Elk hunting thoughts

[Whitetail04]

I'm wondering what everyone's thoughts/personal experiences are on do it yourself, self-guided elk bow hunts in the western part of the country. How difficult is it for someone unfamiliar with the territory, and whats the realistic chance of seeing game/getting a shot?

[MountainMan]

If you do your homework and work out months before, you're chances of seeing game go WAY up. Realistically, our state average on elk this year was 16%. While that seems really low, that's actually the average most years. Elk move alot and during archery season, they are way up high. If you can find someone who lives in elk country that you could hunt with, your chances will SIGNIFICANTLY increase. Just my .02

[Archermike2605]

Best bet is to find some other bowhunters that have been going for a while and see if you can get an invite. That will put you ahead of the game.

I hunted unit 62 in Colorado for 11yrs and could give you a little info on some areas in the unit. but it has been a few yrs since I've been there so I might not be that much of a help.

[El Vaquero]

In October 2008, me and a buddy hiked ~5 to 6-miles into the Latir Peak Wilderness Area up to the Heart Lake area, just northeast of Questa, NM. Our hike started at Cabresto Lake at ~9,100', we camped just south of Heart Lake at ~11,500', and hunted the Latir Mesa at ~12,000' to 12,200'. It was an all-day, wear you down to the bone hike. I don't think I've ever been so exhausted.

After some weather blew in from the north, we unfortunately had to hike down after only hunting the area for about a day and half. We then relocated to a new area just south of the peak of Flag Mountain. We parked at ~8,200, hiked in and up ~3.5-miles to ~11,600' where we camped and hunted for 2-days. After getting a bit more acclimated, this hike was much easier, but challenging nonetheless.

This was the BIG lesson for me; FIND and HIRE someone with horses, mules, llamas, and/or alpacas to at least get your gear up to your hunting area. With no motorized vehicles allowed into these wilderness areas, it is all by your own feet & back or by pack animal. You just expend such an incredible amount of energy hiking in and just getting up to where you need to be with a heavy pack of gear. So much so that you're almost to beat-down to enjoy the hunt. That's my .02 cents.

The 1st map is from the Heart Lake area in the Latir Peak Wilderness area and the 2nd is of Flag Mountain. Oh yes...we saw only a handful of elk and mule deer at both areas. Honestly, I'm not exactly sure what we would have done had we put an elk on the ground given how exhausted we were

[easeup]

elk hunting

there is nothing more thrilling and satisfying than a diy hunt for the grand stag of the Rockies. However as noted above, your success rate is going to be very low <20%. It is very hard work even if you do not kill and double that if you do.
with all of that said, what are you waiting for? go while you are young and strong!!!

[deer_hoyter]

My .02, I have been on a DIY elk hunt in Idaho on public land with my Dad. We have a friend that lives there though that is 76 years old that pointed us in the right direction on the "good spots". Before going we studied maps to try and be familiar with the mountains and it really helped, but without the insight from our friend it would have been a toss up. We did bag one bull elk and the experience was something else, there is nothing like walking through the mountains and not seeing another person for a week. Can't wait to do it again. Just use all the resources you can and go do it, it will be worth every minute.

[Pistol]

My dad used to hunt CO by himself. It was a lot of work, and he gun hunts. It was three years before he got his first elk, and by the time he could get to it, the only thing he left with was antlers. Definately hire someone to pack you in at least, or rent some horses. Dad said the worst thing about DIY was how much time was spent caring for himself (cooking, clean camp) and taking care of the horses. When he finally hired a guide to do everything, he was really impressed with how much more time he could hunt, and yes, his success rate went up too. However he also said nothing topped the feeling of success after getting one DIY.
BTW- if you rent horses, get at least two that can pack. If you get an elk, it will take both horses to pack it out. The elk are as big as the horse, and you will cripple or kill one horse that has to carry it all. I worked for a place that rented horses, and I can't tell how many horses were ruined by naive hunters. We finally made a policy that if you had an elk tag, you had to rent two horses, or make arrangements for us to come get the elk and pack it out. Think about having to carry a dead person that is as big as you for however long it takes to get off the mountain. ouch.

[glen]

I went this year with guys from here. We had never really met each other and most of us had little to no experience with elk hunting. We did have a Colorado TBH brother meet put the trip on and he offered guidence. I will never turn down the opportunity to go again. Did I come home with an elk to eat this year? no/ was it one of the best hunts Ive been on? yes.

[unclefish]

Your best bet is to go private DIY if you don't want a guide. Don't have to worry about crowds. Most western states offer private land tags for sale by the land owner.