Elk hunting

[steve archambault]

was wonderin if anyone out there knows much about elk hnting.my partner and I are recently retired and don't have the means to pay for a guided elk hunt out west.thinkng maybe we could go on public land any thoughts?

Archie

[Stu]

I heard a really unique idea on another site. They pick an area they want to hunt and contact the principal of the local high school and get in touch with a student that is an avid hunter. Then they offer to hire him as a guide. I haven't tried it yet, but it's an interesting idea. Good luck - Stu

[kzimny]

test

[kzimny]

Archie,

Yes, you should do it. You already missed most of the elk applications. Only Arizona remains. It is the best state though, so you might want to buy points for the future. Your best bet for this year, with no bonus points, is New Mexico. There you can call NMF&G and get a list of landowners who sell landowner tags. These can be either property specific, or unit wide, allowing you to hunt the public land. New Mexico offers the best quality tags for the price and odds if you ask me. They set aside 22% for nonresidents. That is a huge percentage.

I've archery elk hunted on about 8 trips, half of which were in New Mexico. Look to the north cental, north east, and central parts of the state for a good hunt at a reasonable price. There are many folks on the New Mexico forum on Bowsite that can lend specific advice with regards to leftover/landowner tags. You can get a good hunt.

[Kevin B]

Your thinking right. Rifle or archery? Foot soldiers or cavalrymen? Got a state picked out? Fun hunt or hardcore trophy hunt? Eating it or mounting it? Cow or bull? How much time for the hunt? etc.,etc.

Like him or hate him, Jim Zumbo has written many magazine articles and books about elk hunting. Over the years, quite a few of his articles have focused on public land hunts. Some of his mag articles really laid out "how to do it" for beginners on a budget. I'm sure he has a website. He would be glad to tell you which book(s) to start with. Contact him. Get on some sites/forums specific to elk hunting. That'll get you started.

[koenigsfeld]

I went for about 12 years. All public land in Colorado. Send me an email if you would like more info.
scott.koenigsfeld@pioneer.com