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Im pumped for elk hunting. less than a month away. I got a 5x5 last year and hoping to one up that this year. we are going in deeper and my buddy recently scouted the area and said the big bull we were going after last year is still there.
And for all of you who are curious, I am going to Notelum mountain.
Anybody else draw? I am going for muzzleloader.
I have a bull tag for 54(gunnison area) and i have a doe tag for 12 13 14 and 15(craig area) This will be my first and probablylast elk hunting and mule deer hunting trip ever. I'm pumped. Good luck to you sir.
I've got a cow tag for 1st rifle season in the Flat Tops.
Mike
I wish you all the best of luck. I'll be elk (bull only, I didn't draw out a cow tag) and bear hunting down around Del Norte/Southfork area 2nd Rifle Season.
cow tag in 3 and EE in 27, both new areas to me, so I've got my fingers crossed.
a cow in area 3 is so easy, you just back your freezer and they jump in.Quote:
Originally Posted by sniper_tim
Since this thread is about elk hunting and this question pertains (somewhat indirectly) to elk hunting, I thought I'd ask it here.
I've got some great gear, and some not so great gear. My biggest problem is that my hands always get cold. I've tried all sorts of gloves - even putting hand warmers across the backs of my hands, but my fingers stay cold.
Does anyone know of any gloves that will actually keep your hands/fingers warm; especially when you're just sitting and waiting under a tree?
AND, I was also wondering if anyone here has ever used one of those rubber slip on barrel desonators. They're cheap enough but I was wondering if they actually improve shot groupings.
Thanks for the vote of confidence, however i have yet to get an elk and would very much like to fill the freezer. As mentioned, this will be my first time in gmu 3, i think we will be N of Hayden near the WY border (GMU's 3, 4, 5, etc). Any particular area i should back my freezer up to?Quote:
Originally Posted by ssf467
cheers,
tim
I keep hand warmers in my pockets of my jacket, usually keeps my fingers warm while sitting.Quote:
Originally Posted by theGinsue
Not sure what they are.Quote:
... those rubber slip on barrel desonators.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/co...227667sn02.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by sniper_tim
http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0033309227667a.shtml
Don't get too discouraged. I got skunked for 7 seasons and it wasn't until th last day of my 8th season that I even saw a bull (all I've ever gotten are bulls tags). I saw a spike in the morning on that day - nice, but not shootable. Finally, with 10 minutes of light left I saw the large 6x6 that I ended up harvesting. In the end, this fella was worth the wait!Quote:
Originally Posted by sniper_tim
I'm going, 2nd season.
I am going to take my PSL.
I drew an antlerless tag for 4th season and was also successful in the drawing for the state park in Dolores.
I have a perfect record on Elk, one shot - one Elk. Of course, it took me six seasons to get it.
Goin for bear by steamboat this month, buck in unit 20 starts the 1st of oct, then second season elk by steamboat to one up my 5x5
Antelope in 111 and Elk in 37 I hope to bring home some meat, My freezer in the basement is looking very empty.
[Cry]
My favorite time of year.
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/100_0089_00.jpg
Oh, nice pic. Lever action with iron sights? What caliber?
Browning 45/70 1886 saddle ring carbine, AKA The Elk Killer. I have a few 1886's, Browning and Winchester, but that one is blessed with good luck.
I use under armor liner gloves then the under armor over gloves, and it works great, a little expensive though. most of my hunting gear is under armor.Quote:
Originally Posted by theGinsue
Quote:
Originally Posted by theGinsue
After living in the acrtic you realize one thing.... there is no such glove that will keep your fingers warm.
Mitts.... remember the mittens you had as a kid.... same thing but a grown up version... and layers.
My cold weather hand gear is thin wool mittens inside heavy felt mittens that go half way up your forearm. Then a kevlar outer shell mitten that covers everything and keeps moisture out, keeps moisture from condensing in your mittens and is almost impossible to tear.
As it warms up during the day you remove the heavy felt mittens and only wear your shell with the light mittens.
I guarantee you will have a different problem.... sweaty hands.
If you need to use your hand to shoot or handle a small item you remove just the hand you need and immediately put it back in when you are done.
By keeping your fingers together instead of seperated like in a glove you keep them warm. In extreme cold you pull your thumb from its finger hole and make a fist in the main body of the mitt keeping your thumb warm as well.
Get the mitts larger than you would wear a glove to promote circulation instead of constriction. No only does it promote circulation but creates a warm air area around your hands as well.
While perhaps not technically "arctic", growing up around Grand Forks, ND, I came to the same conclusion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Colorado Osprey
I'm usually pretty good in the cold, but I've never yet found any gloves that keep my hands as warm as I'd like.
Mike
If I get really cool hands, they go down my pants. [Eek2][Eek2][Eek2] I use a pair of gloves that has half fingers and mitten flip top. They work for me.
Thank you all for the advise. I was actuall thinking of something of a combination of what you have advised - I was going to go with a liner glove (Under Armor sounds like the liner of choice - thanks Cowboy) and then use one of those mittens that fold back to let you use your fingers like SixGun recommends (thanks for the advise on the mittens Osprey & SixGun).
Michael - When I was active duty AF I used to have to go to sites to install computer systems. Everyone told me how bad Minot, ND was but it was practically tropical compared to Grand Forks, ND. I remember having to drive down the middle of the highway going from the base to the town to ensure the wind bursts didn't push me off of the road and into a snow bank. Brrrrrr.
Hot Hands .99 cents in someplaces.. couple in your pockets and your good all day and then some...
As far as cold hands go: I hunt muzzleloader season and usually can get away with a light jacket, no gloves, or just one for my left hand as I don't want anything to screw up when i take a shot. then by mid morning i am already in a t-shirt with my hat barely on my head cause i am getting hot!
Anyways, here is my 2007 bull taken sept 8th:
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...ting200749.jpg
AND: I will show off my 2008 bull take this year sept. 17th
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...2008Bull10.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...d2008Bull8.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...the2008B-1.jpg
Not my shot but one of the guys in my party
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...8/DSCN2331.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...8/DSCN2508.jpg
nicely done. looks like it was a royal but the right brow tine is broken.
?? A royal ?? I've heard that phrase before but never had it explained to me.
Um, yeah, if my hands get cold I'm not putting them down your pants - thanks anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sixgun
Quote:
Originally Posted by theGinsue
a 6x6. that is a royal bull elk.
Buds called they both scored on Snd. morn at 12k'. 1 bull 1 cow,, took em till mon to get em out. I'm leaving next thursday .
awesome! good luck, hope you get a monster. post some pics or your buddies when you get a chance.
..
Sams club has cases of hot hands for ~$11/case. Works out to ~ .30/piece. We use em' all up with two kids in football and a couple hunting seasons. They keep my hands toasty.
I enjoyed my hunt even though it was unsuccessful. We ended up hunting in GMU 5 (Slater park), and I spent some time hunting the fence line of three forks ranch. I had a cow tag and saw lots of bulls, some cows (not in range), biggest buck i've ever seen, misc other deer. This was my first time to this area and I was hunting with friends so, I basically hung with them and learned the area. Next time, I know exactly where I would sit!
We had ~20 guys from Tenn camped next to us, they had mules and packed in the night before opening day and basically spent the night in the field until they got their bull or end of the season. I think all of them were successful, interesting and dedicated hunting method! Unfortunately, by the second/third night many of them were successful, back in camp celebrating with late night gun shots from camp, not cool.
By the third day, the hunting pressure had pushed the elk to higher elevations along with the Tenn guys (advantage of having mules).
TennVol, how much does it cost to just get a Cow tag on three forks (if you don't mind my asking). Is it guided/drop camp or what?
I'm still learning and would be interested in hearing others strategies, especially those who were successful (ie stalking, sitting, hiking timber, etc). Also wondering if anyone is familiar with this area (GMU 5, slater park) and what it is like during 2nd, 3rd & 4th seasons. I still have an EE tag for 3rd season in GMU 27, anyone know of good areas to hunt there?
good luck,
Tim
wow we always hunt and hardly ever see anyone... most don't walk more than 150 200 yards off the road...last year we had 3 elk in the back of the truck by late afternoon, and ran into some Texas hunters riding up and down the road they ask if we'd seen any elk....
NOPE,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,here's your sign..............
also Costco has 40 hot hands and bonus toe warmers for 13.00
I must work too hard then. I don't have mules or horses. just pack in with a few friends (4 or 5 of us total) and set up a camp and go from there. Both my bulls from this year and last year were about 5 miles from base camp and a hell of a hike!
I never see another hunter though except for the start of the hunt going in and maybe coming out. they usually walk the roads. I like to be where there is zero pressure.
I am sure during rifle season it is a bit easier to hunt along the roads though as the elk move down and are more active.
Muzzleloading season presents a whole new set of obstacles as the elk move very early and very late (and all night this year thanks to a stinking full moon [Rant1]) Then during the day they are bedded down, and usually not very talkative. You have to really get them riled up to hear anything from them. Or get right in their territory and get them pissed you are another bull hanging out in their spot.
sinper7,
When you "pack in" and hunt 5 miles from base camp, are you packing in from base camp and spending the night in the field, or packing in a base camp without motorized vehicles? Once in the field, do you sit on selected areas, beat timber, stalking, or combo of both with your hunting partners?
I have hunted elk for the last 5 years unsuccessfully, and agree i'm working way too hard. According to my GPS, this last season, over the course of 5 days I hiked 30 miles, and i forgot to start logging the first day! I basically played dog for a couple of the older guys in camp. They went in via trail and sat. I hiked mountains and timber and literally 30 minutes proir to stepping out of the timber I would hear shots and it wasn't always my hunting partners. I saw mere glimpses of the elk when kicked up in the timber, definately not enough time to get a shot off.
So, i'm trying to learn as much as I can. One thing I noticed is that after reviewing the western slope hunting guides that some areas have larger elk populations. For instance, GMU 5 has a population 24K whereas GMU 27 has 4K. Definetly your odds are better in 5, however as i experienced there were lots more hunters.
It varies as to what we do. When we pack in, it is just that. we took a 4 wheeler along this year but didn't use it once. We just load our pack frames up with all our gear and hike in. We found a really nice remote spot surrounded by timber to protect us from the wind and set up camp there. We were about 5 miles back in. We only stayed there a couple days as one of the guys that was with us (it was his frist elk hunt ever and only 2nd big game hunt), well he blew a 20 yard shot on a 5x5. We figured he had to of hit him and spent the rest of the first day and all the 2nd searching the entire canyon and all the mountainsides for him but we knew he missed. It was more to make him feel better even though we will never tell him that.
Then we swapped areas and drove in on some nasty roads up high, then hiked in about 5 miles with a little bit lighter day packs but had enough to survive a couple days/nights without any problem. This is when i got my bull, about 5 miles back, on the other side of the mountain from where we were camped so it was a shit ton of work to get him out.
The plus, we don't see hunters anywhere. They are usually down lower and then drive up and down buring gas all day long, or they sit watching meadows and hope. For the most part they don't see much unless it is morning or evening, especially during muzzleloading season.
This year was a full moon for the entire season so the elk very active all night long feeding and moving. that means they move later in the evening so you aren't going to have a good shot. that also means they are going to stick in the thick timber and sleep during the day and move very little unless pushed.
I can only tell you that I hunt near notellum ridge. You will have to scour maps to find it.[Coffee]
I have never road hunted for elk my entire life, but for the older guys that do it, I understand.
As far as your experience, you definitely got used as the dog. basically what you are doing when you are pounding in the woods like that is making noise and pushing the elk to the other hunters or the two older guys in your case. they knew what they were doing.
What I would advise is to always take your time in the woods. Work slow, move a few hundred yards then bugle or sit and watch. Elk have much better senses than we do in just about everything so they will see and smell and hear you long before the squirrels start barking at you. This year we got to a good area, bugled for a while, moved a couple hundred yards, bugled again. then on the next move we found a beautiful meadow with several wallows, a little bit of snow and lots of fresh green grass with little water pockets all along. We sat hear for 40 minutes bugling our nuts off until my 5x5 finally called back and was pissed cause we were making soo much racket (bugling). That was the last time he was going to come in looking for a fight.[Beer]
sniper7,
Thanks for the information, it is helpful.
"no tell 'um ridge", funny!
I'm not really concerned with where you hunt, but your strategies. Once I have honed my skills, theoretically I should be able to get an elk anywhere. The hunt success rate in Colorado is approx 20%, considering road hunters even seem to get one occasionally, I'm frustrated (should have had one in 5 years to match success rate). I know guys that get one every year, or have success rates 70%+.
Hunters don't like to give up their spots, as you have demonstrated, however I tend to ask friends/co-workers if i can go with them. Mostly to learn to hunt, not find out where someone's secret spot is. I grew up deer hunting with my dad, his strategy was to hike in before sunrise, sit down and hike out after sunset. If you didn't see anything it was cause "you didn't sit still enough"!
..
Quote:
Originally Posted by sniper_tim
I do what I can![Coffee]
I think they say the average is 1 bull every 10 years in colorado for the average hunter! I couldn't imagine. no wonder a lot of guys don't hunt and get frustrated. but a lot of this is the guys who go up to drink then road hunt all day and drink some more. They always ask where I got my bull when I am driving out. I look them straight in the eyes and say "right there in the woods"[ROFL3]
They look at me confused, so I tell them they need to get out of their truck to find the elk!
I will share some tips and tactics, but i learned my spots from my best friends dad and my dad who have hunted CO for over 50 years combined. My best friends dad and I are going mule deer hunting middle of Nov. he hasn't hunted with a rifle in 20 years, so this ought to be fun![M2]