In the 6ish years I have been a member here there has never been a large Western crowd. Lately, though, it seems that more and more residents of the west are joining and even more of the eastern guys are heading west. I thought it would be a cool idea to create a thread where all of our preparations, gear questions, and hunts can be collaborated. I know Trevor has a hell of a trip ahead of him and Paul and Coheley are in the process of planning their trip out to CO for elk. So here it is: Where are you hunting and for what? What Gear questions do you have? How are you getting in shape and prepared?
So here it is: Where are you hunting and for what? Wyoming for elk, pronghorn, whitetail, mule deer, and turkey. What Gear questions do you have? None yet. So far, only addition was a pack. How are you getting in shape and prepared? Nothing special to get in shape. I have to be in reasonable shape for the military. Preparation includes honing my skills learning back tension and shooting 3-D.
I'll be headed back for my annual Elk trip opening weekend in CO. It's taken me several years to get the gear I've wanted. After I order my SG pack I'll be good for a little while. Ive been hiking an mountain biking so far. Will start carrying weight on my hikes soon. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk
As most of you guys know I live and hunt in MT Bear and turkey season will open on 4/15. Ill likely not be able to hunt bear until the middle of may but I'll be going deeper than I ever have. Antelope opens on 8/15 and I may make my way east for that. never tried it with a bow. Elk and deer general open on 9/6. Can't wait for elk hunting this year. All I ever think about it. If luck pulls my way I may also have a Bighorn Ewe tag this year as well. Fingers crossed!! I have been running on the elliptical and once our two feet of snow melts I will begin hikes with 50+ pounds in the pack.
We do have the "Big Game Forum" which is pretty much everything but whiteys :D I live in Wyoming and I hunt everyday from 8/15-??? for goats, muley, whitey, elk, moose, etc. Very few of those days are for me :D
The only big game tag I have drawn so far this year is WY elk and that's what my main focus will be going into fall so that will probably affect how many other tags I aggressively go after. Maybe a combined antelope pre-hunt scouting trip to WY? Or possibly mule deer... I'm working on putting together a new rig so that's my current project...
My finalized plans altered a little bit due to dates for this fall. Had to cancel my Colorado Mule Deer plans which was originally my number one goal, but doubling the length of Moose float was a nice consolation prize. Aug 22- Aug 30 WY Antelope (ground blinds and spot/stalk) Aug 31- Sept 5 South Central AK Black Bear (spot/stalk along salmon strings dodging the brown bears) Sept 6- Sept 21 Western AK Moose Float Hunt (15 days rafting, two guys two moose tags and TWO brown bear tags) Sept 22- Oct 12 (or seasons end, whichever comes sooner) Western MT Elk (calling, spot/stalk, heck anything short of sacrificing life and limb to kill one) Oct 12 - Dec 1 Western MT Whitetails/Mulies (Will be working in MT for this time period, so will have 7-8 weekends to hunt) By then I will be broke and too tired to walk up the next hill anyway so it will be back east to finish up my last few months of rotations before earning my degree and finally hitting the real world. My main area to learn a lot this year is mapping. Clueless about online mapping/GPS technology for the most part. Will have laminated topos of each planned hunting area before I head out, but hope to be up to speed with my GPS to maximize its capabilities by then too.
Where are you hunting and for what? White Tail and Elk. What Gear questions do you have? Best trail cams? How are you getting in shape and prepared? practicing archery every chance possible.
1. Elk in CO. 2. Funny you should ask. I was about to buy a MSR pocket rocket stove, the guy at REI said, are you sure you won't have trouble lighting it in the altitude? I thought that was probably a good question. So, I need a mini-stove without issues lighting in the altitude. 3. Working out doing the P90x routine. Going to the range at least ever other day, shooting 5 arrows at a time, for 20-25 rounds. Studying topo maps. (By the way Tembry, there are some really good Youtube videos on maps) running 3 miles ever other day (the days I don't go to the range) Ordered some supplements to help me put on strength. I'm obsessed. I've been getting pointers from some of the old guys at the club, here's the difference in my shooting in a matter of a couple of days. I still manage to screw the pooch on one of the 5 arrows. I can't consistently get 5 in the bullseye. It's psychological at this point.
Where are you hunting and for what? Plan for September 2015 Elk hunt in Montana What Gear questions do you have? Give me the must haves for a week long elk hunt. Bivy or having a truck as basecamp. How are you getting in shape and prepared? Nothing yet, just looking at the tags and will start getting my points up. Buying gear is also slow and steady progress. Im in pretty good shape but my feet have been giving me problems lately, so Ill eventually start running/hiking. Also, been reading elknut forum and bought some dvds for calling elk.
Couldn't tell you. My lovely state does not allow use of them during season so I have never put much thought to them. I know a lot of guys like the coverts. Bushnell's mini cams are also nice. I have a Snow Peak stove LiteMax Ti and have never had an issue getting it lit. Granted, the highest I have had it lit was at 8K. I doubt you'll have an issue. Snow Peak LiteMax Stove - Free Shipping at REI.com Thats a tough one to answer without an exuberant amount of explanation. Check out Pauls thread, great info in there. http://forums.bowhunting.com/bowhunting-talk/58204-any-advice-elk-hunting-montana-colorado-15.html
Well not as exciting as some but I am put in for Elk (waiting on draw results) and running down muleys and some white tails. I am a Buck a holic and can't wait to get back into the field. Mostly been gearing up the last two years and am 90% but there is always issues to address. I need a bivy sack and a new tent. I shoot often and with my pack. I am not an ultra athlete anymore and do keep fit. Future goals down the road include travel for Elk and Muley Bucks. I am only looking at Muleys currently.
Well in the spring and winter I will be in TX trying to get turkey, deer and hog Then the main one wil be elk in CO I am still poking around on what things I will be able to borrow from my neighbors and what I am going to buy. As far as getting in shape I consider my self to be in fairly good shape but once the snow melts and warms up a little bit i will be kicking my self into gear with loaded down hikes, mt biking, bleachers, and who knows what else. Shooting at the 3d range once a week then will be back to shooting daily once it get nicer outside
I'm chasing mule deer this year. My gear question would how to divy up a deer camp between three guys and what gear would you bring? I'll be hitting the bike this spring and summer and lots of hiking and camping in the summer. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
New Wyoming-ite here! I am planning a couple spring turkey hunts back across the border into western NE (my home state) this year. Additionally here in cowboy country I am planning a Pronghorn hunt in August, and my first ever spot n' stalk Mule deer hunt. I am new to the sport and haven't even gotten my first bowkill yet! Unless you count hundreds of carp taken with my bowfishing set-up. I have been running as the weather allows. I plan on starting to lift and run daily once the weather improves as well. Also, I shoot everyday, if the weather is horrible then I just shoot in my house and try to work on trigger release and other form issues.
1. Like always i will be hunting in BC - in the spring fingers crossed, for grizzly and i did purchase a black bear tag the other day in case i see a nice old boar By the time august rolls around i once again hope to be chasing stone sheep in northern BC in a bow only zone. All together have hunted +/- 25 days for sheep since 2010, but no luck arrowing a ram yet, this may be the year! If time allows it i would also love to go after a mountain goat again. I have to many hunts i would love to go on, as of now my prioraties are 1. Stone Sheep 2. Grizzly 3. Muley, Moose 2. Was thinking about purchasing a spot hogg single pin sight for mountain hunting. I was hoping someone could help me out by explaing how they are to setup? Are they easy to use? How far can you shoot with them? Any info on the sights would be helpful and appreciated. Was thinking the hogg father single pin sight. 3. Need to start doing some running up mountain trails to get in shape, also hiking with a pack with some weight, just to get used to carrying a heavy pack again, and of course shoot as much as possible, to be confident at many different yardages.
Hogs in Texas. Colorado Mule deer Elk Pronghorn Black Bear To get in shape I do lots of twelve ounce curls A buddy had a jet boil last time in Colorado while elk hunting and he had no problems with it. I'm looking into getting one this year plus a water filter. My new pack came in too
What's a good GPS? I have some apps on my phone but I just hate using it. Now that I am hunting more public land and eventually the West, it gives me a good reason to get one.
Has been discontinued and replace with the 64 series. If you want a touch screen check out the Oregon series from Garmin. Any handheld other than garmin is a waste of money.
