Can anyone recommend a good elk hunting book for a newbie? Something geared towards Colorado.
Can anyone recommend a good elk hunting book for a newbie? Something geared towards Colorado.
Browsed through a copy of American Hunter magazine all last week and it had several articles with good info. Can probably look for them online.
"There are no finger prints under water."
You can learn a lot about hunting from reading the works of experienced hunting writers. Novices will especially benefit but I still gain a lot in the field by being reminded of strategies and techniques through reading. Reading about elk hunting gets me mentally prepared for the hunt and I hunt smarter because of it.
I recommend starting at the library. Go online to peruse all the offerings on elk, elk hunting and big game hunting. If you don't have a library card, get one. Check out the books online and put them on hold for you to pick up at your local library. The Marmot Library System in Colorado allows you to check out materials from any CO library. Library staff will pull the books from the stacks, transport them across the state and have them ready for you at your local library, a huge time saver. Start here: Elk Hunting
You can read through dozens of books on deer and elk hunting and it won't cost you a dime. If you find particular books you like most, then you can buy. But, there are plenty of crappy hunting books out there from writers who know little about the subject. Try before you buy.
I highly recommend most any hunting book by Don Laubauch or Jim Zumbo. Those guys have walked the walk. IMO, Zumbo is the greatest western big game hunting writer of all time. Regardless of what one might think about his black rifle faux pas, an aspiring hunter would gain much by reading his works. Jack Ballard is another good author who writes for Colorado Outdoors magazine. Also, most anything published by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Don't forget to read the online resources such as RMEF's hunt planner and the CPW's elk hunting university which is excellent.
Though harder to find now I like Elmer Keith and Jack O'Connor. Libraries are a great resource. Elmer Keith wrote a book on big game hunting. I think the real knowledge from Keith is not just the hunting but the field craft and outdoor advice: never leave a rifle on a horse when the horse stops.
Several years ago I bought a book I believe titled Big Game Hunting in Colorado and it had an elk section.
Years ago, a friend gave me the book, "All About Elk."
It's put out by the North American Hunting Club.
Highly recommended for any elk hunter.
http://www.amazon.com/All-About-Hunt.../dp/914697072X