When thinking about going on your first elk hunt, the big question many people have is:
Do I hire a Guide or try DIY?
This question is always heavily debated on social media and online forums with a lot of mixed reviews. Some people share their amazing experiences they have had with outfitters, while others lean towards DIY hunt. To help you decide, I’ve compiled a list of things for you to consider before you head for the mountains.
Goal Setting
First off, I think you should ask yourself, What is your goal for the hunt? Is it to shoot a big bull? To learn and have a good experience? To have some close encounters?
Establishing a goal before you head west is a great way to set yourself up for success. Of course everyone wants to shoot a big bull, but it’s much easier said than done. For a first time elk hunter, doing a guided hunt will increase your chances of encountering nice bulls, or at least getting into elk in general. Though, opportunities are not always guaranteed. During the guided hunt, you should be able to learn a lot from your guide. Pay attention and take notes of what they’re doing. This way, you’d be able to go on a DIY hunt with some good experience.
On the other hand, you could start out with a DIY hunt and possibly have just as good of an experience. However, the odds are a bit lower with having no prior experience. Don’t let that scare you from trying though, if you set a goal to just learn as you go and have some close encounters – going by yourself or tagging along with some buddies can be an awesome experience.
If you’re looking for an outfitter that offers fully guided or drop-camp DIY opportunities, I recommend checking out Medicine Bow Outfitters in Colorado. They offer an incredible guided hunting experience where you’ll stay in handmade log cabins with wood stoves, ride on horseback to access different hunting grounds, and be able to learn from experienced guides.
Skill Level Assessment
The next thing I think you should consider is your skill level. Skills in what you may ask? You need to assess your skills in a multitude of areas including: your overall hunting ability, your physical ability, and mental toughness.
Regarding your overall hunting ability, Are you brand new to hunting? If the answer is, Yes, then you should definitely hire a guide. Even if you’re experienced in hunting other kinds of big game and have been hunting for a long time – you may still want to hire a guide to quicken your learning curve. Better yet, you could sign up for a BGT ELK Camp before you head west, so you can learn elk hunting skills and go on a DIY trip with confidence!
Are you proficient with your bow or rifle and is it equipped to take down an elk?
If you’re a bowhunter – Do you shoot regularly? Do you have tight shot groups out to at least 40 yards? Do you have quality arrows and broadheads? Can you hold your draw for an extended period of time if needed? Can you draw and shoot quickly if needed?
If you’re a rifle hunter – Do you know your effective range (not the farthest distance you’ve practiced before)? Have you practiced shooting in different positions (prone, kneeling, standing, off a tripod, shooting sticks)? Are you using a big enough caliber?
Being proficient with your weapon of choice is a win-win for everyone. Having confidence in yourself making the shot is huge for your mental game and if you’re with a guide it will make them feel a lot more comfortable as well. An outfitter may come in handy if you’re lacking in any of the areas mentioned above. If you can’t shoot as far, a guide can help call the elk closer or get you set up in a better position. If you don’t have a good enough rifle, oftentimes an outfitter can lend you one that is set up and ready to hunt.
How would you rate your physical ability and mental toughness?
If you’ve never been to the mountains and gotten into some higher elevations, you may be in for a rude awakening. Everybody takes to it a little differently. If you’re in good shape and in good health, your body may not be affected as much. Typically, people feel more fatigued and may even experience elevation sickness. To prepare your body, you should plan on putting in at least 3-4 months of training for best results. There’s no sense in waiting all year to go on an elk hunt and not be in shape for it. As a guide, it’s a bummer when a client can’t go after an elk because they’re too out of shape.
Now in correlation to your body’s physical ability, you need to work on your mental toughness. It happens every year while guiding that I have a hunter give up or call it quits early because they can’t handle it any more. You’ve got to have the want and the drive to be able to keep going. So if you don’t ever push yourself to your limits during your off season workouts, you’re going to have a much lower output level than you hope for by the time you actually go on your hunt. Mental toughness is also a factor when you’re a few days into the hunt and haven’t seen much. You start to think it’s just not going to happen and lose focus. Hunting with a buddy or with a guide can keep you going in times when you’re feeling down.
Time Availability
The next thing you need to consider is, How much time do you have to hunt? 5, 10, 20 days? Do you just have time for one trip or can you do multiple trips throughout the season?
The less time you have available to scout and hunt, the more you should lean towards choosing a guided hunt. For those of us that don’t live in the western states, it can take quite a bit of drive time to get to the hunting areas. So if you can only take off a week or less, it may not leave you enough time to chase elk or let alone find some elk. That’s where an outfitter would be beneficial; they have an area pre-scouted and hopefully already know of some elk to go after. However, if you can go on multiple trips out west or stay out for an extended period of time, a DIY hunt could be really fun to try.
Cost of Hunting
Last but not least, how big is your budget? Let’s take a look at some average costs:
- Elk tags cost between $500-$1000
- Travel and fuel may cost $400-$800+ (depending on where you travel from)
- Gear Cost $200-$1000+ (depending on how much new gear you need)
- Food Cost $300+ (depending on how long you hunt and how much you eat)
- Guide Fee (+tips) can be a wide range $5000-$10,000+
- Drop Camp Fee $1500-$3000
As you can see, there are a lot of costs that go into elk hunting. Choosing DIY for your first elk hunt can definitely save you some money. You’ll have to decide for yourself if it’s worth it compared to the benefits of hiring an outfitter. In the long run, if you plan on hunting elk for years to come, learning the skills of DIY will be much more cost effective. If you’re the type that’s only going to hunt elk once in your life, then pursuing a guided elk hunt will most likely give you the best experience.
Making Your Decision
From evaluating your skill levels, to time availability, to figuring out your budget – there are lots of things to consider before choosing whether you want a DIY or Guided Elk Hunt. The good thing is, there’s no wrong answer! Either way you choose to get started will be an awesome experience. I hope this helps you in your decision. If you want to get started on your DIY journey, consider signing up for one of our BGT ELK Camps.
Happy Hunting!
