Last minute tips?

[DTP]

With elk season closing in, what are a few last minute tips or items you'd recommend to someone who is finalizing their list? Or maybe some gee wiz tips you learned along that way that you'd like to share?




I was doing some packing and made sure I remembered something I usually forget....
PENS!

I stuck one in my pack, one in my trailer, and three in my truck.
There is nothing worse than needing to fill out a tag and not having a pen.

Another one that I'm sure we have all learned from experience at one time or another....

DONT FORGET THAT PILLOW OR YOUR BOOTS!!!!!

 

[cohunter14]

Hahaha, the first thing that popped into my head was a pillow! I think I'mgoing to start bringing two of them to camp each year so I can sell someone the use of one. That seems to be something that is always forgotten.

I'll add to the list your release if you are a bow hunter or ammo if you are a rifle hunter. Easy to forget your release when you go to fire those last few arrows before heading out. And forgetting ammo can be a big pain in the butt, especially if you don't have a real common caliber.

 

[Bull_Fighter]

If you're lucky enough to get an animal on the ground, remember, don't let your meat loaf!

 

[Kdkehoe]

So one thing a local pro shop guy told me is he enters everything he packs into an organized spreadsheet. When he returns he puts an X by what he doesn't use. This helps him narrow down his essentials and also keeps his pack light.

Also I always google earth my area for days before I head out. From all different angles approaches and then cross reference them with my topo maps so I have a better understanding of what I've seen and remember from countless hours in my areas. 

My topo maps are hunt region specific. Example MT hunting district 380, 410 etc.  they are ruggedmaps.com. Printed on vinyl. Lightweight. They also show previous years forest fires in case that's the angle you look at when hunting. They also are 3D topo so in case you don't know how to read or understand topo maps it maps it easier to identify ridges, drainages, peaks etc. they don't rip or tear. I believe the guy who makes them even has a video of boning out an animal throwing it on the back of the maps rolling it up and plopping it in his pack only to hose it off when he gets home. They roll up nice and compact for packing as well. Never leave home without them!!

 

[montanaelk31]

My last minute tip is simple. Be aggressive or eat tag soup. Our motto is kill'em or run'em off! Good luck out there!

 

[Bull_Fighter]

My last minute tip is simple. Be aggressive or eat tag soup. Our motto is kill'em or run'em off! Good luck out there!

Great advice right here!

 

[sjl2012]

On an extended backcountry hunt have backup gear at the truck. I usually have a dry sack in the truck with some food, extra jet boil gas, clothing, knives, along with my backup bow. Anything that might break and need to be replaced. It's a lot easier to walk several miles than spend a day or two looking for something in town that you left at the house 10 hours away. Plus its nice packing an animal out and having a decent meal,snack, dry socks back at the truck when you get there.

 

[Kdkehoe]

On an extended backcountry hunt have backup gear at the truck. I usually have a dry sack in the truck with some food, extra jet boil gas, clothing, knives, along with my backup bow. Anything that might break and need to be replaced. It's a lot easier to walk several miles than spend a day or two looking for something in town that you left at the house 10 hours away. Plus its nice packing an animal out and having a decent meal,snack, dry socks back at the truck when you get there.

Solid advice.  I always pack a survival essentials kit but having extra gear like that is great. It takes me almost 1.5 hours to get to my spot OFF the pavement.  Then 2 hours to any kind of town that has a 20% chance of having what I need.  I'm going to start right meow!!  Thanks!!

 

[DTP]

It's probably silly to say, but I've seen it happen with friends almost every single year....... don't forget to have fun and enjoy yourself....



We train, prep, get excited for, and count down the days until the season kicks off. Then some people get so fixated on putting something down that they forget to just take in the whole experience and to enjoy themselves.  Dont put that added negative stress on yourself!


Hunt hard, hunt smart, and have FUN!

 

[sn.outdoors]

With elk season closing in, what are a few last minute tips or items you'd recommend to someone who is finalizing their list? Or maybe some gee wiz tips you learned along that way that you'd like to share?




I was doing some packing and made sure I remembered something I usually forget....
PENS!

I stuck one in my pack, one in my trailer, and three in my truck.
There is nothing worse than needing to fill out a tag and not having a pen.

Another one that I'm sure we have all learned from experience at one time or another....

DONT FORGET THAT PILLOW OR YOUR BOOTS!!!!!

You should put a pen in your new fancy bino harness. I keep a few zip ties and a few feet of folded up duct tape in there along with a topo map of the area I'm hunting... or sometimes the area I last hunted

 

[DTP]

With elk season closing in, what are a few last minute tips or items you'd recommend to someone who is finalizing their list? Or maybe some gee wiz tips you learned along that way that you'd like to share?




I was doing some packing and made sure I remembered something I usually forget....
PENS!

I stuck one in my pack, one in my trailer, and three in my truck.
There is nothing worse than needing to fill out a tag and not having a pen.

Another one that I'm sure we have all learned from experience at one time or another....

DONT FORGET THAT PILLOW OR YOUR BOOTS!!!!!

You should put a pen in your new fancy bino harness. I keep a few zip ties and a few feet of folded up duct tape in there along with a topo map of the area I'm hunting... or sometimes the area I last hunted

That's honestly a great idea, CJ.
I do have that little pouch on the back side of it. I could probably tuck a pen, some zippys, maybe some bandaids (I like duct tape better), and maybe something else.
Thanks!

 

[Ivar88]

X2 on the zip ties. I will make sure I bring an extra set of boot laces this year. Had a set snap on me mid lace so there was no getting that sucker tight enough. A few feet of paracord is helpful as well. String up any necessities if need be or it can double as laces.

 

[UtahJimmy]

Extra set of batteries for your headlamp.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Rooster]

To forget to pack electrical tape, and florescent flagging rybon.

 

[cohunter14]

To forget to pack electrical tape, and florescent flagging rybon.

What do you use the electrical tape for?

 

[Wyo67]

A spare release somewhere in your pack!  Hate to be a couple miles out and realize if the opportunity arises, you'll have to finger shoot.

 

[Arrows4Elk]

This is a luxury item and not everyone drinks...


I always pack a single plastic shooter in my kill kit. After quartering up and right before putting that heavy pack on, I knock back a whiskey shot.


It's a celebratory ritual I've come to love.  Enough to feel good, but not enough to fall down the hill 

 

[rickeybobby]

Yellow jacket anti venom ..... lol i had a buddy that tried to do the right thing (pick up someone else's trash from the mountain) and he paid the price, stung several times.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[northernalbertaElkaholic]

a small case of fine rope, I remember years ago my meat being filled with dirt/hair because I couldn't hang in the tree while I went to get quad or help. rope can come very handy and very small to fit anywhere in your pack. that's my advice from previous failures.
good luck everyone. stay safe and smart

 

[Kdkehoe]

I completely forgot I usually for my solo hunts pack a meat cutters glove.  It weighs almost nothing and when I got into self butchering game it makes a world of difference in the field and at home.  You can usually find them in pairs at a local butchers and they'll usually just give you one that's been well loved.
My reasoning is this. One hunt I had it was 8 degrees in early November. Shot a nice buck and was working against the freeze. I cut myself fairly decent but continued on after a quick fix with a crappy first aid kit (since upgraded and got a pack of steri strips). Got back and my grandpa started laughing at me.  He gave me the suggestion and I haven't thought twice about it.  For those all season hunters we all know when the gloves come off the fingers get cold.  If your out breaking your game down and are alone, sometimes depending one where the animal drops it's like playing twister with nature. And your whole body is involved. For well under 6oz I have a nice insurance policy on my hands now.