7 Habits of Highly Successful Combo Hunters
By Remi Warren ©Elk Hunter Magazine
Don't pass up on the chance to double down
I've made my living specializing in guiding elk and deer combination hunts. The idea of going on one trip and bringing back more than one animal is appealing, but it's not always the easiest thing to do. Over the years, I've developed some successful habits that maximize opportunity to fill multiple tags on a single trip.
Jeff Mikus with a bull he took targeting elk.
A mule deer Jeff took a few days later.
Habit 1: Prioritize
The pitfall of the combo hunt is the fact that people are inclined to spread themselves too thin. Instead of coming home with multiple animals, they find themselves coming home with no animals. I've found it best to focus on each animal individually during the hunt rather than trying to hunt two animals at the same time. For example, if you have an elk and deer tag, it's more effective to hunt the very best place for elk and then hunt the very best place for deer (or vice versa), rather than spending a whole week in an area that is marginal for both.
I think of it like this: I pick my primary animal, which is normally elk, and then I designate my other tag as the secondary. I focus on my primary hunt, devoting more energy to harvesting that species by hunting the best times and the best spots for that species. I will then hunt the best spots for my secondary species. If I have two tags, I'll often split my hunt by devoting 75% of my time to the primary species and 25% to the secondary.
Although Remi chose to take a smaller bull, he still had another tag in his pocket and capitalized on a great buck he spotted while packing out his elk. He came back and found the buck the next evening.
This fall I'll be doing a DIY Roosevelt elk hunt in Alaska with my brother, Jason. We'll also have Sitka blacktail tags in our pockets. We plan on hunting two weeks, and the first ten days will be devoted to elk. We'll hunt the best area for elk and focus on them. The last four days we're going to move to a spot that is better for deer, and hunt deer for the remainder of the trip. Of course if we see a good buck while elk hunting, we can take it and vice versa, but by dedicating days in the hunt to each species, we'll have the best chance of coming home with both.
By Remi Warren ©Elk Hunter Magazine
Don't pass up on the chance to double down
I've made my living specializing in guiding elk and deer combination hunts. The idea of going on one trip and bringing back more than one animal is appealing, but it's not always the easiest thing to do. Over the years, I've developed some successful habits that maximize opportunity to fill multiple tags on a single trip.
Jeff Mikus with a bull he took targeting elk.
A mule deer Jeff took a few days later.
Habit 1: Prioritize
The pitfall of the combo hunt is the fact that people are inclined to spread themselves too thin. Instead of coming home with multiple animals, they find themselves coming home with no animals. I've found it best to focus on each animal individually during the hunt rather than trying to hunt two animals at the same time. For example, if you have an elk and deer tag, it's more effective to hunt the very best place for elk and then hunt the very best place for deer (or vice versa), rather than spending a whole week in an area that is marginal for both.
I think of it like this: I pick my primary animal, which is normally elk, and then I designate my other tag as the secondary. I focus on my primary hunt, devoting more energy to harvesting that species by hunting the best times and the best spots for that species. I will then hunt the best spots for my secondary species. If I have two tags, I'll often split my hunt by devoting 75% of my time to the primary species and 25% to the secondary.
Although Remi chose to take a smaller bull, he still had another tag in his pocket and capitalized on a great buck he spotted while packing out his elk. He came back and found the buck the next evening.
This article was originally published by our friends at Elk Hunter and Western Hunter magazines. They are just about the only print hunting magazines I read these days. I think you would like them, too. To learn more about them, CLICK HERE
-Len Backus-
This fall I'll be doing a DIY Roosevelt elk hunt in Alaska with my brother, Jason. We'll also have Sitka blacktail tags in our pockets. We plan on hunting two weeks, and the first ten days will be devoted to elk. We'll hunt the best area for elk and focus on them. The last four days we're going to move to a spot that is better for deer, and hunt deer for the remainder of the trip. Of course if we see a good buck while elk hunting, we can take it and vice versa, but by dedicating days in the hunt to each species, we'll have the best chance of coming home with both.
7 Habits of Highly Successful Combo Hunters
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
If the goal is to be successful on both tags, then you should set out with the best chance for success. It's easy to think of a deer tag as a great option for your elk hunt, but depending on the time of year, there may be other species better suited for success. Antelope, bear, and even a wolf tag can be other great options to combine with your elk hunt.
By putting first things first, the hunter was able to capitalize and take three animals during the archery season in six days of hunting
Archery elk season in September is not always the best time to hunt deer. In many places, the deer have stripped their velvet and disappeared into the timber. Another good option is to think about hunting bears. Many states have a rifle bear season that coincides with archery elk season. Late September can be a great time of year to hunt bears. There are still plenty of fall foods to target, such as berries or mast crops of acorns and pine nuts.
Going home with any animal can be a win, especially for an archery hunter. Joe took this nice buck when the elk hunting slowed down.
The same thinking goes for hunting elk and antelope on the same trip. Many western states have antelope seasons that match the archery elk season. Antelope also rut at relatively the same time, making it a great option for a bowhunter chasing both species during the rut.
Now that one tag is filled, the work begins and the hunt continues.
Another option for a late-season elk hunt would be combining it with a wolf tag. Later in the year, wolves are more concentrated around the larger elk herds and are easier to spot and hunt than earlier in the year.
Some states such as Montana offer deer tags during the rut that coincide with elk season. This may be the best option, as you'll be able to hunt deer during the best time of year while simultaneously hunting elk.
Habit 3: Put First Things First
I've had the best success hunting elk (my primary species) first and hunting deer (or my secondary species) later. As a general rule, deer can be physically easier to hunt than elk. By trying to fill your elk tag first, you're able to give more energy toward the hunt that is the most physically demanding. After you have been worn down hunting elk, you still have a high percentage of success hunting easier for deer. Over the years, I've found this gives the highest percentage of filling multiple tags.
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
Having a second tag in your pocket is a great backup plan to come home successful if the elk hunting isn't going so well. A couple of years ago, I had a good friend of mine join me in Montana for his first archery elk hunt. I also had him get a deer tag and we planned on hunting deer if he harvested an elk. The week he came ended up being extremely hot, there were multiple fires in the area, the elk completely shut up, and glassing in the smoke was out of the question. Not to mention it was hard to hike in the thick smoke.
Because the elk hunting was lagging, the deer tag gave us a great backup option. We ended up getting into a lot of deer and getting some great opportunities. Joe took his best buck with a bow and left for home with a win because he was flexible and happened to have another tag in his pocket to use when the elk hunting got slow.
If the goal is to be successful on both tags, then you should set out with the best chance for success. It's easy to think of a deer tag as a great option for your elk hunt, but depending on the time of year, there may be other species better suited for success. Antelope, bear, and even a wolf tag can be other great options to combine with your elk hunt.
By putting first things first, the hunter was able to capitalize and take three animals during the archery season in six days of hunting
Archery elk season in September is not always the best time to hunt deer. In many places, the deer have stripped their velvet and disappeared into the timber. Another good option is to think about hunting bears. Many states have a rifle bear season that coincides with archery elk season. Late September can be a great time of year to hunt bears. There are still plenty of fall foods to target, such as berries or mast crops of acorns and pine nuts.
Going home with any animal can be a win, especially for an archery hunter. Joe took this nice buck when the elk hunting slowed down.
The same thinking goes for hunting elk and antelope on the same trip. Many western states have antelope seasons that match the archery elk season. Antelope also rut at relatively the same time, making it a great option for a bowhunter chasing both species during the rut.
Now that one tag is filled, the work begins and the hunt continues.
Another option for a late-season elk hunt would be combining it with a wolf tag. Later in the year, wolves are more concentrated around the larger elk herds and are easier to spot and hunt than earlier in the year.
Some states such as Montana offer deer tags during the rut that coincide with elk season. This may be the best option, as you'll be able to hunt deer during the best time of year while simultaneously hunting elk.
Habit 3: Put First Things First
I've had the best success hunting elk (my primary species) first and hunting deer (or my secondary species) later. As a general rule, deer can be physically easier to hunt than elk. By trying to fill your elk tag first, you're able to give more energy toward the hunt that is the most physically demanding. After you have been worn down hunting elk, you still have a high percentage of success hunting easier for deer. Over the years, I've found this gives the highest percentage of filling multiple tags.
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
Having a second tag in your pocket is a great backup plan to come home successful if the elk hunting isn't going so well. A couple of years ago, I had a good friend of mine join me in Montana for his first archery elk hunt. I also had him get a deer tag and we planned on hunting deer if he harvested an elk. The week he came ended up being extremely hot, there were multiple fires in the area, the elk completely shut up, and glassing in the smoke was out of the question. Not to mention it was hard to hike in the thick smoke.
Because the elk hunting was lagging, the deer tag gave us a great backup option. We ended up getting into a lot of deer and getting some great opportunities. Joe took his best buck with a bow and left for home with a win because he was flexible and happened to have another tag in his pocket to use when the elk hunting got slow.
7 Habits of Highly Successful Combo Hunters
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand
The key to a successful combo hunt is to understand what your goals are and the amount of time you have to devote to the hunt. You also have to balance that additional cost of the tag to the amount of effort you can give to hunting that extra animal. Sure, for some the extra tag fee is worth the chance to have it in your pocket just in case. For others, having that tag burning a hole in their pocket can be distracting, especially if it's at a high nonresident price point.
Remi took this antelope during the middle of the day after chasing elk.
It's good to understand what kind of hunter you are and plan to hunt accordingly. In the long run, you'll be more successful focusing in on one animal at a time, but may need to plan extra time if you intend on giving each tag a fair shake.
Habit 6: Synergize
Sometimes opportunities in the field just come together. If you have an opportunity at an animal you would be happy taking, take it while you can! You can't always just come back for it. I know that sounds like a typical guide thing to say in order to get you to shoot things sooner, but if you have an easy opportunity, take it while it's an easy opportunity. I don't know how many times I've hunted with someone or even been by myself and had an opportunity that I just wanted to take at a later time, thinking it would be easy, and never got the chance again.
The "habits" paid off, filling multiple tags during five days of hunting.
Hunting one animal during a single trip can be a chore, let alone two. By taking advantage of easy opportunities – or any opportunity when it presents itself - you increase your chance of filling both tags.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Hunting multiple species in one trip generally means you're always pressed for time. Once you harvest an animal, the next step eats into time you could be hunting. It's a weird way to look at it, but it's true.
We opted to pack this bull well into the night to optimize the amount of daylight hunting.
I've learned to maximize my hunt time by packing out in the times not best suited for hunting. Of course taking care of your downed animal is the most important task, but you can utilize that task to best work while you're hunting, especially if you have cold weather on your side. There have been hunts where I've opted to pack out during the night so I could be out hunting during the day. I've also filled my other tag by hunting on the way in and out while packing elk. Just because an animal is down doesn't mean the hunt has to stop as long as you're in control of the situation. You can still find creative ways to hunt while taking care of your downed animal.
State-by-state Options for a Good Combo Hunt
List of possible species to combine with your elk hunt on easy-to-obtain or OTC-type tags, by state and season choice (other options by state may be available with special draws. Always consult regulations for units and seasons.)
*Montana and Washington actually sell combo elk and deer tags where hunters receive the deer tag with their elk tag at a discounted rate.
**Many areas in Idaho allow you to take a mountain lion or bear instead of your deer with your deer tag.
The key to a successful combo hunt is to understand what your goals are and the amount of time you have to devote to the hunt. You also have to balance that additional cost of the tag to the amount of effort you can give to hunting that extra animal. Sure, for some the extra tag fee is worth the chance to have it in your pocket just in case. For others, having that tag burning a hole in their pocket can be distracting, especially if it's at a high nonresident price point.
Remi took this antelope during the middle of the day after chasing elk.
It's good to understand what kind of hunter you are and plan to hunt accordingly. In the long run, you'll be more successful focusing in on one animal at a time, but may need to plan extra time if you intend on giving each tag a fair shake.
Habit 6: Synergize
Sometimes opportunities in the field just come together. If you have an opportunity at an animal you would be happy taking, take it while you can! You can't always just come back for it. I know that sounds like a typical guide thing to say in order to get you to shoot things sooner, but if you have an easy opportunity, take it while it's an easy opportunity. I don't know how many times I've hunted with someone or even been by myself and had an opportunity that I just wanted to take at a later time, thinking it would be easy, and never got the chance again.
The "habits" paid off, filling multiple tags during five days of hunting.
Hunting one animal during a single trip can be a chore, let alone two. By taking advantage of easy opportunities – or any opportunity when it presents itself - you increase your chance of filling both tags.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Hunting multiple species in one trip generally means you're always pressed for time. Once you harvest an animal, the next step eats into time you could be hunting. It's a weird way to look at it, but it's true.
We opted to pack this bull well into the night to optimize the amount of daylight hunting.
I've learned to maximize my hunt time by packing out in the times not best suited for hunting. Of course taking care of your downed animal is the most important task, but you can utilize that task to best work while you're hunting, especially if you have cold weather on your side. There have been hunts where I've opted to pack out during the night so I could be out hunting during the day. I've also filled my other tag by hunting on the way in and out while packing elk. Just because an animal is down doesn't mean the hunt has to stop as long as you're in control of the situation. You can still find creative ways to hunt while taking care of your downed animal.
State-by-state Options for a Good Combo Hunt
List of possible species to combine with your elk hunt on easy-to-obtain or OTC-type tags, by state and season choice (other options by state may be available with special draws. Always consult regulations for units and seasons.)
*Montana and Washington actually sell combo elk and deer tags where hunters receive the deer tag with their elk tag at a discounted rate.
**Many areas in Idaho allow you to take a mountain lion or bear instead of your deer with your deer tag.
