Preparing for an epic journey to hunt elk
By Jana Waller of Skull Bound TV
There are very few sounds in the wild that rival the intensity of a bull’s guttural bugle echoing through the lodgepole forest. Many hunters yearn all summer for the cold fall mornings where the air is filled with the smell of changing leaves and rutting wapiti. Long before the expansion of the West by settlers, elk have been roaming the North American continent for thousands of years. Many Native American tribes honored the elk with painted pictograms and carved petroglyphs on cave walls and utilized all parts of the elk for food, clothing, tipis and tools. They are immense, magical animals that dreams are made of and who will humble even the most seasoned hunters.
CHECK THE REGS – EARLY
Being prepared is the key to any hunt. While that may sound quite obvious, there are facets of elk hunting that you’ll want to be aware of before the hunt to avoid frustrations once it gets closer, such as checking the regulations. Many states have varying regulations, which often change. It’s critical that you are LEGAL. Some states have poundage and bow length regulations if you are archery hunting elk. For example, Montana, a very popular state for public land elk hunting, requires your bow be at least 28 inches long in total length and your arrow must weight no less than 300 grains with the broadhead attached. In South Dakota, you must pull a draw weight of at least 40 pounds for elk, but some states require 50 pounds.
Also, double check to see you have all of that state’s required licensing. It’s possible you’ll need an additional archery license in addition to your regular hunting license. And thoroughly read the regulations for the unit you are hunting. Some units allow the harvesting of spikes and cows, while others require that the bull have brow tines to be legal to shoot.
If you’re rifle hunting, make sure to check the blaze orange laws. It’s also important to be comfortable with your gear. Know your capabilities in terms of shot distance for either bow or gun. Practice may not always make things perfect in elk hunting scenarios, but there’s no such thing as too much time at the target range.
BREAKER 1-9, GOT YER EARS ON
Calling, unlike many other big game hunts, is a pivotal part of elk hunting, but that’s a whole other article if we were to get into the intricacies. While calling is primarily used in the early season rut, I’ve also called in bulls during rifle season and found success thanks to using both bugles and cow calls.
There are a lot of different scenarios that can occur when it comes to elk communication, but the basics are bull bugles and cow or calf calls. You’ll need to be able to produce a nice bugle for locating the herd. It certainly doesn’t need to be perfect, but the more realistic you sound, typically the better response you’ll get. If fired up, they’ll typically respond to a bugle and often times come to check out the competition.
Bulls are territorial of their harems and will often wonder who’s trying to steal their ladies. If you’re on the tail end of the herd and the wind is good, you can let out a few cow mews, causing the bulls to wonder if they’ve left a cow behind and come investigating. There are some fantastic videos on Youtube that will show you the ins and outs of elk talk. Look up Pursue The Wild with Kristy Titus,
Corey Jacobson or Born And Raised Outdoors – all of them are veteran elk hunters, great callers and their videos are instructional and well-produced.
LAYER UP
Mother Nature can be quite temperamental in the mountains and she can change her mind quickly. It’s so important to be over-prepared in terms of clothing. Luckily, technology in hunting clothing has exploded in the past few years, and it’s one area where I recommend spending a bit more to stay comfortable, dry, warm and even cool, when you need it.
I personally have worn Kryptek hunting gear for the past five years and it’s proven to be incredibly reliable and durable in the harshest of conditions. I recommend getting a merino wool base layer system and to take enough layers to stay warm during the cold, crisp mornings. A well-made rain gear set is a must for your backpack since the cold rain can deplete your core body temperature quickly and ruin a hunt in one downpour.
My typical elk hunting kit from inside to the outside layer includes merino wool base layers, medium-weight pants, long sleeve top, Sherpa-style hoodie and outside jacket with an added vest to keep the core warm. If it gets extremely cold, I add on a lightweight but incredibly warm packable jacket, like the Kryptek Aquillo, which stores easily in my pack. A scarf to keep the heat in around your neck, wool hat and good gloves are essentials as well. Keep them in your pack, even if it seems to be nice out. They’ve saved me from many cold, miserable days in the mountains.
Same goes for your footwear – spend a bit more and you’ll get more including waterproofing, good soles, ankle support and warmth. I’ve put the women’s Kenetrek Mountain Extreme boots through every test imaginable during the past seven years and they’ve proved to be an incredible boot for me.
JUST IN CASE
Elk are tough animals. They live in tough terrain. You can expect to be in the middle of nowhere while chasing elk, especially if you are hunting public land. I always carry a small emergency kit in my pack in case of minor injuries. My homemade kit includes ibuprofen, baby aspirin (for the beginning symptoms of a heart attack), liquid stitches, band-aids, gauze, Benadryl, flint, fire starter, lighter, cough drops, hot hands and an emergency blanket. This kit doesn’t weigh much, and will come in handy for those minor bumps and bruises.
If you are going into the backcountry, I would also recommend a Garmin inReach global satellite device, in case you need to make an emergency call. The prices have come down in the last few years and typically come with text messaging via satellite (subscription required), SOS to the 24/7 search and rescue center, downloaded maps, weather forecasts and GPS. No one ever expects an emergency to occur, but if you’re going off the grid, it’s best to be prepared.
In conjunction with an inReach, you can use the onX Hunt App on your smart phone. This app is a must on public land to guide you and aid in your hunt. You can look at boundaries, view topography, mark your truck or base camp, and even send waypoints to your hunting buddies. Plus, the maps can be downloaded or cached in when you have service before the hunt, if you’re going to be areas with limited cell coverage.
If you’re hunting in bear country, remember your bear spray. Whatever you do, don’t put it in your pack. Have it accessible where you can easily get to it in the blink of an eye. This fall, we spotted and filmed eleven different grizzlies on our elk hunt in Montana. There are areas that are littered with bears and you need to be bear-aware as where there are elk, there are most likely bears. Carry spray, especially if you’re in grizzly territory. I carry spray on one hip and a Glock 10mm on the other.
PUT YOUR BACK INTO IT GLADYS
If you’re not hunting with a guide or outfitter, you’ll need to be prepared for the real work, which happens after the shot. On average, a field-dressed bull elk weighs 500 pounds, yielding approximately 250 pounds of meat that you’ll need to get off the mountain quickly and efficiently. Add on another 50 pounds for the head and hide, depending on the size, of course. You will definitely want a backpack that can not only hold that amount of weight, but is comfortable for you on what could be a long and demanding hike off the mountain. I recommend finding a pack that has the capability of such hauls, but that also fits your torso correctly. I use the Eberlestock Kite pack, since it can be expanded to hold as much as I can carry.
Skinning knives, a sharpening tool, gut gloves and game bags also make your job a lot easier. Make sure you take plenty of drinking water and snacks to help give you energy for the pack out as well. And if you’re going back to base camp, unable to get your meat into a freezer quickly, have a large cooler with ice that can handle your precious cargo. In my opinion, the true trophy is the delicious, organic meat that you, your family and friends will be dining on all year-round.
Hopefully you found one or two helpful tips. You can watch our previous Skull Bound elk hunting episodes online on MOTV.com, future episodes air on the Sportsman Channel January thru June and the brand new Skull Bound Chronicles will launch on Carbon TV in 2019.
Jana Waller of Montana and Skull Bound TV is featured on the cover of this issue. Check out her bio on page 6 and skullboundtv.com.
