Upcoming elk hunt......

[quackerkiller]

For those who have been, what are the "must haves" for the trip.... The thing you can't leave camp without? I have a list but I feel like I'm missing something! This will be my first trip so I need all the help I can get! Thanks fellas!

[novacaine]

For those who have been, what are the "must haves" for the trip.... The thing you can't leave camp without? I have a list but I feel like I'm missing something! This will be my first trip so I need all the help I can get! Thanks fellas!

A GOOD frame pack if you are carrying the meat down the mountain yourself.
Great raingear.............the wettest and most miserable i have ever been was being stuck up a mountain for 3 days.....
The most expensive, quality pair of light weight binoculars you can afford...........
Lots of high energy food...........something about hunting at altitude makes me eat like a horse.
Already broken in lug sole boots..................everything up there is slick when wet. Make sure they are well broken in.........trust me.
Finally, a good camera but i will tell you..................it won't do it justice no matter how many pics you take.
Don't bother getting in shape because it won't do you any good, it didn't for me. After 3 or 4 days of lunging it up a mountain, you should be fine.
Have a blast.

[Goose]

Novacaine, I agree with your post, and I'd add a good rangefinder......the distances out west will fool you. Practice with it and you'll see what I'm talking about. Also, start hydrating yourself several days before going out, and take a couple of asprin a day before, during and after. It helps your blood vessels adjust to the altitude. You can't drink enough water while you are at altitude.

[jdbuckshot]

pain meds - you will hurt - if you don't hurt - you ain't hunting hard enough.


Nyquill When I hunt above 10,000 ft - I can hear my heart beat in my ears all the time - this keeps me awake

I take a light weight Hammock - bought mine at academy sports for less than $20 if they quit bugling at 9:00am and don't start back till 5:00 - its a long sit in the mountains - that hammock is worth its weight in gold.


always always carry at least 2 game bags in my back so I can at least pack out the front shoulders - its a wasted trip to come out empty.

[novacaine]

I agree 100% with the aspirin,water, and pain relief.
I forgot about the headaches at altitude. They surprised me because i dont get headaches...................maybe 1 a year down here in the swamp.
Game bags definitely.............within 1 minute of skinning an elk, 4 million flies will converge on the carcass. We cut evergreen limbs and laid it on everything exposed until we could get it packed up.
Also carry more than 1 really sharp knife (with stone).

[Roach]

Bear Spray...you can usually get it where you pick up your license. I saw one walking up a meadow that looked like a fuzzy Volkswagon.
Walk in and when you walk out there will be bear tracks in your tracks. It will get your attention.

[quackerkiller]

Couldn't thank you guys enough! I never thought of the chance of headaches! We are goin to the southern part of CO, so the terrain shouldn't be as aggressive as it is around Craig or Silverton...my biggest concern is clothing! I'm more worried I will over dress... I'm sure after day 2 or 3 I'll have an idea of what to wear... The group I'm goin with have been goin for at least 15 years straight so they will make sure I'm outfitted properly.... I guess I'm just anxious and am slightly panicking.. But other than clothing, I'm worried about my boots.... I'll be the guy packing extra socks and water... I'm sittin on go, but Wednesday can't get here fast enough!

[novacaine]

Couldn't thank you guys enough! I never thought of the chance of headaches! We are goin to the southern part of CO, so the terrain shouldn't be as aggressive as it is around Craig or Silverton...my biggest concern is clothing! I'm more worried I will over dress... I'm sure after day 2 or 3 I'll have an idea of what to wear... The group I'm goin with have been goin for at least 15 years straight so they will make sure I'm outfitted properly.... I guess I'm just anxious and am slightly panicking.. But other than clothing, I'm worried about my boots.... I'll be the guy packing extra socks and water... I'm sittin on go, but Wednesday can't get here fast enough!

Ive spent some time hunting in Southwest Colorado around Pagosa Springs...............high San Juan Mountains are some very aggressive slopes!!! You can cough up a lung if you don't take it easy early on, don't try to be super man or the altitude can send you packin back down the mountain. 6500 ft to 10,000 ft isn't that bad if you take you time.
I never carried a coat up the mountain while hunting but had sweaters and multiple layers that i would peel off as needed while huffing up the mountain in the a.m. We were always bow hunting the last 2 weeks of Sept while they were bugling so the weather wasnt that bad and we didnt fight snow.
Extra socks can come in handy ,keeping your feet dry is very important. Its no fun setting at camp cause your blistered up.

[hdforester]

Moleskin for blisters. Hope you don't get any. Good boots are critical. Take a paperback for mid day layups. It is a long time between bugling periods and usually too far to go back to camp just to have to turn around and do it again. Never thought about a hammock- good idea. I disagree with Novacaine about getting in shape but a little late for that now. Don't forget windchecker and cow call. I carry a bugle but rarely blow it.

[maverick21]

Havalon knife, think that's the brand with the replacement razor blades. Easy to just toss in a new blade and roll with it. Clean socks and broken in boots.

[novacaine]

Moleskin for blisters. Hope you don't get any. Good boots are critical. Take a paperback for mid day layups. It is a long time between bugling periods and usually too far to go back to camp just to have to turn around and do it again. Never thought about a hammock- good idea. I disagree with Novacaine about getting in shape but a little late for that now. Don't forget windchecker and cow call. I carry a bugle but rarely blow it.

Back when i went, i was STRONG LIKE BULL but now i'm OLD LIKE Dirt

[hdforester]

Moleskin for blisters. Hope you don't get any. Good boots are critical. Take a paperback for mid day layups. It is a long time between bugling periods and usually too far to go back to camp just to have to turn around and do it again. Never thought about a hammock- good idea. I disagree with Novacaine about getting in shape but a little late for that now. Don't forget windchecker and cow call. I carry a bugle but rarely blow it.

Back when i went, i was STRONG LIKE BULL but now i'm OLD LIKE Dirt

[Roach]

another good thing to have for middle of the day is collapsible fishing rod with some beatle spins and some small Rapalla crank baits.

[quackerkiller]

Well boys I'm goin home with a tag sammich, and a head full of memories! Truly enjoyed myself and met a ton of people from states all over! I can't wait to go back!