Hey guys! Hope all is well! I\'ve always wanted to hunt Elk. I\'m a total newb when it comes to Elk. They are amazing animals I know that. I was wondering if it was possible to go on a do it yourself Elk hunt for under $2,000? As in the hunt its self. I know taxidermy fees would raise the price significantly. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Can I realistically do a DIY Elk hunt for under $2K?
- Thread starter burtle
- Start date
colorado russ
New member
- Aug 10, 2017
- 1,083
Burtle, welcome to the site! Couple of questions and I\'m sure others will chime in.
Are you talking about Colorado or another state?
Are you a resident or non-resident?
How long of a trip are you planning?
Other questions will revolve around your gear, shape, wilderness hunt vs Natl Forest, etc...
That\'d get us started since costs for a non-resident to get here plus tags will eat through half of your $2K.
Russ
Are you talking about Colorado or another state?
Are you a resident or non-resident?
How long of a trip are you planning?
Other questions will revolve around your gear, shape, wilderness hunt vs Natl Forest, etc...
That\'d get us started since costs for a non-resident to get here plus tags will eat through half of your $2K.
Russ
Welcome burtle !
I\'m sure there will some others that will weigh in on your question but here is what I think.
Yes you should be able to do for $2k or even less.
But first let\'s make some assumptions and ask you a couple questions.
1 - you will be coming from out of state. Yes? Will you be solo or have a partner?
2 - I consider food a wash because wherever you are you gotta eat
3 - gear? Need or have it?
Give some more info and we will be glad to help!
I\'m sure there will some others that will weigh in on your question but here is what I think.
Yes you should be able to do for $2k or even less.
But first let\'s make some assumptions and ask you a couple questions.
1 - you will be coming from out of state. Yes? Will you be solo or have a partner?
2 - I consider food a wash because wherever you are you gotta eat
3 - gear? Need or have it?
Give some more info and we will be glad to help!
iccyman001
New member
- Apr 30, 2014
- 5,489
Hey bud,
Glad you made it over. Ask as many questions as you can and don\'t feel any are too silly. These guys are all really friendly and knowledgeable, so you\'re in good hands.
Glad you made it over. Ask as many questions as you can and don\'t feel any are too silly. These guys are all really friendly and knowledgeable, so you\'re in good hands.
iccyman001
New member
- Apr 30, 2014
- 5,489
One thing I\'ll touch on before people breakdown into the nitty gritty is gear.
Do not fall into the spending trap on what some people a say you need to kill an elk.
There is a need list verse a want list, but people often make it all need need need when teaching people.
For example. You do not need a $900 pair of camo to kill an elk.
A lot of people set up their first elk trip and grossly overspend on gear they were told they needed to be successful and that it would be dumb to go without it.
We will not lead you in the wrong direction.
We have a few exclusive OTC unit hunters who kill elk every year in comfy jeans and carhart button down
Do not fall into the spending trap on what some people a say you need to kill an elk.
There is a need list verse a want list, but people often make it all need need need when teaching people.
For example. You do not need a $900 pair of camo to kill an elk.
A lot of people set up their first elk trip and grossly overspend on gear they were told they needed to be successful and that it would be dumb to go without it.
We will not lead you in the wrong direction.
We have a few exclusive OTC unit hunters who kill elk every year in comfy jeans and carhart button down
timberland
New member
- Aug 27, 2015
- 471
I travel from NW WI to CO, WY or MT and have yet to spend more than $1,200 on food, gas, and tag. I do not count gear, I need that for other hunts anyway. And these hunts average 10+ days each.
elkmtngear
New member
- Aug 9, 2017
- 1,152
Under 2K...easily.
Gas and Food are the main expenses if you are talking about the hunt itself. Tag fees will eat up 600 bucks or so.
If you have the gear...all you need to do is drive out into the elk woods and kill one. Plan on staying at least a week (2 weeks is better).
With gas (from Northern California to Colorado), food, dry ice and meat processor fees last Season...I may have spent 600 dollars all told.
Gas and Food are the main expenses if you are talking about the hunt itself. Tag fees will eat up 600 bucks or so.
If you have the gear...all you need to do is drive out into the elk woods and kill one. Plan on staying at least a week (2 weeks is better).
With gas (from Northern California to Colorado), food, dry ice and meat processor fees last Season...I may have spent 600 dollars all told.
If you are a first time elk hunter going out of State, it will be difficult to beat the $2,000 mark you set for yourself. If you continue to hunt and add needed, but quality equipment over the years, the price per hunt will likely come down some. It will still be hard to beat the $2,000 mark unless you live right near where you hunt.
I have no idea where you are coming from. or how you will get there. I don\'t know what equipment you still need.
GSA\'s POV rate is now $0.575/mi. If you are driving a 4x4 vehicle, it will be hard to beat their rate. When I worked for the Forest Service, there were times employees were encouraged to use their own vehicles, so the government did not need to rent one. I and the employees that worked with me, never would, as the roads and their conditions made it impossible to break even. The F.S. experienced vehicle costs per mile were higher than the GSA rate. Off highway use is more expensive. So if you are driving 1,000 miles each way, you just ate up at least $1,150 of you budget just getting to camp. Will you need a motel? Out of State license and tag? Restaurant meals? Will you need to drive around looking for where the elk are? Other?
Consider elk hunting a vacation, and accept the cost for what it is. Enjoy your vacation.
I have no idea where you are coming from. or how you will get there. I don\'t know what equipment you still need.
GSA\'s POV rate is now $0.575/mi. If you are driving a 4x4 vehicle, it will be hard to beat their rate. When I worked for the Forest Service, there were times employees were encouraged to use their own vehicles, so the government did not need to rent one. I and the employees that worked with me, never would, as the roads and their conditions made it impossible to break even. The F.S. experienced vehicle costs per mile were higher than the GSA rate. Off highway use is more expensive. So if you are driving 1,000 miles each way, you just ate up at least $1,150 of you budget just getting to camp. Will you need a motel? Out of State license and tag? Restaurant meals? Will you need to drive around looking for where the elk are? Other?
Consider elk hunting a vacation, and accept the cost for what it is. Enjoy your vacation.
elkmtngear
New member
- Aug 9, 2017
- 1,152
\"Swede\" said:
Swede, my 4x4 gets 14 mpg overall on that trip. By my calculations, I would use 142 gallons of gas for that trip...at an average of 3.25 a gallon going back there...that\'s 460 bucks. Are you saying I need to add 690 dollars in maintenance fees to drive 2000 miles?
At least by those Government rates...we know where our tax dollars are going :lol:
My 2 motels, going and coming, cost 150 dollars tops
\"cnelk\" said:
I will be coming from Illinois. Completely alone as far as hunting. My girlfriend will come with me but she will stay at the hotel and swim/read etc..
I don\'t have any gear just for Elk. I hunt deer, so I do have a lot of warm gear, bow, knives, binos, spotting scope, truck etc....
Thanks for all of the replies guys.
Food wise I would bring my grill and a bunch of meat from home. I\'d eat as cheap as I could. I wouldn\'t eat out every day. I would want to go for at least 5 days. So a hotel for 5 days I know would probably cost me 300-350ish.00 give or take. I have a diesel truck that gets around 16-17mpg on the highway. I have tons of camo etc..
I just don\'t know where to go in Colorado, the price, how to clean Elk, how to get it back to my truck, and i don\'t have any Elk calls...
Food wise I would bring my grill and a bunch of meat from home. I\'d eat as cheap as I could. I wouldn\'t eat out every day. I would want to go for at least 5 days. So a hotel for 5 days I know would probably cost me 300-350ish.00 give or take. I have a diesel truck that gets around 16-17mpg on the highway. I have tons of camo etc..
I just don\'t know where to go in Colorado, the price, how to clean Elk, how to get it back to my truck, and i don\'t have any Elk calls...
timberland
New member
- Aug 27, 2015
- 471
\"burtle\" said:
WAAAIIITT A MINUTE! You never said anything about a girlfriend or motel. Then nope, nope, nope....
If you have the gear and can sleep on the ground you can do it for $1500 by yourself, 1,200 if you split gas with somebody (not your girlfriend) The original post asked if it was doable, and it is if you make some sacrifices.
elkmtngear
New member
- Aug 9, 2017
- 1,152
\"burtle\" said:
Knowledge, boot leather, and hard work...and all that is free. Diaphragm calls are cheap, and there are a wealth of You Tube videos showing how to use them.
In most cases, if you are planning on staying in a motel...you will have to get up awful early to get to and kill an elk. How does 3 AM sound? :think:
Also, if you have no elk experience, I do not feel that 5 days is realistic. You should plan on at least 10 days.
colorado russ
New member
- Aug 10, 2017
- 1,083
Your deer hunting gear should work fine for elk. Plenty of online help for quartering up an elk to packable size pieces. Jeff makes a very good point that if you\'re staying in a motel/hotel then plan on getting up super early to drive to a trailhead well before dark and hike in a ways to begin your hunt. Same on the return - you hunt until dark, hike out to the truck, drive back to motel, eat, go to bed, repeat....Hope your girlfriend is VERY understanding!
If you don\'t include meals because you\'d have to eat even if staying in Illinois, I think you can make $2K work.
Springfield, IL to Denver, CO - 900 miles(X2)
Denver, CO to hunting area - 150 miles(X2)
Driving around hunting area - 200 miles
Total estimated miles 2300
Say you\'re getting 15 mpg(approx 150 gallons) and diesel averages $3.50/gallon. That\'d put fuel costs around $525. No maintenance or wear and tear costs are being included for simplicity.
10 nights in a motel at $60/night is approx $700 including tax.
Non resident elk tag is $600.
Total so far is $1825.
Suggestions: Try to find someone else to make the trip with you and split costs. Being a newbie to elk hunting, it would likely be comforting to have another person with you whether they\'re experienced or not. Consider bringing tent/sleeping bag/camping stuff and stay out for a few days then go to a motel for a day refresher assuming you can\'t camp out the entire time. 10 nights camping is a lot without the right gear.
If you don\'t include meals because you\'d have to eat even if staying in Illinois, I think you can make $2K work.
Springfield, IL to Denver, CO - 900 miles(X2)
Denver, CO to hunting area - 150 miles(X2)
Driving around hunting area - 200 miles
Total estimated miles 2300
Say you\'re getting 15 mpg(approx 150 gallons) and diesel averages $3.50/gallon. That\'d put fuel costs around $525. No maintenance or wear and tear costs are being included for simplicity.
10 nights in a motel at $60/night is approx $700 including tax.
Non resident elk tag is $600.
Total so far is $1825.
Suggestions: Try to find someone else to make the trip with you and split costs. Being a newbie to elk hunting, it would likely be comforting to have another person with you whether they\'re experienced or not. Consider bringing tent/sleeping bag/camping stuff and stay out for a few days then go to a motel for a day refresher assuming you can\'t camp out the entire time. 10 nights camping is a lot without the right gear.
I suppose there are as many ways to calculate cost per mile for a vehicle. I consider the total cost of ownership, and divide it by the miles I use it. My cost per mile includes everything. I don\'t give a free pass to one use. That is the best way I know of to calculate cost per mile, but I realize off highway road miles are actually higher than highway miles, except in the Midwest where they don\'t maintain their highways.
Burtle, if you want elk hunting to be relatively cheap, don\'t encourage four girl friend to take up the sport. I have friends at Church that want me to share my God given free meat. I do without saying a word. I just realize they are clueless about the cost of hunting. Beef is still a lot cheaper than elk meat.
Burtle, if you want elk hunting to be relatively cheap, don\'t encourage four girl friend to take up the sport. I have friends at Church that want me to share my God given free meat. I do without saying a word. I just realize they are clueless about the cost of hunting. Beef is still a lot cheaper than elk meat.
cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,345
\"elkmtngear\" said:
A lot depends on what season you are planning on hunting. Are you hunting with a bow, muzzleloader, or rifle? One other suggestion: instead of spending that money on a hotel to stay in, invest in a quality tent and sleeping bag. You will actually get some sleep, like Jeff mentioned.
Welcome to the site!
elky McElkerson
New member
- Mar 13, 2014
- 2,038
i\'ve killed one elk. (i cant count how many tag-sandwiches i\'ve eaten)
if i did the math, i bet that elk worked out to about $737.58 per pound.
between fuel, lodging on the drive, tags, road trip food, one scouting trip, etc. the $$ adds up.
on the other (never mentioned) side, is the GEAR. haha. it\'s an obsession, and in my experience, obsessions dont run on the inexpensive side.
if i did the math, i bet that elk worked out to about $737.58 per pound.
between fuel, lodging on the drive, tags, road trip food, one scouting trip, etc. the $$ adds up.
on the other (never mentioned) side, is the GEAR. haha. it\'s an obsession, and in my experience, obsessions dont run on the inexpensive side.
Fuel from Illinois and back @ $3.00 per gal.= about $660
Ad another $200 for gas from motel to hunting area for 5 days
Elk tag around $550
5 nights in a motel @$70 average = $350
So that only leaves you with $250 for any extra expences you may encounter.
I\'m sure everyone here is willing to share tips and tricks with you. But seriously, when you add a GF to the picture, that just blew your budget all to pieces.
Ad another $200 for gas from motel to hunting area for 5 days
Elk tag around $550
5 nights in a motel @$70 average = $350
So that only leaves you with $250 for any extra expences you may encounter.
I\'m sure everyone here is willing to share tips and tricks with you. But seriously, when you add a GF to the picture, that just blew your budget all to pieces.
Just do it!!!
I am in Illinois also and go out west almost every year. I went to CO last year for two weeks and its very affordable. I was in WY the year before that.
CAMP, if you want to save money, time, and stay closer to the Elk. A small tent, cook stove, and food and your good to go.
My last two trips out west I rented a truck. Last year I got a brand new Chevy 4 door, 4wheel drive with unlimited mileage for 608 including taxes. I got 18MPG with that truck and my own truck only gets 14. I put all the mileage on that thing.
You can do it under two grand with no problem if you ditch the hotel. Stay in a hotel out there and back and tent it.
There are people on hunting sites looking for partners to go with you could always go that route and save even more money.
Where in Illinois are you at? I can lend you things if you need them just let me know.
One thing I learned from others. Go NOW while you can, make it affordable. By the time you can afford it you may not be able to go.
Here is my rental from last year. I put my tool box from my truck in this one for the trip
I am in Illinois also and go out west almost every year. I went to CO last year for two weeks and its very affordable. I was in WY the year before that.
CAMP, if you want to save money, time, and stay closer to the Elk. A small tent, cook stove, and food and your good to go.
My last two trips out west I rented a truck. Last year I got a brand new Chevy 4 door, 4wheel drive with unlimited mileage for 608 including taxes. I got 18MPG with that truck and my own truck only gets 14. I put all the mileage on that thing.
You can do it under two grand with no problem if you ditch the hotel. Stay in a hotel out there and back and tent it.
There are people on hunting sites looking for partners to go with you could always go that route and save even more money.
Where in Illinois are you at? I can lend you things if you need them just let me know.
One thing I learned from others. Go NOW while you can, make it affordable. By the time you can afford it you may not be able to go.
Here is my rental from last year. I put my tool box from my truck in this one for the trip
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cohunter14
Administrator
- Jul 10, 2017
- 5,345
\">>>---WW---->\" said:
Unless she is bringing $2k as well! :lol:
