lower 48. 1000 of them live in NW Montana. Yikes! I'm bringing bear spray and a pistol. Maybe you can clear this up for me....If camping out of a truck or camper, can you essentially drive near the top of the tree line and work your way to your hunting area from there? Or are you parked at the base of the mountain and climbing the 6-8000 ft. everyday? That's where I need some clarification. Thanks again, you're giving some great info.
