For fitness or lack of: I keep in mind that I can't recover from a deficit during the length of my hunt. When traversing terrain and no animals in sight, make sure you can always hold a normal conversation. When alone, especially at elevation above 8000, I often sing silently when exerting myself. If I can't do that I slow down. I don't want to enter anaerobic respiration and must slow my heart rate. You gotta be prepared to do that with less intelligent buddies. Drink until you piss clear then keep drinking to stay that way. Eat all my food, especially at night so it can digest. Sleep, not during peek hours but I'm (45) and qualify for geezer naps and I sleep as much at night as possible. Lastly be appreciative of everything while your able to be in the woods. It helps overall. Good luck everyone, great job Cliff.
Hello Cliff, we hunted western Colorado for our first ever OTC elk hunt last fall during 3rd rifle. I just wanted to say that no matter how much you prepare before your first hunt you should have some ideas about what you will do differently. It’s an 18 hour drive for us and we spent much of our drive home taking notes about things we would do differently next year. One of the biggest mistakes I believed we made was not hunting all of the prime hours. Where we found our elk some of the locals said there was no way up the mountain. It was sketchy at best but we found elk every day. We never closed the gap enough to take a shot. We essentially were too nervous to hunt the evenings because we thought we might fall down the mountain. I should also mention we had our 12 and 13 year old kids hunting. We will be hunting the same area this fall and now have several safe ways up and down the areas we hunted. We have also spent the last year preparing for longer shots off of real rests and from awkward positions. Keep up the good work you are very educational for those of us new to western mountain hunting. Thanks Allen
Dude first two on this list are so important! I work as a fishing guide in Oregon and I tell guests all the time, keep a positive attitude and and fish hard all day! I started big game hunting last year and have applied this to hunting. Got rewarded with a black bear and a 3x5 bull elk this fall! The bull elk came on opening morning of rifle season, hiked into a spot in the dark and shot my bull soon after shooting light. No prep, no scout because I have been busy with work. Just showed up with a positive attitude and hunted hard! And also got super lucky 😃
Cliff. You’re videos are the real deal. I am a guide in Eastern AZ and State wide New Mexico. Any time my clients have questions I send them your videos about it. You’re hands down the most realistic hunter I’ve listened to. All these other UA-camr hunters have no idea what reality is. You’re spot on! Thanks for sharing all your info.
@@scottleggejr I’ve seen giant bulls in the white mountains where I camp every year. This year is my second year big game hunting.can’t wait to scout this fall!
I’m 66 workout year round. I solo hunt Rawa wiliderness in Colorado last 5 years, my 15th year in the area. With 65lbs on my back takes me awhile to get 5 miles in. You talked about hunting at dawn and dusk. Mornings not a problem but I don’t feel comfortable hunting till dark, I like to be in camp by dark because of the terrain I’m in. I do have a great GPS. I know it’s cost me some Elk in the past but my experience just bring in mountains 7 days by myself more than makes up for it. It’s all about the adventure, shooting an Elk is icing on the cake. Love your videos
Thanks Bryan! Totally understand the night time deal - particularly solo. One thing about guiding and outfitting is you always have a team in the vicinity and typically have communication with them... solo hunters have to take care of themselves always and managing risk is a part of that. Appreciate the support for the videos. thanks
Great advice! I'm not in the shape I normally am by the beginning of elk season but I still went out and had fun last weekend. I give the same advice to hunters as I do to college students: you'll do better by going to class and sleeping than you will by just skipping class. It's better to be in the woods at all, even if it's not the perfect scenario, than to not go out. I literally had a bull and two cows sneak up on me to within 10 yards while I was napping on Saturday.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate your advice!!! I'm a foot surgeon headed out for my first Elk hunt at the end of this month so I'm really drinking from the fire hose. You're videos are awesome!! Thank you!! Another thought for any hunter headed up to elevation (but especially out-of-shape hunters), is to pound the fluids the week before and minimize alcohol to reduce your risk of altitude sickness. A day or two at an intermediate elevation can help and there's also a medication you could talk with your primary care doctor about called diamox (acetazolamide).
High elevation? Take the supplements. Not time shooting? Practice intentional breathing so when you shoot your vagus nerve is calmed and no jerk the trigger/release. Drink water with electrolytes like propel during the day. Eat salty snacks. Use trekking poles. Bring a pad to sit on and use it(take lots of breaks). Bring a warm hat so you’re not shivering in the dark. Take a moment every few steps to be grateful. Mark camp so you know you can get back in the dark. You can do this!
@@ricardo3773 Cognac and hard work, when you think you’ve walked Enough keep going and then when you finally get there and think this is the spot go another mile, and then when you get there and finally settle in eat a snack then go another 2 miles the elk will be there
Take it from a guy from Florida. Have your boot situation squared away. Buy two or three premium (out west) hunting boots and keep the ones that feel like you can go all day up and down with no blisters. Ideally…get them 6mo in advance and hike in them regularly until you go on your hunt. Crispi worked for me.
Cliff your knowledge is awesome and your advice is spot on! I’m an archery guy and the one thing besides intimate knowledge of your equipment is taking care of your feet. I learned the hard way in seasons past when I went cheap on my footwear. Thanks again for sharing your experience. My Crispis are ready!
I've hunted elk for 10 yrs harvested 3 elk and got more knowledge from 3 hrs of your videos this spring than all 10 yrs combined. Keep up the awesome work! Wish me luck this yr. Trying with archery equipment and am under prepared with the calling aspect. Good luck out there guys. Listen to the advise of the experienced or professional hunters they know what they are talking about.
Absolutely correct. I first year ever hunting elk archery I was hunting late season unprepared and had very little knowledge of what I was doing. Stumbled across a bedded bull and got a 20 yd shot. Haven’t killed and elk since but been really close.
I hunted small and medium game a dozen times as a kid, and only a handful of times as an adult, but your advice just MAKES SENSE. Thanks for sharing your experience and wisdom!
Great advice. Food and hydration is often overlooked. I've hunted in Colorado 20 years and seen so many out of staters suffer at 9k ft from shitty food, alcohol and dehydration.
Cliff, great content and cool insights. Well done. Being present at peak hours is the best advice for most people. “Ain’t none till there are” is my hunting attitude.
I learned that line from my old ass uncle who’s been taking me into the Utah wilderness the last couple of seasons to pass down his hunting spots. I’ve learned a lot from that old hippie. You two share a lot of the same wisdom.
You and Remi Warren have some of the best hunting prep/strategy/advise media. I have been recommending your channel to everyone i talk to about hunting. Keep up the great work, I've learned alot already
Just keep a positive attitude and appreciate everything! If you’re in shape or not, go slow, but steady and observe everything. Hunting is not a sprint; it’s a marathon and you need to appreciate every part of it. I was just in the backcountry for 5 days archery hunting elk and it was way hotter(95 plus) than I expected, and I just kept telling myself that I have to stay positive and to keep on drinking water even if I don’t feel thirsty. It was an absolute grind sitting under my tarp in the cliffs glassing at 105 degrees, but I knew the elk had to move sometime to get water. They were extremely nocturnal, but I was able to see 19 head one night when it got down to 92 just before dark and to me that was a feat. I know I wouldn’t have seen those elk if I had given up in the heat and went back to camp. Thank you for your great advice Cliff. I have learned so much from you. So I wanted to say thank you.
I got invited on a rifle hunt in November. We are late to the game but I am trying to get myself in physical and mental shape this is great advice thank you!
Every time you put up a new video I wonder what more can this guy possibly tell me? Then you hit me with some stuff that will keep me pushing through. Trying to ignore the feeling of being defeated gets me all the time!
I really enjoy your videos Cliff. To all the new elk hunters out there; listen closely to Cliff about hunting morning and evening and getting to those spots on time!! Especially morning hunts, it can be very hard to get up way earlier than you normally do and hike your ass off and repeat for eight days. I have to stick to a routine to make this work. I’m a normal workin dude but on a very strenuous elk hunt I have to take a nap every day so I can have enough energy to get up and keep going. You would have much much better chances if you are able to get the jump on the game every morning of your hunt. It’s a bit harder to do than you first think. Also make sure you stay until after shooting light is gone, you should be hiking out in the dark every evening.
I definitely prepped at archery tournaments and target shoots, and I did a hiking challenge to get in shape. I also got easy Phelps calls to use and practiced with them. My biggest failure is not being super familiar with my hunt unit, because I’m new to Elk hunting and don’t really know how to scout well. My first week out (last week) the elk couldn’t be seen or heard and even where I found bedding sites and tracks there was no recent sign. I realized, E-Scouting does NOT replace real scouting. It was a week of learning, but I never saw anything but does.
@@CliffGray for sure! Learned a ton. Have two more 5-day trips left. Would love to hear more about pre-rut vs rut hunts… and when to expect the rut to really kick off. Also, does weather play in to when the rut begins?
Someone may have already brought this up but "e-scouting" can do wonders if your hunt is out of reach for in person scouting. I've done a lot of scouting just using google maps before I bought a subscription to OnX. If nothing else it gives a great place to start developing a game plan and setting some expectations for your hunt. It's part of my own mental prep because I get an idea of how much elevation I'll have to climb, what the terrain is like, and helps find some of those close quarter setup locations you mentioned. It's also great for finding water which is super important here in Arizona.
for sure. I feel like e-scouting is even more useful once you have been to a spot once or twice. Then you really have an idea of what the map and topo lines are telling. Thanks Douglas!
Just got back from a 7 day hunt in CO in public land in an over the counter unit. Last year we were covered in Elk. This year we couldn't even find a track. Keep in mind we covered as much territory as possible for two 50 year old guys from Eastern PA at 9,500 Ft. We're in pretty good shape. Hunted every day out of camp at 4:30AM and left the woods at 8:15 Sucked. God damned domestic sheep and the FN dogs were everywhere. Good luck to anyone headed Elk hunting.
Its amazing how different each year can be.... I have had a bunch of questions on grazing livestock and how they affect hunting. A lot of it... I don't mind, but sheep... particularly if they are intensive grazing them, run elk out of country quick. They stink up the water sources.... just lots of disruption.
@@CliffGray Being a public land hunter I've encountered a lot of domestic animal grazing. My take is cattle not such a big deal. They also make nice big paths for getting around quietly. Sheep on the other hand have seen to be a big challenge. There are a lot of them. I think the big problem is they come with dogs that don't like ANYTHING. The dogs come with people that feed them every day. There's a LOT of attention sheep require from dogs and people. Cattle just seem to be turned out and that's it. The sheep eat everything. We had lots of water so that wasn't an issue. Since the hunt I've heard that Colorado has been dry for some time now and more and more ranchers are looking to put their animals up high where I guess it's cooler and more water? I know for a fact that whatever those big cream colored Sheep protecting dogs pin down in the middle of the night and can't kill themselves the ranchers shoot. Two years ago we found three dead bears the first week of Archery. One was a cinnamon phase with a head the size of my chest. I've camped next to cattle - no big deal. If the sheep are within a half mile of you look out. The dogs barking and the sheep baying and Rams hollering all night long. Jesus its all silence of the lambs stuff. This was our fourth year in this area and we've had sheep every year. We've been able to work around them and kill Elk. Not this year. I don't think it's the same rancher or something has changed. The first two years the dogs I guess kept the sheep together really well. I watched them from the treestand the first two years and the big dogs were on it. The adult female dog was on her game. I don't know how they train them or what they cost but coming from a guy that appreciates a good bird dog that female in my estimation was priceless. Last year and this year especially there were groups (like a half dozen) all over the place. I never did encounter the "flock" in the woods. It was a mess. If there's sheep you need to drag up and go look elsewhere.
excellent video man, my advice is if your trip is coming up and your feeling like your conditioning took a back seat during the off season, don’t panic train and blast weights and runs you have no business messing with in hopes to recondition in a week. chances are your just going to hurt yourself or leave yourself in worse condition then before the conditioning cram fest! thanx again cliff!
I am very overweight. That being said I have a good ability, all things considered to play to my strengths. I am a good shot with a rifle and a bow. I hike respectable distances but I do so slowly. I allow myself extra time. I try to never shoot animals in places that I can’t retrieve them or that will get me into a pickle. I keep this in mind and hunt areas that are doable. I wake up early and go to bed late. Most importantly…. I go out and do it. I don’t tell myself “oh your too fat, maybe next year you will be in better shape”. No. I accept where I am at now and make the best of it.
What great advice in one video! Living in Colorado I think checking the weather and packing clothing/gear with options matters. We’ve gone from 50 degrees to a whiteout snowstorm, 50 mph winds and 20 degrees overnight. Not fun if you didn’t prepare and are at 10k feet in 3rd season. Not a bad idea to pop on the weatherband station in 3rd season a few times.
Great advice, again, Cliff! Another tip for unprepared hunters is to talk with wildlife and other officers before and during the hunt. I took my son on our first antelope hunt not having a clue what we were doing. Luckily for us, a Colorado sheriff stopped us at a checkpoint while looking for hunters with loaded rifles in cars. After showing him that our chambers were empty, I asked the sheriff if he had any advice for novice antelope hunters. I think he took pity on us and gave us some very sound advice for that area. With his advice, and a big bit of luck, we had a 13-inch, mature antelope buck on the ground that evening. I make sure to stop and talk with wildlife officers and local law enforcement if I'm fortunate enough to see them while scouting, going to a hunt, or while hunting. In Colorado, hunters can talk with one on the phone. They are great guys and gals, good at what they do, and have a wealth of knowledge about the area. I introduce myself, thank them for their service, and then ask if they have any tips or advice.
Matt, that is awesome! I've actually got a video filmed on calling state game managers, wardens, biologists... as you mention I think people way underestimate the value of communicating with them or communicating with just about anyone locally. Awesome tips for folks and a great story to back it up. Thanks Matt!
Appreciate your content. Has really helped with the mental game involved in the hunt. Got in on a 6x6 at 50 this past weekend. It was just a bit outside my comfort zone. Heading back up again tomorrow. That said the homework was a big difference maker. Also bring ear plugs for the mid day grind. We had so many flies it taxed every nerve we had. You couldnt hear anything at distance with them either.
Solid advice that you normally don't hear when talking about elk hunting, but needs to be! To me, the mental part has always been the toughest. I found out that eating enough food has helped me tremendously, as I catch myself not eating enough and my mind is just not in it. You are 100% right on that! Plus, I put an extra days pack of food in my pack because I need it when we do have a bull down and the extra food is a life saver because it's a long night/day when we're lucky enough to haul an elk out! 🥵 I do glass for long periods of time, but I also take a paperback book to read some during those times when I'm not glassing and at night in the tent. That helps me mentally as well. Oddly enough, the books I take are not hunting related, but topics of other hobbies I have.
@@CliffGray I'm probably the only elk hunter reading books about marathon running while chasing elk. But while running the Missoula Marathon the other week, me and a local who was also running, were talking about elk hunting! 😁
Cliff you're awesome.....I was drawn to your videos because your just like me.....except a way better hunter..... I just saw in this video we have the same pict of cowboys hunting with the deer standing behind them.... I bought that pict one season that really was defined by that pict. Keep it up.... I'm learning so much, if only I could explain how much your advice and council has helped me. Thanks Cliff
Another helpful vid! My son was born last March. Made it hard to get out for A LOT of scouting this summer, but he's got an awesome momma, so I was able to get out for a solid week in August. 😁👍
Two Tips: Tip 1: Choose your hunting camp buddies carefully. Guys that want to sit around in camp and slam beers until 11pm every night will affect your drive to get out and hunt. It would be better to camp alone and be focused on hunting than to hunt with unmotivated guys. Tip Number 2: Spend plenty of time out in the field. I know guys that have been very successful that were not very good hunters and did not use good tactics, but they spent a LOT of time in the field and minimized their camp time. You will not shoot an elk from within your wall tent. I know of guys that have shot elk in the middle of the day when you would think the eld would be bedded down.
For sure. I am going to try to do a whole video on your first tip. The nature of my outfitting, I dealt with a lot of hunter groups. Hunters way underestimate how much choice of hunting partners matters.
Went out last weekend with guys like this. Thought everyone was on the same page, made our plans, then they stayed up all night drinking and i was the only one that went out in the morning. Pissed me off and made me consider going with them again.
Yep! I've hunted solo many years. That staying up half the night drinking and singing hasn't been appreciated very much by my buddies. 😂 Just kidding, I haven't drank in decades and your first tip is right on point. Your second tip is also valid. I've seen elk up and feeding in the early afternoon in dark timber where there are small clumps of vegetation, dense cover and water close by their beds.
Thanks so much for your generosity in sharing such a wealth of knowledge and insight. Every video i have absorbed so much. I know I will step into the mountains more prepared and more than likely more successful. Thanks again.
I will be driving 30 hours to hunt Colorado solo this year and giving up will not be an option. Great tips in your videos that most people would never think of.
@@CliffGray We stopped in Eagle on Sunday before heading to the airport and I said wouldn't that be something if Cliff gray came walking by. Warm temps for you guys hunting the opener.
Cliff, great advice! Last year I committed to hunting "prime time" hours every day of a seven day elk hunt. I killed my first OTC bull on the last morning! That experience changed the way I prepare and look at a hunt
ive waited 30yrs to throw this trip together in 4 weeks. ive put it off over & over & over..not this year. literally everything from gear, finding a guy to go with me, to turning my enclosed trailer into a camper. honestly im good at buying gear, turning a wrench, making preparations. Ive watched 100hrs of Elk101,Elknut,Born&raised,THP, & your channel. i can cow call better with a diaphragm than i can with a long reed but my bugle is embarrassing. im gonna be stepping off I-70 at Glenwood Springs & stepping into the White River NTL forest for 2 full weeks with aspirations of filling a tag on any legal animal. although i caint wait, im nervous as i can be. ive got 45 waterholes marked on OnX i figure its a good way to start as hot as the last 10days have been
Good call on the water, I would also look for north facing timber, I'm up in the northern front range and was out Sunday and all the fresh sign was on the. Very bottom of canyons, at wallows and in north/northeast facing drainages with timber. Even open northeast faces where I usually find them are void of recent sign
@@birder4life999 excuse my ignorance. a N facing slope with dark timber is the coolest place to be in the afternoon right? Steeper the slope the cooler it may be? I was told thee was a late frost & scrub oaks are pretty bare this year but the grasses are in fair condition.
@@DustinApple Yep, north is coolest followed by northeast (no afternoon sun) and speer is cooler, but but elk don't like to bed on the steepest stuff so gentle slopes and benches in the steeper ones. The oaks I can't speak to because I am to far north to have any of those. But the grasses are in unusually good condition since we have had a pretty wet late summer, Glenwood hasn't been quite as wet, but that sounds like you got some good local intel.
Great advice man. The most important part in my opinion is not skipping even 1 hunt. That's the key, you can't get an elk if your not out there. Also could you do a video on advice for hunting in coastal oregon type regions man, really thick rainforest is different than the rockies.
Thanks! To be honest, I don't have much experience hunting elk in coastal regions. Hence, I am not one to give a bunch of advice on it... I think a lot of the things I cover still apply, but I'm sure my glassing-centric tactics are less applicable. Now that I'm no longer guiding, I'm going to try to hunt some new regions... I'll do some videos on those trips. Less advice driven and more my observations of the similarities and differences... maybe that will be helpful to folks. Thanks!
One of the few benefits I get from my career path is I'm blessed to live and work in elk country, and I spend all day everyday running up and down the same hills they do. They make it look alot easier, but there's nowhere they can go (that's public, or I have permission for) that I can't/won't follow them. Not saying I get offered a shot opportunity every time, but it's never been because I wasn't willing or able to put in the miles, crawl through any brushy shit hole a rabbit would balk at, whatever it takes, sometimes they're just a few steps ahead, no matter how fit you are, or how good you shoot, or how well you know the area
Thanks cliff, I needed this...I leave in less than 2 weeks for southern Colorado and I wish I had another month or so prep. The funny thing is...I've been planning, preparing, and training for this literally daily since last November. I've back packed and do a lot of bowhunting but never combined the two, plus I've only hunted for whitetails. There is so much to learn and of course I needed to update most of my gear (much to the distress of my fiscally responsible wife). I wish I shot my recurve a little better, called better and lost that 15lbs I swore would be gone by now. I'm going solo for 2 weeks so I'm hoping I can put all the pieces together!
@@MiddleOutdoorsman ....thats what I'm afraid of...lol...just kidding...I'm sure I will run into plenty of hunters and have not ruled out taking a break and driving into town to regroup and eat a meal
I can't tell you how many times I wanted to be on the trail when darkness fell.................What a mistake! The first time you push yourself through that fear of finding the trail in pitch black you will feel like you won. then the next time it gets a little easier till finally you do it all the time. Cliff, Thank you for your passionate advice I really appreciate it.
Absolutely love your videos. We moved out west three years ago and filled out rifle tag the first two years and this year I took my first bull with a bow in large part because of your advice. Problem is I only gave him 1 hour to bleed out like I did for deer back east. We bumped him, from his death bed 250 yards from where I shot him, we then tracked him 1/2 mile across scree field and .25 miles straight up all with more blood than I could imagine a animal has, a constant stream and pools up to 6’ diameter where he stopped. We gave up 200’ from the top of a 10k mountain because without ropes our lives were at risk and we could never get the meat out. We slid on our buts to get off the top of that mountain and I was worried my wife or I would not survive the descent. I would love to see a video on how long to wait before tracking. Arrow entered and broke a rib exited high as I was shooting from 15-20 below and I heard the rib crack. Blood from both holes at first then only entrance hole as it was lower on his body. Huge thanks for you helping us regular guys that love to hunt
Hey Ty! Appreciate the support for the channel and videos. Bummer on losing the bull. I can do a video on waiting, tracking bulls, etc.... Maybe also just hit on the reality of how common it is too. Sounds like you gave it a really hard go... One thing that I have found with wounded bulls... once they start going up hill, I mean up hill not side hilling - rifle hit, bow hit, whatever... you chances of recovering them drop dramatically. My findings from bulls I have recovered that have done this... it usually means a one lung hit. elk will travel a long ways, up and down, with one lung. If that was the case... even if you waited 2x-3x you may have ended up with the same results. Single lungs take a long time to kill... My biggest piece of advice on wounded elk is to stalk them like a bedded, unwounded elk.... trying to get a second shot. Sometimes seems odd when you know they are as good as dead... but I've had some "perfect shots" that turn into through the night, multi-day adventures. Good luck on your next hunt... I really appreciate you sharing your story on here. Thanks
@@CliffGray thanks, very good chance single lung as I shot from below and he bled heavy out of entrance and little then none out of exit. I have never seen an animal bleed that much so I just couldn’t believe he wasnt going to be dead around the next bush. I look forward to your video, I have the scouting and killing part down pretty good, used a bow and stick rubbing a tree behind him rubbing and bugeling to shoot this one but after they are hit and butchering them I have much to learn. After this trip I am thinking of stashing some rope and repelling gear back there to safely get meat down nasty slopes, I enjoyed your ropes video. Keep them coming
@@tyb3938 Knowing the rope stuff is great for specific situations. Be careful, try to get in on a ropes class. Fun stuff even outside of hunting. Thanks and good luck!
Hey boss, thank you for your brutal honesty on hunting and outdoorsmanship. How many experienced elk hunters over the years have you heard can’t hunt the backcountry anymore because of knees, backs, and similar injuries ? And do you think that strength and size of the hunter matters in terms of mitigating injuries from packouts?
Excellent knowledge you are sharing here. True MOST hunters do not hunt their full hunt. In fact I think more than half maybe a lot more check out / quit / shut it down about 3 days in. I’ve heard an unbelievable number of excuses. Sad but true. I’ve hunted all mine and all were successful Food prep agree 100% we HATE guys who “shop on the drive out” No Way this works out instead of dependable energy food gets wasted Here is a tip I’ve done for the last 35 years. Ultra light hammock. I think mine is under 1#. One of those survival looking things could be used as a fish net. With this I can get a nap during midday. A real nap up away from camp close to being “on location” This keeps my stress level down. Increases enjoyment. Helps turn hunt hours into maximum used hours. And helps all around avoiding dumb stuff or accidents. I started this in my 30s and it has grown now A great habit. Good Luck everybody and Safe Travels
I just starved myself out of a muzzleloader bear hunt in the Flattops. My first solo backpack hunt and I only lasted 4 days (only hunted the opening day yesterday and the rest were scouting. Just got excited about being there and started running around to high elevations with a pack that was WAY too heavy. I figured I was eating around 1800 cals a day and I'm 6'6 330 pounds (now 316, haha). I have never had depression before but by day 4 I think I got a good idea of what it would feel like. I had by far the most negative string of thoughts I have ever had and I had the urge to sleep constantly. Learned a lot and can't wait to get back up there and try again. PS: If you go to the Flattops don't take a 4 door sedan up Coffee Pot Rd., you will destroy the undercarriage, an expensive mistake on my part, haha.
Yikes! Well you will be better next round. The food deal matters so much… it will screw with you. Good ole coffee pot, it’s taken a few good vehicles before their time… particularly past deep lake in Oct/nov. Thanks for sharing the story Tyler 👍
Cliff, I was wondering if you have done any videos on cow hunting in the early season. The hot weather causes them to be vampires and they come into water sources at 2-3 am. I was hoping you could let me know your thoughts , and strategies,on these types of hunts. Thanks again for great videos!
"Mountains are big!" Be prepared that it will suck, sometimes a little, and sometimes a lot! It's all worth it when that bull is 7 yards away and screaming so loud you wish you have earplugs. Pre-packaging food is and always has been my go to. When you are tired at night and don't want to prep and you can just throw a ziploc full of the next day's food in your pack it makes a huge difference. Drink as much water as you can stand. fill your water bladder and bottles at night so you are ready in the morning. Mix in some electrolytes too. I plan on glassing and still hunting a bunch until I get acclimated. Also, since my archery practice has been limited until the last few months, 40 yards max. If back at camp mid day, practice shooting your bow.
Just came out of backcountry. Had 2 encounters so far. No bugling at all. Moving areas tomorrow. Not alot of sign. Have the whole month in Co to get it done. My problem is mentally hunting solo is tough. Hunting an area that is not glassable.
Questions: any video available on preparing your hunt pack, items must have, etc.? Next, most effective and easy elk call? Do you carry a sidearm for defense? How do I know what areas I can legally hunt in Idaho? How can I tell if an area is good? TIA.
I just put up a gearlist video. That might be helpful for you. Head to the Idaho fish and game website, they have a big game brochure that covers all the legalities and can get you up to speed on that front. Good luck!
25 years ago I was a bunch of powerbars, bottled water, lots of beer, and peanutbutter cups. Great memories many successful hunts. But I know even then I needed more food. Since food preparation and better camp practices. ( no beer) I have way more fun.
I've had so many hunts were I got in a calorie deficit and just couldn't crawl back up out of the lack of energy hole. The more cognizant I have become with it over the years, the better I hunt/guide. Thanks Robert!
Hi Cliff, Thank you very much for all the content and really appreciate all the content and information that you provide in your videos!! I have a question, on backcountry backpacking hunts, how do you determine where to camp? Would you camp on top of the ridges where you can have easier/more convenient access to your glassing spots but have a less desirable camping/water-access situation? I have scouted some of the spots where I have seen elk tracks (lakes/marshes) however don't want to camp too close to these spots in order to avoid bumping them out of the area(s). Was wondering if you would possibly do a video on this subject. Thank you very much and looking forward to your reply! Sincerely, Curt
If ur bow hunting I'd find a pocket, you dont want to be too close to the top, you'll get hammered with wind. Find a pocket with some flat ground somewhat close to these areas.
One time I almost got an archery shot on a bison on the n edge of n. rim grnd cyn when it was otc. Luckily it got away. Had I killed it, I surely would have lost the meat. That winter I had no meat so I bought a beef and butchered it at the house. This was one of the best things I could have done for myself. Beef, elk and buffalo are much different to handle then deer. I learned this the hard way but had a safety of being at the house. My knives, that I "thought" were sharp some how became dull... Supplies/tools I didn't realize I would need, I could get because I was at the house. The over all experience was hard but it brought my game up. The beef was around 800lbs and I got some 200lbs meat out of it... fun! So when I did finally havest an elk, I did surprisingly well. It was a fun experience.
to this day... I remember butchering a old bull bison with my dad. I was probably 7-8 years old. He was an outfitter and pretty handy cutting stuff up... but I still remember it taking a long time and him getting frustrated. those things are beasts!
What I really appreciate is if your phone is stuck on orientation you can still watch this video upside down and it’ll just look like a clean-shaven guy with a bushy head of hair.
Pace yourself the first two days, when leaving camp in morning and high attitude don’t push to the point you start busting sweat and overheat just to get to a spot. Keep cool and breathing under control. Go as fast as your body allows without overheating and stinking up your clothes first day. After a couple days you’ll oftener find you can go at a much quicker pace.
Take your time, every corner is a new vista. if you turn a hunt into a pressure situation you will fail, calm down think and enjoy the experience of being out there doing it. Most hunts will fail if it's always a race.
GPS unit with backup batteries, two lights. I always make sure I have the gear to spend the night - a way to start a fire reliably and some extra layers. Not saying I lug around a bunch of extra weight to be comfortable if I have to spend the night, just enough to know I'm not going to die. It sounds goofy, but knowing that the worst case situation is just some hardship - not a real threat - makes the dark and other circumstances a lot less intimidating. Hope that helps.
Man Clif I just drew a dep elk hunt for this weekend. IAM not a bow hunter haven't shot a bow much. Last time I shot one was 13 years ago. I turned it down. Kills me 15 years trying to draw out for elk. And I had to turn it down. Last ting I want to do is shoot one bad case I am not prepared.
Grew up hunting mule deer with a rifle but never hunted elk, this year will be my first. Are there any big difference/strategy I should focus on? Thanks
Depends a lot on when/where.... as a vast over generalization, pressured elk will move further when messed with, will completely abandon spots and not return during a hunt, are less forgiving when it comes to scent, and they don't stop for shots, like a mule deer buck will on it's way out. Hope that helps man!
Start low and go slow if you're a flatlander like me. I used to want to hit the hard areas first (with my fresh legs), but the opposite is true. No need to burn yourself out by day 3. Better to get those midday naps in and hit the prime hours.
To many guys go camping, to be successful you need to keep it simple, this is a hunting trip. To much focus on the back country, not enough on habitat, can't kill what ain't there.
I’ve been killing elk and deer since the 80’s here in New Mexico. Age is catching up to me, I’m not in near the shape I once was. I’ve got an elk hunt in mid October and Deer hunt toward the end of November. The hardest part of the hunts now are getting them out of the field. We hunt in areas where you can’t drive off road to retrieve game. When I was in outstanding shape our elk were called two day elk, because that’s what it took us on average to get one back to camp, two days. This year I plan to go a little slower, not shoot one down or across canyon, and hold until he gets on top of the mesa. I will also attempt the gutless field dressing method this year, which I’ve never done. It’s just me and one other out of shape fellow this year. Two things I’ve learned about elk over the decades, 1. Elk are going to be where you find them. 2. Elk won’t run into camp and surrender. Should be fun…
If you're unprepared, network with other hunters hunting similar areas. Coordinating/cooperating with a competitive hunting party can increase the odds of success for both parties. You'll also have friends on the mountain for years to come instead of enemies.
- Prime hunting hours. Personally, I NEVER miss a morning hunt, and I've punched a tag in the afternoon going through bedding areas before. So, I never discount afternoons either. My biggest failing is evenings. I will hunt evenings, but often enough, not as late into the evening as I should and I know it. Typically, I'll need my headlamp, about halfway back to camp. That said, this is a conscious decision on my part, because I've always been running solo. My rational is that if something goes sideways in the morning, I know daylights coming, and I've time to get myself out of a jam. In the evening, that isn't true. I carry an emergency kit in case I have to stay that night away from my camp, but it's not something I want. Aside from having to pack out at night. Sure it would be cooler, but its freaking easy to get turned around at night. If I wasn't by myself all the time , I'd look at things differently. Being solo, I view this entirely through the lens of risk vs reward . Sometimes, the extra risk is worth the potential reward, sometimes it isn't. edit: trimmed down the blinding wall of text. I talk too much.
Great additional info! thanks Your perspective on the night hunt is a good one. Particularly as a solo hunter. Tracking animals, last minute shooting ops, etc... can make for interesting circumstances in the deep hours of the night. Without some help... it may make sense to avoid those, based on the where and the type of hunting you are doing. Really appreciate the insights. Thanks
I am with you on the night issue...even hunting whitetail from my truck I hate tracking and field dressing in the dark solo...I can't even imagine doing it with an animal the size of an elk...not to say I'm only going to hunt the am's ....just not looking fwd to it
I hunted for years by myself in Southern California and I got myself in situations where if I broke a leg etc, I would die out there. Now I hunt with the best four guys ever. Please try and find someone to hunt with.
@@hernanlecea7041 I appreciate your concern and understand what your saying. If it were possible to find a hunting partner, or go with people I know, I'd have done it already. Oh I tried,. Folks on my wife side of the family hunt regularly. For a few years I saved their annual camp site, chopped firewood, even packed in one of their tree stands for them. But when I asked, "Hey, mind if i come along?" I was told in a round about and polite way, no. I haven't asked since. Just went my own way. Been solo hunting now for about 9 years I think.
Folks new to high altitude must carry LOTS of water: min 1.5qts/day. Lack of water will aggravate altitude sickness and create stunning headaches, or just lower physical efficiency. throw a Power Bar in your daypack and take breaks at 10 and 2 if moving alot. And LISTEN: you will be surprised how far sound carries. I usually take 5-10 steps, stop for 15-60 seconds, then move again. I have walked up within 30 yds of elk moving this way.
I have in my mind 4 places I want to go in the area I'm going to be in and trying to decide if I should start up high or towards the bottom. I know scouting these spots will take all day for each place. Any advice?
If I didn't have a chance to properly prepare for my elk hunt, I just drive around the night before the opener and look for the truck with a Mathews decal in the window and follow him/her. Or I drive around and physically glass other camps and look for the guys with Kuiu camo cause they for sure know where the elk are. Or I seek out the camps with the Yeti coolers cause no way they spent $1600 on coolers without knowing the elks bedrooms. Or I just follow all the orange marking tape left in the trees as I know this will lead me right to a kill spot.
@@whiteyfisk9769 I believe hunting is a trend and hopefully it will decrease in popularity because any $$ brought in everyone thought would be good was consumed by the States greediness more than put into conservation projects. It's also taken technology to levels that mock fair chase. Herd numbers are down in the areas I hunt. I assume they are down across the West. That is never good.
well, in that case, you just need to subscribe to the channel. I'll be covering self defense for bogeymans and zombies, hybrid werewolves, etc... I actually sell a supplement that makes you immune to their attacks.
When you get older you have to understand you cannot cover as much rough terrain as you used to. Know your limitations, your strengths and weaknesses. Learn to use the terrain to your advantage and utilize the knowledge and wisdom of your hunting experiences. Big bucks like to ‘hole up’ up high where they can remain unmolested by elk and other critters until just before the rut…but not always. Understand the terrain that elk utilize and why they utilize that terrain. Wooded saddles, dense north, northeast, northwest and west facing slopes tend to hold elk. Use the wind and thermals to your advantage, use south, southeast, southwest facing slopes to traverse an area always keeping below the ridge line. Your scent is your greatest enemy. Sometimes, when you cannot cover as much ground as you used to spot-and-stalk may be the ticket to help you punch that tag successfully. Run-and-gun is ok if you are fit enough and mentally prepared. Understand that mountain backpack hunting is grueling both mentally and physically but it boils down to mind over matter. Your body can take more punishment than you think. Water, water, water…in the backcountry it is water that matters both to yourself and to the critters. Another great video filled with information @Cliff
Prepare food. Plan ahead of time your snacks and meals. I personally enjoy cooking a handful of meals at home before the trip, freezing them and relying on them after a long day of hunting. It’s cost effective, and beats the heck out of 10 days of MREs/ MountainHouse. (However they’re also convenient) Important Side note - make sure your nutrition levels are considered. I have made the mistake of not obtaining the appropriate levels of Carbs/Fats/protein. After a pair of exhausting days ,you’ll want to throw in the towel and recover. *Do yourself a favor: DRINK water,consume electrolytes and EAT like your working body requires. ⛰ P.s. thanks for the vid, Cliff.
For fitness or lack of: I keep in mind that I can't recover from a deficit during the length of my hunt. When traversing terrain and no animals in sight, make sure you can always hold a normal conversation. When alone, especially at elevation above 8000, I often sing silently when exerting myself. If I can't do that I slow down. I don't want to enter anaerobic respiration and must slow my heart rate. You gotta be prepared to do that with less intelligent buddies.
Drink until you piss clear then keep drinking to stay that way.
Eat all my food, especially at night so it can digest.
Sleep, not during peek hours but I'm (45) and qualify for geezer naps and I sleep as much at night as possible.
Lastly be appreciative of everything while your able to be in the woods. It helps overall.
Good luck everyone, great job Cliff.
Thanks Woodlander. Great tips on the taking care of yourself front. I do some similar things. Really appreciate your insight on this stuff.
Hello Cliff, we hunted western Colorado for our first ever OTC elk hunt last fall during 3rd rifle. I just wanted to say that no matter how much you prepare before your first hunt you should have some ideas about what you will do differently. It’s an 18 hour drive for us and we spent much of our drive home taking notes about things we would do differently next year. One of the biggest mistakes I believed we made was not hunting all of the prime hours. Where we found our elk some of the locals said there was no way up the mountain. It was sketchy at best but we found elk every day. We never closed the gap enough to take a shot. We essentially were too nervous to hunt the evenings because we thought we might fall down the mountain. I should also mention we had our 12 and 13 year old kids hunting. We will be hunting the same area this fall and now have several safe ways up and down the areas we hunted. We have also spent the last year preparing for longer shots off of real rests and from awkward positions. Keep up the good work you are very educational for those of us new to western mountain hunting.
Thanks Allen
Dude first two on this list are so important! I work as a fishing guide in Oregon and I tell guests all the time, keep a positive attitude and and fish hard all day! I started big game hunting last year and have applied this to hunting. Got rewarded with a black bear and a 3x5 bull elk this fall! The bull elk came on opening morning of rifle season, hiked into a spot in the dark and shot my bull soon after shooting light. No prep, no scout because I have been busy with work. Just showed up with a positive attitude and hunted hard! And also got super lucky 😃
Cliff. You’re videos are the real deal. I am a guide in Eastern AZ and State wide New Mexico. Any time my clients have questions I send them your videos about it. You’re hands down the most realistic hunter I’ve listened to. All these other UA-camr hunters have no idea what reality is. You’re spot on! Thanks for sharing all your info.
Really appreciate it Brandon. Hell of a compliment! thanks. Good luck down there this Fall!
The white mountains in AZ and the navajo lands in NM will rival or beat CO all day long.
@@scottleggejr I’ve seen giant bulls in the white mountains where I camp every year. This year is my second year big game hunting.can’t wait to scout this fall!
I’m 66 workout year round. I solo hunt Rawa wiliderness in Colorado last 5 years, my 15th year in the area. With 65lbs on my back takes me awhile to get 5 miles in. You talked about hunting at dawn and dusk. Mornings not a problem but I don’t feel comfortable hunting till dark, I like to be in camp by dark because of the terrain I’m in. I do have a great GPS. I know it’s cost me some Elk in the past but my experience just bring in mountains 7 days by myself more than makes up for it. It’s all about the adventure, shooting an Elk is icing on the cake. Love your videos
Thanks Bryan! Totally understand the night time deal - particularly solo. One thing about guiding and outfitting is you always have a team in the vicinity and typically have communication with them... solo hunters have to take care of themselves always and managing risk is a part of that. Appreciate the support for the videos. thanks
Great advice! I'm not in the shape I normally am by the beginning of elk season but I still went out and had fun last weekend. I give the same advice to hunters as I do to college students: you'll do better by going to class and sleeping than you will by just skipping class. It's better to be in the woods at all, even if it's not the perfect scenario, than to not go out. I literally had a bull and two cows sneak up on me to within 10 yards while I was napping on Saturday.
Thanks! I actually nap myself quite often midday... I've woken up to a few similar scenarios over the years. hahaha
I can't tell you how much I appreciate your advice!!! I'm a foot surgeon headed out for my first Elk hunt at the end of this month so I'm really drinking from the fire hose. You're videos are awesome!! Thank you!! Another thought for any hunter headed up to elevation (but especially out-of-shape hunters), is to pound the fluids the week before and minimize alcohol to reduce your risk of altitude sickness. A day or two at an intermediate elevation can help and there's also a medication you could talk with your primary care doctor about called diamox (acetazolamide).
High elevation? Take the supplements. Not time shooting? Practice intentional breathing so when you shoot your vagus nerve is calmed and no jerk the trigger/release. Drink water with electrolytes like propel during the day. Eat salty snacks. Use trekking poles. Bring a pad to sit on and use it(take lots of breaks). Bring a warm hat so you’re not shivering in the dark. Take a moment every few steps to be grateful. Mark camp so you know you can get back in the dark. You can do this!
What supplements would you recommend
@@ricardo3773 Cognac and hard work, when you think you’ve walked Enough keep going and then when you finally get there and think this is the spot go another mile, and then when you get there and finally settle in eat a snack then go another 2 miles the elk will be there
Take it from a guy from Florida. Have your boot situation squared away.
Buy two or three premium (out west) hunting boots and keep the ones that feel like you can go all day up and down with no blisters. Ideally…get them 6mo in advance and hike in them regularly until you go on your hunt. Crispi worked for me.
Cliff your knowledge is awesome and your advice is spot on! I’m an archery guy and the one thing besides intimate knowledge of your equipment is taking care of your feet. I learned the hard way in seasons past when I went cheap on my footwear. Thanks again for sharing your experience. My Crispis are ready!
I've hunted elk for 10 yrs harvested 3 elk and got more knowledge from 3 hrs of your videos this spring than all 10 yrs combined. Keep up the awesome work! Wish me luck this yr. Trying with archery equipment and am under prepared with the calling aspect. Good luck out there guys. Listen to the advise of the experienced or professional hunters they know what they are talking about.
Really appreciate the support for the videos. Really glad they are helpful to you. Good luck on your archery hunt!
Absolutely correct. I first year ever hunting elk archery I was hunting late season unprepared and had very little knowledge of what I was doing. Stumbled across a bedded bull and got a 20 yd shot. Haven’t killed and elk since but been really close.
I hunted small and medium game a dozen times as a kid, and only a handful of times as an adult, but your advice just MAKES SENSE.
Thanks for sharing your experience and wisdom!
thank you!
Great advice. Food and hydration is often overlooked. I've hunted in Colorado 20 years and seen so many out of staters suffer at 9k ft from shitty food, alcohol and dehydration.
Cliff, great content and cool insights. Well done. Being present at peak hours is the best advice for most people. “Ain’t none till there are” is my hunting attitude.
haha! I love that one and it's to the point.... "Ain't none till there are". I might steal that for my first UA-cam tshirt, if you don't mind! haha
Being in position to glass at first and last light is where the fun begins.
I learned that line from my old ass uncle who’s been taking me into the Utah wilderness the last couple of seasons to pass down his hunting spots. I’ve learned a lot from that old hippie. You two share a lot of the same wisdom.
@@CliffGray I’ll buy a shirt!
Best hunting channel on UA-cam.
Thanks Eric!
You and Remi Warren have some of the best hunting prep/strategy/advise media. I have been recommending your channel to everyone i talk to about hunting. Keep up the great work, I've learned alot already
THANK YOU!
I do the same. Anyone that mentions anything about hunting I know which video of @cliffgay to refer them to.
Thanks for your videos, watched them all. Got my bull on day two for my first successful archery elk hunt! Your videos helped a lot.
Nice work Curtis! that is awesome. Couldn't be happier that I helped out a bit. thanks
Just keep a positive attitude and appreciate everything!
If you’re in shape or not, go slow, but steady and observe everything. Hunting is not a sprint; it’s a marathon and you need to appreciate every part of it.
I was just in the backcountry for 5 days archery hunting elk and it was way hotter(95 plus) than I expected, and I just kept telling myself that I have to stay positive and to keep on drinking water even if I don’t feel thirsty. It was an absolute grind sitting under my tarp in the cliffs glassing at 105 degrees, but I knew the elk had to move sometime to get water. They were extremely nocturnal, but I was able to see 19 head one night when it got down to 92 just before dark and to me that was a feat. I know I wouldn’t have seen those elk if I had given up in the heat and went back to camp.
Thank you for your great advice Cliff. I have learned so much from you. So I wanted to say thank you.
For sure, appreciate the support for the videos. awesome to here on the elk - finding elk in those type of temps is a feat in itself.
I got invited on a rifle hunt in November. We are late to the game but I am trying to get myself in physical and mental shape this is great advice thank you!
Good luck Brent!
Every time you put up a new video I wonder what more can this guy possibly tell me? Then you hit me with some stuff that will keep me pushing through. Trying to ignore the feeling of being defeated gets me all the time!
I really enjoy your videos Cliff. To all the new elk hunters out there; listen closely to Cliff about hunting morning and evening and getting to those spots on time!! Especially morning hunts, it can be very hard to get up way earlier than you normally do and hike your ass off and repeat for eight days. I have to stick to a routine to make this work. I’m a normal workin dude but on a very strenuous elk hunt I have to take a nap every day so I can have enough energy to get up and keep going. You would have much much better chances if you are able to get the jump on the game every morning of your hunt. It’s a bit harder to do than you first think. Also make sure you stay until after shooting light is gone, you should be hiking out in the dark every evening.
thanks John. really appreciate the support. I am also a big napper. To be honest, midday, I sleep every chance I get comfortable... hahaha.
I definitely prepped at archery tournaments and target shoots, and I did a hiking challenge to get in shape. I also got easy Phelps calls to use and practiced with them. My biggest failure is not being super familiar with my hunt unit, because I’m new to Elk hunting and don’t really know how to scout well. My first week out (last week) the elk couldn’t be seen or heard and even where I found bedding sites and tracks there was no recent sign. I realized, E-Scouting does NOT replace real scouting. It was a week of learning, but I never saw anything but does.
Yeah but it sounds like you got some good experience in the area now! I'm sure you will dig them up on the next trip. Good luck!
@@CliffGray for sure! Learned a ton. Have two more 5-day trips left. Would love to hear more about pre-rut vs rut hunts… and when to expect the rut to really kick off. Also, does weather play in to when the rut begins?
Someone may have already brought this up but "e-scouting" can do wonders if your hunt is out of reach for in person scouting. I've done a lot of scouting just using google maps before I bought a subscription to OnX. If nothing else it gives a great place to start developing a game plan and setting some expectations for your hunt. It's part of my own mental prep because I get an idea of how much elevation I'll have to climb, what the terrain is like, and helps find some of those close quarter setup locations you mentioned. It's also great for finding water which is super important here in Arizona.
for sure. I feel like e-scouting is even more useful once you have been to a spot once or twice. Then you really have an idea of what the map and topo lines are telling. Thanks Douglas!
Really good insights Cliff. Like success in as ny endeavor, have a good plan, then execute it well.
👍
Just got back from a 7 day hunt in CO in public land in an over the counter unit. Last year we were covered in Elk. This year we couldn't even find a track. Keep in mind we covered as much territory as possible for two 50 year old guys from Eastern PA at 9,500 Ft. We're in pretty good shape. Hunted every day out of camp at 4:30AM and left the woods at 8:15 Sucked. God damned domestic sheep and the FN dogs were everywhere.
Good luck to anyone headed Elk hunting.
Its amazing how different each year can be.... I have had a bunch of questions on grazing livestock and how they affect hunting. A lot of it... I don't mind, but sheep... particularly if they are intensive grazing them, run elk out of country quick. They stink up the water sources.... just lots of disruption.
@@CliffGray Being a public land hunter I've encountered a lot of domestic animal grazing. My take is cattle not such a big deal. They also make nice big paths for getting around quietly. Sheep on the other hand have seen to be a big challenge. There are a lot of them. I think the big problem is they come with dogs that don't like ANYTHING. The dogs come with people that feed them every day. There's a LOT of attention sheep require from dogs and people. Cattle just seem to be turned out and that's it. The sheep eat everything. We had lots of water so that wasn't an issue.
Since the hunt I've heard that Colorado has been dry for some time now and more and more ranchers are looking to put their animals up high where I guess it's cooler and more water?
I know for a fact that whatever those big cream colored Sheep protecting dogs pin down in the middle of the night and can't kill themselves the ranchers shoot. Two years ago we found three dead bears the first week of Archery. One was a cinnamon phase with a head the size of my chest.
I've camped next to cattle - no big deal. If the sheep are within a half mile of you look out. The dogs barking and the sheep baying and Rams hollering all night long. Jesus its all silence of the lambs stuff.
This was our fourth year in this area and we've had sheep every year. We've been able to work around them and kill Elk. Not this year. I don't think it's the same rancher or something has changed. The first two years the dogs I guess kept the sheep together really well. I watched them from the treestand the first two years and the big dogs were on it. The adult female dog was on her game. I don't know how they train them or what they cost but coming from a guy that appreciates a good bird dog that female in my estimation was priceless. Last year and this year especially there were groups (like a half dozen) all over the place. I never did encounter the "flock" in the woods. It was a mess.
If there's sheep you need to drag up and go look elsewhere.
excellent video man, my advice is if your trip is coming up and your feeling like your conditioning took a back seat during the off season, don’t panic train and blast weights and runs you have no business messing with in hopes to recondition in a week. chances are your just going to hurt yourself or leave yourself in worse condition then before the conditioning cram fest! thanx again cliff!
thanks Greg. great tip
I am very overweight. That being said I have a good ability, all things considered to play to my strengths. I am a good shot with a rifle and a bow. I hike respectable distances but I do so slowly. I allow myself extra time. I try to never shoot animals in places that I can’t retrieve them or that will get me into a pickle. I keep this in mind and hunt areas that are doable. I wake up early and go to bed late. Most importantly…. I go out and do it. I don’t tell myself “oh your too fat, maybe next year you will be in better shape”. No. I accept where I am at now and make the best of it.
Makes a lot of sense! thanks
What great advice in one video!
Living in Colorado I think checking the weather and packing clothing/gear with options matters. We’ve gone from 50 degrees to a whiteout snowstorm, 50 mph winds and 20 degrees overnight. Not fun if you didn’t prepare and are at 10k feet in 3rd season. Not a bad idea to pop on the weatherband station in 3rd season a few times.
good advice!
Great advice, again, Cliff! Another tip for unprepared hunters is to talk with wildlife and other officers before and during the hunt. I took my son on our first antelope hunt not having a clue what we were doing. Luckily for us, a Colorado sheriff stopped us at a checkpoint while looking for hunters with loaded rifles in cars. After showing him that our chambers were empty, I asked the sheriff if he had any advice for novice antelope hunters. I think he took pity on us and gave us some very sound advice for that area. With his advice, and a big bit of luck, we had a 13-inch, mature antelope buck on the ground that evening. I make sure to stop and talk with wildlife officers and local law enforcement if I'm fortunate enough to see them while scouting, going to a hunt, or while hunting. In Colorado, hunters can talk with one on the phone. They are great guys and gals, good at what they do, and have a wealth of knowledge about the area. I introduce myself, thank them for their service, and then ask if they have any tips or advice.
Matt, that is awesome! I've actually got a video filmed on calling state game managers, wardens, biologists... as you mention I think people way underestimate the value of communicating with them or communicating with just about anyone locally. Awesome tips for folks and a great story to back it up. Thanks Matt!
Appreciate your content. Has really helped with the mental game involved in the hunt. Got in on a 6x6 at 50 this past weekend. It was just a bit outside my comfort zone. Heading back up again tomorrow. That said the homework was a big difference maker. Also bring ear plugs for the mid day grind. We had so many flies it taxed every nerve we had. You couldnt hear anything at distance with them either.
Glad the content has been helpful! Good luck on this next trip. I've been there with the flies, mosquitoes... I like the ear plug idea!
Solid advice that you normally don't hear when talking about elk hunting, but needs to be! To me, the mental part has always been the toughest. I found out that eating enough food has helped me tremendously, as I catch myself not eating enough and my mind is just not in it. You are 100% right on that! Plus, I put an extra days pack of food in my pack because I need it when we do have a bull down and the extra food is a life saver because it's a long night/day when we're lucky enough to haul an elk out! 🥵
I do glass for long periods of time, but I also take a paperback book to read some during those times when I'm not glassing and at night in the tent. That helps me mentally as well. Oddly enough, the books I take are not hunting related, but topics of other hobbies I have.
Like the book idea! appreciate the support on the video. Thanks
@@CliffGray I'm probably the only elk hunter reading books about marathon running while chasing elk. But while running the Missoula Marathon the other week, me and a local who was also running, were talking about elk hunting! 😁
Cliff you're awesome.....I was drawn to your videos because your just like me.....except a way better hunter..... I just saw in this video we have the same pict of cowboys hunting with the deer standing behind them.... I bought that pict one season that really was defined by that pict. Keep it up.... I'm learning so much, if only I could explain how much your advice and council has helped me.
Thanks Cliff
Thanks Jeff, appreciate the support.
That is a great picture. Captures a lot. Great stuff.
I’m really enjoying your videos! This year is only my third year hunting. This is my first public land elk tag ❤ thanks for the great videos!
Another helpful vid! My son was born last March. Made it hard to get out for A LOT of scouting this summer, but he's got an awesome momma, so I was able to get out for a solid week in August. 😁👍
nice! good luck this Fall. New babies and hunting season can be tough!
Two Tips:
Tip 1: Choose your hunting camp buddies carefully. Guys that want to sit around in camp and slam beers until 11pm every night will affect your drive to get out and hunt. It would be better to camp alone and be focused on hunting than to hunt with unmotivated guys. Tip Number 2: Spend plenty of time out in the field. I know guys that have been very successful that were not very good hunters and did not use good tactics, but they spent a LOT of time in the field and minimized their camp time. You will not shoot an elk from within your wall tent. I know of guys that have shot elk in the middle of the day when you would think the eld would be bedded down.
For sure. I am going to try to do a whole video on your first tip. The nature of my outfitting, I dealt with a lot of hunter groups. Hunters way underestimate how much choice of hunting partners matters.
Went out last weekend with guys like this. Thought everyone was on the same page, made our plans, then they stayed up all night drinking and i was the only one that went out in the morning. Pissed me off and made me consider going with them again.
Yep! I've hunted solo many years. That staying up half the night drinking and singing hasn't been appreciated very much by my buddies. 😂 Just kidding, I haven't drank in decades and your first tip is right on point. Your second tip is also valid. I've seen elk up and feeding in the early afternoon in dark timber where there are small clumps of vegetation, dense cover and water close by their beds.
Thanks so much for your generosity in sharing such a wealth of knowledge and insight. Every video i have absorbed so much. I know I will step into the mountains more prepared and more than likely more successful. Thanks again.
👍
Great video Cliff. Don’t know if I’ve ever seen anybody with this advice. So timely
thanks Ralph!
I will be driving 30 hours to hunt Colorado solo this year and giving up will not be an option. Great tips in your videos that most people would never think of.
Drive safe and good luck man!
@@CliffGray We stopped in Eagle on Sunday before heading to the airport and I said wouldn't that be something if Cliff gray came walking by. Warm temps for you guys hunting the opener.
Did you get out there?
How did you do big dog?
Cliff, great advice! Last year I committed to hunting "prime time" hours every day of a seven day elk hunt. I killed my first OTC bull on the last morning! That experience changed the way I prepare and look at a hunt
Nice! Nothing like a last day bull. Congrats
ive waited 30yrs to throw this trip together in 4 weeks. ive put it off over & over & over..not this year. literally everything from gear, finding a guy to go with me, to turning my enclosed trailer into a camper. honestly im good at buying gear, turning a wrench, making preparations. Ive watched 100hrs of Elk101,Elknut,Born&raised,THP, & your channel. i can cow call better with a diaphragm than i can with a long reed but my bugle is embarrassing. im gonna be stepping off I-70 at Glenwood Springs & stepping into the White River NTL forest for 2 full weeks with aspirations of filling a tag on any legal animal. although i caint wait, im nervous as i can be. ive got 45 waterholes marked on OnX i figure its a good way to start as hot as the last 10days have been
Good call on the water, I would also look for north facing timber, I'm up in the northern front range and was out Sunday and all the fresh sign was on the. Very bottom of canyons, at wallows and in north/northeast facing drainages with timber. Even open northeast faces where I usually find them are void of recent sign
@@birder4life999 excuse my ignorance. a N facing slope with dark timber is the coolest place to be in the afternoon right? Steeper the slope the cooler it may be? I was told thee was a late frost & scrub oaks are pretty bare this year but the grasses are in fair condition.
@@DustinApple Yep, north is coolest followed by northeast (no afternoon sun) and speer is cooler, but but elk don't like to bed on the steepest stuff so gentle slopes and benches in the steeper ones.
The oaks I can't speak to because I am to far north to have any of those. But the grasses are in unusually good condition since we have had a pretty wet late summer, Glenwood hasn't been quite as wet, but that sounds like you got some good local intel.
good luck man! pace yourself up there. let's just say, I've spent a little time around there up in the wilderness areas.
Very valuable information. Thank you.
Great advice! Always good to remember not to give up. Spent the last year to get ready, now time to put it to practice.
For sure. Good luck!
Great advice man. The most important part in my opinion is not skipping even 1 hunt. That's the key, you can't get an elk if your not out there. Also could you do a video on advice for hunting in coastal oregon type regions man, really thick rainforest is different than the rockies.
Thanks! To be honest, I don't have much experience hunting elk in coastal regions. Hence, I am not one to give a bunch of advice on it... I think a lot of the things I cover still apply, but I'm sure my glassing-centric tactics are less applicable. Now that I'm no longer guiding, I'm going to try to hunt some new regions... I'll do some videos on those trips. Less advice driven and more my observations of the similarities and differences... maybe that will be helpful to folks. Thanks!
One of the few benefits I get from my career path is I'm blessed to live and work in elk country, and I spend all day everyday running up and down the same hills they do. They make it look alot easier, but there's nowhere they can go (that's public, or I have permission for) that I can't/won't follow them. Not saying I get offered a shot opportunity every time, but it's never been because I wasn't willing or able to put in the miles, crawl through any brushy shit hole a rabbit would balk at, whatever it takes, sometimes they're just a few steps ahead, no matter how fit you are, or how good you shoot, or how well you know the area
Thanks cliff, I needed this...I leave in less than 2 weeks for southern Colorado and I wish I had another month or so prep. The funny thing is...I've been planning, preparing, and training for this literally daily since last November. I've back packed and do a lot of bowhunting but never combined the two, plus I've only hunted for whitetails. There is so much to learn and of course I needed to update most of my gear (much to the distress of my fiscally responsible wife). I wish I shot my recurve a little better, called better and lost that 15lbs I swore would be gone by now. I'm going solo for 2 weeks so I'm hoping I can put all the pieces together!
Good luck John. Have fun!
Two weeks solo, you'll learn a lot about the mountain, but potentially even more about yourself.
@@MiddleOutdoorsman ....thats what I'm afraid of...lol...just kidding...I'm sure I will run into plenty of hunters and have not ruled out taking a break and driving into town to regroup and eat a meal
I can't tell you how many times I wanted to be on the trail when darkness fell.................What a mistake! The first time you push yourself through that fear of finding the trail in pitch black you will feel like you won. then the next time it gets a little easier till finally you do it all the time. Cliff, Thank you for your passionate advice I really appreciate it.
For sure John! appreciate you support for the channel. thanks
Absolutely love your videos. We moved out west three years ago and filled out rifle tag the first two years and this year I took my first bull with a bow in large part because of your advice. Problem is I only gave him 1 hour to bleed out like I did for deer back east. We bumped him, from his death bed 250 yards from where I shot him, we then tracked him 1/2 mile across scree field and .25 miles straight up all with more blood than I could imagine a animal has, a constant stream and pools up to 6’ diameter where he stopped. We gave up 200’ from the top of a 10k mountain because without ropes our lives were at risk and we could never get the meat out. We slid on our buts to get off the top of that mountain and I was worried my wife or I would not survive the descent. I would love to see a video on how long to wait before tracking. Arrow entered and broke a rib exited high as I was shooting from 15-20 below and I heard the rib crack. Blood from both holes at first then only entrance hole as it was lower on his body. Huge thanks for you helping us regular guys that love to hunt
Hey Ty! Appreciate the support for the channel and videos.
Bummer on losing the bull. I can do a video on waiting, tracking bulls, etc.... Maybe also just hit on the reality of how common it is too. Sounds like you gave it a really hard go... One thing that I have found with wounded bulls... once they start going up hill, I mean up hill not side hilling - rifle hit, bow hit, whatever... you chances of recovering them drop dramatically. My findings from bulls I have recovered that have done this... it usually means a one lung hit. elk will travel a long ways, up and down, with one lung. If that was the case... even if you waited 2x-3x you may have ended up with the same results. Single lungs take a long time to kill...
My biggest piece of advice on wounded elk is to stalk them like a bedded, unwounded elk.... trying to get a second shot. Sometimes seems odd when you know they are as good as dead... but I've had some "perfect shots" that turn into through the night, multi-day adventures. Good luck on your next hunt... I really appreciate you sharing your story on here. Thanks
@@CliffGray thanks, very good chance single lung as I shot from below and he bled heavy out of entrance and little then none out of exit. I have never seen an animal bleed that much so I just couldn’t believe he wasnt going to be dead around the next bush. I look forward to your video, I have the scouting and killing part down pretty good, used a bow and stick rubbing a tree behind him rubbing and bugeling to shoot this one but after they are hit and butchering them I have much to learn. After this trip I am thinking of stashing some rope and repelling gear back there to safely get meat down nasty slopes, I enjoyed your ropes video. Keep them coming
@@tyb3938 Knowing the rope stuff is great for specific situations. Be careful, try to get in on a ropes class. Fun stuff even outside of hunting. Thanks and good luck!
@@CliffGray thanks, great idea I think we will add a ropes class to our winter activities list
Super content, here! I’m at least half + prepared, and I still found great value here!
good deal! good luck
Another extremely useful video for a new western hunter (like me). Thanks for the quality content!
for sure. thanks Andy!
Hey boss, thank you for your brutal honesty on hunting and outdoorsmanship.
How many experienced elk hunters over the years have you heard can’t hunt the backcountry anymore because of knees, backs, and similar injuries ?
And do you think that strength and size of the hunter matters in terms of mitigating injuries from packouts?
Excellent knowledge you are sharing here. True MOST hunters do not hunt their full hunt. In fact I think more than half maybe a lot more check out / quit / shut it down about 3 days in. I’ve heard an unbelievable number of excuses. Sad but true.
I’ve hunted all mine and all were successful
Food prep agree 100% we HATE guys who “shop on the drive out” No Way this works out instead of dependable energy food gets wasted
Here is a tip I’ve done for the last 35 years. Ultra light hammock. I think mine is under 1#. One of those survival looking things could be used as a fish net. With this I can get a nap during midday. A real nap up away from camp close to being “on location”
This keeps my stress level down. Increases enjoyment. Helps turn hunt hours into maximum used hours. And helps all around avoiding dumb stuff or accidents.
I started this in my 30s and it has grown now A great habit.
Good Luck everybody and Safe Travels
Thanks Cliff already got a colorado archery elk down!
yeah buddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! congrats
I just starved myself out of a muzzleloader bear hunt in the Flattops. My first solo backpack hunt and I only lasted 4 days (only hunted the opening day yesterday and the rest were scouting. Just got excited about being there and started running around to high elevations with a pack that was WAY too heavy. I figured I was eating around 1800 cals a day and I'm 6'6 330 pounds (now 316, haha). I have never had depression before but by day 4 I think I got a good idea of what it would feel like. I had by far the most negative string of thoughts I have ever had and I had the urge to sleep constantly. Learned a lot and can't wait to get back up there and try again. PS: If you go to the Flattops don't take a 4 door sedan up Coffee Pot Rd., you will destroy the undercarriage, an expensive mistake on my part, haha.
Yikes! Well you will be better next round.
The food deal matters so much… it will screw with you. Good ole coffee pot, it’s taken a few good vehicles before their time… particularly past deep lake in Oct/nov.
Thanks for sharing the story Tyler 👍
Awesome channel Cliff
Cliff,
I was wondering if you have done any videos on cow hunting in the early season. The hot weather causes them to be vampires and they come into water sources at 2-3 am.
I was hoping you could let me know your thoughts , and strategies,on these types of hunts. Thanks again for great videos!
Thanks Mickey. I'll do a video that covers hunting elk when they are mostly nocturnal. That will cover this situation. thanks!
Great advice again!! Thanks Cliff. My wife and I are headed out in CO Sept 14th.
Good luck beautiful country and lots of hunters 👍🏻👊🏻
Good luck man!
"Mountains are big!" Be prepared that it will suck, sometimes a little, and sometimes a lot! It's all worth it when that bull is 7 yards away and screaming so loud you wish you have earplugs. Pre-packaging food is and always has been my go to. When you are tired at night and don't want to prep and you can just throw a ziploc full of the next day's food in your pack it makes a huge difference. Drink as much water as you can stand. fill your water bladder and bottles at night so you are ready in the morning. Mix in some electrolytes too. I plan on glassing and still hunting a bunch until I get acclimated. Also, since my archery practice has been limited until the last few months, 40 yards max. If back at camp mid day, practice shooting your bow.
great additional tips - particularly on keeping hydrated! thanks Brian!
Good evening Echo
Great content! Thanks for sharing with the hunting community. Subbed.
thanks!
Always great content, thnx a million
Just came out of backcountry. Had 2 encounters so far. No bugling at all. Moving areas tomorrow. Not alot of sign. Have the whole month in Co to get it done. My problem is mentally hunting solo is tough. Hunting an area that is not glassable.
Hunt solo is a challenge by itself... I gotta give it to you guys that do it a lot! good luck on the next round.
Have had a lot of success with the hooche ,you can make it sound better if you listen to real elk sounds and try to mimic them ,good luck.
hoochie mamma is underrated!
Questions: any video available on preparing your hunt pack, items must have, etc.? Next, most effective and easy elk call? Do you carry a sidearm for defense? How do I know what areas I can legally hunt in Idaho? How can I tell if an area is good? TIA.
I just put up a gearlist video. That might be helpful for you. Head to the Idaho fish and game website, they have a big game brochure that covers all the legalities and can get you up to speed on that front. Good luck!
@@CliffGray Thanks Cliff. Keep’m comin’ pls.
Great advice
thanks!
Content is Awesome. Forsee this chanel blowing up.
Man! I really appreciate the support. Thanks
25 years ago I was a bunch of powerbars, bottled water, lots of beer, and peanutbutter cups. Great memories many successful hunts. But I know even then I needed more food. Since food preparation and better camp practices. ( no beer) I have way more fun.
I've had so many hunts were I got in a calorie deficit and just couldn't crawl back up out of the lack of energy hole. The more cognizant I have become with it over the years, the better I hunt/guide. Thanks Robert!
Hi Cliff,
Thank you very much for all the content and really appreciate all the content and information that you provide in your videos!!
I have a question, on backcountry backpacking hunts, how do you determine where to camp? Would you camp on top of the ridges where you can have easier/more convenient access to your glassing spots but have a less desirable camping/water-access situation?
I have scouted some of the spots where I have seen elk tracks (lakes/marshes) however don't want to camp too close to these spots in order to avoid bumping them out of the area(s). Was wondering if you would possibly do a video on this subject.
Thank you very much and looking forward to your reply!
Sincerely, Curt
i second this comment!
/question
Hey Curt, great question. I'll do a video on camp locations. thanks
If ur bow hunting I'd find a pocket, you dont want to be too close to the top, you'll get hammered with wind. Find a pocket with some flat ground somewhat close to these areas.
@@ctrip34 Thank you!
One time I almost got an archery shot on a bison on the n edge of n. rim grnd cyn when it was otc. Luckily it got away. Had I killed it, I surely would have lost the meat. That winter I had no meat so I bought a beef and butchered it at the house. This was one of the best things I could have done for myself. Beef, elk and buffalo are much different to handle then deer. I learned this the hard way but had a safety of being at the house. My knives, that I "thought" were sharp some how became dull... Supplies/tools I didn't realize I would need, I could get because I was at the house. The over all experience was hard but it brought my game up. The beef was around 800lbs and I got some 200lbs meat out of it... fun!
So when I did finally havest an elk, I did surprisingly well. It was a fun experience.
to this day... I remember butchering a old bull bison with my dad. I was probably 7-8 years old. He was an outfitter and pretty handy cutting stuff up... but I still remember it taking a long time and him getting frustrated. those things are beasts!
I like the new logo for your avatar
thanks man! thought it was a little goofy but its growing on me.
What I really appreciate is if your phone is stuck on orientation you can still watch this video upside down and it’ll just look like a clean-shaven guy with a bushy head of hair.
HA!
Pace yourself the first two days, when leaving camp in morning and high attitude don’t push to the point you start busting sweat and overheat just to get to a spot. Keep cool and breathing under control. Go as fast as your body allows without overheating and stinking up your clothes first day. After a couple days you’ll oftener find you can go at a much quicker pace.
great rule of thumb to use. thanks
Take your time, every corner is a new vista.
if you turn a hunt into a pressure situation you will fail, calm down think and enjoy the experience of being out there doing it.
Most hunts will fail if it's always a race.
good tip Mark. thanks
If your hunting a new area ans unfamiliar with the area, whats ur best advise for getting back to camp in the dark? GPS unit?
GPS unit with backup batteries, two lights.
I always make sure I have the gear to spend the night - a way to start a fire reliably and some extra layers. Not saying I lug around a bunch of extra weight to be comfortable if I have to spend the night, just enough to know I'm not going to die.
It sounds goofy, but knowing that the worst case situation is just some hardship - not a real threat - makes the dark and other circumstances a lot less intimidating. Hope that helps.
Ya that helps alot, thanks
Man Clif I just drew a dep elk hunt for this weekend. IAM not a bow hunter haven't shot a bow much. Last time I shot one was 13 years ago. I turned it down. Kills me 15 years trying to draw out for elk. And I had to turn it down. Last ting I want to do is shoot one bad case I am not prepared.
good on ya man! you will get another chance.
Grew up hunting mule deer with a rifle but never hunted elk, this year will be my first. Are there any big difference/strategy I should focus on? Thanks
Depends a lot on when/where.... as a vast over generalization, pressured elk will move further when messed with, will completely abandon spots and not return during a hunt, are less forgiving when it comes to scent, and they don't stop for shots, like a mule deer buck will on it's way out. Hope that helps man!
@@CliffGray that actually helps a lot man, thank you!
Start low and go slow if you're a flatlander like me. I used to want to hit the hard areas first (with my fresh legs), but the opposite is true. No need to burn yourself out by day 3. Better to get those midday naps in and hit the prime hours.
for sure!
To many guys go camping, to be successful you need to keep it simple, this is a hunting trip. To much focus on the back country, not enough on habitat, can't kill what ain't there.
I’ve been killing elk and deer since the 80’s here in New Mexico. Age is catching up to me, I’m not in near the shape I once was. I’ve got an elk hunt in mid October and Deer hunt toward the end of November. The hardest part of the hunts now are getting them out of the field. We hunt in areas where you can’t drive off road to retrieve game. When I was in outstanding shape our elk were called two day elk, because that’s what it took us on average to get one back to camp, two days. This year I plan to go a little slower, not shoot one down or across canyon, and hold until he gets on top of the mesa. I will also attempt the gutless field dressing method this year, which I’ve never done. It’s just me and one other out of shape fellow this year. Two things I’ve learned about elk over the decades, 1. Elk are going to be where you find them. 2. Elk won’t run into camp and surrender. Should be fun…
Good luck man!
If you're unprepared, network with other hunters hunting similar areas. Coordinating/cooperating with a competitive hunting party can increase the odds of success for both parties. You'll also have friends on the mountain for years to come instead of enemies.
Approaching other folks in your hunting area and getting a reporrt going is always a good thing! thanks
- Prime hunting hours. Personally, I NEVER miss a morning hunt, and I've punched a tag in the afternoon going through bedding areas before. So, I never discount afternoons either. My biggest failing is evenings. I will hunt evenings, but often enough, not as late into the evening as I should and I know it. Typically, I'll need my headlamp, about halfway back to camp. That said, this is a conscious decision on my part, because I've always been running solo. My rational is that if something goes sideways in the morning, I know daylights coming, and I've time to get myself out of a jam. In the evening, that isn't true. I carry an emergency kit in case I have to stay that night away from my camp, but it's not something I want. Aside from having to pack out at night. Sure it would be cooler, but its freaking easy to get turned around at night. If I wasn't by myself all the time , I'd look at things differently. Being solo, I view this entirely through the lens of risk vs reward . Sometimes, the extra risk is worth the potential reward, sometimes it isn't.
edit: trimmed down the blinding wall of text. I talk too much.
Great additional info! thanks Your perspective on the night hunt is a good one. Particularly as a solo hunter. Tracking animals, last minute shooting ops, etc... can make for interesting circumstances in the deep hours of the night. Without some help... it may make sense to avoid those, based on the where and the type of hunting you are doing.
Really appreciate the insights. Thanks
I am with you on the night issue...even hunting whitetail from my truck I hate tracking and field dressing in the dark solo...I can't even imagine doing it with an animal the size of an elk...not to say I'm only going to hunt the am's ....just not looking fwd to it
I hunted for years by myself in Southern California and I got myself in situations where if I broke a leg etc, I would die out there. Now I hunt with the best four guys ever.
Please try and find someone to hunt with.
@@hernanlecea7041 I appreciate your concern and understand what your saying. If it were possible to find a hunting partner, or go with people I know, I'd have done it already. Oh I tried,. Folks on my wife side of the family hunt regularly. For a few years I saved their annual camp site, chopped firewood, even packed in one of their tree stands for them. But when I asked, "Hey, mind if i come along?" I was told in a round about and polite way, no. I haven't asked since. Just went my own way. Been solo hunting now for about 9 years I think.
Folks new to high altitude must carry LOTS of water: min 1.5qts/day. Lack of water will aggravate altitude sickness and create stunning headaches, or just lower physical efficiency. throw a Power Bar in your daypack and take breaks at 10 and 2 if moving alot. And LISTEN: you will be surprised how far sound carries. I usually take 5-10 steps, stop for 15-60 seconds, then move again. I have walked up within 30 yds of elk moving this way.
great additional tips. thanks!
I have in my mind 4 places I want to go in the area I'm going to be in and trying to decide if I should start up high or towards the bottom. I know scouting these spots will take all day for each place. Any advice?
Going 2nd rifle season.
2024 I drew an elk tag in 16c New Mexico,,, first time elk hunting
I have never had a elk hunt where I haven’t brought home less than a 5:5 or 6:6 Bull Elk. Year after year after year. My system has never failed yet.
So .....give us some pointers....
Good for you, my system has never failed either and I don't always bring home an elk lol l!
Keep it growing 30k next
yeah buddy! haha. always appreciate the support man!
If I didn't have a chance to properly prepare for my elk hunt, I just drive around the night before the opener and look for the truck with a Mathews decal in the window and follow him/her. Or I drive around and physically glass other camps and look for the guys with Kuiu camo cause they for sure know where the elk are. Or I seek out the camps with the Yeti coolers cause no way they spent $1600 on coolers without knowing the elks bedrooms. Or I just follow all the orange marking tape left in the trees as I know this will lead me right to a kill spot.
Now this is a comment i tremendously appreciate. Gear queers dominate the art of hunting anymore, and its not even an art anymore...its a sport
@@whiteyfisk9769 the most prepared are the ones with the latest social media influencer gear
@@whiteyfisk9769 I believe hunting is a trend and hopefully it will decrease in popularity because any $$ brought in everyone thought would be good was consumed by the States greediness more than put into conservation projects. It's also taken technology to levels that mock fair chase. Herd numbers are down in the areas I hunt. I assume they are down across the West. That is never good.
i feel like this was made specifically for me.
haha, well man I hope it helps you out!
Cliff what if we’re scared of the dark there’s the bogeyman Freddy Krueger zombies kinds of stuff
well, in that case, you just need to subscribe to the channel. I'll be covering self defense for bogeymans and zombies, hybrid werewolves, etc... I actually sell a supplement that makes you immune to their attacks.
@@CliffGray ok Ill do a review on your supplements, but im still going to sleep with my headlamp on. 🧟♂
When you get older you have to understand you cannot cover as much rough terrain as you used to. Know your limitations, your strengths and weaknesses. Learn to use the terrain to your advantage and utilize the knowledge and wisdom of your hunting experiences.
Big bucks like to ‘hole up’ up high where they can remain unmolested by elk and other critters until just before the rut…but not always.
Understand the terrain that elk utilize and why they utilize that terrain. Wooded saddles, dense north, northeast, northwest and west facing slopes tend to hold elk.
Use the wind and thermals to your advantage, use south, southeast, southwest facing slopes to traverse an area always keeping below the ridge line. Your scent is your greatest enemy.
Sometimes, when you cannot cover as much ground as you used to spot-and-stalk may be the ticket to help you punch that tag successfully. Run-and-gun is ok if you are fit enough and mentally prepared.
Understand that mountain backpack hunting is grueling both mentally and physically but it boils down to mind over matter. Your body can take more punishment than you think.
Water, water, water…in the backcountry it is water that matters both to yourself and to the critters.
Another great video filled with information @Cliff
Thanks Richard. Some great additional tips in there.
Just go hunt!
If your boots aren’t broken in start that now
10!
Keep your nose in the wind and your eyes along the skyline
I only gotta lose 50 lbs in 3 weeks
That might be tricky!!! Hahahaha 👍
Eat good enjoy being outdoors and leave your baggage at the truck
I like it... simple but VERY true. thanks
Try and shot the biggest bull u see😂
Prepare food. Plan ahead of time your snacks and meals.
I personally enjoy cooking a handful of meals at home before the trip, freezing them and relying on them after a long day of hunting.
It’s cost effective, and beats the heck out of 10 days of MREs/ MountainHouse. (However they’re also convenient)
Important Side note - make sure your nutrition levels are considered. I have made the mistake of not obtaining the appropriate levels of Carbs/Fats/protein. After a pair of exhausting days ,you’ll want to throw in the towel and recover.
*Do yourself a favor:
DRINK water,consume electrolytes and EAT like your working body requires. ⛰
P.s. thanks for the vid, Cliff.
Thanks David!