Wanting to Learn

[AndyCAK]

Hi all!  I've been a long time lurker, but it's finally time for my first post.  I've learned a great deal from these forums, but I'd really like to gain some better field experience.  I went out for deer for the first time last year and got a small 4x4 whitetail.  From that experience I learned that some of the people I went with were a little too willing to pull a trigger.  I also learned that they didn't take any time at the range to hone their marksmanship.  With that in mind I'm not too keen on hunting with them again...  One guy took six shots and hit NOTHING!!!  I'm far from an expert, but I know my limits and won't pull the trigger if I'm not positive I'm going to hit my target.  But I digress...

What I'm looking for is somebody to learn from this fall.  I'm a smart guy with a strong back and I'd love to help pack out an elk in exchange for any wisdom you're willing to share.  I don't know if posting something like this is a fools errand, but I've noticed this community is full of people looking to help people learn more about the sport.  Any suggestions or information would be very much appreciated!

Many thanks in advance!

-Andy

[Woodchuck]

Where are you and where do you want to hunt. This might help some guys come out of the woodwork.

[AndyCAK]

Good call Woodchuck!  I'm in Seattle and would prefer to hunt Westside for Elk.

[Woodchuck]

  I am sorry I can't help you, I hunt eastside in the area of no elk 

[fair-chase]

Not sure I can help ya on the hunting but just wanted to say kudos for kicking the slob hunters to the curb early. You did yourself a huge favor not participating in that kind of activity and you will find in the future that you are much happier without that kind of influence. Welcome to the board, hopefully you can find some help in the areas you are planning on hunting.

[ridgefire]

i do not hunt the westside but you are def. doing the right thing by getting after it well before the season starts. im sure someone on here will be willing to share some info or invite you along on a hunt. best of luck.

[zackmioli]

if i was more experienced myself and had more knowledge to lend id be more than happy to bring you along but im also new to elk hunting so im still learning, but good job on getting rid of those other people you went with. like was said before you will be glad you did in the long run. there are a lot of really helpful and smart people on this site. im sure someone will help you out more than i can.

[zmhayward]

Save your money and hire a guide for a year.  A guide is paid to teach you how to hunt and they will know more about a particular area than anybody.  They do what they do not just for the money but because they love hunting so much that they want to teach others their technique.  You will learn more from one year with a guide than five years without one.

[Sporting_Man]

My ambitions for this year are similar, and would also like to try my luck on Westside elk... Peninsula, or so...
I wonder how much would be a fee for this kind of guided hunt (general firearm - elk)..?

[AndyCAK]

Thanks for all the feedback!  I realize that until tags are drawn people don't have much of an idea what their plans are for the fall.

I'm not sure a guided hunt is in the cards anytime soon.  I'm just finishing up graduate school so student loans are going to eat up a big chunk of what I could save.  I do like the idea though...

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I have been hunting Elk for 32 years, and still wish someone would teach me how 
I have managed to harvest Elk, but every year I learn something new, usually from the Elk themselves.
I suggest reading everything you can (unfortunately most books will repeat the same basic stuff)
You probably will do best by researching the area you want to hunt, getting out and scouting, and try to hook up with other hunters in the area.
Get Elknuts "Playbook" and cd's.
I am an Archery hunter, so not much help, but firearm season seems more like either picking a good escape route, or getting away from other hunters by walking further than the average guy (although lots of Elk will just stand in the Timber and watch the trucks drive by)

[400out]

Save your money and hire a guide for a year.  A guide is paid to teach you how to hunt and they will know more about a particular area than anybody.  They do what they do not just for the money but because they love hunting so much that they want to teach others their technique.  You will learn more from one year with a guide than five years without one.

Good thing you are not in the market! this is not the way to learn! start like you are and learn the way we all have trial and error

I have been hunting Elk for 32 years, and still wish someone would teach me how 
I have managed to harvest Elk, but every year I learn something new, usually from the Elk themselves.
I suggest reading everything you can (unfortunately most books will repeat the same basic stuff)
You probably will do best by researching the area you want to hunt, getting out and scouting, and try to hook up with other hunters in the area.
Get Elknuts "Playbook" and cd's.
I am an Archery hunter, so not much help, but firearm season seems more like either picking a good escape route, or getting away from other hunters by walking further than the average guy (although lots of Elk will just stand in the Timber and watch the trucks drive by)

This is good info run with it 

[JimmyHoffa]

Do you have a general area in mind for Westside elk?  Are the coastal units too far?  I find a good chunk of the learning for elk (and really all the animals) is somewhat area specific.  There is 'general' elk knowledge which one can accumulate and apply to all areas, then there are the 'specifics'.  I liken the general to recognizing common behaviors, tracks, rubs, etc.  You can get most of this online and in books.  For the specific, I'll first use maps, google earth, online info, and local knowledge.  The rest is pretty much done through scouting.  If you have time, make a few trips out before any of the hunting seasons and find their trails (river-creek bottom to the higher feeding grounds.  Find the different types of vegetation.  Good Luck.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Yeah either ..I hunt the westside but you need to be trained in gorilla war fair...

[wormfood]

The Wetside is pretty big. If you narrow it up a bit someone probably be able to help ya out a bit more.Westside general is way to many orange pumpkin suits runnin around that why I switched to a stick and string about 10 years ago.If you know any bowhunters I would beg and plead to follow them around in September, you will learn some country and get to have the experience of being in the woods during the rut. Be careful with opened ended searches for hunting partners, there are a lot of hunters out there but you need to find someone with the same ethics and expectations you, have good luck.