Any Elk Hunters on Here?

[hunter22]

Any you guys elk hunt? I have not been in a few years but have been on some great hunts in Colorado. A lot of similarities in elk and turkey hunting. Planning on going next fall. Had a chance to go on a great hunt this fall to New Mexico but my hunting partner could not make it so I am staying home. 

[Dcoleinpa]

I have never been elk hunting. Do you do it with a bow or rifle? How would you compare the meat to a whitetail??  just a couple questions i was wondering

[hunter22]

I have elk hunted with bow, blackpowder, and rifle. My hunting partner and I use to go on DIY backpack hunts in southwest Colorado.This took a lot of planning and you had to be in great shape to hike back into the mountains carrying your pack and rifle. We hunted public land but found a place that we could walk a few miles and get away from people. On one particular hunt I killed a 5X5 elk and we both took 5X5 mule deer. Talk about work!!! We then had to bone out the animals and put the meat in packs and make several trips back and forth to the truck.

To me, elk is the best wild game meat there is. I like it much better than whitetail. Heck, I like it better than beef!

[Dcoleinpa]

that is awesome!

[Porter]

One thing I've never done...  I wouldn't know what to do to begin with:(

[AlanKrow]

Same here!! I keep trying to get a PA elk tag! We have some big ones here!
some day i hope to get time...to go other states!

[hunter22]

My advise is to do it while you are young and in good shape. I love the Rocky Mountains and the elk bugle. Not sure which is more exciting, a big bull bugling or a gobbler coming in strutting, drumming, and gobbling.  

[Custom Caller]

I would love to go. It is quite $$$$$$

[Porter]

My advise is to do it while you are young and in good shape. I love the Rocky Mountains and the elk bugle. Not sure which is more exciting, a big bull bugling or a gobbler coming in strutting, drumming, and gobbling.   

My cousin goes all the time to Colorado.  They've been pretty successful for Public land hunting and do it yourself.  They keep the cost down and have a blast doing it.

Someday, I promised them I'd go.  I'm not sure what I'd do hearing a big bull elk bugling!!!

[hunter22]

All of my elk hunts have been on public land. Apply every year for the Units that require preference points and build points. Do your homework and study topo and DOW maps to find areas off the beaten path that you can get to with a backpack. My hunting partner and I have killed elk with rifle and blackpowder in Colorado on public land hunts. The blackpowder hunts are my favorite because the elk are bugling and the Aspen are turning in late September. An unbelievable time to be in the Rockies. 

[Porter]

That would be a breath taking scene my friend...  I can't wait till you go for some wonderful pictures!!  By the way, post up some of your harvest (if you have any pics).

[Dcoleinpa]

"The blackpowder hunts are my favorite because the elk are bugling and the Aspen are turning in late September. An unbelievable time to be in the Rockies."

that sounds great. A fella i work with father goes every year on public land. I think he left last week 

[Ozark Custom Calls]

I have always wanted to do this....Maybe one day. I agree on the taste of elk...Best I have had so far!

[wiltznucs]

I bowhunted elk in NM back in 2006.  I hunted in the Gila National Forest Unit 16A.  As another poster mentioned, I'd echo the importance of being in shape in order to be successful.  I ran 12-15 miles a week for the months leading up to the hunt and still got my butt kicked.  I hunted hard for 6 days and filled my tag with a good 300 class 5x5 on the final day.  It was among the most physically grueling experiences of my life, I have lots of memories though.

There are easier places than others, I understand CO is a good place to get a bull as the elk population is pretty dense there.

[Houlihan]

I hunt elk, mainly archery, but sometimes rifle with my son.  I live in Oregon, which has one of the highest elk populations in the country.  But they're still mighty hard to get, especially with a bow.  This year I covered lots of country on both the East and West sides of the state with no luck.  By buddy comes out from Southern Illinois to elk hunt with me, and I go back there to turkey hunt in the spring.  We usually have more luck with the turkeys.

Good luck to all you elk hunters.

Mike