How Long?

[Swede]

I scout for a week on some years and this year I am planning on two 3-4 day scouting trips. When I leave for my hunt, I may be gone 35-36 days. I suppose, if the season was longer, I could enjoy some more time out, but after 35 days I am ready to come home. I am tired and have had enough. What about you. How long would you want to be out, if other duties like your job were not tugging at you, demanding your attention?

How much does limited time available to hunt limit your success?

 

[ABQ_Chica]

I\'m impressed, Swede, and insanely jealous. Ideally, I\'d only come home to hibernate through the winter.

Currently, I\'m lucky to get 3-4 days off at a time to hunt, and it\'s probably affected my success. One of my partners sat my tree stand while I was at work, and had shot opportunities every day. That doesn\'t mean I could have made those shots successfully, but it still stings to have missed out on them entirely.

 

[bowhunter]

I am planning a 3-4 day scouting trip with a day driving on each end. I plan on 2-3 weeks hunting. I put in for 3 weeks off of work and use what I need to get the job done or when I am beat and ready to head home. I would idealy hunt 10-14 days go home during a weekend for a few then hunt the rest of the season another 10-14 days but with the 1000-1200 mile drive thats not ideal.

 

[Scot320]

This year I will probably spend 16 days in Colorado...if I was retired I would stay the whole season.

 

[cohunter14]

I have honestly never had a time where I was leaving camp and I was truly ready to go. Sure, there have been times that I have been beat and the weather might be on my nerves, but I never want to leave. I don\'t know if/when that point would be for me truthfully, but I normally spend a week in camp and that certainly isn\'t enough

 

[elkmtngear]

This year I will probably spend 16 days in Colorado...if I was retired I would stay the whole season.

What Scot said :upthumb:

 

[AndyJ]

I work for myself which helps a lot to give me plenty of time to hunt. I will hunt the entire season or until I kill an elk. Even then I will usually take some new guys out or call for a friend. I actually don\'t scout a lot though. My area gets hammered so scouting is beneficial for the first day or two, but after that you just need to find where they\'ve been pushed.

 

[Zpd307]

I plan for 9-10 days off hunting plus the day drive there and another to drive back.

 

[iccyman001]

Geez.... where do I start....

Whenever I figure out where I am elk hunting :either NM, ID, CO, or multiple, then I will plan two 4 day scouting trips for that. One during the summer and one a week or two before the actual season opens.

If I draw bear then I will be doing a 3 day scout a week before that season opens.

If I draw antelope I will check out the area at least 30 times before my hunt starts due to it\'s close location.


Most of my time will be scouting Oklahoma. I plan on being out there the entire year and starting here soon.

I will be shed hunting hard for a couple weekends with my fianc?, then comes at least 10-15 weekend trips for moving cameras, checking inventory, and then glassing ridges.



That\'s only scout time... The amount of hunting that I plan on doing in 15\' will be nuts :upthumb: :wave: