Preping for the 2019 Season

cohunter14

cohunter14

Administrator
Jul 10, 2017
5,332
It's hard to believe it's already 2019. Elk seasons will be kicking off in just over seven months. What do you need to do between now and then to get ready? Any gear that needs to be purchased? Any changes or things that need to be tweaked from your 2018 hunt?
 
My son is joining me this year. Outfitter/transporter with horses booked for 10 day trip into Northern BC Rockies for unguided elk and moose. Location is selected. Looking at a shelter upgrade...tarp/bivi combo vs tent for spiking out from base camp. Leaning towards a 2 layer tent due to mountain weather. Also looking at a pack upgrade...i do have EXO envy after watching Destination Elk and Land of the Free series..but horses will be packing the meat, so mostly carrying gear, optics. Still lots of details left to plan, but the holiday season has been hard on my waistline so gotta get started on the physical prep.
 
I'm not in bad shape but I need to lose some weight. I knew I had put on a few but didn't think it was too bad till I shaved my beard. I didn't know your head could get fat.

That and shoot more before next season. I haven't practiced as much as I would like the last couple years. I usually shoot out to 70 yards with my bow but the last two years I haven't felt comfortable shooting at game past 40.
 
Just last week I added a 8" B Stinger stabilizer.


I have never used a true stabilizer before and was very surprised at the reduced pin float - especially at distances out at 50-60.


My groups instantly got better



 
Planning on breaking the every other year cycle my dad and I have been on with a solo trip in 2019. This has allowed/forced me to change the structure of the hunt given it will only be me. We've always stayed in town and driven 40-60 minutest to and from the mountain every day. Since it will only be me I want to limit my driving and maximize my sleep, especially early in the trip. I plan to camp the first 3-4 nights which will hopefully give me an advantage on scouting and time on the hill/sleep time.


I also had to consider the quartering and pack out, which led me to buy a new "backcountry" pack beyond a day pack (mystery ranch metcalf).


So I also bought a backpacking tent, sleeping pad, elevated equipment quilt... luckily I knew I wouldn't be able to wait two years within the first hour of our trip home in September. This left me plenty of time to slowly prep the wife (first baby coming in March) with time to spare to put some of my necessary gear on a christmas list.  :lol:


The trip planning is still in the works, the running list of things I need/need to do/want need to be put to paper. The schedule needs to be put down (in pencil). And I need to get to the gym. The more I have done before the baby comes, the better.
 
Completed my big purchase for 2019.  A Howa 1500 in .30-06 for late season cow hunts.  Not going to retire the old Remington 700 that belonged to my Dad (that rifle is pushing 60 years old...), but will bring it along as a backup.

Hoping the weather and days off allow for more late season opportunities than there was this year.  Meanwhile, studying maps while waiting to see what non-resident friends/family draw...
 
Reading and trying to figure out if I use my 5 elk PP this year. Right now because of the later season I am leaning towards using the PP's.


49, 76, or some other unit?

So far in my elk bow hunting career I've gone 0/5, but have had chances every year. I hunt solo, and as such have made numerous mistakes, but I'm learning and getting better every year. My goal for using the PP's is to hopefully get into some more bugling bulls that are less pressured than in some of the OTC units I typically hunt. I'm not looking for trophy's because honestly, any elk with my bow will be a trophy to me. Especially a bull. I haven't taken any bull elk, because I use my Either sex tag for archery, and draw a Cow tag for rifle. I've had pretty good luck with the rifle, but the Bow is something else.
 
So this will be my first time elk hunting. I'll be headed to Colorado with an OTC tag. Figured I would get some experience there hard way, since no one I know personally hunts elk. Me and some friends have planned on a trip to idaho in 2020 but we're still see. Buying a new .308 and scope this week. Figure give me some time to break it in and zero it.
 
Getting started on working up a load for a new .325 wsm. I?m excited to get it on the bench and see what it will do with a 200 grain Partition.
 
Ive got to get new Binos. Thinking the 10x42 Vortex Diamomdbacks.
This maybe the year also I get my first set of firstlite camo
 
Exercising and fine tuning the bow has already started.  In my opinion it's never too early to prepare.  Good luck all!
 
This year I am switching over to black eagle arrows.  I have been doing my own fletchings for 2 years now and I want to start trying new shafts. I am definitely an amateur but I love learning and trying new things.


Talon
 
Bought an 8 man Cabelas Instinct Outfitter 12x16 tent on clearance last week.  I now have a tent that I can use my Colorado Cylinder Stove in.  2017 was a cold wet hunt with no way to get things dried out - this year we will not have that issue. 


Physically I'm working on getting in better shape.  Loading up by badlands 2200 with 62# and walking in the woods/hills here in SW MO.  Try to get 2 miles in 3 times per week, weather permitting. 


--Mitch
 
Old School said:
Bought an 8 man Cabelas Instinct Outfitter 12x16 tent on clearance last week.  I now have a tent that I can use my Colorado Cylinder Stove in.  2017 was a cold wet hunt with no way to get things dried out - this year we will not have that issue. 


Physically I'm working on getting in better shape.  Loading up by badlands 2200 with 62# and walking in the woods/hills here in SW MO.  Try to get 2 miles in 3 times per week, weather permitting. 


--Mitch
Click to expand...


Sounds like a great workout Mitch :upthumb:
 
cohunter14 said:
Old School said:
Bought an 8 man Cabelas Instinct Outfitter 12x16 tent on clearance last week.  I now have a tent that I can use my Colorado Cylinder Stove in.  2017 was a cold wet hunt with no way to get things dried out - this year we will not have that issue. 


Physically I'm working on getting in better shape.  Loading up by badlands 2200 with 62# and walking in the woods/hills here in SW MO.  Try to get 2 miles in 3 times per week, weather permitting. 


--Mitch
Click to expand...


Sounds like a great workout Mitch :upthumb:
Click to expand...


I hate going to the gym or walking on a treadmill, so I do what works for me.  It's hard to duplicate a mountain hunt while training in MO, but walking with a loaded pack seems to best duplicate it for me.  Each year, I try to be incrementally better than I was the previous year.  I've yet to hunt that first morning and say to myself "yep, I'm in good enough shape..." ​
 
I live where I hunt but if I couldn't hike around the mountains to stay in shape I think I would focus on leg strength and cardio. My job is physical but I don't get any cardio at all and if I don't run before the season the first few days are a wake up call.

I scare a lot of animals coughing as I suck the needles off nearby trees trying to catch my breathe.
 
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