How'd you get started

[Buzzard Breath]

I've got a question for all you die hard western hunters. How'd you get started?

The reason I ask this is, because sometime in the next couple of years (before I turn 40) I would like to take another bowhunting trip out west. I have been once before, a drop camp elk hunting in Colorado, with a buddy, neither of us had any idea what we were doing. But, I have been bitten by the bug.

Most of my current hunting buddies aren't reliable enough to show up for a weekend whitetail hunt, or they are too out of shape to hunt in the mountains, so I would probably be going solo. I thought about an antelope hunt, but I would really like to return to the mountains. I could do a guided hunt, but would prefer DIY. Anybody got any idea? What got you started?

Thanks, Buzz

 

[PO Cedar]

My first trip was in 1981. My wife's sister/husband was in Colorado Springs,he was an MP at Ft. Carson. They didn't have any extra money to do anything so we took a motorhome out. We spent the first week doing the tourist thing,"Garden of the Gods",Cripple Creek gold mining town,Buckskin Joes,7 Falls. BUT I had packed my bowhunting gear,Alice Pack,etc... The second week they had to go back to work so I headed over to Creede with the MH and parked it in a campground. Hooked up to electricity and packed out of the campgrounds up onto Snowshoe Mtn. I hunted 4 days but honestly didn't know how to hunt them,didn't use any calls( a spent rifle cartridge,brass coil bugles were about the only calls then). I was hooked. I made a mistake of taking a partner the following year. He looked to be physically fit but turned out to be a wimp. He drove out so he dictated that we would have to hunt from his 2 wheel drive truck after he refused to go any further with the backpack. I swore I would never return unless I went solo or had researched/spent time with whoever went out with me. It was about 1990 before I went back--after a sour trip with pards in 2004 I'm back solo and plan on going that way for the remaining years I hunt out there. The best way to go unless you have a faithful relative,hunting pard is to go solo but set up a base camp within a mile or two of another camp/make friends with that group and help each other have a safe and enjoyable trip. I also established a friendship with the rancher/wife that operate range cattle on the public land I hunt.Good luck!

 

[Locksley]

My trips out west 1987, 1991, ,1993, 1994, and I tried for 1996 with PO Cedar but got sick and had to turn back at least I went some but mine were all after age 40 and those mountains were tough.
.

 

[cecil30-30]

Don't want to come off as rude or nosey,but if you guys to mind me asking,what did it cost you guys to do a DIY hunt out west.With fuel,lodgeing,food,and license?You don't have to say,just thought i would ask.I'd love to go out west and hunt,but i know i couldn't afford to pay someone.

 

[PO Cedar]

cecil30-30, I keep saying I'm going to do a one day seminar on how to do a DIY archery hunt out West on a budget. If there was enough folks interested I thought maybe meet at a spot where scenarios could be set up,have handouts with equipment lists,etc.. and maybe cook up some grub for lunch. What'd you think?----- With fuel costs increasing,a person would probably have a little over $1000.00 invested in the trip,depending on several variables. BUT he/she would find it to be the best $1,000.00 they spent. If you split expenses it would help-but these type of trips calls for you KNOWING who you are going with. Its not like a 1 hr. away whitetail hunt where if it goes sour,alternate arrangements can be made to part company. And being in good physical conditioning will enhance the hunt immensely.

 

[Quiver]

I lived in CO for a couple of years and got comfotable with the mountains, but only camped mostly. Last year was our first DIY hunt. I will agree that you need to know your partners well. One can spoil it for the group and he could get buried in the mountains. ;)However, you have to be really prepared for a solo hunt also. The advantages of going with 3 trusted friends: Driving/4, expenses/4, weight/4,and meat hauling/4. I am referring to a later season gun hunt. There are some advantages to an early season bowhunt. I myself prefer a 4 man group broken down at camp into 2 man hunt teams.

A 4 person trip can be done for $900 ea not including gear or taxidermy work.
I will post a spreadsheet later that might be helpful to some.

Cecil- lodging is free. :D

 

[cecil30-30]

PO Cedar that would be a great idea,but don't limit it to only archery.I am not a serious archery hunter so i would probly go on either a Muzzleloader or Rifle hunt.I hunt solo now and haven't hunted with anyone for the past 3 years,i know first hand on how your hunting partner can spoil your hunt.

I'd appreciate you posting a spreadsheet,Quiver.I wasn't thinking,when i asked about lodging!So when you say $900 ea not including gear or taxidermy work,would that include your license and food?Thats with 3 other pepole.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

Thanks for all the replies. PO Cedar, I think it would be great to learn some of the knowledge you have of DIY western hunting. My biggest concern with going solo, and probably the only reason I haven't gone, is how do you get an elk off the mountain?

Quiver, that spreadsheet would be interesting to see.

 

[Slaughter-06]

Your first trip will cost you the most, gearing up with camping gear, topo maps, elk calls, hiking boots, survival gear but after that first trip, $1000.00 can be done depinding on what your license cost.

Quick cost breakdown for a 10 day bow hunting trip to New Mexico.

Based on 4 people going in two trucks pulling 16' trailers.

Gas (2400 miles RT) $300.00 Ea.
Food S150.00 Ea.
Hunting License $368.00 Trophy areas are around $768.00
Spending money $200.00 I would take more just in case.
-------
Total per man $1080.00

 

[4onaside]

I can only concur that its my way or the highway, which is the theme of several on here. When my non-hunting wife can go, she obviously is a compatable and prefered companion. I went with a super good friend and a relative several times, but as I got older and they got even older than me(in attitude and disposition), lol, I decided that all of the complaining about everything was too much to endure and took all of the fun out of the trip. I know that you are primarily aimed at the mountains, but a high plains goat hunt can be super fun also. And, if you are solo, a hundred pound antelope is a whole bunch easier to handle than a 650 lb bull.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

I really want to get back into the mountains, however, I've considered doing a goat hunt, just for the fact that I think my wife would enjoy going as a non-hunting companion. Actually, she would probably enjoy going as a hunting companion. She doesn't enjoy strenuous hunts, but wouldn't mind sitting over a waterhole.

 

[Quiver]

Here is the packlist in jpeg. I can email to anyone in excel if they would like to autocalculate pack weight.

 

[Quiver]

Cecil- if you use 1 vehicle
$300 (3 people)(Depends on fall fuel cost) for fuel.
Truck provider doesn't pay a fuel cost.
$500 ea OTC bull tags
$50 ea trail food
$50 ea for misc
We drive straight through to hunt and hunt only. No sightseeing or adult entertainment. ;)


Your gear and taxidermy cost are big variables. You can start out buying a little and borrowing a lot. Then gradually become self sufficient over a few years. Lightweight gear is expensive.

 

[cecil30-30]

That is a really good pack list you got laid out.Looks like Mike W got the shaft!!He got stuck hauling all the gear.lol

 

[4onaside]

I really want to get back into the mountains, however, I've considered doing a goat hunt, just for the fact that I think my wife would enjoy going as a non-hunting companion. Actually, she would probably enjoy going as a hunting companion. She doesn't enjoy strenuous hunts, but wouldn't mind sitting over a waterhole.

As I have gotten old, I have become addicted to the goat deal, which is bad deal for someone who lives 1,000 miles from the hunting area. lol
You can do it at your own pace,either stalk or ambush whatever floats your boat, and its made to order for your wife to accompany you. Plus the altitudes are not quite as extreme. Where I hunt antelope is a mere 5,800 ft above sea level, compared to double that where I killed my last Colorado bull, and as often as not the weather is bluebird in early October, unlike the snows that are possible at the same time in the mountains. I like them both, but as I have gotten to be an old man, I have graviated toward the goats. Plus the license is not as expensive as it is for bull elk.