First elk hunt

Bmccart said:

Well I'm finally going to get to go out west to Colorado on my first elk hunt this year. Will be on public ground, going with a few guys that have been a few times before. I think I've got most of the big things I need to take with me but I'm sure there are other things im forgetting. Will be going 3rd rifle season in November.

Looking for recommendations on good layering clothing. (I don't have deep enough pockets for the kuiu, first lite, sitka etc) but what is the next best choice?

Also from what I've been reading the schnee pac boots seem like the best. Any others to consider?

And I know there's always little things that don't get thought about or forgotten until you need them? What are some of those things that you've found?

I already have the Cot, tent, sleeping bag, pack, outer layers, rifle, backup rifle, coolers and binoculars covered.

Any suggestions or help is appreciated

Thanks!

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Many good suggestions on this thread.

A few small items. Toenail clippers as your toenails must be properly trimmed before starting all that hiking. Carmex or Chapstick. Tweezers especially if you are hunting where there is cactus. Electrical tape over the muzzle of your rifle to keep out snow and whatever else. If you are of such an age, then make sure you have your reading glasses. Sunglasses are mandatory in sunshine on bright snow. Steamboat Springs gets a lot of snow. Carry both headlamp and small flashlight. At least two ways to start a fire (cottonballs with Vaseline still work just fine).

Boots have been mentioned many times and I agree that they are critical. They must fit your feet and they need to be well broken in before you arrive. For late season hunting, I always take both leather boots and pac boots with removable liners. Bring extra liners to swap out at night. When it gets really cold, it is hard to keep my feet warm with any kind of leather boots.

Good luck with your hunt!

A chain saw, where you are going is in the heart of the beetle kill area. If you shoot one you will have to cut your way to it. And I hope you have long legs it can be brutal. There is no need to spend $1000s for boots, layers. Several brand name boots with 1000gr Thinsulate can be found for less than $200. Walmart brand thermal underwear, any brand down layer and we buy snowboarding pants, they can be had for less than $100 and you can even find them in camo. If you are hunting in blow down Frog Toggs will not last a day.

Bmccart said:

Well I'm finally going to get to go out west to Colorado on my first elk hunt this year. Will be on public ground, going with a few guys that have been a few times before. I think I've got most of the big things I need to take with me but I'm sure there are other things im forgetting. Will be going 3rd rifle season in November.

Looking for recommendations on good layering clothing. (I don't have deep enough pockets for the kuiu, first lite, sitka etc) but what is the next best choice?

Also from what I've been reading the schnee pac boots seem like the best. Any others to consider?

And I know there's always little things that don't get thought about or forgotten until you need them? What are some of those things that you've found?

I already have the Cot, tent, sleeping bag, pack, outer layers, rifle, backup rifle, coolers and binoculars covered.

Any suggestions or help is appreciated

Thanks!

Click to expand...

The advice given by others is great and I can't think of items to add. I do carry a whistle that has been helpful when trying to locate each other in timber or thick cover areas. However, I do have a caution regarding budget clothing. There are some very good brands that are affordable, but there are also some that I regret buying. For example, before my first elk hunt a while back, someone recommended a Rivers West coat and light jacket. In reading about them they claimed that their "revolutionary" fleece outer layer is silent, waterproof, windproof and breathable. I examined a coat at a local store and it looked good. So I ordered the coat and a lighter jacket at a bargain price on online. I took them on an early season elk hunt. I didn't need to wear the coat, but used the jacket. Although it had a silent outer layer, it had a slippery nylon inner lining (rather than fleece) that made a lot of noise when I moved around. After I hiked a while, even though it was cold outside, I felt like I was in a plastic bag, and sweat until all my inner layers of clothing were wet. I had opened all the underarm and side ventilation zippers, but it didn't help much. I thought it was the nylon lining. So when I got to camp, I thought I would try removing the lining and just use the outer fleece layer. But when I started removing the lining, I could see that the outer layer was basically a sheet of rubber with a felt coating on the outside. I never used it again. Luckily I had brought several regular fleece jackets in various weights that I ended up using. Since then, I've been very careful in buying lower priced hunting clothing.

I killed my first elk above Tollgate Oregon in 1967. Killed my Oregon bull last year about a mile from that one in 1967. I've also taken them in Colorado, Montana and Washington.
Off all the things I've seen ruin elk hunts, conditioning is number one. If you have a decent. 30-O6 class rifle don't buy a new rifle. If you're not in the habit of staying in great shape hire a personal trainer have him get you in great shape, you'll kill more elk with 1.5 MOA 3006 and lungs and legs of steel then any wisbang new rifle and poor health.

Gaiters, rangefinder and a bipod are required in the Rockies. You lose most of your warmth around your neck, cover it up. Merino wool is the best thing on earth, the off brands will work just fine. Thermal long johns made out of polyester and other materials, like Under Armor, will make you sweat and stink in the first 20 minutes. I despise them. Bring chapstick and emergency bourbon in a plastic bottle in case there is an emergency or celebration. We use butt pads 100% of the time we are glassing, they are a game changer. Good luck!

Bring peanuts, lots of them. Put some foil on the wood stove and you roast them. They are great. Wall tents are awesome!!! Bring some sort of cheap house shoes.

Salmonchaser said:

I killed my first elk above Tollgate Oregon in 1967. Killed my Oregon bull last year about a mile from that one in 1967. I've also taken them in Colorado, Montana and Washington.
Off all the things I've seen ruin elk hunts, conditioning is number one. If you have a decent. 30-O6 class rifle don't buy a new rifle. If you're not in the habit of staying in great shape hire a personal trainer have him get you in great shape, you'll kill more elk with 1.5 MOA 3006 and lungs and legs of steel then any wisbang new rifle and poor health.

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Yep I'm in pretty good shape being a full time firefighter but I'm working to get better. Been wearing a air restricting mask working out and working out outside in the cold. I've got a wby vanguard 300 wby with a brake that I'm taking for my primary rifle and a rem 700 35 whelen for my backup.

I bought some of midway USA's heavy outer layer bibs and parka a while back that seem pretty nice and very warm. Wore them a couple weeks ago doing some yote hunting in the snow here in mo when it was -25 wind chills and stayed pretty warm sitting still considering the temp was -6 and 15+ mph winds.

I'll have to check out the costco base layers, sounds like they're pretty nice for what they cost

And as far as boots go, is 1000 gram insulation in a leather boot usually enough? My feet don't get cold too easily. And I do have a set of therma cell heated insoles. I also have a set of muck arctic pro boots that are the most comfortable boot I've ever had. And what I wear hunting at home in mo and I've never had the heated insoles in them and my feet have never gotten cold. But I've never put them to that much of a test as to hiking miles in the mountains. Not sure how they'd hold up? I'm sure somebody has tried them before. And I know a lace up is better as far as ankle support goes also.

I use Boggs which are a lot like Mucks once it gets cold cold. They won't be very good though in Colorado. I don't use insulated boots for 3rd season elk. I think the coldest I have seen it was low 20's at 10,500'.

Please keep in mind, elk hunting normally requires a lot of hiking and climbing. So, layering is the key to staying dry and warm. Bulky clothing such as heavy bibs and coats will not be your friend. Yeah, great for stationary hunting, but not when you have to be mobile. Elk hunting is nothing like hunting whitetail.

Rick Richard said:

Please keep in mind, elk hunting normally requires a lot of hiking and climbing. So, layering is the key to staying dry and warm. Bulky clothing such as heavy bibs and coats will not be your friend. Yeah, great for stationary hunting, but not when you have to be mobile. Elk hunting is nothing like hunting whitetail.

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Well the stuff I bought isn't big bulky stuff. It's fleece lined, fairly heavy and waterproof but not bulky like a lot of the stuff is. I can roll the bibs and coat up and fit them in my small backpack I carry whitetail hunting along with the other stuff I carry

Bmccart said:

Well the stuff I bought isn't big bulky stuff. It's fleece lined, fairly heavy and waterproof but not bulky like a lot of the stuff is. I can roll the bibs and coat up and fit them in my small backpack I carry whitetail hunting along with the other stuff I carry

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Ok. I find myself after a day or two leaving heavy items back at camp to reduce my pack load. Maybe that want happen to you. Good luck on your trip.

I wear 200 gram insulation once I need gaiters for the snow. Short of snow I wear uninsulated boots.
I think you'll find bibs too warm and bulky. I know cotton kills but if it's above freezing all I wear are standard BDU pants. If it's under 40 I'll wear a light pair of merino wool under neath. Those come off about lunch time.
I've never met a fire fighter that wasn't in shape but I think you're under estimating how much energy you're going to be expending.
If you'd like to talk to a guy with 50 + years of elk hunting pm me and we can visit on consolidating all the information you've received.

Bibs suck for mountain hiking and hunting. I have a pair, it is something about the way they make your legs fight your upper body while walking up hill. The most exhausted I've ever been was a 6-mile round trip hunt in the snow in those bibs. I almost took them off several times and burned them, but they made it back to camp and I've never hunted in them since. They are great for stand hunting or flat ground.