The Elk Thread

[BHicks]

Any advice on where to go for SW Colorado? I am all geared up and am prepared to hunt off my back if necessary and I am fine with rougher country. My hunt is September 5-12. I have a couple places that I am looking at but would like some first hand advice if possible. First elk hunt ever and have decided to go OTC and DIY so any and all help is appreciated. I do not know anyone who doesn't hire a guide which is why I am reaching out here.

I understand everyone wants to keep this all private so please PM if you are willing to share some more specific advice.

[old killer]

Get back from the ASA classic 8/23, leave for N.M. 8/26 and get back 9/17. What a relief to leave Texas at 100 degrees and sleep that night at 45 degrees.

[Sneaky]

16 days until I drive to CO!!!!!

[unclefish]

16 days until I drive to CO!!!!!

Us too!

[Sneaky]

Us too!

Good luck! I'm flush with tags and can't wait to get on the mountain!

[Stroke]

26 Days until I am in the Mountains of Idaho!!!

[mikeyb_23]

If you had it narrowed down to unit 74/75 or 78 in Colorado, which one do you choose?

[Brute Killer]

I am all geared up and am prepared to hunt off my back if necessary and I am fine with rougher country

That is easy to say. I hope you take this as I intend and not as me being a smartass.
Have you hunted steep terrain with large dead fallen trees across your intended path? Have you climbed a set of stairs all day while breathing thru a swizzle stick straw? That's what it's like traveling on foot in the mountains. I've often read to be ready for the mountains, get your legs/core etc. in shape.
As a flat lander, I say get your lungs in shape. My first elk hunt, I did squats, step-ups, walk stairs with a weighted pack and all that. I lost 25 pounds. But I hadn't prepared my lungs. I got winded on what by comparison are "gentle slopes". And worn out. The elevation was an average of 8000 feet. Not high.
My advice and you can certainly take it or leave it, get your lungs in shape. I used wind sprints (on level ground) and I ran stairs getting ready for a mule deer hunt. I could really tell the difference.You don't have to be a top athlete to hunt the mountains, but have your lungs in shape.
Also, something I learned on that first hunt, is get away from the strings of camps up and down the roads and trails, which can mean just crossing the next little hill. It meant that for us. We studied the map and picked a spot that couldn't be driven to, and got into a lot of elk. We were in unit 62, and there were a lot of camps along the road and a lot of hunters.

[BertJnkns]

I'll be hunting north of Hayden, leaving the 25th. I have some good game camera pics of some 5x5's, an awesome mtn lion, and several bears, mostly a sow and two cubs which I'd prefer not to run into. I hunted this area last year and got my first elk, a cow. I've been waiting for this since last Sept. I haven't figured out yet how to post pics.

[RageNside]

Just finished re-supplying my kill kit. Ready for 18 days in the mountains

Thanks for doing that for me can't wait til you carry mine out again lol

[huntingfanatic]

Thanks for doing that for me can't wait til you carry mine out again lol

Yea I got ripped off on that deal. I made the kill kit AND helped you carry yours out. It's okay though. The elk steaks were worth all of it. I'll keep resupplying the kill kits if you will keep getting an elk

[BHicks]

.
My advice and you can certainly take it or leave it, get your lungs in shape. I used wind sprints (on level ground) and I ran stairs getting ready for a mule deer hunt. I could really tell the difference.You don't have to be a top athlete to hunt the mountains, but have your lungs in shape.

I understand what you are saying and appreciate it. I have not hunted the steep terrain with dead falls in my path but have wandered steep, and high, terrain with dead falls in my path. Never done the stairs with the swizzle stick straw, may need to try, ha.

As far as conditioning goes, I have lost 25 (40 in the last year) pounds myself. In addition to Crossfit workouts 4-5x per week (been doing that for the last two years). For an hour two more days per week I have been getting out and running bleachers with a 30 pound pack and doing sprints and distance jogging with my boots on. My biggest fear is and has been the thin air and I have been working to tax my breathing all year.

All in all I am trying to avoid the roughest of country, just rougher. My goal is to just get away from the crowds like you mentioned before.

[Stroke]

You can always look into using a high altitude training mask. I've personally never used one but it would give you that swizzle straw feeling.

http://www.trainingmask.com/training-mask-2-0/

[Dave_]

26 Days till Im headed to NM. So much to do...so little time!!!

[Brute Killer]

Never done the stairs with the swizzle stick straw, may need to try, ha.

No, I didn't mean that as a workout, just a comparison of what thin air is like.
Sounds like you have a good program going.