Backpack beginners

[Ryanpent]

Hello everyone. I am new to the site, and new to the world of backpack hunting. I am a whitetail, tree stand hunter who is ready to take the dive into the west. I am looking to go on an Elk hunt in the Colorado back country. I do realize this a common questions, and probably over asked, but if I don't ask I will never know. I am planning on hunting in 2019, looking for an OTC DIY hunt. I am already starting to buy gear, and researching the best items to take, I'm sure I will find that I have way too much stuff the first time I go, but better safe than sorry. Is anyone out the to willing to share some tips, trick, and just general knowledge to help navigate the process? I am not interested in someone telling me where to hunt, I don't have anyone in my circle who has done a hunt like this so every little bit of help counts.

Thanks in advance, and I hope to hear from someone. 

 

[cohunter14]

Welcome to the site Ryanpent!  :welcome:

My first piece of advice is if it?s your first elk hunt, don?t do a backpack hunt. The last thing you want to do is backpack into an unknown area and put all your eggs in that basket. If it doesn?t produce, you have a lot of work to do to get to a different area. The best way to go about a first hunt is to be as mobile as possible. Don?t lock yourself into one area.

If you insist on going the backpack route, my second piece of advice would be to not do it from a trailhead at a wilderness area. This has become such a popular idea that I?m willing to bet many of those areas are more crowded than a basic OTC area accessible by truck and ATV. Instead, find a random area where there is a chunk of roadless area and hunt that.

I?m sure others will chip in with their thoughts as well, but that?s just my thoughts. Good luck!

 

[rmcoelho]

I agree with the don't do a trailhead backpack trip if your new because most get so crowded. Watch a few of Randy Newbergs Elk talk sessions and listen closely for what success sounds like.http://elk101.com/forums/Themes/inferno_20rc4/images/bbc/code.gif

 

[nclonghunter]

I agree with COHUNTER on not backpacking the first trip out. Our first trip we had located about 10 possible locations to hunt. Spent a couple days just looking at the different locations and then camped at the one we picked. Hunted mornings and then drove around and talked to other hunters trying to learn all we could. Luck struck and we meet a local that gave us some great info. Hunted the area he suggested the remaining time out there and my buddy took a 6x6 with his bow. The area we ended up hunting was not any of the places we had picked. Every year we learn more and find more areas and have taken several elk with bow and muzzleloader. Buy maps for NF and BLM areas to have handy if you find the right person to give info. It's a journey to enjoy. We have taken backpacks with us every year and have found a couple places we feel worthy of the effort to go back into. There are elk closer to the roads than you may think. It is big country out there. Good Luck!!

 

[cnelk]

I with the others. Backpacking in to elk country is the craze anymore.
Sure it sounds sexy and fun, but it?s a lot more added workload to the average hunt.

I would suggest getting the Colorado Gazetteer. It covers the whole state with roads and topography. That way if you need to relocate you don?t run out of maps.
I always have one in my truck

If you do decide to go the backpack route, definitely go on a trial run for a weekend in your home state. You?ll find what works and doesn?t

I gotta say tho, since the ?go deep? craze has started, I?ve been finding great success close to minimum traveled roads and even close to highways

 

[Anomaly101]

When I started I jumped in head first. But I like to suffer I guess

 

[Ryanpent]

I appreciate all the info so far. I appreciate others who like to help. we don't see enough of it nowadays.