Hello all, I am new to the site and looking forward to gaining all the information I can. I am currently planning and doing all the research I possibly can for a trip with a friend for an OTC archery hunt in CO next year. I have bow hunted whitetails for 15 years however this will be my first time hunting elk. Any tips on long distance travelling to hunt would be appreciated as I will be travelling from Virginia. Thanks for having me. Happy Hunting!
New to the site
- Thread starter va_elk
- Start date
Welcome to the site va_elk. :upthumb:
I don't have experience with CO, but I know there are lots of people with tons of knowledge around here to help you get started.
The best thing I can say is figure out how you want to hunt first and then tailor the planning around that. Do you want to bivy? Base camp? Hunt from a trailer? Hunt from a hotel? etc.
Once you have that down you can start researching different units, success rates, check maps, etc. The nice thing is people go out to CO all the time to hunt OTC. Some are long term guys and others are first timers, but you'll see the stories, everyone can be successful.
One thing I can tell you about regardless where you may go.... get in shape! I'm not saying you need to be in freak shape with 0% body fat :crazy:
You just need to be ready to battle all elements of the hunt and be able to sustain your endurance for the whole hunt duration. I know plenty of people who can make it through a day or two of hunting and then they just fall apart. Sometimes the hunt can come down to the last hour of the last day, being able to make it that far and still have the energy could make or break the hunt.
I don't have experience with CO, but I know there are lots of people with tons of knowledge around here to help you get started.
The best thing I can say is figure out how you want to hunt first and then tailor the planning around that. Do you want to bivy? Base camp? Hunt from a trailer? Hunt from a hotel? etc.
Once you have that down you can start researching different units, success rates, check maps, etc. The nice thing is people go out to CO all the time to hunt OTC. Some are long term guys and others are first timers, but you'll see the stories, everyone can be successful.
One thing I can tell you about regardless where you may go.... get in shape! I'm not saying you need to be in freak shape with 0% body fat :crazy:
You just need to be ready to battle all elements of the hunt and be able to sustain your endurance for the whole hunt duration. I know plenty of people who can make it through a day or two of hunting and then they just fall apart. Sometimes the hunt can come down to the last hour of the last day, being able to make it that far and still have the energy could make or break the hunt.
Welcome Va_elk!
I went on my first elk hunt to Idaho last year. It was my second trip west (We did a mule deer/antelope hunt to Wyoming the year before). We drive from PA out. You definitely want to figure out what kind of accommodation you're looking for before you commit to a unit.
The first year we went me and a friend bought a trailer and did a camper style build on it. I have the thread saved on here somewhere if you're interested. It worked well. 6 of us slept in a 8x16 trailer on BLM land. We had another 7x14 we took out with a freezer, generator, and gear in it.
The trip to Idaho we took one, truck 3 guys, no trailer. It was a back country hunt. We got flown into the middle of no where and slept in a tent.
They both have their pros and cons, it just depends on what you want to do.
As far as travel goes, we left the east coast this year around 3pm and drove straight through. That seems to get you past Illinois around day break the next day and traffic really dies off the farther west you get. We found it works best if you have 3 guys and just take turns driving/sleeping/navigator(keep the driver awake). Time goes by much faster than you think it would. Cost is minimal with driving but you give up hunting time.
As far as figuring out where you want to go and how to hunt elk I'd definitely check out gohunt.com I use them all the time. I have podbean on my phone and listen to Randy newbergs bodcast and exo mountains backcountry podcast. They are amazing resources to listen too and helped me out immensely.
Feel free to pm me if you have specific questions. I am not an expert but I have some experience at least in traveling from the east coast.
JL
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I went on my first elk hunt to Idaho last year. It was my second trip west (We did a mule deer/antelope hunt to Wyoming the year before). We drive from PA out. You definitely want to figure out what kind of accommodation you're looking for before you commit to a unit.
The first year we went me and a friend bought a trailer and did a camper style build on it. I have the thread saved on here somewhere if you're interested. It worked well. 6 of us slept in a 8x16 trailer on BLM land. We had another 7x14 we took out with a freezer, generator, and gear in it.
The trip to Idaho we took one, truck 3 guys, no trailer. It was a back country hunt. We got flown into the middle of no where and slept in a tent.
They both have their pros and cons, it just depends on what you want to do.
As far as travel goes, we left the east coast this year around 3pm and drove straight through. That seems to get you past Illinois around day break the next day and traffic really dies off the farther west you get. We found it works best if you have 3 guys and just take turns driving/sleeping/navigator(keep the driver awake). Time goes by much faster than you think it would. Cost is minimal with driving but you give up hunting time.
As far as figuring out where you want to go and how to hunt elk I'd definitely check out gohunt.com I use them all the time. I have podbean on my phone and listen to Randy newbergs bodcast and exo mountains backcountry podcast. They are amazing resources to listen too and helped me out immensely.
Feel free to pm me if you have specific questions. I am not an expert but I have some experience at least in traveling from the east coast.
JL
Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
Howdy and welcome!
First and foremost, if you want to hunt elk, commit to it.
Buy Corey?s Elk Hunting University and get started.
Get some open reed cow calls and learn to cow call.
Get a couple diaphragms and a bugle tube and learn a couple bugles.
Get in shape like mentioned above. Stamina and legs are important.
Shoot your bow out to 50yds. Not that your shots will always be that long, but it makes the shorter shots a piece o cake. And if you need to shoot at 50, you?ll have that confidence
You don?t need to be a Sitka warrior, I?m sure your WT gear will do just fine.
But good boots are important.
Your bow your use for WT will be just fine too
As far as traveling, I would set up a pickup with a topper so you can sleep in the back and also stow your gear while traveling
There are lots of guys that make that trip from back east.
Post up some more questions and we?ll get you on your way to your first elk hunt
First and foremost, if you want to hunt elk, commit to it.
Buy Corey?s Elk Hunting University and get started.
Get some open reed cow calls and learn to cow call.
Get a couple diaphragms and a bugle tube and learn a couple bugles.
Get in shape like mentioned above. Stamina and legs are important.
Shoot your bow out to 50yds. Not that your shots will always be that long, but it makes the shorter shots a piece o cake. And if you need to shoot at 50, you?ll have that confidence
You don?t need to be a Sitka warrior, I?m sure your WT gear will do just fine.
But good boots are important.
Your bow your use for WT will be just fine too
As far as traveling, I would set up a pickup with a topper so you can sleep in the back and also stow your gear while traveling
There are lots of guys that make that trip from back east.
Post up some more questions and we?ll get you on your way to your first elk hunt
Use google earth and onX or some other map system for online scouting of a few units you narrow it down too.
Be flexible. I did my first OTC in CO last season. Planned on hiking in and camping but after two days no luck ended up camping at truck and moving to different spots covering more ground by committing less. With that always have a lot of options.
Practice calling while you drive to work etc. Also join other forums archery talk and rockslide. There are also a lot of great podcasts out there.
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Be flexible. I did my first OTC in CO last season. Planned on hiking in and camping but after two days no luck ended up camping at truck and moving to different spots covering more ground by committing less. With that always have a lot of options.
Practice calling while you drive to work etc. Also join other forums archery talk and rockslide. There are also a lot of great podcasts out there.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks guys. Im planning on backpacking in an area and bivy camping. I have 15 days accounted for this hunt not counted travel time. Ive done some online research on success rates for different units and have been looking into OTC units with decent success rates that are not too far apart. Have also been using onX maps and am considering the elk 101 course. Im really looking forward to the experience. Hunting out West has always been a dream.
Again I really appreciate the input.
Again I really appreciate the input.
Welcome!
Sounds like you are doing good on your prep!
Brad mentioned boots. Don't skimp on your boots. They don't have to be high dollar but water proof and broke in. If you get blisters your going to be slowed down big time. I keep some mole skin in my little first aid kit just in case.
I travel from northern Mn to Co every year. I bring a small freezer and generator because I'm in camp for two weeks. I have used coolers a couple of times on shorter trips and a couple good coolers will get a elk home for you just fine.
cnelk did a cooler test not long ago with video results not long ago. Good info on coolers if you need one.
Sounds like you are doing good on your prep!
Brad mentioned boots. Don't skimp on your boots. They don't have to be high dollar but water proof and broke in. If you get blisters your going to be slowed down big time. I keep some mole skin in my little first aid kit just in case.
I travel from northern Mn to Co every year. I bring a small freezer and generator because I'm in camp for two weeks. I have used coolers a couple of times on shorter trips and a couple good coolers will get a elk home for you just fine.
cnelk did a cooler test not long ago with video results not long ago. Good info on coolers if you need one.
Don?t get too hung up on success stats.
Colorado doesn?t do a very good job with that data.
I hunt OTC units every year. The stats show less than 9% success.
We kill elk every year and seldom more than a mile from the truck.
Sometimes only a few hundred yards
Colorado doesn?t do a very good job with that data.
I hunt OTC units every year. The stats show less than 9% success.
We kill elk every year and seldom more than a mile from the truck.
Sometimes only a few hundred yards
I started running a pair of Soloman quest 4d boots this past whitetail season. Ive been pretty impressed with the break in period and comfort. Not sure how they will hold up long term as I'm only around 80 miles in on them from hunting and hiking. Hopefully they will keep holding up just fine.
