The thought of going elk hunting for the first time can seem a bit overwhelming, too expensive, too hard etcetera, but it doesn’t have to be. Since I’ve been guiding and elk hunting in the west, I often get asked by my midwestern peers, “So how do I start elk hunting?”. The simple answer is – Prepare and Train. If you want to get the most out of your first elk hunt, or any hunt for that matter, you should prepare and train for the whole hunt process – before, during and after the hunt.
Before: Preparing for elk hunting
Anyone can buy an ‘elk hunt’ but not everyone has what it takes to go ‘elk hunting’. Elk hunting requires a higher degree of physical fitness and mental fortitude. If you want to have a greater chance of success you need to train your body, practice shooting, know how to read the land and animal behavior, have proper gear and know how to use it, and much more. You need to Prepare For The Hunt.
Weapon Choice
Choosing your weapon of choice is a great way to start guiding your decision process. Just like in the midwestern states – archery, muzzleloader, and rifle hunting all have different seasons. What helps steer your decision may be different from another person depending on your desired style of hunting. In general, archery seasons are earlier in the year with hotter temps and more hiking involved, while muzzleloader and rifle seasons are typically later in the year with cooler temps and less hiking involved.
Another thing to consider when choosing your weapon of choice is elk behavior. Elk seasons are spread out from August through December in varying states and their behavior changes drastically throughout the different seasons. So if your dream is to chase bugling bulls in the mountains, then you better look into options for September archery! Early season may also be easier to get archery tags in certain states – meaning you won’t have to wait to go elk hunting
Getting Tags
Once you have your weapon of choice picked out, you can start looking at tag options. Some states offer over the counter tags (OTC), outfitter tags, and private landowner tags. These options allow you to hunt each year without having to draw or wait to build up points year after year. It can get a little confusing when you start researching all the different states and seasons, just know that there are resources available to help you. Huntin’ Fool is a reliable resource that has been around for a long time, or you could reach out to our team at Big Game Trained.
Assuming you’re going on DIY over a guided elk hunt, you’ll need to brush up on a few topics. If you’re still unsure about which to choose, head over to our previous blog: DIY vs Guided Elk Hunt, to help you decide.
E-Scouting
E-scouting is a huge part of the before the hunt process, especially if you don’t live near elk country. This may even be your first step in figuring out what tags to go for and when, but it doesn’t always work out that way. After you get your tag confirmation and know what unit you’ll be hunting, good e-scouting can be the difference in finding elk or not. A big factor in choosing where to hunt may come down to your physical ability and access to hunting grounds.
Scouting online before you go can show you various access points, land boundaries, the terrain and elevation changes you may encounter to help you prepare. You can also e-scout to help you hone in on food and water sources, find ideal slopes and saddles, or even find elk sign from a satellite view!
There are many great mapping software’s to choose from these days, however, I personally use onX Hunt and I love it!
Preparing Your Body
Now that you know what, when, and where you’re hunting, you need to prepare your body. Elk hunting in the mountains is much different than hunting whitetails in the Midwest. It wouldn’t be uncommon to hike ten miles with 25lbs of gear on your back while elk hunting. And if you get an elk, you may be packing out 80+ pounds on your back! With that in mind, you should plan on working out many months in advance as well as improve your diet to be able to handle a week on the mountain.
Gearing Up
Is your gear ready to go elk hunting? Yes, you can use old gear that you already have, but having quality gear can make your hunt more enjoyable. This includes everything from your clothes, pack, boots, weapon of choice, to optics, sleeping accommodations, meat care and more! Having better quality gear can also be a factor in helping you stay out longer versus heading home early.
During: Know what to do while elk hunting
Elk hunting brings on many different challenges, but you’ll feel much more confident if you prepare for all the scenarios that may occur during your hunt. Whether that be calling, glassing, different shot angles – practice is key.
Calling Elk
Calling elk is one of the most exciting things you can do in the hunting world. There are so many different elk calls out there, it can be hard to choose from. If you’d like to try your hand at calling elk, buy a few different calls to see what suits you best. Phelps, Slayer, and Rocky Mountain Hunting Calls are a few of the top choices that come to mind. Watch some how-to videos to learn how to use the calls and also watch some videos of real elk vocalization and try to match them the best you can. Ultimately, you may find out that calling elk is not your strong suit, and that’s okay! You’ll just need to focus on finding elk and being a good shot.
Glassing
Hiking to a nice vantage point to glass a hillside is one of the best tactics for finding elk. Although it won’t do you much good if you don’t have quality optics or a good set up.
I recommend having binoculars on a chest harness with a minimum of ten power magnification. Having binoculars readily available to spot passing game is a must, especially if the elk aren’t vocal.
Spotting scopes are optional, but they’re nice to have if the elk are far away or you need to verify the size of a distant bull.
For optimal viewing capabilities, it’s a good idea to set your optics on a tripod to steady the lens. Also, I recommend getting as comfortable as possible by leaning against something or sitting on a pad.
Practice Shooting Frequently
This goes for any weapon of choice you choose – knowing how your bullet or arrow flies is crucial to making good shots. Not only is shooting distance important but also practicing different shot angles and scenarios. Everybody is a backyard or range professional in perfect conditions, but you need to mix up your practice routine:
- Different positions: standing, kneeling, prone, uneven ground, tripod
- Different angles: uphill, downhill
- Moving shots: either you make a move while drawn or act like the target is moving into a shot window at a new distance
- Practice making a call before the shot so you know what it feels like
- Take videos of yourself to see if you’re maintaining good shot mechanics
After: Know what to do after a successful harvest
Finally, you’ve put all the pieces together and you have an elk down! Some people would say, ‘Now the hard part begins!’ Which could be true depending on how far in the backcountry you are. Elk are heavy! Having the proper knowledge and tools to process an elk beforehand will save you a lot of time.
The Process
The first time you walk up to an elk is an unforgettable experience. Besides their beauty and strong scent, you definitely notice that elk are huge animals! It may seem like a daunting task to start processing, but if you’re familiar with deer that will help. Learning how to clean deer here in the midwest, I grew up learning how to gut deer and then drag them to a spot where I can throw it in the truck and finish cleaning back home in the garage. Let’s just say you’re not going to drag an elk across the mountain! I switched to the gutless method when I started hunting out west, and it is the way to go. Top Hand Tripods has some videos on their youtube channel that shows how to do it properly – click to watch here.
Tools of The Trade
Since you’ll most likely be cleaning an elk in the field, here’s some gear recommendations:
- At least 2 different knives for skinning and breaking down quarters
- Knife sharpener
- Saw if you want to cut the antlers off in the field
- Game bags (I like having 1 for each quarter and 1 for loose meat)
- Tarp if its raining or snowing or to keep the area clean
- A Top Hand Tripod to help you breakdown the elk
- Paracord for hanging meat or to help secure your pack load
Meat Care
Taking precautionary steps to care for your precious elk meat will make sure it stays good all the way home and still tastes good. You’ll have to pay attention to the temps when you head to your hunting grounds. When the weather is cool enough, elk meat could hang in a shady spot for a few days. On the other hand, when it’s hot weather, you may need to stash a cooler with ice ready at your vehicle. Properly cooling the meat down will help with the taste and longevity before you freeze it. Another note, if you are able to start heading home after your pack out, make sure each elk quarter has room to breathe and is on ice (not water).
Are you feeling prepared?
Well that wraps up this intro to elk hunting. I hope you find this information helpful as you start your journey to the west. This blog is more of a general overview of beginner elk hunting so if you have more questions, feel free to shoot an email to [email protected]. I also go into more detail on all these topics at my in person BGT ELK Camps where you can get hands-on training before you start chasing elk. If you know anyone else that may be interested in getting into elk hunting, please share this blog and stay in touch!
Happy Hunting Folks!
