3 tips for solo elk hunter

[Gapmaster]

1) Toss a small pulley in your pack. Very helpful maneuvering an animal or hanging meat.

2) Be ready and able to take a frontal shot.

3) Bring a couple of books

1) Toss a small pulley in your pack. Very helpful maneuvering an animal or hanging meat.

2) Be ready and able to take a frontal shot.

3) Bring a couple of books

That “pulley” thing is a great idea. Don’t know why I’ve never thought of it. It sucks trying to move an animal to clean it sometimes. Had to clean a 6x6 last year upside down on some near vertical crap. A pulley may have saved me hours of fighting that one. Thanks for the idea!!

 

[Wrench]

That “pulley” thing is a great idea. Don’t know why I’ve never thought of it. It sucks trying to move an animal to clean it sometimes. Had to clean a 6x6 last year upside down on some near vertical crap. A pulley may have saved me hours of fighting that one. Thanks for the idea!!

.... and if you're no a knot tying specialist, buy a book or app and learn how to tie a prussik, truckers hitch, clove hitch and bowline/bowline on a bight.

Those with a simple pulley will change your life.

 

[nphunter]

Bow or rifle? Two totally different hunts.

Archery is a much tougher solo task, hotter weather to worry about meat care, more people in the woods depending on the state. Calling in and killing a bull is not an easy task, most of the most successful solo hunters mostly do it spot and stalk.

During archery, the meat will be a concern if the temps aren't dropping below 50 at night, you will want to get it on ice or in a cooler within 24 hours or less depending on how hot it is.

IMO if you want to have the greatest success archery elk hunting try to find a good hunting partner, it is so much nicer hunting with someone else, so much easier to call in elk with a caller and so much easier packing elk with help. I hunted solo for years and bounced between partners due to lack of commitment from others, since finding a good hunting partner both our or success rates have gone up tremendously!

Rifle hunting is different, yes a partner is nice for packing, piece of mind, and sanity reasons but even when we use to do large elk camps as a kid we always split up and covered ground to find elk. Honestly, if you are rifle hunting for any elk just cover ground in elk country, glass openings on ridge top early, and watch where they disappear as the sun comes up. Still hunt the spots the elk go into and shoot the first cow that stands up.

If you're after a bull and the hunt is after Oct. 15th you need to find the nastiest deadfall filled ridges and knobs in the area and still hunt through them, go super slow, take a few steps, glass and repeat. If there are tracks in the area there will be elk nearby. I've found the most bedded bulls in the heads of side draws near the top, below saddles, they like multiple escape routes and are great at moving around it nasty dead fall pockets.

Rifle season meat is less of a concern and typically you can hang it in the woods for several days in the shade without issues.

 

[mattfly77]

Good info

 

[406unltd]

For me the last few years have put me into good situations because i mind the wind, project calls behind where I am so I sound further than I am, be patient and draw my bow at the correct time so I don’t alert him. There are other important factors but these three will get you in the game.

 

[elkocd]

1. Don't call unless it's your last resort.

If they don't know you're there you have an infinite number of options. Once they know you're there you have 1!

If you really want to become a better elk hunter, especially solo and if you want to hunt the largest bulls listen to the podcast below. It's "they way" to better success.

 

[loggerchas]

1) To kill elk you have to find elk, and not all elk are 7 miles in and 3 miles up. Many spend too much time hunting "elky country" rather than focusing on the brown furry critters themselves. Be ready to move to find animals on the hoof, not where they were last week.

2. As others mentioned, mental prep is the keystone for a good hunt. Audible books, a real book, anything to pass boredom and provide distraction so when you are in the game itself you are at 100%.

3. Know your maps. Fear of unknown country can often stop a person from exploration and finding the animals themselves. Have confidence in your navigation and your abilities to go into the unknown and navigate with confidence. Knowing maps and navigation can also help locate alternative pack-out routes that may be more advantageous than the "way you came in".

 

[MULEPACKHUNTER]

I'll shoot you a PM.

Oh come on man, you cant start a public comment section and jump to PM. Some people read wanting to have the same questions answered!!!!!

 

[ElkNut1]

The OP is 0 for 3 in his past elk hunts, he is willing to shoot a Bull or Cow at this point, that's what this thread is about, it has nothing to do with hunting the largest bull in a unit! That's a totally different subject!

ElkNut

 

[Cory_mc2000]

Lots of great information here. I am also solo archery this year.

 

[elkster]

"0 for 3" is not bad at all, average is 10 - 15% and if you succeed this year, that would be 25% (1 for 4).

But that is not what you asked about.

Persistence, Wind, and covering enough ground so that you are giving yourself opportunities.

 

[tjihrig]

I find that setup is the big factor in solo hunting. Hunting the thick nasty stuff will help pull bulls in closer. Also listen to some podcasts with The Elknut when he talks about walking away while calling- then silently slipping back to your calling location. The bull will slip in to smell where you were. Playing on a bulls curiosity helps a lot when your solo. If they come in looking for you they tend to hang up, but if they come in to investigate where you were their guard is down and they’ll walk right to the last call spot with their nose to the ground


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[P Y Buck]

Safety should be your first priority. Use a an Inreach device.
Do you have experience field dressing, quartering an elk and packing it out?
If not, you are in for a brutal experience that will test you both mentally and physically.

My opinion, dont do it......

 

[Rob5589]

Many thanks to everyone that has responded.

Safety is foremost: I have an InReach and am a paramedic so I feel confident there.

Communicating with Paul with regards to calling: He has suggested a couple of calling sequences suited to a solo hunter, as well as other words of wisdom. Thanks again, Paul.

Pack out: Taking this one the most seriously. I will be limiting distance from the truck (with coolers); and knowing my limitations will be key. Killing one too far back to get the meat out and cooled is irresponsible and unethical. Hiring a packer isn't out of the question. If you know of any near Salmon, shoot me a PM.

Mental fortitude: Absolutely. Several days away from home, not seeing game, etc, can be a tough hurdle to overcome at times. Definitely working on things to keep my head in it.

Thanks again everyone

 

[trophyhill]

I guess this is where I have to call those out who say to not call or call as a last resort. There are tricks to the trade, but calling indeed is numeral Uno in my bag of tricks. If you want action that is up close and personal, then call and get ready to be aggressive. Sometimes aggressive can mean with your calling, and sometimes with your actions. But why any bowhunter would take calling out of the equation and becoming a 1 dimensional hunter is hard for me to comprehend. I don't want limitations on my hunting styles. Being versatile is a huge part of my game. It includes being able to go into stealth mode if needed. But not calling is not part of my game. I call, and I call often and have called them right in my lap with my closest bow shot being 2 yards. That's why I call

 

[sasquatch]

Tagged


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Ta406]

Lots of repetition.

1. Never let your guard down. Hunt all the way out and all the way back. Don't walk through elk to get to a location. The one time you drop your head and start mindlessly trudging up or down a trail, you will walk right up on a bull 300 yards from camp.
2. Don't let the mental part of the hunt knock you out of the game. It can be tough and the wind will beat you nine out of ten times.
3. Every day in the field is a learning experience. Chalk up the failures to just gaining knowledge. Never quit learning.
4. Find a unselfish partner. Nothing can be as demoralizing that dealing with someone every day that only thinks of themselves. First to shoot, best tent site, best trail, best wallow opportunity. No whiners.

Number 1 is so important. I missed an opportunity on the biggest buck I have ever seen I'm my life because my head was down and I just wanted to get back to camp after a long hike. When I bumped him, he was only 20 yards away. That one kept me up at night for a long time.

 

[LeaveNoTrace21]

Safety should be your first priority. Use a an Inreach device.
Do you have experience field dressing, quartering an elk and packing it out?
If not, you are in for a brutal experience that will test you both mentally and physically.

My opinion, dont do it......

Not a fan of this, dudes asking for advice why shouldn’t he go, an elks a big deer? Breaks down the same. Just bigger pieces You mean to tell me you took that buck in the pic to a butcher! Plenty of YouTube videos if he’s not 100% on cutting it up. Most guys headed on DIY hunts know it’s going to be rough that’s what some would call “ the best experience “ easy hunts never make for good hunting stories.... some of my favorite hunting experiences were in the nastiest of places and nastiest weather

 

[Mosby]

Have a plb in case you get sick or hurt. Leave information on your hunt with someone, so they know where to look for you. Carry what you need to spend night in the woods.

 

[Outdoorsman12b]

In order of importance:

don’t, don’t, don’t.

Guys do it but man it’s a ton of work once you get one on the ground. If you have a buddy that can help out and can get to you pretty quick than it’s doable.