Semi guided elk hunt or help getting going in right direction...?

[jeepster]

I figure this year is going to be all about elk...

I usually focus on deer duck and goose, but, I think I'm gonna have the time and money to elk hunt. I've been looking at guided hunts, but that's a redicilous ammount of money and they want to charge extra for the elk camp experienc, food and all of that... I can take care of that myself... Now that I have an Alaknak tent and stove to accompany my other gear, and my friends would be more than willing to help out

I haven't elk hunted before, so I don't even know where to begin, but I'm thinking olympic peninsula, and I have a bow rifle and muzzleloader... I've seen it on tv enough to kind of have an idea of what to do
I
I was wondering if there are any semi guided hunts where I pay just to hunt and that's it or if somebody could help me get going in the right direction... I'd be happy with a cow or bull I'm not picky, I'd just like to fill the freezer
 
I do like the idea of archery elk however...

[Bean Counter]

If you've never packed an elk out before, especially in the warmth of the early archery season, you'd better either have a guide, friend, or help nearby. Its an exhausting day after the shot even if you have a partner and can drive a vehicle to the animal. Add packing it out over several miles and I say its a  to try it for the first time.

[Button Nubbs]

I wouldn't go in thinking bugling like they do on tv is gonna work either.

[buglebuster]

I've seen it on tv enough to kind of have an idea of what to do

yep, do just the same 

[jeepster]

I meant to add a laughing smiley dude or 2 at that "I saw it on tv" comment but can't figure out how to do it on my phone....

Kinda like the people who see working on fishing boats on tv and think it's easy...

[jechicdr]

Elk hunting is easy.  Elk killing...not so much.     I would start with harvest reports.  Look at number of animals taken...and success percentage.  Heavily hunted areas might have higher numbers harvested, but lower percentage because you are competing with everyone else out there.  Once I've picked an area, I look for a place that is away from the roads...but once away from the roads, there is a distance of ridges/plateaus that I can walk relatively easy (without having to dive into 20 deep canyons to hunt it) and look for elk and sign.  You want elk food (typically grasses).  In more open forest then there is food in the cover in addition to the meadows which typically don't get hit by elk until just right before dark and they tend to leave soon after sun up.  A series of smaller clearings with surrounding thicker cover may offer elk some security during the day to improve success during the day in hunting those areas.  Can sometimes find elk bedded in some of those.  Choosing a weapon is important too.  With bowhunting, you may have a very rewarding "hunt" seeing lots of animals but not getting an elk due to the difficulty of getting in shooting position.  With bowhunting, you will be in the woods with other hunters, but if you can see a legal animal, you should be able to get it.  Muzzleloader is somewhere in between the two.

[Recurve-Elk]

Get yourself some elknut hunting dvd's, and learn to use a mouth reed.  Focus more on cow, calf, spike, and young bull calling.  Find some buddies to either hang out or hunt with you so you have some packing help.  Read a book or two and watch some hunting movies over the next few weeks.  Other than that, have at em'!  I wouldn't expect to harvest anything your first year, although it is more than possible.  Enjoy it, elk hunting whoops your butt and you have fun doing it