Planning First Elk Hunt / Need Advice

[WhiteOaks]

OK so I want to do a camp type hunt in Colorado and I'm thinking a guided hunted would be the best way to get started. I looked at Action Outfitters and their sales pitch was appealing.
I'm looking for all the suggestions and guide recommendations I can muster.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[awbowman]

IMO, nothing like the accomplishment of doing it with a bunch of buddies.  It may take a few years, but the reward is worth it

[slivrslingr]

Can't help you with the guide question, but some hunting advice I can offer up.
 
First, start getting in shape NOW!  Walk, run, bike, lift weights, mix it up, get your heart rate up, start building endurance and strength.  

Second, get a pair of quality, GOOD FITTING boots NOW and get them broken in.  Nothing will ruin a hunt faster than poor fitting boots and blisters.  

Third, once you settle on a guide, call them and get info on where you will be hunting, then learn as much as you can about the area.  Learn as much as you can about elk as well.  The more you know and the harder you work, the harder the guide will work for you.  Listen you your guide!

Fourth, make sure your bow, arrow, and broadheads are squared away.  On a guided hunt (or any other really), equipment failure is not an option.

Lastly, get to Colorado 3 or 4 days before your hunt, go for some walks and short runs.  Why?  To help you acclimate to the altitude.  Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol, dehydration is the number one culprit of altitude sickness.  

Do some search's here on TG, there is lots of great practical elk hunting and fitness advice from people that know way more than me.  Hope this was of some help.  Good luck!  Hope to see some success pics in the fall!

[Kentucky Jeff]

You aren't going to get acclimated to the altitude in two or three days.  Physiologically its takes a month.  So the best thing you can do is to get in shape before you go.  You won't believe it until your see it.  But elk live in places that are more vertical than horizontal.  You'll think its a challenge just getting around--forget the work the begins when you have meat on the ground!

Get thee to the gym and once you get some conditioning behind you start with a stair stepper or elliptical wiyh some hills programmed in.  

If your outfitter has horses I highly recommend you invest in a few riding lessons.  It won't turn you into a rodeo cowboy but it will give you an idea of what to do AND you'll also discover it takes a whole different set of muscles than most anything else you have ever done.   Riding a horse in the mountains ain't no pony ride and you'll be expected to really ride the darn thing and know how to get on and off and make it start and stop (stopping is the hard part depending on the horse and rider.  Just tell the nice lady at the riding stables what you need and why and they will know what to do.  Figure about $35 an hour or so.  They will supply everything and teach you soup to nuts--how to tack/untack the horse, mount/dismount etc etc.

I HIGHLY recommend a guide for your first hunt for many reasons.   If you are a flatlander from the east you'll quickly learn an elk hunt ain't no deer hunt.  The animals will move a lot and quickly.  30 miles a day when pushed by weather/hunter pressure is normal!  You guide is in tune with this.  By yourself its a needle in a haystack.  There are other reasons as well.  But the learning curve is very steep and a guide will flatten it for you some.  

Good luck!

[Bails]

Do it with friends instead of an outfitter for the ultimate experience and don't expect results on your first hunt , be prepared to put the mile in and get a good pair of boots ..... good boots are a major factor in success . If your feet start to hurt or blister it will ruin your hunt , so boots are a must . Never lose faith , if you have done your homework and know there are Elk in your unit or area , then with patience you will find them ( as soon as you think there are no Elk , you start to feel demoralised and lose faith ) . Always think they are there and you will find them , they are called the elusive Wapiti for a reason    . I have been to the same unit and hunted the same area twice , but still have not sealed the deal , but I've had the best time of my life and walked miles and seen Elk as close as 8yds , but not got the shot off yet ( I've had 4 opertunities and different circumstances have prevented me dropping the string ) . Enjoy the experience and take as many pictures as possible for memory and rainy days .
I generally start training 6months before I go , walk as often as possible up hills , mountains or stairs with a heavy pack to get them mountain legs and also run if you can to open them lungs up , train all muscles as you will need them all  . Pm me if you want anymore info , I'll share what i can .

[gjarcher]

The first step in booking an outfitter/guide in Colorado is to get the Outfitter Lic. #. By law all licenced outfitters in CO must include their CO Lic.# on advertising,etc.

I did a quick search on CO outfitter business registrations and couldn't find Action Outfitter, dba Whitetail Trophy Properties, or Whitetail properties, under the Owner/agent names. Something you might want to look into.
  http://www.dora.state.co.us/Outfitters/  
  http://www.dora.state.co.us/registrations/DatabaseRequest.htm  

Next step is to plan your hunt and study up on Elk hunting. CO DOW has several good links to get you started, including advise on altitude sickness. FWIW, CO ER rooms fill up with heart patients as soon as Elk season starts ... any doubts check with a doctor.
Planning a Hunt:   http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/PlanYourHunt/  
Learning about Elk Hunting:   http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/ElkHuntingUniversity/

[YORNOC]

Listen to these guys, no better advice could be given. If you aren't in good condition, you will suffer. Tough to breath up there for us flatlanders!
Most exciting but demanding hunt I've ever done, elk at 10,000+ feet.

[bowgy]

I don't think I'm  supposed to give information about other websites and formus here but there are at least three sites that have outfitter reviews.  Just google and you'll find them.

[WhiteOaks]

Thanks for all the tips.