Advice for a new Utah elk hunter?

[Chairman Meow]

This will be my first year going out for elk. I have hunted deer for about 10 years off and on, but I don't know anything about elk hunting. I would appreciate any advice, whether you are in my area or not. If you are in my area, where abouts in this mountainous state is a good place to head? I hunt dear in the Vernal / Uintahs area, but I'm willing to drive.

I shoot a Browning A-Bolt 30-06, and I was thinking a 165 or 180 grain load was probably right. I would tend to lean towards the 165 for long-range trajectory reasons, but I'm open to suggestions.

I have no ATV and no horsies, so I will have to pack out whatever I kill. I can drag a good sized muley by myself with no problem, but elk look much larger. Do I need to plan on bringing help? Making two trips?

Also, are there any particulary good videos I should watch or books that I should read? There are a lot out there, but most seem more like entertainment than education.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Preacherman]

Advice for a new Utah elk hunter?

Yep - hunt a middle-aged Utah elk instead! The meat has more flavor...

 

[HSMITH]

Get in shape then get in shape some more. Stick with the controlled expansion bonded core 165's at a minimum and lean toward 180 grainers if your gun will shoot them at all decently. The 180 will not let you down, trajectory is a non-issue. Sight in 2 inches high at 100 yards and aim dead on to 300, don't shoot farther unless you KNOW the exact range, wind speed and direction and trajectory of the gun with this load.

Elk = 4 trips MINIMUM. Even boned you are looking at 200+ pounds of meat and antlers from a legal 4 pt bull.

Buy the Primos cow call with the tape that tells you how to use it. Leave the bugle at home until you observe calling bulls and listen to them for a couple seasons.

GPS and a cell phone. Flares and a map. Compass and batteries. Space blanket and waterproof matches. Good boots and clothing. Tell someone where you are going and go there, don't go anywhere else until you tell someone where that is.

Get your butt as far away from the roads and other hunters as you can, THAT is where you will find elk in a rifle season and be able to hunt them.

 

[Keith]

Somewhere on this forum is a thread on field butchering of game that you need to read.

Buy a good frame pack. And by "good" I mean, NOT some yuppy designed thing made with Yosemite Park in mind. Most frame packs are too wide to allow you to carry a slung gun on your shoulder and they're too high to allow you to move through dense brush easily and the fabric and gew-gaws hanging from them are too noisy to let you stalk within a mile of a game animal.

The best choice is a military "Alice" pack. This is also one of the less expensive choices. You should be able to find one in any military surplus store for well under $100 - maybe $50...?

Keith

 

[Hemicuda]

Advice given from an OLD Colorado Elk hunter...

Been there, shot those...

in all my multitudnous trips to Colorado, I have only ever seen 2 full-growed Elk brought out whole... and one of those was ridden from about 13,000 feet (elevation) to the truck at the bottom of the peak (about 10k elevation) like a large, out of control sled... (this was only semi" on-purpose)

the other was killed within 50 feet of the truck, on a large mountain trail, with a group of 8 hunters in camp to help...

the rest ALL came out... in multiple pack or sled loads... (we use a "roasting pan" sled iffin there's snow on the ground)

the least I ever saw one come out in is 3 "loads" 1- head and antlers, 2, one front and one rear quarter, 3- the other 2 quarters... and THAT was a BUTTLOAD more work than I WANTED to be a part of... but a bad storm was coming in, and we HADTA get it back to camp!

other things... BRING A GOOD FLASHLIGHT and a SPACE BLANKET, a lighter, some water proof matches, and believe it or not, a whistle of some kind... and CARRY THEM ON THE MOUNTAIN WITH YOU!

I have yet to need ANY of these things, but I know people who have used ALL of these things on a bad day... and some who REALLY wished that had brought them!

enjoy, and good luck... I too hunt elk with a 30-06... I use PREMIUM bonded-core 165 grain bullets, in Federal Premium variety... and they work VERY well... have a good and safe trip!

 

[kudu]

I helped pack out a buddy's elk from about 10,000 ft to 8000 ft. I slung a hind quarter on my back and about killed myself going down hill..The air is THIN up there when you're used to breathing air that actually has oxygen in it. Take at least a quart of water with you and some energy bars of some sort in addition to all the other recommendations.

Most of the guys I know seem to like the Alaskan II, or III packs from Cabelas. Even if you don't wear it you can have it in camp to help pack out meat.

 

[Chairman Meow]

Keith - I'll look for one of those packs. There are several surplus areas around here and now that I look at my old external frame pack I can see what you mean about them being too wide to carry a slung rifle.

I have never shot anything heavier than 165 grains out of my 30-06 but I will try a few brands of 165 and 180 grain rounds and see what works well.

This will be my first elk hunt and my friends as well, so we were thinking of hunting together. Sounds like having a buddy around will be a must to carry out the meat anyway. I think 200 lbs will be enough meat for the two of us, so we'll probably stop if either of us gets one!

HS - I'll pick up one of those Primo calls and start annoying the hell out of my neighbors with it immediately. It is annoying, right?

 

[kudu]

You might pick up a couple of those motorola two way radios if you are hunting together, that way you can split up a resonable distance from each other and still be in contact.

 

[Chairman Meow]

Yeah, I have some. So does everyone else in the woods during hunting season. Even on one of the GMRS channels with a sub-channel I still always manage to run into a 12-year old with his dads radio...:banghead:

 

[labgrade]

Stuff in no particular order ....

Get a roll of that flourescent surveyor's tape. Handy for getting back to the rest of your elk (sometimes) & a must for hanging off the antlers when you pack 'em out. No sense getting plugged by some nimrod shooting at horns. Last trip out, make sure to take all the marking tape with you please.

I leave the packframe at camp & carry a couple garbage bags in my smallish daypack. It's plenty to bone & carry out the backstraps/tenderloins/antlers first trip back "home." The frame's for the next few trips without most the usual hunting gear (rifle & yadas).

Oft times, others hunters (with or w/o radios) drive elk all around allowing those who know how to be quiet get more elk. 2-legged bird dogs, or beaters, depending on continent.

Elk tend to bed/hang out in dark timber/northen slopes - the thicker with more 'n more pressure. I have had some excellent results w/in 1/4 mile of some fairly main camps & hunting pressure, but mostly nobody would even consider walking through let alone hunt it. Elk are where you find them.

Lots 'n lots of fresh sign is always good to see, but don't marry the elk poop. They're nomadic & may be easily 10 miles away by tomorrow morning.

Clothes. Not enough & you may freeze - too much & you're stripping away by 9AM & carrying around 10 pounds of likely bulky stuff all day. I tend to lean towards being a tad cooler than I'd like early on & comfortable the rest. Utah, as with CO can change radiaclly & what's too warm for 9AM may not be nearly enough to save you life when the blizzard starts at noon.

Try a search over on TFL's archives for some very decent elk tips.

 

[444]

As you probably know, elk are usually found at high altitude. The warmer it is, the higher they will be. They also like steep terrain. They also really like to spend time in the thickest, nastiest area full of blow-downs. Where I usually hunt elk in Arizona, this seems to always be on the north side of the mountain.
I have never shot an elk at long range. The furthest was under 100 yards. My last one was maybe 50 but could have been 30.
'06 is fine. I used a 180 grain Nosler Partition loaded in Winchester Supreme factory ammo. Shot it twice, got through and through penetration on both shots and it looked like nice expansion.
Getting an elk out is no small undertaking. I got out of breath just gutting an elk. In fact, I had to use ropes and leverage to position the elk to gut. You will almost certainly have to cut the elk up on the spot so you need a saw. And, you should have something like a bed sheet so the meat doesn't get covered with dirt and leaves. You will also need good game bags. I got mine from the link listed below. They are good heavy duty canvas. I have used them several times, just throw them in the washer. Then you need a GOOD packframe to pack the meat out. I bought one that is terrific and designed specifically for this purpose. You can get one from www.bullpacs.com If the area you are hunting is anything like where I have hunted, you are going to need a GPS to find the animal again after your first trip out with the meat. I hung a bed sheet between two trees once and couldn't see it from 20 yards away.
You HAVE to be in shape to hunt elk seriously. You might get one sitting the truck, but I doubt it. You will have to climb up and down steep, rugged, high altitude terrain.
Make sure you do some scouting; learn the area you intend to hunt.
Prepare for a worst case survival senario; carry a day pack with food, water, shelter, fire, etc.

 

[Doc]

i just posted to ask for cartridges, those who have gone (and shot elk)
suggested 180 gn for my 30.06, so i got the std federal,
the premium high energy federal,
winchester failsafe and the Black Hills 180 Barnes X.

I took them all to the range today,
and my Savage likes the Black Hills 180gn Barnes X,
so that's what I am taking.

doc