Rank these items for your hunt...

[cnelk]

There are many important items that make a good elk hunt, some are in our control, some not.

Below is a list of 10 things that factor into an elk hunt [Archery/ML/Rifle]

Put only the TOP FIVE you feel the most important 1 - 5 to be successful

1- Good Optics
2- Good Boots
3- Good Pack
4- Good Weather
5- 7 days to hunt
6- Good Camo
7- Good Partner
8- Good Food
9- Good shape
10- Good knowledge of hunting area

 

[Swede]

I am sure this will vary a lot with different hunters, but here is mine.

1. knowledge
2. plenty of time to hunt
3. weather
4. good shape
5. partner A good partner is a real asset. A manipulator or controller will ruin an otherwise great experience.
6. food
7. boots, pack, optics,


10. camo

 

[Wake26]

10
4
7
2
6

 

[F M]

10
9
5
4
2

 

[Tenderfoot]

10
9
7
2
5

 

[OldMan]

9
10
4
2
8

 

[Baby Huey]

#1: 10 - Good knowledge of hunting area
#2: 9 - Good Shape
#3: 2 - Good Boots
#4: 3 - Good Pack
#5: 1 - Good Optics

If you have good to great knowledge of your hunting area, I believe you have a high probability to have a successful hunt. Knowing the lay of the land, water sources, dark timber, feeding areas, etc. is something that will help put success in your favor. Being out of shape can be miserable on an elk hunt. Many times being in poor shape can drive people off of the mountain, or just have a bad experience if you are huffing and puffing and wondering where the oxygen is and when your legs will stop burning - I\'ve been there and it sucked! I am almost always on my feet and having reliable good boots is a key ingredient. Even if you are in great shape and you develop blisters or other problems with your feet - your hunt could be compromised or downright over. I am getting more into backpack hunting and for that style a good pack is a must. I have hunted out of a base camp you drive to where one can keep a frame pack and use a different day pack - but if I\'m packed in a few miles, I need one pack to do it all. Rounding out my top 5 is optics. I don\'t hunt in areas that are vast expanses for elk so a spotting scope is rarely used, but I use binoculars religiously. When I started using binoculars in areas that I could only see 50 to 150 yards (and thought I was seeing everything since it was relatively close), I was amazed at what you will pick up in the trees when you are scanning at those \"close\" distances.

 

[Buglemaster]

10
4
9
2
1

 

[Tdiesel]

10
9
2
8
and 5 if i have to pick another. I can have success without most of those things and have made due with very poor gear earlier in life sure the better the pack,weather ect. the more comfortable but not that important in my opinion to actual success most those things are just how comfortable you want to be.

 

[cnelk]

10 - Knowledge of area
7 - Good partner
5 - 7 days to hunt
4 - Good weather
9 - Good shape

 

[OldMan]

I\'m surprised that being in shape isn\'t number one with you all. I think you take it for granted, because you are in shape. All the knowledge in the world won\'t help if you\'re too sick and tired to leave camp.

 

[mtnmutt]

10- Good knowledge of hunting area - far exceeds all others IMHO
9- Good shape
5- 7 days to hunt - Someone like me could use 30 days
2- Good Boots/footwear - Your feet are your transportation. It took me 5 seasons before I settled on trail running shoes...my feet are so happy now.
3- Good Pack - still searching for a women\'s camo pack that fits. Settling for a non hunting pack for now which works best but is noisy.

NOTE: I have not been successful, therefore, my list is from a seasoned tag soup hunter. This season was the first time I sometimes went with a partner. I mostly solo hunt.

 

[mainebrdr]

10
5 7 or more.
9
7
4

 

[bowhunter]

9
10
4
2
3

 

[Deertick]

Other than the pack, the optics, and the camo, I want it all!

(And I want the pack, optics and camo, too.)

Knowledge of the hunting area, I think, stands out as most important. (I have several leads on good spots that I\'d like to hunt, but I\'m nervous about changing now -- I\'m starting to learn \"my\" area.)

A good partner is important if you are doing the run-and-gun type of hunting. But if you\'re a treestand guy, that\'s not so important.

Weather, being in shape, good boots, and having good food all fall into the \"luxuries\" category, but frankly I find them critical to an enjoyable hunt.

Probably the most important thing is having a job that allows you to get away, a spouse who doesn\'t mind, and friends to email photos to.

 

[BTL]

1 - Good Knowledge of hunting area
2 - Good Weather
3- 7 Days to hunt (if not more)
4 - Good Shape
5 - Good Camo (if considering \"tactical\" gear) if its just the pattern then Good Boots

 

[elkmtngear]

10
9
5
2
4

 

[cohunter14]

Some of this has been said, but here is my thoughts on it all: good knowledge of the area is by far number one. Without that, finding success is a lot more difficult. I would say the next important things, in no particular order, are being in good shape, having good boots, and a substantial time to hunt. However, I think being in \'good shape\' can be overrated. If you are in good enough shape to get to where you need to be and in a timely fashion, that is all that is necessary. You don\'t need to be running marathons to be in good enough shape.

After hunting one year with bad boots, good boots are a must. You need boots that will keep your feet dry and comfortable. Blisters or wet feet will absolutely ruin a hunt.

Substantial time to hunt: this might be 7 days for some, 5 for others, and 14 for others. Whatever it is, it need sto be long enough to where you can find elk and get a game plan to get to them. After hunting for 2.5 days this year, I can tell you that there is no way it is enough unless you get lucky. Case in point: you hear of far more people killing an elk on the last day of their hunt than you do opening morning.

Most of the others are subjective based on where you hunt and how you hunt. What is \'good weather\'? Could be hot and dry for some areas and snowing in others. Optics, pack, and partner are all based on how you hunt. Good food is nice to have, but not necessary. Good camo? I have seen too many guys who fill tags in blue jeans or bright orange jumpsuits to think that is necessary, but I think it can help.

My personal top 5: knowledge of hunting area, enough days to hunt, good boots, good enough shape, and good optics.

 

[elky McElkerson]

10 i\'d expand that knowledge is only part of the intel. there really has to be elk in the first place.
9 good shape. it is at least more fun. and it sucks not to explore a particular ridge because it \"looks like a mofo of a climb\"
4. not good weather..favorable weather. fog (and forest fire smoke) is awful.
2. boot. that fit..refer to #9
7. good partner...i tend to get lost. most of it is mental. my confidence soars if i am not solo. my brother is my best partner. buddy justin #2..the rest of them..MEH!

 

[F M]

It\'s interesting how the first two are pretty consistent. After that everyone has different views of what\'s important to them.