Lots of good info. Great thread. Before you head west, as many have said, get in the best shape you can. But what does that mean, as we all have a different opinion of what " good shape" is.
If you are the couch potato type, start walking. Every day. Get your body used to moving. Within a couple months, wear your daypack and hunting boots. Add a little weight to it at a time, but you should do it with the wieght it will be when you get there.
If you can drop 20 lbs before you go, thats 20 less you have to carry around all day.
If you run a 5 minute mile, good for you. Do it with boots and a pack. You legs are your hunt.
Walking stais at a stadium or bleachers helps.
Wall sits, lunges, squats, any exercise that works the legs is good. Lungs too.
Where fitness pays off is endurance and recovery. You may run 100 yds to get in position for a shot. Being in good shape it will take you a minute or 2 to get your wind back. If you're not, you may huff and puff for 10-15.
Acclimate slowly, take it easy the first few days unless you want to spend the rest of the hunt in camp puking your guts out with a pounding headache. Drink lots of water. You may find you have to pee every 5 minutes for a day or so, your body is adjusting. Keep it hydrated. Just breathing dry mountain air will dehydrate you.I drink 2-3 liters a day, more if its hot.
Last time out I used Wilderness Athlete products, thier drink mix is awesome, as are thier power bars. They also make some tablets for altitude sickness that I think make a difference in how fast you adjust to altitude.
Be nice to your feet, and they will be nice to you. Change you socks at least once a day. Carry a couple pair in your pack. Change 'em at lunchtime. Your feet will love you.
don't get carried away bugling. Most hunters bugle way too much. If you have a bull nearby bugling, cow call and move in on him. A bugle may just send him over the next ridge with all his cows.
Elk are not deer. They look a lot closer due to their size. PRactice on and elk sized target. I made a cardboard cutout the size of an elk, and put bales behind the vitals. Get your brain used to judging distance at elk sized critters. ( I still missed LOL )
Cover as much ground as needed to find elk.
If you find a pond or water hole, they are very productive for afternoon/evening hunts. Elk drink a lot of water, and will water at least twice a day, before bed, and when heading out to feed. Find their favorite water source, and you're in business.
A GPS is a great tool, but I've seen morethan one hunter walk around all day staring at a GPS, worried about not getting lost, instead of hunting and looking for elk. LAT26 makes a great map overlay system for 1:24,000 topo maps.
Everyone has their personal preferences for clothing. Camo patterns dont really make a lot of difference. Whatever you wear deer hunting is fine. If you wear cotton T shirts, keep an extra in your pack. You get sweaty, and when the sun gets low in the afternoon, it gets chilly fast. A dry shirt will keep you from shivering.
Fleece or wool are good bets too. Quiet, warm, and with fleece, it dries fast.
Elknut makes some great DVDs on calling. A great investment in your hunt.
Keep a couple different fire starters handy in case you need to spend the night in the bush, and know how to use them. Practice beforeyou go.
For emergency gotta have fire right now, nothing beats a road flare.
Take lots and lots of pictures. Enjoy every minute of the day. Elk hunting is hard work. But its a good hurt. The sore muscles, aching shoulders, and tired feet are all part of the experience. You get to stomp arond in the most beautiful country God has graced us with, and see things up close.
I will warn you, once you elk hunt once, you WILL do it again, or spend the rest of your life wishing you had. It gets in your blood like nothing other. And if you put one on the ground with a stick, you've pulled off a feat only a small percentage can say they've done.
Good luck.
Topic: Dos and don'ts for first time Western hunter (Read 1052 times)
