Colorado DIY Archery Elk Hunt

[Spencie]

My son and a buddy have been planning an Archery elk DIY hunt in Colorado this fall. They just asked me to go along and since I have time to take off I said sure. Not sure my bruised body is up for a back-country hunt but I'm not getting younger. I have almost 3 months to prepare and it will be a challenge. The boys are going to pack the majority of the equipment in. I am just now starting my research for gear as I have nothing for this type of trip. Does anyone have any suggestions on backpacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, boots, water purifiers, etc. A couple buddy's have said I can borrow their gear if I want.

This is something I've always wanted to do with Tyler so it should be a good time regardless of harvest success.

 

[aholdren]

Sounds like a lot of fun Mike, those young lads will be hard to keep up with. Look forward to following along.

 

[switchhitter]

Spencie
I have made a few back country Elk hunts in both Colorado and Idaho. A good GPS, compass and Maps would be first on the list. As far as backpacking equipment goes I have used a bivey bag and ultra light wing. As well as an ultra light one man tent. For a stove I have used many but really like the jet boil, if all you are eating is dehydrated meals the jet boil is a small package, lite weight and fast. For a pack I would not carry anything less than 2500 cubic inches. We always kept pack frames back at the truck for packing meat out. There are many ways of purifying water, Pills are the lightest but take at least 1/2 hour before you can drink. Pumps are heavy but work right away, Only one person really needs to carry a purifying system so a pump may be the way to go. I have never used the Pens because you still need a system to filter out the chunks pens just kill germs.

 

[switchhitter]

I was not quite done yet,
My last trip out I had my pack down to 45 pounds with 5 days of food. This was using the wing and bivey bag. It worked fine for rain but not much protection from bugs.
Any way I will never do it again to many orthopedic problems to ever go into the back country again. So If you would like to use my equipment you are welcome to. it is just sitting here never to be used again.
if it is not to late apply for a mule deer tag. Also a bear tag if you can pick one up, the population of bears is amazing. I saw some really cool color phase bears but did not have a tag. The problem with bear tags is you have to go to a check station and get the skin sealed but I was always sorry I did not do it.
Again I have all the equipment you need and you are welcome to it.
Greg

 

[Spencie]

.
Again I have all the equipment you need and you are welcome to it.
Greg

Thanks man, that is an awesome gesture. Sending a PM

 

[OO2]

Goodluck looking forward to the story!

 

[Reagan]

Rifle or bow. I’ve only Bowhunted elk but I’ve been in crazy heat, blizzards and what felt like a hurricane.

I like having a base camp set up at the truck. A friend has a wall tent and stove and coming back to it after a few days living out of a pack is a great way to recharge. You can dry clothes, eat a steak and sleep on a cot. Then head back out with packs if that’s where the elk are. Sometimes they are close to the truck.

Start a list by category. Clothes gear food etc. Compare lists between all members and eliminate any redundancy. Everyone doesn’t need a stove, water filter etc.

We organized base camp meals to feed the group. Back pack meals are on your own. One jetboil for the group. It’s used for freeze dried dinners, oatmeal breakfast and instant coffee. Take jerky, granola, trail mix, nuts dried fruit. You can eat a lot of food and still lose weight in the Rockies.

Take chapstick. Trust me on this.

The sun can be bright at high elevation. A hat that shades your ears can be important too.

Drink a lot of water. I carry a bladder and start each day with it full. I also carry a Katadyn to refill it. Always carry pills for water. They are small and light and you never know when you might need them.

 

[Spencie]

Rifle or bow. I’ve only Bowhunted elk but I’ve been in crazy heat, blizzards and what felt like a hurricane.

I like having a base camp set up at the truck. A friend has a wall tent and stove and coming back to it after a few days living out of a pack is a great way to recharge. You can dry clothes, eat a steak and sleep on a cot. Then head back out with packs if that’s where the elk are. Sometimes they are close to the truck.

Start a list by category. Clothes gear food etc. Compare lists between all members and eliminate any redundancy. Everyone doesn’t need a stove, water filter etc.

We organized base camp meals to feed the group. Back pack meals are on your own. One jetboil for the group. It’s used for freeze dried dinners, oatmeal breakfast and instant coffee. Take jerky, granola, trail mix, nuts dried fruit. You can eat a lot of food and still lose weight in the Rockies.

Take chapstick. Trust me on this.

The sun can be bright at high elevation. A hat that shades your ears can be important too.

Drink a lot of water. I carry a bladder and start each day with it full. I also carry a Katadyn to refill it. Always carry pills for water. They are small and light and you never know when you might need them.

All good info...Thank you. There will be 5 or 6 total. Two drew muzzy tags and will be hunting from the road/base camp in a converted box trailer. The rest of us are packing in with archery gear...but can go back to base camp if needed. We have a complete list and are trying to narrow things down as much as possible. They are all 30 and younger and will be carrying the bulk of the gear. I'm just hoping to keep up. I will be flying out and meeting them...possibly with my wife a week earlier to vacation and scout.
What units were you in? We will be in 44, 45, 47 or 444.

 

[Spencie]

Sounds like a lot of fun Mike, those young lads will be hard to keep up with. Look forward to following along.

I just hope I don't slow them down too much.

 

[Reagan]

I think I hunted 444 in the nineties. I’d have to look it up to know for sure.

Hunted 76 once and was a caller for a friend in 76 in a different year. Hunted one other lower point draw unit that wasn’t much better than otc.

I’d like to go back again but most of the places I hunted are now overrun with people. My first trip was in 1992. A lot has changed since then.

 

[Spencie]

I actually guided in Idaho in 1986 right out of high school. Mostly just camp prep but both of the hunters that I took killed something. One a young bull. The other a fawn Whitetail...he didn’t shoot the nice 8 point beside it because the fawn was looking at him.
It was a great experience but I haven’t been back since.

 

[Spencie]

I have completed Colorado goal number 1...finding an elk on google maps in one of the units we can hunt.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Cool stuff Mike! This is a bucket list hunt for most of us, so it'll be fun to follow along.

Only advice I have is on boots. I love my Danners Pronghorns and everything that Merrell makes that I have bought, has been outstanding. Steve Rinella talks up https://schnees.com/boots-shoes/hiking/ Beartooth II all the time. The Danner Pronghorn is a time testing booth like a Lacrosse Burly. Hard to beat something with a long tradition of excellence like that.

 

[Spencie]

On the advice of JoeJoe I am buying Salomon Quest boots. After getting to know him I trust anything he has to say.

I hope I don’t let you guys down on this hunt. I am concerned about my cardio because running to get in shape is not a viable option for me. I have started some light workouts and hope to peak in early September and not before. This will be one of the toughest physical challenges of my life. I have been hard on my body over the years.

My other big concern is how do you choose where to actually go? Google maps only show so much. It’s a true shot in the dark. We want to find some place away from the crowds but still have a chance at success. It also has to be easy enough access that we can get gear in and gear/elk out.

One exciting thing is I have new gear coming in regularly right now!!!

 

[bowhunter1023]

Mike, a kettlebell would go a long way in your training. Super low impact and it's simple to learn a few exercises that'll let you built a circuit which can be done 3-5 times in 20 minutes. Do that daily and you'll be amazed at how much your cardio improves.

 

[Spencie]

I will look into it. My youngest daughter has a degree in fitness management and coaches gymnastics. I’m giving her a challenge.

 

[giles]

Biggest problem is knowing your limits. Don’t over due it just to try and keep up with the kids. They can wait for you.

Also remember that however far you hike in, you gotta turn around and come back out. So pace yourself and don’t walk to your limit on the first day.

Another thing I started doing hunting moose was to look for small ones, those trophy moose are a real PITA to get back to the truck! Meat in the freezer was always my mission. I know that isn’t your style, but it might be worth kicking around this time. Drop a fork on the first day and enjoy the time around the camp, let them kids go chase dreams.

 

[Spencie]

I’m not trophy hunting this trip. But I’m also good with not tagging out if I get after something big. If we can all stay healthy and get decent weather it will be a great time.

 

[Reagan]

On my first elk hunt I had visions of killing a bulging bull and a big mulie. We had 2 weeks to do it.

Day 1 I got close to a herd and had a cow at 10 paces. I didn’t even think about shooting her.

I didn’t see another elk until the next to last day of the trip. No elk were killed that year.

Now our motto while Bowhunting OTC is any elk is a good elk. I suggest shooting anything that is legal.

 

["J"]

On my first elk hunt I had visions of killing a bulging bull and a big mulie. We had 2 weeks to do it.

Day 1 I got close to a herd and had a cow at 10 paces. I didn’t even think about shooting her.

I didn’t see another elk until the next to last day of the trip. No elk were killed that year.

Now our motto while Bowhunting OTC is any elk is a good elk. I suggest shooting anything that is legal.

Too me, it would be more about the experience than the trophy... Enjoy your time with the outdoors as well as the kids...