Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Gear list for a newbie

Thanks smokepole...

There is, I hope, more truth to the statement than most think... if they were hunting YOU, you would tend to get away from those places humans congregate( i.e. roads)..
You would tend to NEVER walk around in the open in broad daylight ( like the TV and magazine hunters do..)
You would tend to NEVER skyline yourself..
You would tend to pay attention to what the other critters of the forest, great and small, are saying and doing...
You would tend to be quiet, stick to cover, and keep the wind in your favor...
You would tend to climb higher and farther so as to avoid detection..
And you would tend to kill elk.....

There's guys here who will help you to find and kill elk.
Others who will help you shoot yourself.

I know who I'm listening to.

Yes hunt them like your the hunted. If the elk find you, you may have to kill a couple.

Thanks, guys.

VA and myself have been discussing gear lists and what each of us have on hand, we need a few things but have got most of the stuff already.

How about some recommendations as far as game bags go? Mfgr, size and number needed per elk, please. Keep in mind that I'm, uh, conservative.

Big pillow cases from a thrift store.

About 4-5 for a boned out elk.

great game bags- http://www.pristineventures.com/products/game-bags.html

2nd season or later prepare for snow depending on where you go. tire chains, hi jack, shovels, boards

Conservative?

You'd haggle over nickel beers....

My $0.02. I like that my meat hauling backpack (Kifaru Longhunter) packs down small enough to carry all day everyday. That way I can make the first trip back to camp/truck with a load of meat.

Here's what I have with me for a day's hunt:
Water
Snacks (FunSize candy bars and trail mix)
Powerpills (ie Atomic Fireball hard candies)
TP
2 knives
50' p-cord
3 heavy duty trashbags
GPS
Compass
Maps
Headlamp
Change of batteries
Ammo
Rifle
Binos
Rangefinder
Rain gear
Warm vest
Stocking cap

With the clothes I wear, that will take me through any day I've experienced so far. Not a whole lot different than what I leave the truck/camp with for any other critter, mostly just a different mindset.

PM sent on gear list.

you may want access to a saw. the horns must come out for proof of sex and point count, so unless you wish to pack out the whole head, cut off the horns.

also it is not legal to take the bones or head through Arkansas unless you have boiled them first. and yes you might get stopped and have them confiscated. i know of one mule deer going east that did not make it.

We ain't gonna be anywhere near AR, as far as I know.

I probably missed it VA, but when and where are you heading?

Dober

2nd rifle season. Season runs 10/22-10/30. We're going to get out there a couple days early to scout, get acclimated, set-up, etc.

Advil

Lots of good info on here.
Good knife and way to sharpen it in the feild is a must,bone saw,some rope.Game bags the pillow cases work great and are washable.Have you put thought in how your packing game out? are you useing a cart or pack frame...ect
I always carry a cow call mouth call.It can be used to stop a elk moving in timber.I've had bulls come to one in november also.
In my pack this is what I have.
2 knifes/w sharpener
saw
matches and lighter and fire starter
small first aid kit
food/2 bottles of water
multi-tool kit
space blanket
extra socks
stocking hat
good wool gloves
extra ammo
30 feet of rope
Tags
compass and map
Head lamp

Now on me I have
Rifle
rangefinder
bino's
access to 3 extra rounds for fast re-load
wind checker

Clothing I like wool
I have wool slacks for warm days and heavy wool pants for cold days
Base layer is silk t-shirt
next layer breatheble long sleeve shirt
Long sleeve button shirt
jacket
hat
socks silk socks covered by a pair of wool socks
good boots well broke in.

Now what do you have for sleeping
Camper or tent?
What are you doing for food?cooking?
If I was closer to Colorado I would offer ya bunk
lots of help here.
Good luck
BBJ

I like a lighweight bags that don't take up too much space in my pack. These seem to work fairly well; www.alaskagamebags.com. I always carry five with the fifth being for backstraps, tenderlions, neck meat, etc...

Good choice on going a few days early to scout.

Have fun and good luck!

For the tent, I've got a Marmot LimeLight. Good tent, relatively light, easy to set-up, stable, and roomy enough.

Base camp at/near the truck, then 2-3 day (more, if we're into elk and need to) hiking trips out from there.

Sean, without reading what all the others said cause they probably covered everything, I myself sometimes suffer from migraines....if you have them or even a bad headache you know how it could ruin a days hunt.

Take something for headaches.

I use Excedrin Migraine.

Good sleeping pad,warm sleeping bag,lighting in the tent.Good sleeping clothes cause it's going to get chilly.