Elk Hunting 2010

[CodyDawg]

Well, after 13 years of saving up preference points in Colorado, dad and I are going to apply for the elk tag this year. We have done quite a bit of work on the front end, researching and doing our due diligence. Pretty excited! Assuming we draw the tag (and we should), we will be headed to south central Colorado in October.

I know there are others out there that would like to go but the task seems pretty daunting. Let me tell you...it is. Lots of work went into locating the best area and time period, deciding to go with an outfitter or do a DIY hunt, and researching the outfitters. If anyone has any questions, I would be happy to help them out. One place that was great was westernhuntingdatadotcom. Mark simply knows his stuff and he isnt just fronting for some outfitter. Beyond that, there a few things I have learned that can be of help if anyone is interested. After reading some outfitter reviews I can tell you that there are plennnny of horror stories out there.

[mrklean]

nice job, i want to make it out west someday, im young still so i guess i have time

[CodyDawg]

Once you do, you will be hooked. You know that feeling you get in the fall (assuming you are a hunter)? That "I just wanna be outside and be hunting something" feeling? Multiply it times a hunert. Goldang it, i just cant wait!

[Musky Buck]

I was pondering selling all my hunting land because I could go on an elk hunt every year until I'm deceased. Won't leave much for the family though.

[00rowe]

Unit 76? I've heard nothing but good from that area, I don't have enough points for that area yet. Many Colorado guys think 61 has better trophy potential though, not sure what season you're going. Be sure and hold out for a good one, with the way point creep is taking effect, it'll take a long time to ever get into another good unit. I like the new hybrid draw system, doesn't help out nonresidents much, but it's worth a shot. Good luck.

Mike

[00rowe]

Sell the land to the family, you'll still be able to deer hunt there AND go on some other trips. I'd throw in a caribou (quebec) hunt and a moose (Yukon or AK)hunt in there to mix it up. My caribou trip was awesome, unfortunately you can do 5 DIY elk hunts for the same price. Moose in Alaska one of these years, dang economy, should be this year.

Mike

[vister]

I was pondering selling all my hunting land because I could go on an elk hunt every year until I'm deceased. Won't leave much for the family though.

not many people on here would want your land musky with all the horror stories of dang trespassers

[CodyDawg]

We considered 61 and 40, but due to a lot of factors, we are going 76. From all I have read, both 61 and 40 prolly shoot slightly bigger bulls. But hey, I dont need a 350 bull to be happy and that doesnt mean I would shoot a bigger bull in one of those units either. In fact, 76 produces some whoppers as well. Lots of research and thinkin' went into this decision, believe me.

Originally, we wanted to hold out for 1,2,201, or 10, but with "only" 13 points, that aint happening. There are over 1800 nonres with more points than us.

Looking forward to doing some practicing this summer. Our practice area can get us out to at least 400 yards. It always takes a little time to get accustomed to the longer shooting after gettng used to the short deer hunting shots we get. You kinda forget how much focus you need for 300 yards, let alone further.

[rbs]

I have hunted right next to 76 a few times. It is a awesome area...mesa mountain is where we go.

[jigginjim]

It's real to bad the state has to hire sharpers the thin the minnesota herd when they make money giving out more tags for minnesota resid.

[bigbucks]

Going to WY elk hunting this fall myself. We applied for & got reduced priced cow/calf tags. Want to shoot a bull some day, but this is much cheaper & I just want to shoot an elk. We're DIY, but one of the guys has gone & been successful three times already.

[kingr]

I got drawn for my ND Elk yesterday. I only got the cow all season in E3 but I think I will get more excited once July comes around. I guess you really can't be spending Sept - Jan 1 in the badlands looking for Elk. Hopefully I'll be able arrow one.

[Cooter]

I was curious how many points it takes for 76 - which season are you going? I'm assuming rifle?

My plan as now is to save for an archery hunt in 76, I'll have 5 points after this year. Believe its around 8 points for a non-res archery tag.

61 takes a few more points and from what I've gathered 40 can be tough unless you have access to private land - then it can be great.

[00rowe]

I believe this is the 1st time there is an early rifle hunt, which would be awesome, right in the heart of the rut. Who knows how many points it'll take for a nonres, guesses are 15, but that season will be just about as good as the northwest units. There just aren't any 350+ class bulls there, which is why everyone wants the northwest units. I'm probably going to do the archery in 76 also, I have 7 points, put am going to save a few more years and play the lottery with the hybrid draw in unit 10. If you want to see what unit 76 has to offer, go to Monster Muleys and search rocketman, he spends a ton of time there and has awesome photos with dates(to give you an idea of rut activity.)

Mike

[knowsnothing]

I remember practicing for my first hunt out in unit 66. I was zeroed at 200 yards and holding real nice groups. A guy that I got to know from the range was a veteran elk hunter. He just looked at me and said " impressive, but you wont have that bench in the field. Run as fast as you can out to the road and back, sit down, aim and fire." I laughed it off at the time. In my hunt, we had to run up a steep incline at 11,500 feet, steady and take a 305 yard shot. Right after the elk fell I thought about this old timer at the range. I was sooooo spent it felt like to took me 45 minutes to travel that 305 yards. No matter what your outcome is, you will be hunting some of the most beautiful country in the world. That alone made the trip worth taking. Good Luck!!

[Scoot]

Good luck, CodyDawg. I believe a dozen points will put you in the running for 76, but it's definitely not a slam dunk on getting drawn. I know a ton of people who have between a dozen and 15 points and can't get drawn in CO! I haven't looked at the numbers for a few months, but I think you've got less than a 50% chance with a dozen points. Crazy... (I might be misremembering though.)

Regardless, I hope you draw and have a heck of a trip.

[Cooter]

From the '09 stats for 76, min points for non-res:

Archery - 8

Muzzleloader - 12

1st rifle - 10

2nd rifle - 9

3rd rifle - 8

[CodyDawg]

Well the deadline has come and passed, so I cant change anything anymore. We have 13 points and put in for 1st rifle, so according to the stats, it should be a slam dunk. And I think the hybrid draw for the NW units will only help us as guys with 14+ points might opt for that. I have never seen a unit creep more than 3 points in one year.

I have looked at rocketman's stuff, even talked to him on the phone. Amazing. My outfitter knows him well and we had a good conversation about him. It sure would be fun to go spend 3+ months in the mountains, but very few can pull that off.

Yep, I plan on practicing shooting while sucking for air. Now can you imagine someone watching me and not knowing the situation? They will think I am the biggest fool in the world! Can you just hear the guy to his buddies...."I was at the range and this [PoorWordUsage] would run all over the place until he was out of breath and THEN he would shoot. Heck, any fool knows that aint a good idea!".

Prolly try a bunch of that with the .22 for starters. At $3 per cartridge (Barnes TSX 180gr out of a 300 Wizzum), a guy can only practice so much before the wife wants a say.

[Cooter]

cody - what kind of arrangements with the outfitter are you looking at? Base camp plus help packing out? Guide/s?

[picksbigwagon]

Cody, If I saw someone at the range doing laps out to the highway and back, I would take his gun off the table, put it in the case for him and make him chase me around until I gave him his rifle back again, just to really get his blood boiling. Which reminds me, what range are you heading to?

On a serious note though, don't be afraid to lug around 20 pounds in a back pack as well while you are running, then drop the pack to the ground, get in a prone position and try and hit your target.....8" ballons on a dowel would be great at 100 yards with a .22

Good luck, and yes I am jealous you are heading out west for Elk. My 7 year old is wanting me to take him elk hunting soon, that kid is gonna cost me a lot of money in the next 11 years

[CodyDawg]

Well the arrangements are thus; we horseback in for 3-4 hours and set up in a base camp. We have 1 guide for the two of us. Right now, we are set for the "Any mature bull 5X5 or bigger hunt". We can upgrade to the "Trophy Bull" hunt for $400, which means we can pass on any bull we want until we find the one we want to shoot. I dont think we will make that decision until we are there. Weather will play a big role. If it is nice, no storms expected and we are seeing elk like rocketman does, we might plunk down the $400. If there is any question, I am dropping the hammer on a nice mature 290" bull and I will be tickled pink. I dont need a 350" bull to be a happy camper.

What range? Maybe a little on the one SE of Henning, prolly most will be on our hunting land near Osakis.

The addition of the backpack to the sprint is a good idea. I think yelling at the top of my lungs "IT IS BITING ME....GET IT OFFFFFFFF!" would add a nice touch for onlookers as well. I know that we practiced a fair amount getting the shooting sticks in position quickly and after doing that just a few times, we were wayyyyy faster than when we started.

[00rowe]

Osakis, are you some of the guys shooting all the time near the Long Prairie river on 1? I live on Hackberry road and there's a lot of shooting that goes on around there.

I applied for an early rifle muledeer this year, I think I'm a few points short but there aren't many nonres's that apply for those tags, so who knows.

My guided hunt experience would say don't shoot anything on the first day, unless it's 320+, my uncle has been scouting out there and should draw a muzzy tag, lots of 300+, but like you said weather has a huge role. That area can get 2' of snow real quick, and send the herds to lower elevations fast. The short rifle seasons are a little trickier that way. Good luck.

Mike

[Cooter]

cody, what elevation range are you planning on hunting in and is there a plan B in case of a freak early snowstorm? Can you tell I wish I was the one with 13 points?

[CodyDawg]

00Rowe,

I wouldnt say we do much shooting, but some. There are a few roosters that might disagree come fall time, but in the spring/summer not much. Two years ago we shot prolly 3-4 times. Hackberry Road...you are across the tundra from us. We are south of Hwy 36 off 145th. Nice to meet someone from the area here!

Elevation Cooter....well how about nosebleed elevation...camp at 11,500 and hunt up to 13,000. Plan B? Yep, plan B is the outfitter earns his money if the snow pushes us down. And because it is a late 1st season, that could happen. I think then yo uhunt the timber and holes in the timber and lower meadows more. Kinda funny, when I think about my priorities for this hunt it is thus:

1. A good overall hunt. Scratch that. A GREAT overall hunt with my dad.

2. Shoot a nice, mature bull and have him shoot a nice mature bull.

3. Hunt more than 10 minutes on opening morning....I kinda dont wanna shoot one right away. And the outfitter said that is a real possibility.

4. Shoot a trophy bull (330+ in my book).

[CodyDawg]

Well the Colorado backdoor is up and we got our license! Wahooo! Only 5 months to go. i hope there is a big ol' bull that is growing a fine set of antlers just for me!