First elk hunt

[wildthing]

Fellas...it is looking like I am going on my first elk hunt in mid September in Idaho. A "do it youself" type hunt. I am going with a few buddies that have been there before and successful.

Are there any other tips / advice anyone else wants to share. I am welcome to hear info.

[texastrophies]

Make sure you are in shape, is the best advice I can give you.

[silvertip_co]

Heres tons of good concise elk hunting advice:

http://members.tripod.com/~elkhunter2/

And I second the motion on the exercise thing. Riding a bike is what I do.

[stevebeilgard]

here's my suggestion. go to your high school's football grandstands. run up and down those stairs until you are so physically exhausted, you cannot lift your leg again. then, do it again the next day, even more. and every day. if you don't do that, save your money and stay home. or, bring along a fishing rod and enjoy the camp. to hunt elk, as texastrophies mentioned, takes lots of work. i'm 61 now, and can outclimb 99% of the 30 year olds.

the mountains are tall, the air is thin, and camp is no place or time to start to get into shape.

[wildthing]

thanks for all the advice so far guys. I usually stay in somewhat ok shape, but I know this is going to be a challenge. I hit the road last night for a jog in some sweat clothes. I have 2 months...and am going to really try and get into some great cardio shape.

[OUTDOORLIFE3]

yes def listen to all the guys advise...i actually run cross country and track in college and run everyday and thought as myself to be in GREAT shape, and went to New Mexico this year for the first time for a do it yourself hunt for elk and was about to ready to pass out. So train your butt off. Being in shape will not help u get used to the atitude change, but it will help u gain your air back when u get tired.

[wildthing]

yes def listen to all the guys advise...i actually run cross country and track in college and run everyday and thought as myself to be in GREAT shape, and went to New Mexico this year for the first time for a do it yourself hunt for elk and was about to ready to pass out. So train your butt off. Being in shape will not help u get used to the atitude change, but it will help u gain your air back when u get tired.

wow...I am going to have to pick up my pace in training.

[AJ]

1. Yep, you need to get on the cardio bandwagon ASAP. Strength training is nice but the only time it will help is once you have one down. Elk country is tough stuff. Plan on walking 5-10 miles per day, in high altitude, up some steep ridges. Eliptical trainers, biking, running, and long hikes up and down big hills will help. Also you have to do the training for over 20 minutes to get much benefit from it. Get your heart rate up and leave it there as long as possible.

Maximum Heart Rate

• Your maximum heart rate (HR max) is the theoretical number of beats per minute that your heart is capable of producing.
  
• This is found by subtracting your age from 220, e.g. if you're 40 years old, 220 - 40 = 180 HR max.
  
• This is simply an estimation, not an absolute limit.
  
• To measure aerobic exercise intensity, percentage of HR max(%HR max) is often used. If you want to exercise at 60% of your HR max, your heart rate should be, using the example above, around 108 beats per minute.
  
• Your heart rate is your guide for cardiovascular exercise intensity.
  
• Target 60% - 80% of your HR max for your training. I like to work on cardio 4 - 6 times per week.

You have to work for 20 minutes before you start to burn fat with cardio. If you lift weights first you are pre-working the muscles and when you start your cardio, you will be in the fat burning stage at the start.

2. Get a good pack. If you are successful, you will have to get the critter out of the woods and back to camp. If you have horses, its a lot easier. But there are places that the horses can not go. Look at good packs from Eberlestock, Badlands, etc.

3. Get some good maps. Once you know the unit you will be hunting, get the BLM and Forest Service maps for that area. They will show you the property boundaries and give a good overview of the land. Once you know what area inside the unit you will hunt, get some good 12,000:1 topo maps to find the spots you want to hunt. Unlike deer, elk don't stick to one small spot. They are nomads and will walk miles just to feed. They go where they want. You have to find them. Good maps will help. If it looks like an easier way to get into the elk will not be there. Look for the nastiest, steepest, bowls and you will be closer to elk.

4. There are a bunch of books on elk hunting. Everyone has their own method. If the area is dry, look for water. Elk need water. Is your hunt during the rut, get some cow calls. Just llike turkey hunting, you rarely gobble at the Tom, you sound like a lovesick hen. You should sound more like a lost cow than challenge the bull.

[BR44]

Like everyone's said=#1 Get into shape. #2 GPS & woodsmanship/Survival skills. #3 Equipment & spares in good condition

#4 GOOD LUCK & have a good time/experience!!!!!!

[fly]

I was in Idaho for the first time this past June bear hunting.

It is difficult walking for sure. At least you shouldn't have snow to deal with like I had. I saw elk every day. Mostly cows, but one decent 3X3 in velvet. I was able to sneak up on elk a lot easier than whitetails, but mature bulls might be another story?

Much of the area I was in was thicker than I expected. I was amazed at how easy an animal that large can just disappear.

My advice is to spend the first couple days scouting. Find where the elk are before hunting them. One additional thing I learned is that elk droppings hang around for a long time. If it is not fresh it could have been there for weeks or even months.

What I found is that once I started seeing elk, those same areas were the areas I kept seeing them day after day. Not sure if this changes in the fall?

Good luck!

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

Ditto on the working out part. I've hunted mule deer at 12,000 feet and the low oxygen content is just a killer. I've never been able to condition myself ahead of time for high altitudes (that's why SteveB can outwalk the 30 somethings). I would always run out of wind before my legs gave out. The more time you can spend at altitude before your hunt, the better. I usually found that by the 5th or 6th day, I started to breathe much better. Running bleachers is a good idea, but if you can't do that, get on a treadmill that will incline and lift it up to the max, and get your miles in that way.

[wildthing]

I am looking forward to the adventure and challenge. Hopefully I can see something worth releasing an arrow on.

[JJL]

Remember to BREATHE........................BREATHE ALOT.

Enjoy the trip.

[m gardner]

Yep, get in shape. Get there 3 to 5 days early to get acclimated. Try to sleep at 8500 feet or lower. Remember, elk are not like deer. They need lots of food and will travel lots to get it. Five to ten miles in a day is not too far for them to move so you have to move too. Scout at night. They are very vocal at night even in heavily hunted areas. You can locate them then be right on them at daybreak. Good luck.

Mark