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Elk Hunting
HOPING TO GET AN ELK BEFORE I AM DEAD
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<blockquote data-quote="yorke-1" data-source="post: 1607482" data-attributes="member: 11960"><p>I'm surprised that Utah isn't mentioned more. </p><p></p><p>A couple years ago my dad decided that he want to go on a guided elk hunt to check that off his bucket list. We live in western WA where there are plenty of elk and I'll pass by a herd on my way to work a couple times a week. The problem is that I rarely have time to elk hunt just because the 9 day modern firearm season just doesn't work out with my work schedule. The other complication was that my dad was 60 at the time and in pretty poor health; 1 stroke, emphysema, broke his back twice and the list goes on. And the last big issue was that I was going to foot the bill for the whole thing. With only a couple years before my dad wouldn't be able to physically do any hunting, my budget was pretty limited.</p><p></p><p>I called a lot of outfitters trying to find a hunt that would work for my dad, and which would allow me to bring my 10 year old son along as a non-hunting guest. There were lots of options but only a few that could accommodate my schedule, time line, budget and the physical limitations of my dad and son. What we ended up with was a Utah cow elk hunt in late January through Bearpaw Outfitters. My dad was always a meat hunter up until he stopped hunting nearly 25 years ago, so antlers weren't a big deal. He just wanted the experience of going on a guided hunt and seeing some elk. The tags were easy to get, reasonably priced and the season worked out with my schedule.</p><p></p><p>We had a great time on the trip and the outfitter was great. We stayed a motel in town and the guide picked us up in the morning to go hunt. The goal on the first day was to get my dad's elk so we cruised around the BLM land through 20"+ of snow glassing for elk that would be within the 300 yard max range that my dad was capable of shooting my 300 Win Mag. The guide did a great job of checking to make sure that everything we did was in line with my dad's (and son's) physical limitations. When it came time for the shot the guide helped me get my dad through the snow to a good shooting position. The shot was good and the cow was DRT but it was 230 yards out in some deep snow that my dad couldn't get through. My dad felt terrible about not being able to help get the elk out but guide did a great job about not shaming my dad for not being physically able to make to the downed animal. On day two when I went to fill my tag, we hunted completely different and spent out time trudging through the snow so I could try and get a cow with my revolver. Ultimately I had to cut the hunt short so I could get my dad back home and ended up just using a rifle to take my cow on the morning of day 3. The guide did an excellent job of matching the hunting style to the needs of the day.</p><p></p><p>We didn't come home with a set of antlers but that wasn't the point to begin with. It was a great hunt and an amazing trip that my dad and son were both 100% satisfied with. I guess I'd just suggest that you figure out what you want from the hunt and start there. If time is a limiting factor and you're not hung up on antlers, I'd just go for a cow hunt and have a great time. The prices are very reasonable and it would let you experience an elk hunt at least once. If you have a couple years to wait, keep stuffing money aside and applying for bull permits. By the time you get drawn you may have enough cash tucked away to pay for a pretty nice guided trip.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="yorke-1, post: 1607482, member: 11960"] I'm surprised that Utah isn't mentioned more. A couple years ago my dad decided that he want to go on a guided elk hunt to check that off his bucket list. We live in western WA where there are plenty of elk and I'll pass by a herd on my way to work a couple times a week. The problem is that I rarely have time to elk hunt just because the 9 day modern firearm season just doesn't work out with my work schedule. The other complication was that my dad was 60 at the time and in pretty poor health; 1 stroke, emphysema, broke his back twice and the list goes on. And the last big issue was that I was going to foot the bill for the whole thing. With only a couple years before my dad wouldn't be able to physically do any hunting, my budget was pretty limited. I called a lot of outfitters trying to find a hunt that would work for my dad, and which would allow me to bring my 10 year old son along as a non-hunting guest. There were lots of options but only a few that could accommodate my schedule, time line, budget and the physical limitations of my dad and son. What we ended up with was a Utah cow elk hunt in late January through Bearpaw Outfitters. My dad was always a meat hunter up until he stopped hunting nearly 25 years ago, so antlers weren't a big deal. He just wanted the experience of going on a guided hunt and seeing some elk. The tags were easy to get, reasonably priced and the season worked out with my schedule. We had a great time on the trip and the outfitter was great. We stayed a motel in town and the guide picked us up in the morning to go hunt. The goal on the first day was to get my dad's elk so we cruised around the BLM land through 20"+ of snow glassing for elk that would be within the 300 yard max range that my dad was capable of shooting my 300 Win Mag. The guide did a great job of checking to make sure that everything we did was in line with my dad's (and son's) physical limitations. When it came time for the shot the guide helped me get my dad through the snow to a good shooting position. The shot was good and the cow was DRT but it was 230 yards out in some deep snow that my dad couldn't get through. My dad felt terrible about not being able to help get the elk out but guide did a great job about not shaming my dad for not being physically able to make to the downed animal. On day two when I went to fill my tag, we hunted completely different and spent out time trudging through the snow so I could try and get a cow with my revolver. Ultimately I had to cut the hunt short so I could get my dad back home and ended up just using a rifle to take my cow on the morning of day 3. The guide did an excellent job of matching the hunting style to the needs of the day. We didn't come home with a set of antlers but that wasn't the point to begin with. It was a great hunt and an amazing trip that my dad and son were both 100% satisfied with. I guess I'd just suggest that you figure out what you want from the hunt and start there. If time is a limiting factor and you're not hung up on antlers, I'd just go for a cow hunt and have a great time. The prices are very reasonable and it would let you experience an elk hunt at least once. If you have a couple years to wait, keep stuffing money aside and applying for bull permits. By the time you get drawn you may have enough cash tucked away to pay for a pretty nice guided trip. [/QUOTE]
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