Nice rigs Dave! I love it how I feel out of place because I shoot a compound ...sure look forward to learning some trad tips from all the seasoned vets...
Just a thought Guys and Gals , if you plan on wearing Camo cream you may wanna put some WET WIPES ( unscented maybe ) on the kit list ?
Dave. WTF have you got on the string of the Bogan???????????????? Get some beaver balls or Musk-ox wool silencers and put on it.
Rubber cat whiskers , cannot get beaver or musk-ox in UK . I'll have get some when i come over or i'll arrange with you to send some as we cannot get them over here .
Dave. Come to think of it you can make your own. Just get some grey or brown wool used for making sweaters. Cut them to lenght ( about 3" or 4") when you have roughly 12 to 15 stands of wool tie them together in the middle with cotton. Place them in the string and start shooting the wool should ball up. You could use different colors to make your own camo silencers:D Think I'll go get some wool and try it out as I need some more string silencers I can see another easy do it yourself build a long coming:p
Will, I don't think we'll need to sticky this post. With the amount of traffic on it, it'll probably be on the front page until September! One suggestion though; go to page 12 and copy the list in my post over to your original post on page 1 so that we all know where to find it. It's current as of the info I have on 1/18. If you move it to your post you'll have to keep it updated from here on.
Haha, you know, I think you're right! I'm gonna pull a Jared Allen on this one and just spear one! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oibNvAbtpc Kidding, I'm bringing the same bow (Bowtech Equalizer 55lb@27") that I split another arrow with just tonight I didn't read every post about the calling but here's my two cents: I'm not a big fan at all of the bugle. It can ruin an area if you don't do it right and doesn't usually get the best response even if it is done properly. Cow calling is much more effective. The Hoochie Mama is good but also sounds the same every time and is hard to get any variation. I would recommend getting the Primos palette calls. You can trim them to fit your mouth if you need to and you can make a lot of varying tones and volumes. If you get one I would recommend getting them now and practicing with them. It does take a little bit of work to get good at them. When you're out there, keep it simple and don't over do it. That can get you busted just as fast as anything else. I've also found that if you get a response, shut up for a minute. Don't just keep calling. Let the elk move in and adjust, then call 1-2 more times and just wait. Once they've heard you, they know where you are and if they're interested, they'll keep coming in. If not, over calling isn't likely to change their minds.
Good stuff!! Pretty much what I do when I'm elk hunting out In Montana. Actually I'll be using mouth reeds, mostly cow and probably a young bull one. Good post Jessica!!!
I'm gonna follow Wilbur's lead. My cousin's as good an outdoorsman/hunter as I know. I learned a lot from him, when waterfowl hunting was my passion......and I sat out to become the best duck caller I could be. He said to me, once...."Jeff....the best advice I can give you on calling ducks/turkeys/etc.........is to set up where they wanna come to begin with". I'm looking forward to learning a few cow calls. And I'll also keep my mouth closed, if that's what my guide tells me to do.:D
Russ. I use just straight un spun wool. Split the string slide it in and start shooting. It balls up real quick then you just start trimming down. Works real well.
Good info right there.... Mastering the calls is tough, but if you can, you can almost talk with one....:D I'd be interested in this opportunity, but I'm a driver, not big on the "flying" thing, maybe I can get a travel partner to ride over with me from the eastern half of the US. Having been out west to hunt twice, I can say for me at least that the first couple days are the toughest on the lungs, but the rest of my body faired quite well. If you have heartburn occasionally, take some Pepcid/Famotidine and Tums along with you, and you'll be thankful. Good Boots make the difference between a good hunt/hike and a miserable trip.... Bring a camera and take some time to capture the beauty. Will what is the bear population like in this area??? I failed to heed the advice of many people in the area I went into this past fall, and had to sit and watch a beauty of a cinnamon blacky roll around in a wallow for a few minutes while I repeatedly in my mind kicked myself in the arse for NOT taking that advice to "Buy a Bear tag, you might see one...." If someone else from the East is interested in this, I have a truck that's more than capable, w/ a cap, and would like to have someone to split time in the driver's seat with me to make the trip a little easier on me than the 26hr ride back from CO I endured empty-handed and w/ a swollen throbbing ankle this last time..... Here's a link to a map in that general area, actually real near the area of the camp.... http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=39.46569,-106.34714&z=15&t=T As far as maps, Acme Mapper is great, also BLM maps are excellent in my experience.
Sound advice Jessica and Steve , thats exactly what i plan on doing this time round ( leaving the bugle at home this time ) . I got the Elk mouth calls made easy pack from Primos , you get 3 reeds , a carry case with lanyard and an instructional CD . I practice once a week ,it ain't as easy as it looks either . Russ Why the heck would i make Camo String silencers , when you made my strings from flourecent green and yellow :p:p:p ..... You're a funny Aussie lol . Cheers for the heads-up and the materials though , i'm gonna try that out later . Thanks Buddy Doug Thanks for the link , i've been looking for a topo of the area and you just got it . Sweet
OK...who here will take the first Cow Elk that presents a shot? I have no experience with Elk nor anybody close to me to ask this too...don't think I would on day 1 or maybe day 2...but would sure be hard to pass a legal Elk after that. So what you thinking?
I don't hunt for bone so the first legal Elk that presents a shot is going down. Dave You told me you wanted the string to compliment your hair color
I will. I don't have room in my house for antlers, can't afford a taxidermist if I kill a bull, and I have room in my freezer. NO DOUBT!
I've hunted elk 6 different times out west and I'm still looking to arrow my 1st elk. In all 6 trips 10 days was the shortest hunt. When I go I usually stay for as long as possible and make the best of the trip. 5 of them trips were In Montana and the other trip was In Idaho. Of them 5 Montana hunts only one was In big mountain country (Livingston area). Awesome, steep, rugged area full of elk and some grizzly's. We packed In 7 miles on foot with 100lbs on my back. Man did I get the **** pounded out of me the 1st day but In time my body came around. This hunt was by far my most favorite. The other 4 Montana trips were done In big rolling hills near Fort Peck Montana. Not nearly as much work but 20 times the elk. The year I went to Idaho was my 1st year elk hunting, I was 16 years old. Elk were sparse and the mountains/terrain was very tough. Every elk hunt I've been on besides my 1st one I was hunting with my recurve I'm still using now. Every year also besides my 1st year I've had shot opportunities on cows but have elected to pass hoping for that big bull. I've actually let a few bulls by too- Spike, small 4x4 and another scrub. Troy (Shed) made a post In September of 2009 talking about a spike I think It was that he let go with his longbow and asked others what they would have done. I commented on what I've let by so far elk hunting but since then I've really thought hard on maybe just shooting the 1st cow that gives me that perfect shot. We'll see I guess. I'd love to get a bull and your chances will greatly Increase If you put the work In. But then again getting a cow Isn't no easy task either. They save many a bulls from being shot. To answer your question, we'll see what It looks like when I'm out there. Honestly an elk would be a plus but just being out there In what I call gods country Is enough for me If that's what happens.
Good stuff there from Jessica; to a T the same advice I'd give. Doug, Don't pass anything up on the first day that you wouldn't pass up on the last.
I will hold out for a Bull for a few days and be happy just to photograph anything else. If I get lucky and drop the string on cow or bull then it will just be a bonus. Easy said now though, might be a different story when Im actually there.
