Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting I've never been elk hunting.

I'm the same Smoke.I had my right shoulder replaced in December, 6 months out now and it still isn't close to 100%,but I'm going hunting.

Which would still be a great week by any standard!

I'm gonna start calling you "Timex," because you're still ticking. God knows, you've taken some lickings. Thing is I have no doubt you'll get your elk this year. Some guys have all the luck.

PS for the OP, there's nothing like elk hunting in the Rockies.

No reason to quit.I'll be 75 this August and I'm still hunting. I drew a ML cow tag for this September[/quote]

Right!
As long as I'm able to get there and throw a log on the fire and pour a wee dram at night, I'll be there. I watched an elk camp we were by for years in WA dwindle from about 12 down to 3. I think the last year they were there the youngest feller was pushing 80. Quitting is not an option for us old Rangers. Happy Trails

Depends where you're whitetail hunting...I've had a lot of perfectly good whitetail hunts ruined by bumping into elk and killing one while hunting in Montana.

There are no Elk here in Idaho,
Only potatoes :))

What gun you using for 'taters? Salad shooter?

I can’t believe these whole animals I am seeing !
That’s such good fortune for those hunters.
Haven’t had one whole one in about 19 years
Great job

Spud gun
Google it
Good ole hillbilly fun for sure

Don't need to. Made "em, along with tennis ball cannon, hand ball guns, and egg launchers.

I’m o-fer on whole bulls. Dad, brother, nephew.
But not me.



P

I say go for it. Every elk hunt you learn something. Much harder physically than deer hunting but since they are so big, travel in groups and leave a ton of sign the elk hunt for a good deer hunter is doable. The secret is you have to be where the elk are. Hunt hard all day and you will eventually catch up to some.

Chris,

Glad you've picked a unit and have decided to go.

Not sure which season you're going, but I will guaran-dam-tee that if they're bugling still during your hunt it'll get in your bones. Deep in your bones. You'll want to go every year, family, work, bills, notwithstanding. When late summer/fall starts to roll in, you'll start wondering why you passed up applying for that hunt. You'll promise to never do that, even if the wife wants to leave you. Or work wants to fire you.

I regret not having put in for tags this year due to some medical issues. I've at least got two deer tags this year to use, one in an area where I can almost be assured of seeing elk.

Good luck on your hunt. Eat well, hydrate, and try to sleep some and enjoy the woods. They're gonna be WAY different than back home.

Geno

Welp found out this morning that currently most of southern San Juan NF is under fire restrictions, no shooting, no campfires, etc. Not sure how long the restrictions will last. To get out of the fire restrictions I'd need to go a couple more hours north, or actually shave an hour or two off and go further East but those units have poor reviews across the board.

It's not uncommon that fire restrictions disappear by the end of August, once "monsoon season" kicks in.

I'll keep it as primary but also prepare a solid plan B not currently under fire restriction.

It's always good to have more than one spot you're familiar with anyway. On any given year, a particular spot might be crowded with hunters who just decided to try a new spot that year. And then next year, back to normal.

I killed a big 5x5 one year in an area that had just been declared clear from a fire. He had black ash all over his horns from raking burned trees.
My brother killed a spike the same day. The bull was lying in a big pile of black ash. I heard later that ash keeps the ticks down.




P

Do any of your buddies have any experience elk hunting or packing an elk out???

That's exactly what I was thinking. Typically, the first time you shoot an elk, you'll walk up on it and think, "damn I just shot a horse, now how am I going to get this damn thing back to the truck or camp!!!!!!!"... Be prepared for that, is all I can say...