OTC Elk below 10,000'

[awbowman]

Is there OTC archery public elk hunting say 9500' or below.  Three years ago I tried it at 10,500 and above and it just wasn't fun for me.  I loved being in the mountains but I burnt out fast and ended up having a horrible sinus infection which made it worst but I felt like I couldn't catch a breathe anyways.

Help this flatlander out.

[Bill Kissner]

There is plenty of great elk hunting below 9500'. If someone told you you had to hunt above 10,500' they are mistaken.

[newhouse114]

Western Oregon, you would be hard pressed to find an elk above 5000 except in the high cascades. I went from coastal Oregon to 8500 for mule deer last year and did much better than I thought I was going to.

[awbowman]

Is it OTC tags?

Just to be clear, I wasn't told I had to go that high, it was just too hard for me to breathe that high

[mt-tom]

I would bet at least 90% of the elk in Montana are below 9500'.  A whole lot of them are probably located in the 4000'-8000' range.  Plenty are lower.

Tom

[elkbreath]

double

[elkbreath]

Same with wyoming, most of the hunting is well below 10k

I've killed a couple cows in the sage brush at 6500, and the vast majority at around 8200.

For a NR none of these are over the counter, but they are very easy draw, seems like every other years.

MY oregon bull must have been closer to 1500'!

[wingnut]

Idaho hunts I've been on run from 5 - 8,000.  Did you have trouble with altitude sickness or just adjusting to the altitude?

We are headed out to CO in 21 days and will be hunting at 10,000.  We are spending 2 days prior at 5,000+ to help acclimate.  We plan on taking the first day or two pretty easy to help also.

Mike

[Pat B]

I've hunted elk two times in the San Juan Mountains of SW Colorado between 9k and 10k with OTC tags, once either sex the second time with a cow tag. You can easily go below 9k in the same area and have a chance of finding elk.

[awbowman]

Originally posted by wingnut:
Idaho hunts I've been on run from 5 - 8,000.  Did you have trouble with altitude sickness or just adjusting to the altitude?

We are headed out to CO in 21 days and will be hunting at 10,000.  We are spending 2 days prior at 5,000+ to help acclimate.  We plan on taking the first day or two pretty easy to help also.

Mike

Never had altitude sickness, just can't breathe up there.  Thought a couple 1000' less would help

[tracker12]

My buddy just return from western OR on a private land cow hunt.  The were hunting around 7500.

[Basinboy]

Plenty spots around 9,000 feet you can hunt and be in elk.
He couldn't breath because he was hunting with some young bucks and he couldn't keep that pace lol

[awbowman]

I kept up until I got sick. But, I just didn't feel I could have packed an elk that high up

[T Folts]

They have to go past 8000 to get to 10,000 so you can catch them anywhere. Up in the morning  and down in the evening.

[Pete McMiller]

Number one rule, DO NOT try to keep up with anyone.  Hike at your own pace and stop when you need to.  Even if its every 20 yds.  Having taken 4 elk I may hunt slower and stop more often but i can still get it done.  Everyone of my elk was taken below 10k ft. And all were OTC.  It's not only possible but likely you will succeed if you persevere.

[newhouse114]

Acording to google earth, my bull last year was at 656 feet. Started hiking at 35 feet!

[awbowman]

Mainly looking for OTC states.

Is Oregon OTC?

[newhouse114]

For archery, yes. A few exceptions but not many.