Rocky Mountain Elk Guide

I know that you probably think I’m crazy but I have found and used a pair of binoculars for under fifty dollars. I know that in my book, The Rocky Mountain Elk Guide, I recommend the purchase of a good pair of binoculars and I still stick by that advice.

Recently I was in my local Bass Pro Shop and found a really good pair of binos for under fifty dollars. Of course they were on sale and usually sold for about $149.99. But still, at regular price, that's a pretty darn good deal.

I pulled a pair out of the box and glassed around the store, which is cool because you can spot whitetail, wild hogs, turkey and just about every other species of game animals found in the United States. After day dreaming that I was out on the hunt, I decided to give them a try.

The binoculars are Redheads, a Bass Pro brand. The pair I tested are 10×42, waterproof and fog proof. The manufacture did a great job in the design by making them easy to grip, fairly light weight 20 oz, and armored with a rubber coating.

Field of view at 1000 yards is 304 feet. They feature twist up and down eye pieces for those of us who wear eyeglasses are nitrogen purged with fully coated lens.

So the real question you want to know is, how did they do on the hunt? Well, they were very clear in low light conditions. Focus was smooth and extremely clear. I spotted a doe and yearling walking up a ridge a good one third mile away, squirrels playing in an oak tree at 200 yards and plus other wildlife in the area.

I harvested my first deer of the season ( I’m down in Alabama right now) using these binoculars on the same trip. All of this to say that I love em and will keep using them. If you are in the market for a great pair of binoculars that don't break the bank, I would definitely recommend  picking up a pair.

RedHead Binoculars from Bass Pro Click Here

Choosing the right outer wear for hunting is crucial to a comfortable, enjoyable and successful hunt. There are so many things to consider when buying hunting clothes.

Warmth, comfort, quietness and function are at the top of my list. Recently I found myself going around and around in choosing what type of jacket to buy. I kept looking at a parka with a hood. It was windproof, waterproof and insulated. The jacket had a plush lining that felt like you were wearing your sleeping bag to the stand.

But how often does it get cold enough to wear a jacket like this in my area? Also the jacket would be too hot to wear on my walk to my stand so I would have to store it in my backpack. This would then mean that I would have to wear a lighter jacket in route.

I have always been a believer in layering so I went with a lighter jacket that can be worn under an outer coat and would be just right for stalk hunting or traveling to my stands.

I found a performance fleece jacket that would work for bow season, winter and spring turkey season as well. The jacket is light weight, made with bonded fleece and treated to bead water making it windproof, water resistant and quick drying. The sleeves on this jacket are designed in the arms up position. This allows total freedom in arm movement.

The other quality that I like about this jacket is that it is almost totally silent. You feel like you are in stealth mode when you wear it. The makers included hand warmer pockets, a slash zippered pocket for easy access. The jacket is tailored to be longer in the back covering most of your rear end. The bottom hem has two drawstrings to close out any unwanted breezes

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It is the attention to all of the mentioned details that impressed me with a hunting wear company called Gamehide. Gamehide only makes clothing for hunting using the finest of materials and innovation. I believe that if you are interested in quality hunting garments, Gamehide is your best bet and value for years to come. You can get some great deals on Gamehide Hunting Clothes Here 

Just wanted to remind everyone that haste can make waste in elk camp. If you are like me, you like to eat well in camp so food is very important. My son in law and I got in a hurry to get into the woods one day and we left some of our food sitting out. Luckily it was still there when we got back to camp.

It’s really easy to get excited (especially if you are hearing a bull elk bugling in the distance:-) and leave camp with your grub sitting out. This is really a problem in bear country.

Be sure to clean up your mess and properly store your food before you leave camp. If you fail to do that, you may find yourself on an unwelcomed diet, the leftovers!

Food left out also attracts small creatures like rodents and flies. These carry diseases and can contaminate your food. So take a few minutes to clean up BEFORE you head out for the hunt………..you’ll be glad you did!

You’ll find more tips and ideas for setting up your elk camp in the The Rocky Mountain Elk Guide

Enjoy the hunt!

It won't be long……………..I just love this sound!

Wishing you a successful Elk hunt!

Elk Hunting Checklist………..Do I have everything?

This is a question that I always find myself asking before I go on an elk hunting trip. Three times I have reached into my hunting pack and couldn’t find a flashlight after hunts. On one of those times I was bow hunting for elk near Stagecoach Lake, Colorado.

To make matters even worse, I had passed by several muddy spots in the trail with fresh bear tracks. That was the most un- nerving hikes back out of the woods I have had to make. No light, with an arrow in my hand to defend myself against a bear attack.

Fortunately, the bear didn’t show up. I had learned a valuable lesson to make a checklist and go over it before I leave camp or vehicle on the way to hunt.

I now make sure that I have checked my pack using my elk hunting checklist for such important things as a flashlight, first aid kit, food and something to start a fire with to name a few.

These are just a few of the important items that should be on your elk hunting gear checklist. Believe me, you won't catch me going to the woods without going over my checklist.

 With everything that we have on our minds today, it is really easy to forget what is needed. Take a tip from someone who has made the mistake and learned from it. Being prepared for an elk hunt can literally save your life as the mountains are not very forgiving.

Get a comprehensive elk hunting checklist plus a step by step guide

to planning an elk hunt Click here http://rockymountainelkguide.com/guide

Many hunters planning a hunt want to know where to hunt elk in Colorado. Colorado is known to have one of the largest elk populations in the country.

There are estimates of at least 292,000 elk in the state according to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. So is there a "best" place to hunt elk?  Well, it depends on several things.

Read the rest of this entry »

Choosing the best Colorado elk season to hunt in is a hard decision because there are so many variables to be considered. Some of the things you'll need to consider are weather, concentration of elk in a location, available land to hunt, special permits and if you want to combine the hunting trip with sightseeing.

Colorado weather can be extreme and hard to predict but one thing you can count on is that the later you go into the seasons, the better chance you will have of being snowed in. Most outfitters don’t like hunting the last season in the Colorado High Country which can go into November because it is too unpredictable and you can ruin your equipment.

I can remember many a trip in the late season coming out on horseback in near white out conditions. Snow can hit at anytime but the later you wait, the better the chance for snow. I have seen it even snow on the 4^th of July in Steamboat Springs Colorado. Choose an earlier season for a better chance of not fighting snow. I personally like a little snow on the ground. It makes for better tracking and locating elk. It also contrasts their bodies making them easier to spot.

When choosing the best Colorado elk season take into consideration how concentrated the elk are in a location. Pre season scouting is so important when determining the number of elk in an area. Things that affect the concentration can be food source, water source hunting pressure and the weather.

As snow builds in the higher elevations, the elk move down to lower altitudes. Public lands are my favorite places to hunt but private land hunts are good too. Private land hunts are much more expensive. When choosing the best Colorado elk season be sure to check and see if permits are allowed for the area you want to hunt and if they match the season you will be hunting.

Some people like to combine their elk hunting trip with sightseeing. Many hunters bring their wives and they love to go into the many quaint mountain towns that are known for their good food and great shopping. There is so much history in Colorado with its old mining towns and western flavor that you really should enjoy both while you are here.

The best Colorado elk season is really a matter of opinion and preference. I personally like first or second rifle season. If you want to hear the elk bugle and hunt when few are in the mountains, choose archery or black powder in the early fall. But no matter what season you choose, you'll be in for a memorable time. Enjoy!

It’s hard to believe a new elk season is arriving and another is behind us. On a personal note, I welcomed in one of the newest generation of elk hunters right before Christmas……… My first grandson! What an exciting time.  My son in law even went to Bass Pro and bought him a camouflage outfit (baby size of course). So he’s definitely ready for elk season to start!

Elk season will be here before you know it. If you’re planning a trip to the Rocky Mountain high country, it’s never too early to get ready. Getting the right gear for hunting elk, scheduling the hunt location, and contacting the elk guide are definitely priorities. But don’t overlook what I believe is the MOST important priority……………getting in shape and being prepared for the demands of hunting elk at high altitude.

When considering how to get in shape for elk hunting in the Rocky Mountains, don’t forget the challenges of high altitude. Altitude sickness is a very serious condition that has been known to lead to deaths in some cases. Believe me, it’s not something you  want to experience. So it makes sense to plan ahead and be prepared.

If you need to get rid of a few unwanted pounds, begin now. Consistent exercise each day and a diet of healthy, whole foods is always a good starting place. This needs to be started months prior to the hunt itself. Being in good physical condition and keeping properly hydrated with plenty of water is part of the prevention once you arrive for the hunt .

Drink eight glasses a day of water and stay away from alcohol because it dries you out. Get plenty of rest each day and give your body a chance to acclimate to the higher altitude before your hunt. Remember the air at altitude is thinner so pace yourself. Oxygen saturation will be depleted by about 15% at 7500 feet.

So as you can see knowing how to get in shape for elk hunting is something that should be taken seriously by all hunters heading to the high country. I’ve included many other helpful tips and suggestions in my book, “The Rocky Mountain Elk Guide” that can make your trip run much more smoothly and efficiently.

Enjoy the upcoming season……………it will definitely be here before you know it!

Looking for some elk hunting tactics? Here are 9 elk hunting tips that hopefully will help you bag that elk!

1. If you can find out where elk bed down, feed, and during the rut reproduce, you increase your chances of getting your elk.

2. Elk like to bed down on the top of ridges. This gives them the advantage because they can see all around them and can move away from danger quickly.

3. Always approach ridges from the highest possible point. This gives the hunter the advantage because you can look down on them. We all know that even in whitetail hunting, height is an advantage.

4. In bad weather, you can find elk in the thicker evergreens to ward off snow, rain and wind.

5. Elk like to feed along the edge of meadows and will feed in the early morning sun on eastern facing slopes. They feed in the evening on western facing slopes as a rule.

6. Look for fresh scars on aspen trees because elk like to chew on them quite often.

7. Many ranchers leave their cattle in the mountains through the summer. They often leave salt and mineral blocks out that elk also love. If you spot these you will usually see fresh signs.

8. Elk reproduce much like whitetail. They will create rubs and scrapes just like whitetail but much larger. Look for these signs and set up close enough for a shot.

9. Use scents and calls to lure elk in just like whitetail. Best of luck and enjoy your hunt!