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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,113 Likes: 12
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,113 Likes: 12 |
Remember, killing elk is easy. It’s the pack out that will kill you. I killed this bull last November in the draw behind the ridge in the background. I still hurt. P And you only packed the head out.. Damn....
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 13,189 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 13,189 Likes: 1 |
Remember, killing elk is easy. It’s the pack out that will kill you. I killed this bull last November in the draw behind the ridge in the background. I still hurt. P And you only packed the head out.. Damn.... We had to eat him where he lay. P
Obey lawful commands. Video interactions. Hold bad cops accountable. Problem solved.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
Member #547 Join date 3/09/2001
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Joined: Aug 2006
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 22,938 Likes: 16 |
Do any of your buddies have any experience elk hunting or packing an elk out??? [bleep] yeah!.....
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,104 Likes: 6
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,104 Likes: 6 |
That was staged, you ain't even sweating.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,355
Campfire Regular
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2017
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Oh hell yes. Just camping for week during the Fall in the Rockies is a great experience.
Decide whether you want to hike into a camp site or camp at the truck, and then go buy gear accordingly.
Get GoHunt and research a unit to go to. Call the local wildlife officer to confirm a couple places to park. Use OnX Maps to ensure you know any public/private boundaries and to help identify specific spots to hunt. Buy good boots and wear them a lot before hand.
Even if you just toss stuff in the truck, park along a national forest with your camp at the truck and then spend your days hiking out a couple miles you’ll have a great time, learn a lot, and really be able to refine your effort for the following year(s). What is GoHunt? And yeah, me and my buddies are late 20's, initial plan anyway is to park and then pack in a ways and camp 3-5 miles from the truck. Have no idea on what unit yet but I do want to do a national forest. Do any of your buddies have any experience elk hunting or packing an elk out??? Nope, but everyone that does also at one point didn't.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,104 Likes: 6
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,104 Likes: 6 |
That's right. All you need is a good pack and good legs. Plan on hanging the balance of the meat in a tree while you're packing out the first load, and if you have to pack any distance, plan on boning out the meat in the field. A small plastic sheet or a couple of trash bags come in handy to lay the meat on while you're cutting.
There's nothing better than packing out meat!!!!
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 23,506
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 23,506 |
That's right. All you need is a good pack and good legs. Plan on hanging the balance of the meat in a tree while you're packing out the first load, and if you have to pack any distance, plan on boning out the meat in the field. A small plastic sheet or a couple of trash bags come in handy to lay the meat on while you're cutting.
There's nothing better than packing out meat!!!! Yes, there is Smoke...Having someone else pack out the meat for you. Dad, used to love having me as his meat Uhaul. 😁😎
Curiosity Killed the Cat & The Prairie Dog “Molon Labe”
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Joined: Feb 2017
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Yep I figured a few strong trash bags and maybe a drop cloth will be essential in the pack. My Amazon wish list looks...expensive ha.
I think what we are going to do is 2 of us go but only one of us buy an elk tag, and the other buy a deer tag. We'll take one rifle, and one sidearm. For the trek in, one person carry the rifle/ammo, the other has the tent and sidearm. Leaves us with equal space/weight remaining for carrying things each person will need, food, sleeping bag, etc. We'll be preparing for the weather the week before we leave to go out. I'm hoping 2nd rifle season will be somewhat mild. Highs in the 60's and lows in the 30's would be nice...but probably won't happen ha.
We are going to do our best to get there for opening morning, but still not sure if we'll both be able to miss that much work. Worst case we'll be hunting by the afternoon of the 2nd day, and be able to stay through the end. We are both just excited about camping, and elk or deer would be gravy.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,104 Likes: 6
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,104 Likes: 6 |
That's right. All you need is a good pack and good legs. Plan on hanging the balance of the meat in a tree while you're packing out the first load, and if you have to pack any distance, plan on boning out the meat in the field. A small plastic sheet or a couple of trash bags come in handy to lay the meat on while you're cutting.
There's nothing better than packing out meat!!!! Yes, there is Smoke...Having someone else pack out the meat for you. Dad, used to love having me as his meat Uhaul. 😁😎 Well, it comes down to personal preference. I'm getting to the age where one of these years I won't be able to pack out a heavy load. Not looking forward to that, it's all part of the experience. Nothing like a folding chair and a cold beer back at the truck at the end of a long day, once the meat's on ice.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 9,083 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2017
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Good attitude. It took me a bunch of seasons to figure it out and kill an elk. But looking back, those hunts were as memorable as the ones when we got one on the ground. I never tell anyone I'm going elk hunting, I tell them I'm going hiking in the mountains with a rifle.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,104 Likes: 6
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 46,104 Likes: 6 |
I think what we are going to do is 2 of us go but only one of us buy an elk tag, and the other buy a deer tag. We'll take one rifle, and one sidearm. For the trek in, one person carry the rifle/ammo, the other has the tent and sidearm. Leaves us with equal space/weight remaining for carrying things each person will need, food, sleeping bag, etc. We'll be preparing for the weather the week before we leave to go out. I'm hoping 2nd rifle season will be somewhat mild. Highs in the 60's and lows in the 30's would be nice....
I can understand wanting to save on non-resident tag costs the first time out, but just be advised, if you both get a chance at elk you'll be kicking yourselves! I can also understand wanting to trim weight down as much as possible but if you have decently lightweight backpacking gear including a good pack you'll see that you both could have carried in rifles. As far as highs in the 60s and lows in the 30s, that's more like mid-September weather. 2nd rifle can be mild, or........make sure you have good chains for your tires.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,661
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2002
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I think what we are going to do is 2 of us go but only one of us buy an elk tag, and the other buy a deer tag. We'll take one rifle, and one sidearm. For the trek in, one person carry the rifle/ammo, the other has the tent and sidearm. Leaves us with equal space/weight remaining for carrying things each person will need, food, sleeping bag, etc. We'll be preparing for the weather the week before we leave to go out. I'm hoping 2nd rifle season will be somewhat mild. Highs in the 60's and lows in the 30's would be nice....
I can understand wanting to save on non-resident tag costs the first time out, but just be advised, if you both get a chance at elk you'll be kicking yourselves! I can also understand wanting to trim weight down as much as possible but if you have decently lightweight backpacking gear including a good pack you'll see that you both could have carried in rifles. As far as highs in the 60s and lows in the 30s, that's more like mid-September weather. 2nd rifle can be mild, or........make sure you have good chains for your tires. Take two rifles and leave the sidearm at home. Split the tent components, if need be.
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Joined: Oct 2008
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I’ll echo what Smokepole said. For planning, be prepared for lows in the low teens. During 1st rifle it’s typically in the 20s at 10k’, but I’ve seen 15 Deg many times. I’ve seen highs in the 50s, maybe low 60s, during 1st rifle, but that’s the exception. Find a weather reporting station at close to 10k’ in the area you intend to hunt. That will be more relevant than any towns at lower elevation. Archery season is easy to prepare for and the later seasons are easy, 1st and 2nd rifle can vary dramatically! Taken the day before 1st rifle.
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Joined: Feb 2017
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Campfire Regular
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Hell thats awesome, we don't see snow down here. Vehicle will be able, not to worry there. Just hope we have some sunshine for the initial hike in and setting up camp.
On the deer license, are they generally available OTC when the elk tags go on sale? Finding conflicting information. A somewhat decent mule buck would be awesome, never hunted them.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 13,189 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2010
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This Became this Which became this We were only five miles or so from the trailhead so we left the femurs in. I like the structure it gives a pack. P
Obey lawful commands. Video interactions. Hold bad cops accountable. Problem solved.
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
Member #547 Join date 3/09/2001
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Campfire Outfitter
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There are no OTC Mule Deer licenses.
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 4,920
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 4,920 |
ChrisAU, the one issue with your tag plan is that deer licenses in CO are draw only and that is complete for this year. Chances of getting a deer tag in a good elk unit might be slim this year off the leftover list. I would bring 2 rifles and ditch the handgun. That’s a long way to travel with no backup rifle. Leaving one in your vehicle or camp not a good idea. The weather can be sunburn or icicles. Even at 7,000 feet I have experienced temps from 12 to 80 during 2nd rifle season and near zero in 3rd and 4th seasons. Bring non-scented SPF 50+ sunblock. I have had the worst sunburn in CO during an elk hunt in 2008 and dang near froze to death in 2009. Be prepared for any 4 season weather.... all in one week. Good luck!
Life Member NRA, RMEF, American Legion, MAGA. Not necessarily in that order.
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Didn’t cross my mind that you could buy elk licenses OTC but not deer. Seems backwards to me ha.
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 4,920
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2017
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Pharmseller sure cheats the magpies and coyotes 😂
Life Member NRA, RMEF, American Legion, MAGA. Not necessarily in that order.
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Joined: May 2017
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2017
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Didn’t cross my mind that you could buy elk licenses OTC but not deer. Seems backwards to me ha. To save some cash and expand your opportunities, may I suggest one buy a OTC bull tag and the other a leftover cow tag. Many units have available cow tags after the draw. Buy those online after August 7 after you pick your unit(s). There are returned deer licenses but that can be hit or miss. Some cow tags disappear rather quickly and some are available all the way until opening day, just depends on the unit and quotas. Happy Trails
Life Member NRA, RMEF, American Legion, MAGA. Not necessarily in that order.
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