Elk hunting recommendations

ENTERKO

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I've been hunting most of my adult life ranging from whitetails and ducks in NC to feral pigs in Kauai. The Kauai pig hunting has been exclusively with a knife, using dogs to bay them up. The terrain in Kauai makes it especially challenging to get to the pig in time as to not injure a dog. This means it's more of an athletic feat to run through the jungle, stick the pig and pack it out back to an area where vehicles can make the rest of the way out.

The pig hunting experiences has peaked my interest in harvesting an elk out west for some time now. I would like to backpack hunt on foot, and intrigued at the physical challenge presented in backpack camping, stalking an elk and packing it out. Me and one of my best friends are starting to make plans for a hunt next year, but looking for advise on where to hunt and any other tips. We've been looking at Montana and Colorado but are absolutely clueless regarding non-resident licenses when it come to these states.

With that said:
  • Any advice on particular States to hunt?
    • How likely to attain non-resident licenses in those states?
  • Any other things to be aware of?
 
I've been hunting most of my adult life ranging from whitetails and ducks in NC to feral pigs in Kauai. The Kauai pig hunting has been exclusively with a knife, using dogs to bay them up. The terrain in Kauai makes it especially challenging to get to the pig in time as to not injure a dog. This means it's more of an athletic feat to run through the jungle, stick the pig and pack it out back to an area where vehicles can make the rest of the way out.

The pig hunting experiences has peaked my interest in harvesting an elk out west for some time now. I would like to backpack hunt on foot, and intrigued at the physical challenge presented in backpack camping, stalking an elk and packing it out. Me and one of my best friends are starting to make plans for a hunt next year, but looking for advise on where to hunt and any other tips. We've been looking at Montana and Colorado but are absolutely clueless regarding non-resident licenses when it come to these states.

With that said:
  • Any advice on particular States to hunt?
    • How likely to attain non-resident licenses in those states?
  • Any other things to be aware of?

If you’ve got the $ pay for a land owner tag. Colorado Idaho or New Mexico would be my list.


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Personally I don't hunt Elk but do go with others that are hunting elk while I harvest birds in the bottom of the valleys. I've been on Elk hunts in Montana, Colorado and New Mexico but always see the most Elk in Co.
I don't give you much chance of an enjoyable hunt doing it the way you have described. You may want to reassess and modify your plan.
 
Personally I don't hunt Elk but do go with others that are hunting elk while I harvest birds in the bottom of the valleys. I've been on Elk hunts in Montana, Colorado and New Mexico but always see the most Elk in Co.
I don't give you much chance of an enjoyable hunt doing it the way you have described. You may want to reassess and modify your plan.

Thanks, what makes you say that? My main concerns are packing out based on the limited research that I've done.
 
From what I've seen in my investigation toward a hunt, Colorado is what you're looking for, as they have a good mix of size of game and quantity. New Mexico has the numbers, but a draw there is less likely.
 
My son and his buddies are on an elk hunt right now in Colorado. Of course, they all live there so it doesn't cost them a fraction of what it cost for an out of state tag. I think his elk tag is $45! They hunt an area that doesn't allow any vehicles and have to hike in and pack out their kills. They hunt this area to stay away from the crowds at the areas with easier access. They were worried that the weather was going to get them again this year. The elevation is 10k feet and it snowed last year and pushed all the elk to lower elevations. I think they got a little bit of snow on Sunday but not enough to hurt them. They are out of cell service so I won't know if they did any good or not until they are headed back. They are there for 10 days unless they all fill their tags sooner.
 
My son and his buddies are on an elk hunt right now in Colorado. Of course, they all live there so it doesn't cost them a fraction of what it cost for an out of state tag. I think his elk tag is $45! They hunt an area that doesn't allow any vehicles and have to hike in and pack out their kills. They hunt this area to stay away from the crowds at the areas with easier access. They were worried that the weather was going to get them again this year. The elevation is 10k feet and it snowed last year and pushed all the elk to lower elevations. I think they got a little bit of snow on Sunday but not enough to hurt them. They are out of cell service so I won't know if they did any good or not until they are headed back. They are there for 10 days unless they all fill their tags sooner.
That is awesome. Let me know how they do, and if they have suggestions on areas to go in CO.
 
Thanks, what makes you say that? My main concerns are packing out based on the limited research that I've done.

Think about everything your going to have to pack IN, food for 2 for how many days? suitable shelter , sleeping bags rated for the temps, guns, equipment to process the Elk after the kill and a pack frame to carry it on the trip out PLUS the stuff you packed IN minus the food. That's a LOT of packing back and forth.
They guys I used to go to CO with would just arrange a non guided hunt but use the guides outpost to minimize the equipment that they didn't have to begin with. Most all of the outposts are reachable by 4 WD truck so no packing back and forth. The outpost tents are cabin style with heaters which are needed in that climate.
 
My son hauls in his camper. They have to drive something like 50 miles on dirt roads to get to where they park the camper. He did buy a camper that is made for off road with heavy suspension and and all terrain tires. Sometimes it takes them a whole day or more to get the field dressed elk back to the camper.
 
That is awesome. Let me know how they do, and if they have suggestions on areas to go in CO.

I've heard good things about units 74 and 741. I also have an outfitter to recommend for those areas.
 
If you don't mind "road camping" that's the way to go. Be warned that there is a possibility of your camper being raided when your gone during the hunt hours. I've never had it happen to me but have heard of others being hit..... Might as well leave it unlocked but with nothing more valuable than the SS flatware from WalMart to take....
 
You should also look at eastern Kentucky.
 
I have been looking into a very similar trip for 2021, though I would also be ok with a mule deer or cow elk in lieu of a bull. I want to do some of the physically difficult hunts while I still can. I have been researching Colorado, Idaho, and Wyoming. Colorado does seem to have a lot going for it in terms of numbers and access. Just figuring out the units, laws, etc. is daunting. The prospect of packing out a 1000 lb critter from rough terrain is no joke even for someone in great shape. This is especially true since I don't have any experience hunting out there. I have butchered a bunch of deer, pigs, and cows, so I am pretty confident in my ability to part out the animal, I just don't want to put myself in a no-win situation. In addition to DIY opportunities, I have started looking at drop-camp hunts where an outfitter has a camp set up in an area that supposedly has game to drop you off in, often on horseback. You can day hike to hunt from there. It is a lot cheaper than a guided hunt, and seems a reasonable compromise between that and a true DIY.

I am very interested in doing such a trip next fall. If anyone from here is interested in putting together a small group to do this, PM me.
 
If you go to CO, or any part of the mountain West, you need to be in primo shape- the altitude will zap you hard. 9000'+ is no joke. My cousin Michelle is on the US women's triathlon team (& an absolute beast) & got altitude sickness her first day in Breckenridge at 9600'.
 
If you go to CO, or any part of the mountain West, you need to be in primo shape- the altitude will zap you hard. 9000'+ is no joke. My cousin Michelle is on the US women's triathlon team (& an absolute beast) & got altitude sickness her first day in Breckenridge at 9600'.
Yep remember when I went to Idaho hunting yrs ago. The outfitter made sure we had plenty of water to stay hydrated
and was talking about people getting altitude sickness. I used www.bouldercreekoutfitters.com
Tim and his crew did a great job for me.
 
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