First Colorado elk hunt!

[Teufelhund]

Just found out I'm going to get to do some elk hunting this year! I grew up hunting deer, upland birds, javelina, and squirrels in Texas, but I've never killed anything bigger than a whitetail. I haven't been hunting in years and I'm stoked!

Headed out to Meeker next weekend with several buddies who have hunted there before. We'll be camping in a couple wall-tents and stalking out from there. Any tips for a first-time hunt in CO?

I'll update with some pics when we get back.

[smchop]

Wear some good broken in boots, and layer up, so you can layer down.!

[soldier-of-the-apocalypse]

better get the check book out Im leaving on friday and ive spent over a grand getting ready

[Teufelhund]

better get the check book out Im leaving on friday and ive spent over a grand getting ready

Ouch! I can't think of anything I don't already have except an orange vest and maybe some warm gloves. I guess a cot would be a good idea; might have to hit up the Army/Navy surplus later this week.

[spqrzilla]

Ouch! I can't think of anything I don't already have except an orange vest and maybe some warm gloves. I guess a cot would be a good idea; might have to hit up the Army/Navy surplus later this week.

Is the wall tent heated? If not, think about a cold weather sleeping bag.

Otherwise, an additional outer layer jacket than you are used to, good gloves, good wool socks and warm hat - an extra hunter orange knit cap is what I usually stuff in my pack.

If your underlayer is cotton, ditch that for polypropolene.

[brutal]

better get the check book out Im leaving on friday and ive spent over a grand getting ready

You got that right. My first time back into hunting and big game in 30 years and I had to outfit all over again. Boots, jacket, bibs, pack, etc. etc. last trip to Bass Pro alone was $700. Time before that was $450. I've easily dumped hundreds upon hundreds more online picking up various items one normally acquires over the years. Hell, a good pair of wool blend hiking socks is $20 now. That's not including the gun, scope, and other sundries I've picked up over the last 2 years.

[spittoon]

better get the check book out Im leaving on friday and ive spent over a grand getting ready

[Teufelhund]

Just got home last night. No one in our 5-person group took any animals. There were so many hunters out there, it was not uncommon to be sitting in the middle of nowhere, watching a watering hole and have someone walk by in front of you. I did see a bull and a cow, but they were about 600 yards out, so I just watched them through the scope for a minute. Lots of fresh sign everywhere we looked, but I guess they were just moving too much with all the hunters in the area. Too bad no one had a deer tag, we saw dozens of them.

I learned that elk hunting is not very different from deer hunting, which is something I did a lot growing up. I think I'll be better prepared and have some success next year. I really think I might like to try bow hunting too; don't know the first thing about it, but it sounds like fun.

We were in GMU 12 from Oct. 19-23. Beautiful country.

[donsignalli]

Elk Hunting is nothing like Deer Hunting.... just saying.

[Gunner]

I'll be heading out Thursday. Gonna also try my luck with a bear tag. We will see.