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.

[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.

[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.

[Teufelhund]

Good suggestions, thank you. I think I'm all set on most of those: I've got a GI two-part sleeping bag system (rated to -10 IIRC), polypropylene base layer tops and bottoms, wool socks, and a couple ski jackets to choose from, though I think I may see if I can find something made of a quieter material. The orange knit cap is a good idea.

What gloves do you guys like for hunting? There are a lot of options, but it seems you have to choose between well-insulated and the ability to feel the trigger. Maybe the mittens that fold back to expose your fingers? Think I may go walk around Sportsman's and see what they have.

[spqrzilla]

I usually go hunting with a very thin glove to wear just to get the wind off my hands. And I stuff a really well insulated pair of gloves in my pack for if it gets super cold. I figure if its so cold I need those, I'm surviving not hunting.

The fold back mitten style is just too much in the way and too much fiddling around.

[sniper7]

Good suggestions, thank you. I think I'm all set on most of those: I've got a GI two-part sleeping bag system (rated to -10 IIRC), polypropylene base layer tops and bottoms, wool socks, and a couple ski jackets to choose from, though I think I may see if I can find something made of a quieter material. The orange knit cap is a good idea.

What gloves do you guys like for hunting? There are a lot of options, but it seems you have to choose between well-insulated and the ability to feel the trigger. Maybe the mittens that fold back to expose your fingers? Think I may go walk around Sportsman's and see what they have.

I hate the folding mitten style. I usually wear a heavy glove on my non trigger finger hand, and a lighter glove on my shooting hand. You can also just stick with heavy gloves and practice shooting with them on so you know what it is like: compressing the material, then the trigger breaks. not a bad thing since you don't want to know when the rifle will go off anyways to avoid flinching.

just find a glove with fingers thin enough that the trigger finger fits into the trigger guard.

something with good thinsulate.


buy the best you can get for gloves, socks and boots. that, IMO will be the ultimate in if you are comfortable or not all day.

[brutal]

Good suggestions, thank you. I think I'm all set on most of those: I've got a GI two-part sleeping bag system (rated to -10 IIRC), polypropylene base layer tops and bottoms, wool socks, and a couple ski jackets to choose from, though I think I may see if I can find something made of a quieter material. The orange knit cap is a good idea.

What gloves do you guys like for hunting? There are a lot of options, but it seems you have to choose between well-insulated and the ability to feel the trigger. Maybe the mittens that fold back to expose your fingers? Think I may go walk around Sportsman's and see what they have.

I'm going with layers, just like clothing. I'll start with Under Armour thin liners, I can move to some medium weight gloves if I get cold hands, or the full on camo Thinsulate gloves with just the thin liners. I've practiced shooting with the two lighter, so the shooting hand thick glove will have to come off. Bass Pro/Outdoor World is probably your best bet for one stop shopping.

All my gear has to fit in a small daypack (Badlands Stealth) and that includes sidearm, game bags & paracord, hydration, protein and carbs, first aid, etc.

The noisy ski jacket is likely to piss off anyone around you. If you're moving a lot, it's not a great idea.