elk hunting tips worth watching

[Grumpy]

keep your meds , and cell phone handy
(1) do your research on the areas you might want to hunt and where you should draw licenses,
talk to the states biologist and local game wardens if you can.
hunting where there are few elk lowers your options and chances of success.
(2) get in physical shape, 90% plus of the guys who think they are in shape are kidding themselves
(3)get off your ass and get out where the game actually is, every minute wasted near camp reduces your chances of success.
(4) you don't need the best and latest equipment, or rifle,
what rifle you use is less important than how good you are with it!
what you need is to be good with what you own and you stay warm, dry, comfortable,
sitting and glassing walking for hours if that's required,
finding the game and getting into a comfortable range to shoot accurately is the largest problem to overcome!
(5) think through your logistics, CAREFULLY, having to make a couple supply runs into town, during a hunt,
greatly reduces you chances of success.
(6) practice regularly, learn to shoot quickly and accurately from field positions, get a sling and a foldable bi-pod
the more time spent in good elk habitat the better your chances
(7) get topo maps and study them, get out and walk, learn the area and walk the area, learn the location of cover, feed and water.
(8) learn where other hunters camp and the trails they use to walk into the elk,
and routes elk use to vacate the area when pressured.
(9) if you have to climb a steep slope or wade a stream to get to an area, most hunters won't bother ,
most won't expend the time & effort to hunt those areas, ELK know , learn this, they use it to avoid hunters.
use the topo maps learn the areas.
(10) if the hunts 10 days long.. HUNT FOR 10 DAYS or until the tags filled
(11) watch the wind, if the winds pushing your odor from you into cover you will hunt you'll rarely see elk!
(12) BUY AND USE QUALITY OPTICS, USE OF GOOD SCOPES AND BINOCULARS CAN BE A HUGE ADVANTAGE
(13) IT HELPS A GREAT DEAL IF YOU CAN FIND A SKILLED & EXPERIENCED mentor
if your going to handload you need up to date reload manual data.
every choice you make is a compromise in some area!

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thinking through the basic hunting / camping equipment required

I got asked "what are the basic accessories or basic equipment Id need to go hunting, other than a rifle ammo and a licence." well obviously at least to me, theres a fairly long list of basic tools or clothing, and for your safety and ease of getting game out of the field, once you've dropped...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

starting out looking for a decent hunting rifle for deer/elk

was asked by a young friend, whos looking to go on his first ELK hunt.... "if your starting over, and wanted a new ELK and DEER RIFLE, what would you buy and why?" no one here could realistically select , or even make an educated guess at the best rifle for your future hunts, without knowing...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

ELK HUNTING TIPS

OVER THE YEARS IVE LEARNED A FEW THINGS THAT SOME OF THE GUYS OVERLOOK SO I FELT I SHOULD POINT THEM OUT TO HELP, ESPECIALLY,! THE NEWER GUYS ABOUT 20%-25% of the hunters kill about 70%-%80 of the elk, the reason is that it takes both experience and some skill to be an effective elk hunter and...

garage.grumpysperformance.com

 

[Grumpy]

MANY OF MY OLD HUNTING BUDDIES HAVE CALLED RECENTLY, WANTING TO PLAN THIS YEARS HUNT!
unfortunately...
I personally, will not be hunting this year,
due to impending dual knee replacement surgery

its a damn shame that it takes decades to get really good at the skills required .
and by the time you've acquired the required skills your likely to be in piss poor physical shape due to old age!
but that hardly dampens the desire to get out in the canyon county and aspen, with the hard won skill, and anticipation

 

[Grumpy]

 

[Grumpy]

I've used and seen others use a great many hunting rifles, and calibers,
what works is mostly dependant on how good you are with the rifle you select to use and the ammo you use.
most of my mentors were convinced a 30/06 with a 200-220 grain bullet was ideal, but they exclusively hunted,
steep canyons in areas with thick timber where shots over 150-200 yards were very rare
you certainly don't need a magnum cartridge many of the guys I hunt successfully with use a 358 win, 35 whelen or a 308 win or 30/06
but like I stated previously you need to be well practiced in shooting accurately from rapidly acquired field positions.
from what I've seen over the last 50 plus years of hunting Id suggest,
you select something with a minimum of 1500-1800 ft lbs of energy at 100 yards,
your typical 270 win, 308 win or 30/06 easily does that as does the 358 win or 35 whelen
that throws a 150-250 grain projectile. and ideally has a muzzle velocity between 2300fps and 3000 fps
use what you have confidence in, but practice with it frequently.
personally I like having a bit more power but most of the guys I hunt with are very successful with those cartridges.
Ive carried a BLR in 358 win, or 450 marlin in thick cover , but prefer a 340 wby or 375 H&H, but while that extra powers good at giving me confidence and I shoot it very well Im no more successful that several guys that prefer the 308 win , 270 win 30/06 35 whelen, or 358 win
its not the rifle or cartridge, that matters nearly as much as the hunters consistent skill at getting in close and making an accurate shot