Newbie, Please Help

R

ruttinhard

New member
Aug 27, 2013
5
This hunt is last minute and I feel like I am not prepared gear wise at all. I am a seasoned whitetail hunte. I am heading to Colorado to hunt Sept 14-22. Anyone have a list of must have gear. Any other insight or advice is appreciated.
 
Are you packing in, or camping by your truck?  I've gotten some great lists from google. I'd expect weather ranging from mid 30s up to the 70s
 
My wifes relatives have a cabin up in the mountain so I wont be roughing it by any standards. I am looking for gear for the pack more so than anything.
Thanks
I think I need to get some more clothes then I wasnt thinking 30's
 
sometimes feeling unprepaired is just being excited, I feel unprepaired up till I get to the mountains, then every morning i feel unprepaired to start the hunt, when game is near i feel unprepaired to go after it... 
Share some more info on what type of hunt you are doing, and your western hunting experiance level, and you will get some great advice here.
Best of luck and enjoy the hunt.
 
As far as my Hunt I will be in Unit 59, I have been bowhunting for 10 years, In the past two years I have harvested 2 whitetails one scoring 164 1/8/ He had double drop tines. my other was a main frame 8 that had some kickers that scored 153 3/8.
I have the basics
Bow, Extra arrows and broadheads. extra release.
Ordering game bags today
Rangefinder extra battery.
flash lights extra batterys.
Havalon Torch with extra blades with other knives.
I need a gps so I dont get lost just one I can mark locationsand it shows me the way back, cant spend alot.
Plenty of camo
I have a horn hunter pack.


Things I know I neeed:
Calls what should i use?? I do know how to use mouth calls atleast turkey calls.
Bear SPRAY????????do i need it??
 
Sounds like you have most of it together, unless you are doing bivy hunting an elk hunt isnt all that different than whitetail.  Make sure you have a good pair of boots that you can walk in all day. As for as GPS goes, dont do to cheap.  They get difficult to use if too cheap. ( maybe a buddy could lend you one) and learn how to use it!!!
If you will need to pack the elk out on your back you may want to concider a pack with a frame.  Also pack some extra string or straps to tie the meat to your pack.
As for as the calls go, a few years back I mixed my turkey mouth calls up with my cow elk calls, to this day I use a turkey call for cow calls.  go online and find some elk sounds and mimic those, i do it in my truck on the ride to and from work.
Bear spray, that is up to you. But i have never carried bear spary as i dont hunt Grizzly country.  all i have read says unless you are in Grizz country its not really nessecary.  I have been within 40' of black bear and its not a big deal, when you lose track of the bear is when it gets a little scary!
be sure to pack a little food and plenty of water, moving all day is alot different than sitting in a stand.
if you are hunting at altitude be prepaired to slow down and be WORN OUT the entire time.  Its tough but you can do it.
Have a great time. 
(all of this is assuming you will be returning to the cabin each night)
 
We are going back to the cabin each night, What do you use for base layers. i have some really heavy weight llong johns but with moving around I think I would roast. Any suggestion on what base layers
 
most of the guys on here will say wool. i have never used wool.  I use the synthetic base layers. i dont like the clingy ones, i get clostrophobic in those. since you will be moving you dont want to get crazy with your clothes.  a light wicking base, and a warm outerlayer is probably all you need i use my rain gear as an extra layer if i get to cold, and i get cold easily.  i aslo carry a few hand warmers for dusk and dawn just in case.

 
I am heading out on an archery elk hunt Sep 6-14 in Unit 54. We put together this list months ago, it isnt all encompassing and some things aren't must haves  but it does get you to a good starting point. We are going on a DIY packing in and out with no horses so that makes some things less or more of a need.
Crew Gear
●    Tent
●    Stove and gas
●    Cook Kit
●    Collapsible Water Jug
●    Water Purification
●    Lighter
●    Compass
●    Maps
●    Satellite Phone
●    GPS
●    Shit Shovel
●    First Aid Kit
●    Batteries
Personal Camping Gear
●    Backpack with cover
●    Sleeping bag
●    Sleeping Pad
●    Compression sacks
●    Quart water bottles
●    Eating utensil/cook kit
●    Headlamp Xtra batt
●    Waterproof bag
●    Camera
●    Pack Towel
●    Toilet paper
●    Wet Wipes(shower)
●    Toothbrush and paste
●    Cell Phone
Food
 
[/t][/t] 
●    Oatmeal
●    Trail mix
●    Tuna packet
●    Cliff Bars
●    Power bars
●    Beef jerky
●    Mountain House meal
●    Gatorade mix
●    Instant coffee packets
●    Ziplock Trashbags
●   
Clothing
[/t] 
●    Hiking boots
●    Wicking shirts hiking
●    Wicking underwear
●    Wool socks
●    Sock Liners
●    Hiking Pants
●    Light rain suit
●    Light camp shoes
●    Fleece Jacket
Hunting Clothing
●    Camo shortsleeve
●    Camo Longsleeve
●    Camo Pants
●    Camo beanie
●    Light Gloves
●    Facemask
●    Hat
Hunting Gear
●    Bow
●    Bow Sling
●    Arrows
●    Release
●    Montec 100gr
Broadheads[/t] 
●    Xtra sight
●    Xtra rest
●    Allen wrench set
●    Elk calls
●    Bugle Tube
●    Rangefinder
●    Day pack
●    Binos 8X42
●    Wind powder
●    Sharpening stone
●    Gut hook knife
●    Folding saw
●    Para Cord
●    Game Bags
●    Heavy trash bags
●    Cow in estrus urine
●    No Scent Spray
●    No Scent Soap
●    No Scent Deodrant
●    No Scent Detergent
 
ruttinhard... So far as the base layers, I use the X-system lightweight brands.  We mostly use spot and stalk or run and gun calling methods for elk so we're always on the move.  You shouldn't need a heavy base layer...  Since you're used to using mouth calls, learning how to cow call with them shouldn't be to difficult.  Practice bugling if you can (search youtube for: how to use diaphram calls by Rockie Jacobsen).  If you want an extra cow call, I'd recommend the temptress here from elk101.  I like Wayne Carltons fightin cow call too.  Make sure you have a couple wind checker bottles in case one gets lost - I refill mine with chalk from the local hardware store.
 
would this be a good kit to start with
http://www.elk101store.com/servlet/the-156/elk101.com%2C-elk-call%2C-elk/Detail
 
That looks like a good kit. I may pick that up myself. 

Also I half mentioned before  Good rain gear. Don't pay attention to the forecast.  You will get rained on.  The mountains make their own weather.

And a good set of binoculars.  These are a must as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 27 (members: 0, guests: 27)

Latest posts

Share this page

Back
Top