Hunting Forum

The other thread had gotten long to read, was requested by readers to start a new one?  Do hope the info posted here helps everyone understand the ways of the Wapiti!

Savvy:

  To understand or know; comprehend. (Second College Edition, The American Heritage Dictionary)

  I invite each of you savvy Elk hunters to share your knowledge here (again).  And all those seeking answers to your questions, ask them here!

  I'm not talkin about where to apply for your next tag, I'm talkin about huntin em.  Callin, stalking, glassin, getting around them, tracking, or out smarting them.  Water, feed, escape, migration, cover, camouflage, and scents.

I first hunted the elusive Wapiti with some guys I can still call friends in 1980, and have pursued them ever since.  I've hunted the Roosevelt, and the Rocky Mountain Elk.  I've observed their behavior, their talk, and the habitat that they inhabit.  And still, if I knew it all, my freezer would be full every winter - and it's not.  I know I have knowledge to share, and a lot to still learn.

Speak up if you have questions or the answers.

Thanks,

Dean

H2O
NAHC Life Member 02/01/81 Hunting Elk in a rainforest; ya haven't experienced it till ya had rain running down the crack of your *** 30 minutes out of camp. Formerly a Roosevelt Elk hunter on the Washington coast, now hunting them Rocky Mtn. ones, in Wyoming.

Well there you are !  

Gotta' say that IF these threads and posts in them would function like they are suppose to by going to the most current post without jumping through all the hoops you have to,.. it really would not be necessary for a new one, thought a lot of this stuff would be repaired by now. 

I'm looking forward to the 2011 hunt with you buddy,... Did you ever pick up on some of that bore cleaner ?? Hope you got the chance to give "Betsy" a GOOD scrubbing when you got back home,.. drop me a email when you get sometime,...

 

.

 

. There's room for all Gods creatures,.. right next to the taters' an' gravy! ,.........
. Shoot Straight & Stay Safe ! ,..........
. Terry Webster,...
. NAHC Life Member,.
. NAFC Life Member,
. RMEF Sponsoring Member,..
. SCI Member,..
. Michigan Sportsman's Assoc.,
. NRA Life Member,..
. US Army - Nam' Veteran SGT E-5 1970-72 1st/327th /101st AB

Hey buddy, I agree!

Got a bunch of emails and PM's asking for advise that should have been posted here for all to read and reply to.  I've got no secrets, and think most savvy Wapiti hunters don't either! (Other than maybe their favorite place to hunt them. )   That's why I started the first savvy thread.  We that hunt them regularly, can provide a ton of info to those that are new or can't spend the time we do just being with them.  And we can do it without giving up our favorite honey hole.

P.S.  Terry
Been enough copper down old betsy' throat don't know if I'll ever get it all out.  Same rifle since 1978, hunting in a rain forest and all the hand loads has taken it's time on my 7 mm Remington Mag.  Thank you buddy; I know I've learned from you - and you from me!  No one ever knows it all!

To all!
Occasionally, on the previous Savvy thread, I asked questions that I believed I already new some of the answers to.  My intent was to get those Elk savvy hunters to share what they know with those that are still learning.  And none of us ever stop learning the ways of the Wapiti!  I have caped and skinned every Elk I've brought home for the last ten years.  Practice makes perfect.  Know the time spent working around the eyes, ears, horns, and lips of the rag horn will only make a better mount of the big guy when I get him!

And those emailing and PM me, post it here!!!  You'll get info I can't give ya on the elusive ways of the Wapiti.  All those that have hunted em have their own experiences of what they saw, heard, and did.

I don't think after 25+ years of hunting em that anyone is an expert, but do think we can share what we know!  JMO

Dean
H2O

NAHC Life Member 02/01/81 Hunting Elk in a rainforest; ya haven't experienced it till ya had rain running down the crack of your *** 30 minutes out of camp. Formerly a Roosevelt Elk hunter on the Washington coast, now hunting them Rocky Mtn. ones, in Wyoming.

Well stated Dean,.. there's always a wealth to be learned about hunting.

I've hunted for well over 40 years now and I'm still learning as I go. There's always something new to learn.

I know I've gained plenty new knowledge regarding wapiti hunting from you out in Idaho,.. and your new home of Wyoming.

There's ALWAYS a new lesson when out in the field,..

. There's room for all Gods creatures,.. right next to the taters' an' gravy! ,.........
. Shoot Straight & Stay Safe ! ,..........
. Terry Webster,...
. NAHC Life Member,.
. NAFC Life Member,
. RMEF Sponsoring Member,..
. SCI Member,..
. Michigan Sportsman's Assoc.,
. NRA Life Member,..
. US Army - Nam' Veteran SGT E-5 1970-72 1st/327th /101st AB

So what do you two "elkaholics" do to keep in shape in the off season? I lift weights, ride my bike & walk a whole bunch. I also try & spend a lot of time on the range shooting from different positions. Thinking about going to New Mexico next year, have you guys hunted there?

7 Mag Life Member

 

Well for me, being pretty much a flat lander (a resident of Michigan) I can honestly say you should find yourself some bleachers or staircases,.. the continual up hill treking and then down hill at pretty substancial grades is going to wear on you FAST,.. add the thinning air as you gain altitude and the combination will do you in. There's not a whole lot you can do to compensate for the thinning air except give yourself time to get acustomed to it. But you will need to work on those specific muscle groups that have to do with climbing hillsides.

. There's room for all Gods creatures,.. right next to the taters' an' gravy! ,.........
. Shoot Straight & Stay Safe ! ,..........
. Terry Webster,...
. NAHC Life Member,.
. NAFC Life Member,
. RMEF Sponsoring Member,..
. SCI Member,..
. Michigan Sportsman's Assoc.,
. NRA Life Member,..
. US Army - Nam' Veteran SGT E-5 1970-72 1st/327th /101st AB

Which is better cow calling or bugling? I'll be hunting during CO's muzzleloader season so it usually hits the rut. I'm not experienced at bugling so should I stick with the cow calls? If so then how often should I call and how many times? Second question, can somebody help me understand Colorado's bull elk antler restrictions? Does it have to have four points on one side, including the brow tines or not? I've seen it written two different way that conflicted with each other so I'm a little confused. Thanks.

Personally cow calling is the prefered when wapiti hunting,.. I have learned to bugle to locate an area where they are holding up during the season that the bulls are most vocal,.. cow call to draw them in closer once your in the area you think they are in.

4-5 cow vocalizations in a 30 minute time span is about right in my opinion.

As far as Colorado wapiti hunting goes,.. I personally have yet to hit their hillsides,.. those questions might be better answered in the Colorado State hunting thread  where the people who live and hunt those areas of that state would know the best. There's also the home webpage of the fish and game department for Colorado. I've found that the individual states laws very so much and often have changes from year to year that it's the best place to start and follow up with the locals input on them.

 

Good luck to you in your hunt !

. There's room for all Gods creatures,.. right next to the taters' an' gravy! ,.........
. Shoot Straight & Stay Safe ! ,..........
. Terry Webster,...
. NAHC Life Member,.
. NAFC Life Member,
. RMEF Sponsoring Member,..
. SCI Member,..
. Michigan Sportsman's Assoc.,
. NRA Life Member,..
. US Army - Nam' Veteran SGT E-5 1970-72 1st/327th /101st AB

Getting in-shape:

If you live in the area: Get-out-of-da-house

I just started yesterday - went out and about, doing a little rock hounding. Took the dog, stepping around sage, through - mud, over and around the remaining snow, walking un-even ground, up and down the side hills, sideways on the side hills. That is a good start.

Fishing - wade fishing. walking the banks, hiking is a good way to get back into-it after the Winter.

After you know you can walk a straight line, I strongly recommend the uneven climb - up and down - throw in a few odd twists and crouches and climbs.

During elk season you will put your body through some stuff.

The above is mostly lower core and leg stuff

Below is the rest.

Can you do the above and carry all your gear and rifle all day?

Upper core, back and arms:

Be prepared to know how you will get an elk out -

Will it be packed out on your back? Drug out behind you?

Thrown on your buddies back? (Thanks Dean)

You can cut the carcass in small enough to handle pieces, but don't over-do-it.

I have tweaked parts of me more often after the kill than before. In my opinion, getting the animal out is more dangerous to yourself for injury than the hunting part.

You should be over-prepared for the hunting part physically so you can handle the recovery part.

Once you are physically prepared - stay within those limits - 

Staying in those limits means: use your brain - pick a better route up that hill and around that boulder - cut the pieces smaller - lighten your pack -

Tom 

Good response Skud!
7 Mag Life Member

7 Mag-- I live in NM what do you want to know? If I don't know the answer I will ask around to get you the answer. As far as my exercise routine I try to do a lot of cardio and endurance with light weights high repetitions. Twice a week I do heavy weights low repetitions to build strength. It seems like elk hunting is going from sunup to sundown for a week and endurance helps out.

Once known as 3does,1buck pre-"upgrade" : It is better to rule than to serve.

SCUD and TWELCH,... good comments !!

 

Twisting and turning while going up and down hillsides would be very good things to practice especially while wearing your backpack with some weight in it to simulate your hunting conditions. Start out light and add weight as time progresses in your training. It will get you ready for those switchback manuvers climbing up and going down hillsides

 

I personally KNOW that traversing areas with blow downs or deadfalls can really do you in,...    

(ain't that right buddy). 

If at all possible try to avoid having to go through those kinds of areas with any for any length of time! I for one did not practice high hurdles,... and those muscle groups do not normally get that kind of workout in preparation for a hunt,.. I learned the HARD way.

 

Also practice raising and aiming your rifle as quickly as you can and try to hold your aim on a target while doing your workouts if possible,.. you will be surprized at how much your aimpoint will change as your breathing rate does and practice how to control it.

. There's room for all Gods creatures,.. right next to the taters' an' gravy! ,.........
. Shoot Straight & Stay Safe ! ,..........
. Terry Webster,...
. NAHC Life Member,.
. NAFC Life Member,
. RMEF Sponsoring Member,..
. SCI Member,..
. Michigan Sportsman's Assoc.,
. NRA Life Member,..
. US Army - Nam' Veteran SGT E-5 1970-72 1st/327th /101st AB

Twelch thanks for the help! I haven't spent much time looking at New Mexico but i know it's become one of the premiere elk states & a buddy of mine wants to try & hunt it. I assume there's a drawing for tags but i see where landowners offer tags as well but they seem to be pretty high priced. I was thinking about the Northern part of the state near Colorado. I appreciate any help!

 

7 Mag Life Member

7 Mag
I, like, Skud use the hills to get in shape.  I try to spend the summer scouting em where I plan to hunt.  And, like what 7mm Mag said, run them steps if you don't have the hills.  Take them two at a time after your ready!  Repetition stuff!  Get your heart, lungs, legs, and back in shape!

BeckTx
I bugle to locate them, and get closer.  After that, it all depends?  If the bulls are active, I'll keep calling.  If things quiet down, I'll switch to a cow call.  When your into them, you pretty much want to mimic what they're doing, and every encounter is different.  Most hunters I've seen, bugle and cow call to much!  I rarely use a call till I hear a bull bugle or a cow squeak.  Though if I hear a noise and not sure what it was, I'll cow call.  And if I get into a real Elky area I'll squeak a cow call.  During the rut, I might bugle every mile or two, early in the morning and late in the evening, till I get an answer and can get close enough to understand what's going on.  Don't hunt Colorado, 7mm Mags advice is good.  Hope this helps!

Agree with everything else said, with the exception of avoiding the areas of down timber.  I've personally jumped more Elk in down timber than just about anywhere else.  Take them steps, two at a time, to stretch them muscles.

Thanks ALL!
Dean
H2O

NAHC Life Member 02/01/81 Hunting Elk in a rainforest; ya haven't experienced it till ya had rain running down the crack of your *** 30 minutes out of camp. Formerly a Roosevelt Elk hunter on the Washington coast, now hunting them Rocky Mtn. ones, in Wyoming.

 

 

Dean,.. I didn't mean to avoid them all together,...personally I think I'd prefer finding a spot to peer into them,... as opposed to hurdling thru them. I realize that it is necessary to do so from time to time but it wouldn't be my 1st choice of options,...

 

. There's room for all Gods creatures,.. right next to the taters' an' gravy! ,.........
. Shoot Straight & Stay Safe ! ,..........
. Terry Webster,...
. NAHC Life Member,.
. NAFC Life Member,
. RMEF Sponsoring Member,..
. SCI Member,..
. Michigan Sportsman's Assoc.,
. NRA Life Member,..
. US Army - Nam' Veteran SGT E-5 1970-72 1st/327th /101st AB

Not my first choice either buddy, but Elk live where they do.  And if ya really want one, your going really bust *** to get one.  No part of the mountain is exempt!

To all;
My first rule of Elk hunting is:
(1) You have to hunt where the Elk are!

#2 would be:
(2) Be confident and accurate with the weapon in your hand.  Practice!

I think rule three, would have to be what Skud has said numerous times here:
(3)Expect em when ya lease expect them, always be ready.

Rule 4 would be:
(4) Cover as much ground as your can.  Elk cover a lot of ground, and you will too if you're going to fill that tag.  I used to average 10-12 miles a day on foot, getting old now, so I'm slowing down.  And so has the # of Elk in the freezer.

(5) Would be: Try to be ahead of them.  From behind, you're chasing and pushing them.  Your best shot is to antisipate their direction of travel, and be ahead of them.

(6) Know the area you'll be hunting.  Do your homework, scout it if you can.  At least talk with those that hunted the area or hunt with them if you can.  Maps, Fish and Game, post here; find out all you can!

(7) Be in shape!!!  Wapiti hunting will challenge you in ways you never thought of.

( Hunt into the wind!!! Elk are herd animals with noses as good as Whitetails.  Most often there noses and eyes are what busts ya!  Except when bedded, natural noises won't hurt ya much.

(9) If you can, be ahead of the other hunters!  Get out earlier than they do, eat lunch where you're at, and don't head back to camp till 0 dark 30.  I try to use gated (no motorized travel) roads to gain access to areas other hunters aren't willing to travel to.  Other hunters mess up Elk patterns and movements.  Elk can be easy, when you eliminate the human equation.

(10) Can't think of a ten.  Sure some of these Elk savvy fellows can add a # or rearrange the order I've put them in.  And I would thank them if they did!!!

These are some of my rules.  Hope they help those new Wapiti chasers, and maybe and old one or two too!

Dean
H2O Elkaholic

NAHC Life Member 02/01/81 Hunting Elk in a rainforest; ya haven't experienced it till ya had rain running down the crack of your *** 30 minutes out of camp. Formerly a Roosevelt Elk hunter on the Washington coast, now hunting them Rocky Mtn. ones, in Wyoming.

What?  No one has anything ta say about Elk hunting priorities?  No strategies?  No Rules that you follow?

Can't belive that no one disagrees with the order I put them in!  Gotta be someone out there with imput or a question!

Dean
H2O

I would note that, like most rules, there's no particular order & all are applicable based on my experience so far. I would probably put heavier focus on the following rules though:
#2 - Be confident and accurate with the weapon in your hand. Practice - and know your range limitations, take only shots you are comfortable with!
#3 - Expect 'em when you least expect 'em - ALWAYS be ready... this one cost my my cow last year...
#4 - Cover as much ground as you can. I covered an estimated 25-miles on foot last year & only could hunt 4 of the 5 days due to weather!
#6 - Know the area you'll be hunting - online mapping tools, regular maps... research, research, research - and scout if you can.
#7 - Be in shape! See #4 - and most of what I covered was in at least 6" and as much as 18" of snow the last day or two...
#9 - Be prepared to be out there ALL day and don't forget gear to stay out until the last hunting light to either stay or find your way back to camp in the dark!

And I'll add a #10 - If you are going to use calls (bull or cow - or both...) - Practice, practice, practice with them! At least until your wife starts making threats...

Slim - Like all them rules!!!!

How about a #11? One thing that maybe goes without saying, is to have a plan on what to do after the Elk is down. Don't give in to temptation & put one down  where your ability to recover it is compromised. I'd imagine that there are hunters every year that get in over their heads, because they didn't have a recovery plan, & once they shot an Elk, it's like, "Duhhh, what do I do now?". I'm not one to hand out advice on the specifics of a plan, as to me it is just common sense, but I do feel that this aspect is often overlooked.