Archery Elk Season Preparedness?

[WapitiTalk1]

Sooo campers, what would you say your level of preparedness is for the pending WA opener which if my calendar is correct, is less than two weeks away 

Conditioning for the hunt and pack out?
Gear locked and cocked?
Weapon (broadhead accuracy) proficiency (been practicing and bow is tuned nicely)?
Calling is on the mark (for whatever types of elk sounds you use)?
Transportation to the elkwoods and tool kit for potential problems is ready to rock?
Home front is squared away so no issues arise when you're gone?

What is your archery elk season preparedness level for the rapidly approaching season?  Are you a so ready you could head out tomorrow (10), or, are you somewhere in between "holy hell, I've got a ton to do" and a 10 

[zackmioli]

I'm about as ready as I can be. I leave on Monday for 8 days in Alaska for a vacation then come home, do laundry and head out Thursday morning to hunt Thursday-Sunday!

[lostbackpacker]

8.7

[4fletch]

Almost there

[_TONY_]

Pretty much there! 9

Gear is prepped and tuned, and my calling is sound.

Last thing on the list is to rebuild the transmission in my truck. Come this Saturday,  I'll have it finished  and ready to put back in the truck.

Getting pretty jacked!!

[splashcaster]

making a bunch of food tomorrow to can or freeze... I'll be out day one so if I'm hoping if I make it I won't need it  other than that, 10

[Todd_ID]

I'm at a 2 or 3...about where I'm normally at.  Scouting and map work, calling and shooting are ready to go year-round.  The rest will fall into place this next week.  I may even clean the camper out from last year's hunts....maybe.  I plan to put a cow in the freezer from WA and a nice bull from ID, too.  I've been bowhunting elk for a long time, and I've learned well enough what needs worrying about and what doesn't to be consistently successful, and I've learned the home front will never be squared away well enough so you might just as well go hunting. 

Now if I can just find my license envelope from my spring bear hunt......

[RadSav]

Truck is ready!

Bottle of aspirin in every pocket and glove box for that assuming heart attack.
 
Finished fletching arrows yesterday.  Will get them cut tonight.

Rest and peep sight should go on the bow tomorrow.  Hope to get everything sighted in Thursday or Friday of next week.  Need to decide on a quiver

Almost have enough room cleared in a freezer for an elk.  So Lorraine has the green light.  For me it had better have horns, I think.

Would rather be mule deer hunting, but the wife/slave prefers elk hunting.  And elk are closer to the house/business.


So pretty much like every year since I became self employed

[rover758]

Best girlfriend in the world.  She's going with me Friday the 29th to help set up camp and then exiting Sunday.  Just wants my debit card and pin number and tells me to have fun for 2 weeks while she's at the casino.  Prep meter pegged at 10.  Excited meter off the chart.  Put 1500 miles on the truck back and forth checking game cam.  Not in shape for the packout but I'll git er done ... hand me 'nuther beer please.  Will have to check into the aspirin thing.  Bow has been ready for months.  Wore out two targets practicing.  Don't know 'nuttin 'bout callin'.  Wish I did.  Hey!  Where's that *&^% beer!!! 

[motg9_6]

aaahhh fair to midland!!! 
LOCKED COCKED AND READY TO ROCK
MEN ITS HUNTING SEASON!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

[northcoast]

Definitely a 9.  Going up tomorrow for the last time before the season.  Heading up 8/31 and staying till the 7th. 

Been hiking a minimum of 4 miles a day sometime 8 just depends on how much time I have. Shooting several times a week. All equipment is dialed in.

Homefront is as ready as it can be with kids going back to school. My son passed Hunter's Ed so he'll be coming up the last weekend of the season.

I keep dreaming of the monarch bull who is so old he's a spike again and that silly Disney commercial keeps playing over in my head... Eight, eight more days!

[hogslayer]

I am not to impressed with my scouting this year.  Having a kid makes it a little harder to get away for the weekend.  As far as gear goes, I would be ready to go right now.  I shoot and call year round so I feel good about that.  I am going for 7 days so I hope I can get one down. 

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I'm a 7 from where I want to be.  Got 11 days to hunt.  Should be a good year.  Two legal bulls located. 

[Sliverslinger]

I would say a seven. The most important things are done. I've shot my bow almost every single night since early July and with broadheads for the last week. It is absolutely dialed in and my confidence is through the roof. I have all of my gear, although it is still very unorganized. For some reason I bought a new pair of boots last weekend that I'm now working to break in. The truck got done at the shop yesterday. And I've practiced calling on the way to work frequently.
However, I have a trench in my yard, 24 yds of river rock, and 300 ft of French drain to lay before I can hunt. I also am in the middle of switching from propane to wood heat, so I need to build a wood shed and start accumulating wood (would have been done at the beginning of summer if I could have afforded it then). Those two things have me concerned.

[elkoholic1]

4   

[Tbob]

Mentally I'm at a level 10. Actually ready to go hunt?......? I'm at a solid 2. But that's how it goes with me.. Shooting is solid, calling is being practiced in the car everywhere I go.. Packing is usually done the week before I head out. It always comes together.. Can't believe it's that time of year again.. I've spent so much time and money scouting this year I'm really hoping it pays off for my first elk! I have 7 short days to get it done here in WA.. I'm in a 3pt min or cow unit, first legal elk to walk In front of my arrow is taking a dirt nap!!

[xXLojackXx]

Truck is ready!

Hope to get everything sighted in Thursday or Friday of next week.  Need to decide on a quiver

Go pick yourself up a Tight Spot 

I'm at about a solid 8 across the board. Gear in check, workout year round, have elk generally located, bow shooting well out to 120 (should be good at 70 for hunting), standing freezer empty, ready to notch my tag. Let's do this fellas!

[whackmaster]

10
I am ready time to kill a bull have them spotted just need to get it done i have the first two weeks off from work Pammy,s pleasure palace is loaded 

[D-Rock425]

With all the fire closures and other activities I've done this summer I'd say I'm more like a 5 or 6.  Will be getting everything ready this coming week.

[snarkybull]

9
just need to throw on some blades and make sure they're flying true.  and then do a boatload of honeydews.

[pianoman9701]

Haven't done any scouting but the elk are in the same place every year. Will be getting the gear out this weekend. Been shooting all year and the broadheads are flying fine. Been working out and riding the bike. Not as lean as I should be, but strong. Got the RV set up. Ready to head out for 10 days of loveliness.

[D-Rock425]

Picking up broadheads tonight will shoot them this weekend.

[Blade]

90% ready to go, camp gear is cleaned, organized and packed up, camo is packed, hunt gear is packed  shooting is good, 2 more hard workouts and then I am outta here.  Really looking forward to this year.

[BullCrazy24]

9!!! pulling the trailer out to camp tonight to set up. its been a long summer waiting for my separated shoulder to heal but finally got back up to 70 lbs and sighted in! 10 more days and a wake up!

[Broken Arrow]

I am at a solid 9.5. Everything is completely at the ready and in a holding area until packing day, wed. next week.

[vandeman17]

I am at about a 6 right now. Physically fit, been shooting and have spots picked out. After this weekend I should be up to about a 9 as all my gear will be getting set out and then come next weekend a 10 after a costco trip for food. 

[Rainier10]

The snag canyon fire burning my cabin down and much of my hunting area has really put a damper on my motivation.  I am still going to get after it and give it a whirl. My wife has a cow tag and they should be easy to see in the burn if they are still close by.  I just hope they open the woods.

[Todd_ID]

I keep dreaming of the monarch bull who is so old he's a spike again and that silly Disney commercial keeps playing over in my head... Eight, eight more days!

If I'd have known there was a mature bull that was a spike around last year, then he'd already be dead.  I had him dead to rights at 40 but couldn't believe my eyes until I put the binos on him.  He stepped out of my life as I got back to full draw again.  I won't make that same mistake this year. 

[TommyH]

I'm ready!! Well almost, got nearly all I need, pick up a few things and were set!! Bow is shooting great(had to make a few adjustments. Which is weird, broad head / field tips usually fly the same on my bow. not this year??) hard to believe it's been a year!! Super excited, hope to put the bike trailer to use this year!!


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[Shawn Ryan]

Conditioning is good. 9.
Gear is always only 2 hours away from being ready to roll--other than I've had my tent in for repairs and need to pick it up, so only an 8.
Bow is ready, but I haven't been shooting it as much as most years=7.
Calling is better than ever thanks to Elknut and Phantom=8.
Truck is always ready to roll. 10.
Home front=2. Killing me. Don't have all the care givers I need for my wife. Don't even know when I get to hunt. If I don't solve this piece, I don't get to hunt.

[northwesthunter84]

Solid 9.5, just got to pack vehicles and roll out.  So excited having trouble sleeping at night already.  Just thinking about it makes me twitch a little.

[coachcw]

Let the dance begin!

[Fullabull]

About a 5 but I'm no leaving until Sept 14th. Should be plenty ready by then
All of my scouting is via Google Earth this year we are heading to Idaho for the first time to hunt during the rut...

[GregE]

Envious of all you well prepared folks.  Still building up strength and mobility from my total knee replacement.  Getting ready to hunt 9000' in the Colorado rockys in 22 days.

Got a long waaay to go

Greg

[mxryder909]

Solid 7, taking truck into have a timing cover gasket fixed, minor leak. Changed waterpump wasn't it.... Sthl chainsaw preparred, and everything else is a solid 10... last minute scouting trip friday am, and were good to go...

[dreamingbig]

About an 8.  My gear is sitting in a pile in my man cave.  I haven't been able to shoot as much given my twin boys were born in Dec. Three kids under 4 eats up a lot of time!


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[Tbob]

Update: I'm now at a solid 8.5... I'll be hunting in 7 days.. Ahhhhh yeah!

[vandeman17]

Good news coming from the weather reports, at least in central wa, is that they are calling for cooler temps starting this weekend. Lets hope they hold out not only for maybe some more activity but also for those lucky enough to connect to be able to save as much meat as possible! 

[D-Rock425]

I'm probably up to a 7 now.

[elkoholic1]

up to a solid 8.5 as of yesterday 

[D-Rock425]

Shipping out Saturday morning.  Have to go through a few more totes then load.

[bowjunkie]

I'm 9.25 trailer loaded just need to pick up ice on the way out of town.  man this work week is going slow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[snarkybull]

Update: 10.  ready for blood.  blades are hot.  flying better than field points, and I didn't even align the blades with the vanes.  Didn't even have to adjust sights.

Totally ready, although it helps that I only need to pack a daybag.

[northcoast]

I keep dreaming of the monarch bull who is so old he's a spike again and that silly Disney commercial keeps playing over in my head... Eight, eight more days!

If I'd have known there was a mature bull that was a spike around last year, then he'd already be dead.  I had him dead to rights at 40 but couldn't believe my eyes until I put the binos on him.  He stepped out of my life as I got back to full draw again.  I won't make that same mistake this year. 

You know exactly the bull I'm talking about.  Hopefully he's still around.  If I don't get him then I'll get one of his cows.

Taking the Subie up this year instead of the truck.  With the roof rack all my stuff barely  fits.  Only thing left to pack is base camp food and ice.  Heading up Sunday... See you there.

[returnofsid]

Sooo campers, what would you say your level of preparedness is for the pending WA opener which if my calendar is correct, is less than two weeks away 

Conditioning for the hunt and pack out?
Gear locked and cocked?
Weapon (broadhead accuracy) proficiency (been practicing and bow is tuned nicely)?
Calling is on the mark (for whatever types of elk sounds you use)?
Transportation to the elkwoods and tool kit for potential problems is ready to rock?
Home front is squared away so no issues arise when you're gone?

What is your archery elk season preparedness level for the rapidly approaching season?  Are you a so ready you could head out tomorrow (10), or, are you somewhere in between "holy hell, I've got a ton to do" and a 10 

I feel like I'm at about a 5 3/4.  Realistically, I'm probably closer to an 8 1/2.
Gear is all packed up and ready to go.
Bow is ready, broadheads are spun on and hitting good. (I would like to get some more arrows set up though.)
Calling?  Hmmmm, could probably use some more practice but I'm hoping the Elk think it's just an accent from the next county over.
Transportation is set.  Did the brakes on the Suburban a couple weeks ago, travel trailer has been converted from a family camping unit to a HUNTING UNIT.  Still need to get food supplies packed up in it though.
Home front is as squared away as it ever gets. 
My own physical readiness could be called into question though.  I guess I'll suffer through the shortness of breath, sore muscles etc.
Pre-Scouting success...hmmm...I haven't done near the scouting as I'd have liked, but it is what it is.  I have recently discovered that a lot of logging activity has moved lower down the mountain.  Last year the logging was taking place several miles up the road from the area I was hunting.  This year, much closer and actually below the same area I was hunting.  I have no idea how that's going to effect things.

[herdbull33]

3. Need a new string for the bow. Found 2 fibers completely broke through.