Rookie Mistakes to Avoid

D

Deertick

New member
Mar 2, 2014
1,763
I plan on taking two rookies elk hunting this year: My buddy I\'ve known since about 1980, and his son. They want to avoid \"Rookie Mistakes\".

I consider myself in the \"Intermediate\" level of elk hunter, but not too far from \"Rookie\"!

Post \"Rookie Mistakes to Avoid\" here, so I can inform the newbies.
 
i think everyone should be realistic about physical conditioning.

and no fast food as that last meal before you head into the woods.
 
Some classic rookie mistakes...

Setting up BEHIND a tree or bush.

Over-calling

Going thru the woods too fast

Thinking you \'cant move\' when an elk is coming in

Not picking shooting lanes before elk shows up

Not having boots that are broke in
 
Similar to Elky\'s suggestion - no chili the night before!

Seriously though - I suggest a check list. Big list for everything they want to bring. Small list for what to take out daily in backpack. Lay it out each night and pack it up.

Latch your release to your bow - never walked out of camp without my bow but can\'t say the same about my release.

Don\'t rely entirely on GPS or your \'guide\' so get familiar with the area - walking past camp in the dark a couple of miles really SUCKS!
 
oh yea..i set up behind a tree before. duh!!

less of a mistake if you are rifle hunting.

not having an arrow nocked and ready to go when you sit down in a elky looking ambush spot.
 
Heading back to camp to early so they don\'t have to walk out in the dark. Hunt till dark.
 
They should be able to avoid this by hunting with you John, but my advice to any rookie hunter is hunt smart. By that, I mean you need to hunt in places where elk might actually be! I spent way too many years wandering around aimlessly hoping to run into elk. There are simple things for any rookie hunter to know that will help them with this, such as elk feed early and late, they bed mid-day, they will occasionally get water mid day, they\'ll use saddles, etc. I still laugh at some of the places I spent time \'hunting\' for elk in my early years before I understood simple things like this.
 
Forgetting about or not paying attention to thermals.
A good education on thermals and knowing when they change will help a bunch.
 
kudos to you John for taking your buddy and especially his son, not sure of his age but great of you to do this, i know young folks can be trying but I wish I had someone videoing me the first bugle I heard and especially the first REAL CLOSE one! I say this from someone who lost a LOT of years waiting to \"find\" a buddy to go with. If it weren\'t for one co-worker and a majority of you guys Id still be sitting here in the south \"waiting\" to find someone to go hunting out west.

As a nub myself and knowing what little I do now and assuming they\'ve never been, Id make them review my lessons I posted from what I learned from my first elk hunt two years ago and go from there. As others have said you can\'t be in too good of shape and watch you diet, get acclimated to the altitude at least a day prior to going full speed. DRINK WATER, DRINK WATER and Drink some more........... every stop take a SIP, all day...........

bow,muzzy or gun hunt ?
 
\"cohunter14\" said:
They should be able to avoid this by hunting with you John,
Click to expand...

Careful ... you haven\'t been hunting with me!

But I understand well what you are saying ... so much country, so few elk. I\'ve spent days and days hunting elk where there are none.

The other answers, too, were what I was looking for. I want to make sure that we cover the basics and make serious \"Do Not Violate This Rule\"-rules about them, so that if we miss an opportunity it\'s not because I didn\'t educate them about ROOKIE MISTAKES.
 
This isn\'t a rookie mistake but more of advice.
Its good to know...\'What can go wrong, will\'
 
One other thing I would add that should be rule number one is to have fun! For example, of course you want to take advantage and be in the woods early every morning and be out there till dark every night. But if someone is dragging and exhausted, that can take the fun out of it. Better to sleep in one morning, if needed, then to lose the excitement and fun of the hunt. Depending on the terrain, their ages and physical ability, this could definitely come into play.

I would apply the fun factor to everything though. There should be basic rules, but make sure it\'s an enjoyable experience for them. If they are annually elk hunting five years later, you know you did something right :upthumb:
 
Set up every time BEFORE you call !! Cows always seem to catch you out in the open when you call and are not ready. Get ready beside or in front of cover and then call.

When you get a shot opportunity.......pick a spot......a tuft of hair.....a small target !! Never just shoot at the whole animal. Trust it and let it happen !! Never second guess yourself.

Trav
 
\"Wapiti\" said:
Set up every time BEFORE you call !! Cows always seem to catch you out in the open when you call and are not ready. Get ready beside or in front of cover and then call.

When you get a shot opportunity.......pick a spot......a tuft of hair.....a small target !! Never just shoot at the whole animal. Trust it and let it happen !! Never second guess yourself.

Trav
Click to expand...

AWESOME point you bring up.

i bet if i could look it up: of all my stalks i\'ve done i bet 90% of them it was the female that busted me. most of the does/cows was some animal i didnt even see. i went after one buck, and when sneaking across the valley, i came right into a bunch of doe. that moment burned into my brain, the wheeze they emit when warning others. hard to forget. :)

bull elk. cows are the alert ones in my world.
 
Nock an arrow EVERY TIME you set up

You never know, that one time you dont will be \'your time\'
 
\"cnelk\" said:
Nock an arrow EVERY TIME you set up

You never know, that one time you dont will be \'your time\'
Click to expand...


Even in your dreams. I had one of them good ones the other night. You know the one where you make a good shot on a bull and he runs off. You just know you did the job well. You give him some time then track him down. All of a sudden he jumps up and ran off while I was trying to remove an arrow from my quiver and nock an arrow. :eek: I hope this isn\'t a sign.

I guess am saying have an arrow nocked when your tracking. I know I will.
 
Stop walking the second you feel hot spots on your feet. Tape them to prevent blisters. It NEVER goes away on its own

I use Leukotape


Sent via Jedi mind trick.
 
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