Comments for Bow hunting alone on first elk hunt - crazy idea ?

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Jul 31, 2014
 going it alone
by: Anonytcosmicmous

I have gone with friends and alone.I prefer to go with someone.Its always easier and faster to get an animal out with help to prevent spoilage.If it is warm during archery season.. I went alone and found it to boring not having anyone to compare notes with at the end of the day.I am older now and not as good a mule as I used to be.Someone mentioned backpacking in 10 miles which I can still do, but I know I can not get one out that far in. I have gotten on archery bulls before alone that hang up. Often you can go in with a caller behind the shooter and get a shot. The 26 hour drive out and back alone was a long one.
Mar 18, 2014
 Hunt elk alone
by: Bill

Erik. It's good to hear someone else with the similar thought. I am obsessed with hunting elk out west. I am a 57 yr old flat lander and wonder if I could hack it in the mountains of Colorado for an elk hunt alone. The only big game I have hunted was elk in Kentucky. I have been a hunter and camper all my life. I JUST WANT THE EXPERIENCE OF THE HUNT! I would like to know my chances of success and if I will even survive the experience.
Bill
Cincinnati
Dec 11, 2013
 Bow Hunt Alone for Elk
by: Skip Shephard

Hey, you have to take advantage of the situation. Try to anticipate all the variables as best you can and then go for it. If you can find a partner great; but if you put off the hunt waiting on someone else; it may never happen. I am 69 and now I feel like I waited too long to go it alone now. My wife is especially against me trying a solo elk hunt.My yearnings keep me yearning to hunt the elusive elk any way I can, but reality is that I just don't dare push my luck now. But, I sure hope things work out for you.
Aug 09, 2013
 First time hunter
by: Anonymous

Sir:
Hunting by your self is not a bad way to go, you walk at your own pace, rest when you like and make as little noise as possible. Calling elk is an art more then a science so plan on busting more then you call...
I have bow and rifle hunted all over Colorado by my self and always do better with one or two hunters max. It is much easier to have three or four hunters to set up camp but after that you all go your own way, if your buddy's are willing to help with the packing of the meat then there good friends.....
Give me a shout if you would like info?
Jim --- murf4422@yahoo.com
Apr 20, 2013
 Hunting Elk Alone First Time
by: Dave, ElkHuntingTips.net

Good luck, Art. Make sure you read all the pages on this site, especially the retrieval pages (Elk Down tab to the left).

You can't always take a 4 wheeler where you find elk. Or, should I say, where 4 wheelers go you won't find elk.

Where are you going to hunt elk in SE Montana?
Apr 19, 2013
 Going Elk Hunting For The 1st Time
by: Art

I am going elk hunting for the first time by myself in southeastern Montana. I have a ATV & only use it to help in bringing out the animal. Any pointers for the first timer? Been reading a lot and looking at you tube clips. My quad has a winch on it, and guys have told me I'm set. But to bring a lot of high strength rope. I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. Just hope I get the gift. Yes I will have a SPOT survival system.
Jul 06, 2011
 Here is the pack I use for that, first pack out
by: John

I've designed a great light-weight pack for packing that first load of elk out. It only weighs 11 ounces (and also game bags) go to, firstpackout.com and check them out.

I've packed 5 elk out with my first pack out elk pack (and other than being a little soiled) it's still as good as the first time I used it.
We guarantee them not to fail. Designed by a hard core elk hunter.
If you have any comments call or send an email.
Jun 11, 2011
 Lost Arm
by: Dave, Elk Hunting Tips (MT)

Steve, is that the guy that had to cut his own arm off to get out near Moab?
Jun 11, 2011
 Bring a Spot
by: IdahoSteve

I just started hunting last year and have a lot to learn. But I do know that if I'm headed out solo, which I did a lot last year and will do more this year (first time bow hunting) I always bring a SPOT satellite messenger.

It is beneficial in two ways: if you get seriously hurt and need help, you can send an SOS distress signal that is picked up by local emergency units that will respond to your location. You can also send updates to friends who can see your exact location on a topo map via internet and respond to your location. This is very useful if you drop an elk and need help getting it out, which you usually do. I will have three or four people on that list. I have a friend in Colorado who lost his arm after getting trapped in a canyon in Utah. He sure does wish he had a SPOT that day.
Mar 08, 2011
 Rifle hunt alone with horses
by: Anonymous

One horse to ride, one to pack. 2 questions: What is best way to put horses up over night ? High line, hobble, make shift corral? question 2, I have a saddle pannier to pack out quartered elk (2) trips, wondering how to get both quarters into pannier by myself without pannier sliding, etc.?
Jan 18, 2011
 Hunting alone
by: CP

Erik did you complete your hunt? I'm going to do my elk hunt this year alone. Did you camp overnight?
Aug 18, 2010
 Elk hunting alone....
by: Colorado archer

I would not hesitate to come out to CO and give it a try; even if solo. I moved to CO 8 years ago and have been solo archery hunting elk since. I have killed 4 bulls with the bow in the past 8 years. 3 of which were on solo hunts. You have to be aggressive and just realize that you ARE going to spook bulls. It only takes one. Trust me, if you get into a rut-crazed bull, just the experience alone will keep you coming back.
Aug 02, 2010
 Going it alone.
by: Anonymous

Erik,

It looks like you have the same problem i have. I am going to go bow hunting in CO by myself this coming bow season. I am 49 years old and it seems like all of my old hunting buddy's are either dead or in to bad of shape to make the trip. And the ones that wants to go can not get the time off work to go.

I am going to be packing back about 10 miles or so into wilderness area. As far as the chalange of getting them close enough to shoot at does not bother me. I am not saying i would not have any trouble getting close enough to get a shot just that to me it will make the hunt a little more interesting.

My only concern is haveing some sort of accident (getting hurt) while being back in there. A cell phone wont work because there is no signal, and a satelite phone is to exspensive.

But there are alot of people who hunts by themselfs and i guess i am going to be one of them to.

Thurman
May 19, 2010
 Thanks Dave in MT
by: Er ik in MN

Dave -

Interesting, good advice. I may have to strike out on my own. Thanks for helping me evaluate this option !

Erik
May 18, 2010
 Bow Hunting Alone
by: Dave, MT

Erik,

You definitely can bow hunt by yourself successfully. While I am working to train my teenagers to call for me and I for them, I have killed all of my elk shot with arrow alone. I call in lots of bulls that i do not get shots at though, because they often do not come close enough to my location when they do not see a cow where they expected it.

One way of getting them closer is to cow call and quietly move, toward the bull. The idea is to get to the spot a bull might hang up near while looking for the cow. If you are in range once he gets there, you might just get a shot.

I killed a six point last year that way. It's tough to know how far you can go and when to stop after calling. I knew the bull was there and was sure he would come. I called and immediately moved. He was clearly coming and faster than I thought. I had to stop in a wide open sunny area. I got to my knees and set up. No cover. He topped the rise and stared right at me for a full three minutes. He finally decided there was no cow and I was nothing. After he turned to walk away, I took him at 40 yards.

Hunting alone is frustrating and requires aggressive hunting. Sometimes you spook the bull while you're moving, sometimes you set up in the wrong place, because he comes around the side or back. But that's bow hunting! It's great to have a partner, but I most often do not have one. I have a long string of annual kills, even alone.

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