collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Introduction  (Read 3579 times)

Offline Ragnar

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Sep 2017
  • Posts: 7
Introduction
« on: September 06, 2017, 07:46:37 PM »
Hello Everyone -

Long time lurker, first time poster.  Just wanted to introduce myself since I finally signed up on this site.  I have been elk/deer hunting for about four years, and ever year getting closer to my first elk (got my first deer in year 3).  I don't come from a hunting family, and all my friends are computer nerds, so I hunt solo and based mostly on hours and hour of computer research.  I am an outdoorsy person, so that part is easy for me. I don't know how much I will be able to help other people as of now, but hopefully someday I can learn enough to share.  My firt question for the forum (in lieu of asking for someone's honey hole haha), is, do you guys prefer to hunt areas that have tons of elk but also tons of hunters, or less elk/less people?  Nice to "meet" everyone.

-Ragnar

Offline Boss .300 winmag

  • FLY NAVAL AVIATION
  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (+22)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2010
  • Posts: 17764
  • Location: Skagit Valley
  • How do you measure trying, you do, or you don’t.
Re: Introduction
« Reply #1 on: September 06, 2017, 07:50:09 PM »
Welcome.  :tup:

Are you a Viking?

I don't hunt elk, but if I did, I would want quieter over quantity.
"Just because I like granola, and I have stretched my arms around a few trees, doesn't mean I'm a tree hugger!
Hi I'm 8156, our leader is Bearpaw.
YOU CANNOT REASON WITH A TIGER WHEN YOUR HEAD IS IN ITS MOUTH! Winston Churchill

Keep Calm And Duc/Ski Doo On!

Offline Elkcollector82

  • Work to live, not live to work.
  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2016
  • Posts: 760
  • Location: Idaho
  • Hunt hard by laying boot tracks, Not tire tracks
Re: Introduction
« Reply #2 on: September 06, 2017, 07:50:58 PM »
Welcome.

Less people/more elk

Offline meatwhack

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 1058
Re: Introduction
« Reply #3 on: September 06, 2017, 07:51:58 PM »
Welcome to the forum. I prefer to stay away from people even if it means less animals.

Offline Blacktail Sniper

  • Trade Count: (+6)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2009
  • Posts: 5783
  • Location: Rochester, Washington
  • Kill'em all...let the gravy sort'em out!!!
  • Groups: blacktail sniper
Re: Introduction
« Reply #4 on: September 06, 2017, 08:03:03 PM »
 :hello:

It is better to be consistently incorrect than inconsistently correct...

Sarcasm: The ability to insult stupid people without them realizing it. 

My level of sarcasm depends on your level of stupidity...

Sarcasm makes smart people laugh and stupid people mad.

Offline summertime blues

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 89
Re: Introduction
« Reply #5 on: September 06, 2017, 08:50:15 PM »
Less people

Offline yakimanoob

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2016
  • Posts: 1102
  • Location: Naches
Re: Introduction
« Reply #6 on: September 06, 2017, 09:06:15 PM »
Welcome! 

I don't mind driving past campsites (if you can even call them that - they're more like cities sometimes), but I definitely try to go steeper and deeper than others to try and get to more elk / less people. 

Offline Ragnar

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Sep 2017
  • Posts: 7
Re: Introduction
« Reply #7 on: September 06, 2017, 09:41:40 PM »
Thanks for the initial responses!

I am more specifically debating am I better off putting miles in the Goat Rocks Wilderness, or just using those same extra miles in the madness of a Winston/Lewis unit.

Offline kselkhunter

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2014
  • Posts: 1596
  • Location: United States
Re: Introduction
« Reply #8 on: September 06, 2017, 10:08:12 PM »
If you're an archery or muzzleloader hunter, you won't get away from people if you go miles in the wilderness for elk.  Especially this year with so many wilderness areas on fire, those hunters are getting compacted into smaller areas.  But if rifle hunting elk, you will run into less people deeper in the wilderness.  Rifle hunters tend to stick closer to roads.  Archery and muzzy hunters venture deeper in.  Part of that is better weather, and part of that is the majority of elk are deeper in the wilderness during those times.  Whereas snow pushes many of the elk to lower elevations and out of the wilderness areas during rifle season (depending on the weather, of course).  At least in units that contain wilderness areas.  I can't comment on non-wilderness units, as I don't hunt those. 


Offline ghosthunter

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+19)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 7155
  • Location: Mount Vernon WA
Re: Introduction
« Reply #9 on: September 06, 2017, 10:14:43 PM »
There is lots of talk about getting away from roads.

But don't overlook spots close to roads.

My group has several older hunters who just can't go a mile or more off the road any more.

Never the less they still kill animals many times 100 yards off the road. Both deer and elk.
There is so much pressure on the ridge tops that many animals have adapted to beding and resting near the roads.
We have killed a dozen bucks over the years a stone throw from a well. Traveled forest road.
Once I pulled up to park got out and found myself looking down on a 2 pt bedded against the road shoulder.

Hunt the steep and deep if you can, but don't overlook good areas with water and cover near roads. :twocents:
GHOST CAMP "We Came To Hunt"
Proud Parent of A United States Marine

We are all traveling from Birth to the Packing House. ( Broken Trail)

“I f he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

Offline Fish4Fun

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2007
  • Posts: 902
  • Location: Moses Lake
Re: Introduction
« Reply #10 on: September 07, 2017, 05:57:23 AM »
Welcome to the site there are a lot of great folks here.

For elk hunting, we hunt one of the more popular units. With that comes lots of hunters, get out and find good crossings and trails where they will naturally cross. Get there in the dark before other hunters get moving, then let them bring the animals to you at sunrise.

Offline yakimanoob

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2016
  • Posts: 1102
  • Location: Naches
Re: Introduction
« Reply #11 on: September 07, 2017, 08:47:52 AM »
There is lots of talk about getting away from roads.

But don't overlook spots close to roads.

This is good advice.  There's a reason there are so many "truck hunters" out there.  Generally speaking I make a plan to hunt an area steep and deep, but I absolutely take my time cruising the roads in the area before and after the backcountry work.  It's easy and we've all spooked dozens of elk on the forest roads.

Offline Elkcollector82

  • Work to live, not live to work.
  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2016
  • Posts: 760
  • Location: Idaho
  • Hunt hard by laying boot tracks, Not tire tracks
Re: Introduction
« Reply #12 on: September 07, 2017, 09:05:35 AM »
My biggest advice to you is to hunt where you are capable of hunting. people can say steep and deep. But if you never killed an animal in the backcountry. Then that animal could end up going to waste cause of negligence. Not trying to start anything or calling you that. I'm just stating. Going steep and deep takes more then mind set of yeah I'm gonna walk 7 miles into a wilderness. Down and animal. Then have no way of getting it out in a timely matter. Lot of preparation goes into backcoubtry hunting. Year round gear testing, scouting, making a plan on what to do when you down an animal. Heat is biggest thing early season. Bad weather is the enemy during late season.

 I do admire you wanting and starting this thread. Good info is coming from it. Just wanted to bring things to light. That you might not have thought about. Wilderness hunts in the early season Or late season is no joke. Both have situations that could be bad. But on the other hand. The scenic views are breath taking.

Offline yakimanoob

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2016
  • Posts: 1102
  • Location: Naches
Re: Introduction
« Reply #13 on: September 07, 2017, 10:05:07 AM »
My biggest advice to you is to hunt where you are capable of hunting. people can say steep and deep. But if you never killed an animal in the backcountry. Then that animal could end up going to waste cause of negligence. Not trying to start anything or calling you that. I'm just stating. Going steep and deep takes more then mind set of yeah I'm gonna walk 7 miles into a wilderness. Down and animal. Then have no way of getting it out in a timely matter. Lot of preparation goes into backcoubtry hunting. Year round gear testing, scouting, making a plan on what to do when you down an animal. Heat is biggest thing early season. Bad weather is the enemy during late season.

 I do admire you wanting and starting this thread. Good info is coming from it. Just wanted to bring things to light. That you might not have thought about. Wilderness hunts in the early season Or late season is no joke. Both have situations that could be bad. But on the other hand. The scenic views are breath taking.
:yeah:

Offline theleo

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 1212
  • Location: Kennewick
Re: Introduction
« Reply #14 on: September 07, 2017, 10:10:22 AM »
Welcome!

I always prefer to hunt where there's fewer people. I'm not the worlds greatest elk hunter so I prefer to chase ones that haven't had as much education by having lots of people chasing them. That's really only an option for me because I have access to mules and enough knowledge to be comfortable packing them in ruff country. If I had to do everything on foot there's no way I'd hunt where I do because I'd never be able to get an animal out on my back without a significant portion of it going to waste.   

Offline JeffRaines

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2014
  • Posts: 538
  • Location: Roy
Re: Introduction
« Reply #15 on: September 07, 2017, 11:16:00 AM »
My biggest advice to you is to hunt where you are capable of hunting. people can say steep and deep. But if you never killed an animal in the backcountry. Then that animal could end up going to waste cause of negligence. Not trying to start anything or calling you that. I'm just stating. Going steep and deep takes more then mind set of yeah I'm gonna walk 7 miles into a wilderness. Down and animal. Then have no way of getting it out in a timely matter. Lot of preparation goes into backcoubtry hunting. Year round gear testing, scouting, making a plan on what to do when you down an animal. Heat is biggest thing early season. Bad weather is the enemy during late season.

 I do admire you wanting and starting this thread. Good info is coming from it. Just wanted to bring things to light. That you might not have thought about. Wilderness hunts in the early season Or late season is no joke. Both have situations that could be bad. But on the other hand. The scenic views are breath taking.

This is a great point. The thought of trekking 8 miles into the wilderness and shooting an animal is a surreal thought - but whats going to come of the meat? I think even a boned out deer will be a liability to someone thats inexperienced, at least you could realistically make it out in one heavy trip although your legs are gonna be toast... now imagine having to make 2-3 more trips in or more to get the entire animal out... maybe in much cooler weather you could really take your time and it would be okay, but in warm weather its not gonna make it.

Offline Ragnar

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Sep 2017
  • Posts: 7
Re: Introduction
« Reply #16 on: September 07, 2017, 01:37:20 PM »
Thank you everyone for the responses! Certainly the point about being too far back in the woods is a valid one, I am thinking more in the 2-4 mile range.  I also certainly recognize that everyone "thinks" or talks about going in deep, but often people don't, or can't (no way to disprove that until I am successful, haha).  Thanks again everyone for taking the time!  I have millions of questions but will try to stagger them the best I can ;)


Offline Tinmaniac

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jan 2017
  • Posts: 326
  • Location: Wetside
Re: Introduction
« Reply #17 on: September 07, 2017, 02:51:16 PM »
Solo packing an Elk 2 to 4 miles in the steep and deep?Try this first.Get an 80 lb sack of concrete.Find some hilly terrain.Drop off bag of concrete.Drive 4 miles away from bag of concrete.Load all of your gear in a pack and walk back to your sack of concrete.Do 100 squats with you pack on along the way.Jog a little.When you get to the sack of concrete spend an hour lifting and rolling it around on the ground.Find a 500 lb log and see how far you can move it.Put the sack in your pack.Walk back to your truck.Do this 3 times.This will tell you how far away you want to be from your truck.

Offline Ragnar

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Sep 2017
  • Posts: 7
Re: Introduction
« Reply #18 on: September 07, 2017, 03:03:50 PM »
Don't really want to get into a "whose tougher online" match, just a hunter hoping to be pointed in the right direction. 

Offline pianoman9701

  • Mushroom Man
  • Business Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 42831
  • Location: Vancouver USA
  • WWC, NRA Life, WFW, NAGR, RMEF, WSB, NMLS #2014743
    • www.facebook.com/johnwallacemortgage
    • Apply for a loan
Re: Introduction
« Reply #19 on: September 07, 2017, 03:04:41 PM »
Welcome to the forum. Hunt where the animals are, regardless of how far from the road. Sometimes having other hunters around moves animals to you.  :dunno:
"Restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens based on the actions of criminals and madmen will have no positive effect on the future acts of criminals and madmen. It will only serve to reduce individual rights and the very security of our republic." - Pianoman

Offline h20hunter

  • Trade Count: (+16)
  • Legend
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jan 2010
  • Posts: 20873
  • Location: Lake Stevens
Re: Introduction
« Reply #20 on: September 07, 2017, 03:06:56 PM »
Don't really want to get into a "whose tougher online" match, just a hunter hoping to be pointed in the right direction.

C'mon! Why not?   :chuckle:

I'll tell yah....i helped a member haul out a cow. I had only one qtr and the head. Only needed to go abput a mile and a half but it was uphill and kicked my butt! Good lesson for me. Good luck out there Rag and shoot straight.

Offline Ragnar

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Sep 2017
  • Posts: 7
Re: Introduction
« Reply #21 on: September 07, 2017, 03:14:29 PM »
Thanks.  Aim small, miss small.

I always get a chuckle out of the warnings of how much work it is to pack out an elk, when the warning is given to someone who has tried very hard but never got one.  Its not that the warning isn't correct or anything, it just doesn't matter after a certain amount of time and effort is spent looking for these damn animals hahahaha.  It kind of seems like the warnings about how hard being a parent is, when told to someone who can't/or wants kids, the difficultly after just don't matter, somehow humans keep charging in head first.

I fully know a packout of any distance will be brutal, and will be worse than I imagine, but that doesn't mean the goal isn't worth pursuing.

Thanks everyone - this forum is awesome.

Offline h20hunter

  • Trade Count: (+16)
  • Legend
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jan 2010
  • Posts: 20873
  • Location: Lake Stevens
Re: Introduction
« Reply #22 on: September 07, 2017, 03:16:36 PM »
My first bear haul out. Had a 20 foot stretch,  nearly vertical that could not be avoided.. terrible......man was it fun!

Offline Tinmaniac

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jan 2017
  • Posts: 326
  • Location: Wetside
Re: Introduction
« Reply #23 on: September 07, 2017, 03:21:41 PM »
High on the shoulder and close to the road!

Offline Ragnar

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Pilgrim
  • *
  • Join Date: Sep 2017
  • Posts: 7
Re: Introduction
« Reply #24 on: September 07, 2017, 03:28:17 PM »
 That's what I'm talking about.   Maybe even killed slightly uphill from my vehicle?

Offline h20hunter

  • Trade Count: (+16)
  • Legend
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jan 2010
  • Posts: 20873
  • Location: Lake Stevens
Re: Introduction
« Reply #25 on: September 07, 2017, 03:31:27 PM »
Yup, my preferred is just uphill from the road. Don't want my beer getting warm. Im kidding....ive never allowed a beer to get warm.

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal