Gittin Ready

[Swede]

I have been thinking about elk season a lot differently lately. Those thoughts have started taking on an aura of urgency. I started shooting my bow again last week. I noticed that my field points were off from where they should have been hitting. Then I remembered I replaced my quiver and messed with the rest last Winter. I thought everything was put back the same, but apparently it was not. Now I have readjusted the rest and I have broad heads and field points that hit very close together.
Also within the past week I repaired one of my older tree stands. One of the cables that holds the seat up was broken. Well that is repaired now, so all of my stands are in good shape.
I am looking forward to doing some more shooting. I exercised all Fall and Winter so my arms are good for drawing back my bow. It felt good to me, but I could tell I am a bit rusty.
Next on my preparation list is one or two scouting trips. I can hardly wait for that. I want to invest more time and energy into scouting this Summer than I have in the past. Last year I did not scout at all, and coincidently I did not get an elk. The last time I did not get an elk was in 1999, which was the last year I had not been out for a scouting trip. Looking around early, knowing what is going on, setting up trail cameras and preparing spots makes a big difference.
Also I want to find some new ground. Where I have hunted the Forest Service and I are not in agreement over their grazing practices. I am sure they think I am like a little mutt nipping and barking at their heels. I think they love it, but don\'t want it to show. :lol:
So, that\'s my story for now. What preparations are you making, and how close to ready are you for the next elk hunt?

 

[americanbwana]

I\'m actually working on conditioning, and figuring out my pack for the summer scouting trip (July).

Also trying different home made / off the shelf back packing meals. In fact I have a batch of left over spaghetti in the dehydrator today, along with left over frozen peas.

Shooting some, and map scouting.

AB

 

[elky McElkerson]

i typically hunt with some super fit guys. so due to that, i am always super anxious if i exercised enough to prepare. my worries the past two-three years have been vaporized the first day out..i hike great..this year, is no different. i am worried, but deep down inside, i know i will be fine.

i will be heading into the mountains for the first time with a guy clearly overweight and not fit...i will do my best, and if he cannot keep up..i get the good spots.

gear? whatever. i think the past several years, i have been caught up with what everyone else is using, and spent to much money chasing that ghost. it is what it is.

i am going to focus on having fun..and just enjoying myself.

 

[OldMan]

Working on different hunting loads for the muzzleloader. Entering some black powder competition shoots to stay sharp.

No scouting yet. Too much snow, but a lot of weighted hikes everyday at lower altitudes (9000ft) to get in shape. Something i\'ve done all winter. Too old to let myself to get out of shape, and then try to get it back.

Making pemmican to eat during hunt.

Lots of reading and research for bear hunting.

 

[bowhunter]

Working on different hunting loads for the muzzleloader. Entering some black powder competition shoots to stay sharp.

No scouting yet. Too much snow, but a lot of weighted hikes everyday at lower altitudes (9000ft) to get in shape. Something i\'ve done all winter. Too old to let myself to get out of shape, and then try to get it back.

Making pemmican to eat during hunt.

Lots of reading and research for bear hunting.

Pete do you add fruit or seasonings to make your pemmican more flavorfull. What kind of fat are you using?

 

[OldMan]

Yes, I like to add a lot of berries for flavor.

I use beef tallow for fat, but i\'m hoping to get a bear this year. I\'ll have a lot of bear tallow to render down. Hopefully.

 

[cnelk]

I\'m down 10# from the \'long winter\'.
I try to shoot my bow all year long so that\'s always there.
I too am waiting for the snow to melt so I can research more spots

 

[Stringunner]

Going through gear, taking inventory of what I need, been shooting my bow. Am getting ready for another scouting trip, hopefully in early June. Counting the days.....

 

[Bob Frapples]

Doctoring my leg that I ground on with a wire wheel while building a new bow target,
repairing my incline trainer that broke a couple weeks ago,
fine tuning my bivy cooking and groceries list,
trying to sight in my bow and figure out which arrows to go with,
plan a dry run to my hunting area on my next long days off.
The list........, It\'s never ending, least im down 30lbs since January.

 

[Zpd307]

i am pretty happy that i didnt let myself go this winter! i never got to 200#s. i am still almost 10#s heavier than last years hunting, but i am pretty confident that will come off this summer. actually i havent been 185 for a long long long time. i havent shot the bow since winter broke here, but once school is out, the boys and i will have a lot of time together on my days off. the gear and food is a non issue for me. although i might just pony up the bucks and go the mtn house meal route this year. although the pemmican idea sounds neat. i am getting ready to google it right now.

 

[Baby Huey]

Going to get sized for a new pack tomorrow. After an 8 day goat hunt last year with my buddy, my Gregory Denali Pro performed well, but the red color stuck out like a sore thumb and I wanted a little more capacity. Been looking at Kifaru for about 15 years, so finally going to bite the bullet and get one. Plan to do a lot more backpack hunting for elk - and deer as well, so hopefully I will get 10 or 15 years out of it. My brother and I have 8 weighted points for sheep and goat (moose too), same for my buddy (except for the goat) and should draw an above timberline buck tag in CO this year - so that pack should get plenty of use in the years to come.

I have been adding some gear since the Black Friday specials last year, so I am pretty well set - any other upgrades are more \"wants\" at this point, rather than needs - just ask my wife about my Cabela\'s room!

Been scouring over maps and google earth for hunting areas for that buck hunt (never hunted that unit), as well as a new area I found for elk. Planning on 3 or more scouting trips for the buck hunt, but want to get at least one in for the new elk area that I plan to backpack into.

Also need to start getting more aquainted with my 300 win mag and scope, as I haven\'t ever taken a shot over 150 yds with it, so I would like to be prepared in case I need to take a longer shot at a buck this year. Need to order a book (suggested by a long range shooter) by Brian Litz on long range shooting.

Have been remodeling/updating my mother-in-laws house to put up for sale since winter, and haven\'t been to the gym in a couple of months, so I will need to hit the gym and cardio hard - hopefully by the end of May or early June. I feel like Grimace...

 

[sojourner65]

Figuring out how to shoot my bow again. Last night I put 4 arrows (incl the FBBH) into a 4 inch group at 30 yds. Also conditioning, hiked 5.8 miles on the AT last week (1100 ft climb) with a day pack, 4.5 miles today. Want to do some overnight packs soon. My hunting buddy will be doing some scouting on his trip to visit relatives in CO. Can\'t believe I\'ll be leaving in a little over 3 months!

 

[cohunter14]

Just finished up dialing in a new load for my rifle last week, so need to load up a bunch of that. I am also anxiously awaiting the draw results as they cut tags significantly where our group applied. It was supposed to be a guaranteed tag and now there is some question to that. If we don\'t draw, there will be some time spent on a plan B and figuring out what to do.

Baby Huey, Brian Litz\'s book is great, a lot of really good information in there.

 

[John little]

I\'m working out hard and shooting my bow a lot. Going with my mathews helium and some injexion arrows. Worked great last yr. I live to far away 1,000 miles to scout so I just gotta be ready when I get there to find the elk. I did add some kenetrek boots last yr. 1st pair of boots that were expensive but man they are awesome. I\'m sure I will add some gear along the way

 

[elky McElkerson]

I need to shoot my bow a lot more


Sent via Jedi mind trick.