Where to backpack elk hunt

[Jakeemt]

Hey guys. I am going to plan(aka save for) a back pack elk hunt in 2016. For those of you experienced guys where is the place to go to avoid the crowds? Colorodo any good? Or would Montana be a better bet? How about Idaho or New Mexico? What about BC? Any advice helps guys thanks.  Also wouldn't mind having someone knowledgeable to chat with regarding equipment choices tactics ect. An ozark redneck like me doesn't know the first thing about hunting elk! Lol. Thanks!

[Jim Wright]

The fastest way to get the information you want is from the individual states division of natural resources or their equivalent. You can end up contacting the wildlife biologists that work in the areas you are considering. They usually know more about the area with little vested interest than anyone you can talk to. Additionally, few people ask them for that wealth of information and they are in my experience more than willing to share it with you.

[Matt Quick]

This is a super loaded question but I'll start. NM is by draw and odds generally aren't good depending upon the unit. I would put in there and if you don't draw look at your other choices as you can draw OTC in CO and ID and MT will have leftover licenses. If your just starting out I would recommend camping from your truck and do some short overnight hunts coming back to base camp to restock supplies. You'll learn a lot about what works and doesn't.  As for calling I would invest in the elknut DVDs and I think it's elk hunting 101 DVDs. I'll check the names when I get home. Lots of good info on calling, scouting and set-ups. Also do a search on here for elk related topics and you'll find answers to lots of your questions.

[Jakeemt]

Thanks Jim. Matt I am not new to back packing. However I figure about 5 miles in should be about as far as I will go. I won't be able to do any real pre-season scouting since I don't live in any of those states so I will for sure take Jims advice. As I understand it (MO has a very diff system) in CO you can just buy an over the counter tag (no lottery) and the same is true of ID? I assume left over tags are for purchase after all the locals have bought their tags? Is that first come first served?

[Orion]

Matt offered some good advice on where and how.  In deciding how far to go in, keep in mind that if you kill something, you'll have to pack it out. An elk usually takes 5, maybe six trips, plus your camp back out. You want to be able to get the meat out before it spoils.  In the generally warmer temperatures of September, that's extremely difficult, just about impossible to do if you're alone and 5 miles in.

[pumatrax]

in my opinion the "best" places to hunt in CO. are the draw units ( not the over the counter units )...there is a reason the best units take several points to draw a license...that being said ; if you're willing to put in the foot miles ; there is a good possibility to get in to some elk in an otc unit....

[Jakeemt]

Orion I should have clarified I plan on going with at least two over guys maybe 3. All bowhunters.

[Iowabowhunter]

Montana has had leftover tags for quite a long time if you're interested.

People gripe and moan about the lack of elk due to wolf predation which is understandable, but I also think part of that is an unwillingness to get off the trail and away from other people.

I helped call in a 386" bull to 18 yards for a friend, and another buddy had a nice 340"+ come in to 30 yards and got spooked.

Feel free to pm me w/any questions. Im not an experienced elk hunter by any means but I also think hunting hard puts more elk into people's laps than anything else.

[Matt Quick]

Yes you can buy otc in Colorado and ID. However they also have units you can draw. No points in ID. Straight lottery. CO has units that take as few as 1-3 and units that take max Pts. CO also has some random tags. In other words a guy with less than max pts can still have a shot at some high quality units. Keeping in mind with out very many points you chance is minuscule. It's not cheap to build pts but it does set you up for some nice hunts.  NM is lottery too. No points. Start studying the websites and get a Delorme state map so you look at the units. When you have narrowed down what unit you want to hunt get some topos of the unit. Use google earth too. Go into the hunt with a plan A B and C. Weather, fires and hunting pressure can change everything once you are there.
One more thing. If you can do it consider a scout trip in July/August.  You can really hit the ground running and make the most of your hunting time.

[old_goat2]

Most units in Colorado that have wilderness are draw units. In Wyoming a non resident has to have a licensed guide to hunt in the wilderness. Montana, Wyoming and Idaho have grizzlies and wolves. There are good draw units in Colorado that take zero to one points, if you can save enough by draw deadline this year you can basically buy a preference point, think it would end up costing you twenty five dollars and you have to loan the state the price of an elk tag for a month or so.

[njloco]

If you do a search on here, look for the post that Gil Verwey posted up, it was very thorough.

[tracker12]

My advice is to find an experienced elk hunter someone and join the party on your first trip out west.  It will go a long way to making it a more enjoyable and successful hunt.  

One thing I would consider is applying for a NR point in UT,CO and WY this year.  It will give you better options for 2016.  Especially since several areas in CO require 1 point to draw and archery tag.

[old_goat2]

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=118711#000000

This is the thread NJLOCO was talking about, good one to bookmark

[Cootling]

I would avoid the Idaho backcountry units where elk numbers are way down (e.g., Selway/Lochsa/Clearwater/St. Joe.  Those are not necessarily bad units if you already know how to find elk in them, but they are not good units to cut your elk-hunting teeth on as you are unlikely to have many encounters with animals.

[Paul Collins]

Northern New Mexico or Colorado.  It's no secret that the once-in-a-lifetime draw area of the Valle Vidal in NM is great.

[DaveT1963]

for public land OTC MT and IDAHO are tought to beat.  Yes elk numbers are down in some areas but Idaho still has some great herd numbers compared to other states.  Washington is also another sleeper state that has some great hunting for both species of elk.

[beendare]

I've hunted all of the states you mentioned for elk- except BC but hunted it a few time for other species, my take;

First off, further from a TH isn't always better. In high pressured areas- like OTC Colo, you have to find the pockets that hunter drive the elk into- read;steep and nasty. Plenty of horsebackers in the mtn states and they can cover a heck of a lot more ground than you can on foot- but they sometimes don't get off the animal as much as they should.

 If you can draw one of the good NM Gila units or 34,36- then thats the way to go but its a longshot.

I think Montana is the best bet right now for the sole reason it gets less pressure than Id,Wy,Co. Its crazy how many guys are in the elk woods in Sept- vs 30 years ago.

[randy grider]

beendare's post makes a lot of sense, and I have never given that a thought ! We walked past some really steep nasty gorges that were not too far from the trailhead..., in an effort to put mileage between us and the trailhead. He makes a good point in that you cant outhike a horse, and that was our problem, hike 4-5 miles back in and see all kinds of horse hunters, so what good did it do ? Next time I think i'll just spend that time hiking into rough spots close. Thanks !

[randy grider]

I'll be watching this thread.

[Jakeemt]

Thank you guys for the great info and links!