Backpack ELK HUNTING: 7 Tactics That Kill More Bulls 

So much to answer to in this video... 1st and foremost, absolutely great information... Number 1 for me is to know 100% who you are with... by that I mean to know that theyvare absolutely invested as much as you are both physically and mentally... my best friend since I was 5 yrs old is my go to for epically stoopid adventures... 1 year I was in terrble shape and he carried me thru, the next year he hurt his back the day before he flew and I returned the favor... in both instances, we prevented the other from quitting, we lifted the other when questions arose, we made the trip better because neither was alone... last year we helped another friend harvest a bighorn ram at just above 12,000 feet elevation and 11 miles in!!

You asked for it so I’ll give you both barrels!🤣🤣 When I plan my hunting trip I commit to it…there’s no backing out of it no matter what pleadings I get from my wife…she’s had plenty of time to make adjustments for my absence during the hunt. When I E-scout I look for East-West drainages with a creek I know will have water in it. Why? Cover in one side and food in the other and I can still hunt the upper 1/3 of the cover side of the drainage where there are benches and slopes less than 15 degrees where elk will bed. Why? Because pre-migration elk will stage in these areas before dropping down into the flats for the migration and those elk which do not drop down will still stick to cover in the foothills. I have all my gear and am well acquainted with the use of my gear, although it took me a number of years to find the right gear. When it comes to gear the adage of ‘buy once, cry once’ is dead on the money for comfort and it is the same way with nutrition. When E-scouting a place to setup a spike camp I always look for a fairly central location that will give me the best advantage and ease of hiking to my selection of hunting areas. I do not select a different drainage altogether…that is a waste of time. I always arrive and set up base camp at least 2 days before opening day, this gives me time to acclimatize to the elevation while I am working to set up base camp and gives me time to scout for sign. I always figure in packing the elk out on my back and have never relied on anyone else to help me, that way, if someone voluntarily offers to help pack meat I’ll always be surprised. Take it from an old hunter, do NOT underestimate the value of still hunting elk in their bedding areas. Great video @Cliff as always.

These are great tips. 7 and 8 can be addressed rather easily. Go on a 7 day hiking trip on a long trail beforehand. It doesn’t have to be that year, but it helps. You will find your quitting point, and how much misery you can take. Armed with that knowledge, you can better plan your logistics. It also helps to remember a quote I wish I could claim credit for. “Never quit on a bad day” -Jessica Mills. On the subject of moving areas, just for reference, I can move 20-25 miles a day on a rough trail in the mountains. That is thruhiking. If I am hunting, that realistically drops to 5-6. You have a rifle to deal with, you are carrying extra gear, like binocs, and you aren’t using tracking or hiking poles. I can realistically say, I have gotten 30% of my kills bumping them, on both North American and African game. So that is why you can’t eat up the miles while backpack hunting. You need to move slow, scan your surroundings, and give yourself the opportunity to take advantage of random chance.

#7 - I know on day 3 just about every time i go that days gonna be hard for me. Don't know why but it just is....always. Homesick, Tired, Etc. I don't fight it. I take an easy day I still hunt, stop, soak up the surroundings, stay alert, EAT, drink etc. I'm hunting but I'm not covering buncha ground and I'm more in the mood to appreciate where I am versus what I want. No lie ... Usually when my mind is reset I get my game.

Hey Cliff, I really like your videos - far more than the "whispering idiots" who focus on calling in elk etc. The mental and energy game is everything, and staying in the field till you find elk is 95% of success. How you deal with that feeling that you're never going to find an elk...your advice is way more to the point than anyone else's i have found so far (I am six seasons in, 33% success rate...) One thing I do, to improve my mental state, is go big on food and drink I really like. It hardly weighs anything more, and the effect on your mental state is huge. Eg. I have a coffee press kit for my JetBoil cooker - a couple really good cups of coffee in the middle of the morning, and my mood is 100% better. You're burning 10000 calories a day on those slopes, might as well eat the best chocolate!

Cliff teaching and preaching the truth

Hunting CO backcountry Elk and Muley for 15 years. Escaping pressure (but also using it to your advantage), spiking a camp near a reliable water source (don’t spend a bunch of time hauling back and forth) and managing your pack out (physical ceiling),are all essential components of a sound camp. Cliff is spot on when it comes to your gear- know every nuance of your system. In the end, less of the tedious setbacks and constant adjusting and the more time spent hunting and vibing with your crew contribute to your resiliency (resisting the quit) and ultimate success.

Last year we packed into an area I arrowed a bull the year before. This was a long pack into to an area with no road access, but we did run into other hunters. Both morning and night bugles indicated that the elk were below us towards the trail head. We went down to the cars, and spent the next two days in the elk solid right next to the trail head. Everyone was hiking right by them.

I did a thread on Archerytalk many years ago titled “hunting pressured elk in unpressured areas”. I see you are finally catching up…….. pressured elk go back to doing what elk do when they feel safe.

Excellent information that I truly needed on the backpacking part.

That coming out the bottom is a great tactic! I have used it before and knowing you have an option at the bottom will really give you alot of confidence. Another trick I use is to hunt up where you travel up hill while you are fresh and then i can just roll down the hill back to the truck. This is more of a day hunting strategy for me but could work the same with a backpack. To me there is nothing worse than a steep climb out of a hole after a long day.

Great advice! Going solo is a challenge. For years , day 3 hits and a squall comes in at the end of bow season, football is beginning and my buddies are at the bar, I haven’t heard a bugle, I’m underfed and socked in. The voices creep in and getting a shower and a few beers and laughs is far too tempting. Preparing for this is very difficult. I’m going with a hunting buddy this year specifically to extend the hunt.

Great advice Thanks for sharing

Some interesting points in this, that transfer through to hunting Red deer as well, though where i live, drivable tracks a non-existent, and 25-35km walks just to get to the hill climb starts. Though some places you can start climbing from access points, its nothing to do 25km round trips, and out side the rut, you could go the whole trip and not see anyone else (other than hunting party mates)

Love the videos man! I had success last year on a diy otc bull hunt Thanks to all of the great tips you give out in your videos! Keep em coming!

I like to pick places , I can fish . After a few days jamming up and down the mountains, it's refreshing to go catch a few Brookies or cutthroats cook them over the fire ,and recharge your mind and focus , do some extra recon and plan your next assault on the mountain. I always keep my bow in my hand or right near me you just never know what you'll run into .

Love your videos Cliff you give great tips, as a kid i grew up hunting white tail in texas on hunting leases with hunting blinds so its been a real change public land hunting in idaho now so watching your videos for helpful tips has been a great resource. Thanks for all the work you put into them.

Very informative thanks, Cliff!

Another great Video Cliff!😃

amazing videos as usual it always astonishes me how you don't have more views on such quality videos but I'm here for it and wanted to let you know I appreciate it. planning my first Colorado otc trip for next year now and as someone from Ontario Canada I want all the info I can get before investing 2 weeks into public land hunting I've never experienced before! I'm so stoked!

Thanks Cliff. Looking forward to your bino harness video, hope it's soon!

On your "take the bottom out" method. I agree. Also, good tip to avoid hunters. I guided in a spot that no body wanted to drop into from the top because there were only a couple small cuts allowing you to get out. Ran into 1 or 2 guys who killed an elk in there. Rode past them while they were in process of taking their last trip out of the drainage and asked if they will be back in there to fill another tag..."never again" were their exact words. If you are in shape and have time great spots to kill elk just knowing the pack to the top will suck...but again if you are in shape and have time can be killer spots. Also, for inexperienced or certain country....known path is the best path. Like you stated about the crazy routes guys think they can take. Time to find out is not in the dark with a heavy pack. Also, in general MOST people even with electronics somehow get turned around and second guess themselves in the dark or in stressful situations. If with a group you can send a person out to scout a route while the others break down the animal. Otherwise go back the way you came is usually the safest bet. Also, when hunting actually pay attention to your surroundings and terrain. you may have already glassed a good exit route or seen an issue with going a certain direction. Most people seem not to mentally record landmarks, routes, and other items that may help them navigate.

Top 3 channel on REAL hunting advice for anyone. Thanks Cliff! I appreciate your full vid on mental mindset as depression is real for me. Took your advice from that and likely 90% of what I personally needed to do was eat regularly on a hunt and keep the food similar to my everyday food vs. change that up. That got me through a nasty hunt recently where we got a 3 day blizzard at high CO altitude and even got stuck in the snow. Love the REAL advice for the everyday hunter.

The quitting mindset, so on point 😅. Cliff is legit and knows his stuff. So grateful you bring this realistic knowledge for us to benefit from. Same thing, that moment I brought my binos up I’ve seen countless elk that I almost gave up on and would have never seen.

Random disjointed thoughts in no particular order: - I like backpacking, but I'm not set on it. I'll camp however is most advantageous to me at the time, depending on where I am. Sometimes I need the mobility of a vehicle, other times , I just want to cut down my daily walk and pace myself so I don't burn out hiking up some steep slopes every morning for several days. - I find, at least in my area of the intermountain west, there are few TRUE roadless areas. No matter where you are, there's probably a backcountry road within 3 miles of you. Just something to keep in mind while escouting, and the paths they take isn't always obvious. - Nothing beats boots on the ground. E scouting is great while drinking your morning coffee, but what's on the ground rarely match's what you see on your computer. Example: One areas I worked for several seasons, I didn't TRULY know until I seriously hiked it during summer. Found a watering hole up on a bench that you can't glass, and isn't on a map. - Packout. I've never hunted above mentioned watering hole because it's too far for me to pack out an elk by myself. It would involve going downhill over a metric assload of deadfall, across a valley, over a creek, up the other side, across a ridgeback, and finally to the truck. (edit: said trip would be done, at least 4 times in a single day, keep that in mind.) edit 2: Also, one idea is to relay your quarters. I've done this. The idea is to leave the kill site ASAP if bears/cats are a concern, and relay your harvest to specific spots. Moving all quaters from one spot to the next. Your also playing a mental game with yourself because towards the end, because your "final relay" for all quarters, shouldn't be too far from the road. - Elk are smart, and are where you find them. In one of the most heavily people congested areas, I've found them on the opposite side of the highway, within a mile of the road, as happy as can be. The thing is, nobody goes to that side of the highway because it's too steep for recreationalists. Often enough you'll find them below the road. - Glass perpendicular from a backcountry road off some ridge, not from the road. Allows you to see those sneaky elk staying just below roadhunters line of sight. - To avoid quitting, I change my pace. Instead of ridge walking in the afternoon and dropping down into suspected bedding areas, i'll go find somewhere to sit where elk might pass through, were I can chill out and be lazy, but still be hunting. Or just go sit somewhere and glass. I give myself excuse to sit on my ass, while still being productive to some degree. Humping the mountain all the time can get old. I also find audio books help while at camp. Particularly if your solo. I highly recommend MeatEaters Campfire Stories. There's two audio books out last I checked. Great stuff to listen to on your down time.

Great tips! I've experienced them all!😃 But now I'm quite comfortable in the backcountry!

Hey! Awesome video, I moved to Colorado in 2016, but due to life circumstances I am just now getting to go hunting this year. I am watching many of your videos to get educated and learn what to expect. I went out on a two night hike / camp with my Son over Father’s Day weekend and scouted and tested my backpack system. All in all things went well (except my Son is 18 & he made me feel fat & old since he scaled the mountains effortlessly). I plan on scouting/testing my hunting system a few more times before hunting season rolls around. Please keep making the great videos to help people like me. Thanks for everything!!

Great stuff! Thank you!

Awesome info. Headed to Colorado in 3 days for a scout trip. Gave us a whole new thought with starting high and working down. Love it

Man, I wish I found you in 2019 when I first went out. 😂 always great info, especially tip 7. Everyone talks about doing 10 days solo until it’s day 3. Stuff gets weird. Haha. Preparing for that mental break down vs denying that it’ll happen is the biggest takeaway I got from this vid. I struggle every year with this, so I’m more focused on that aspect more than even finding the elk! Thanks Cliff!

Excellent video and topic Cliff! You've got tons of awesome advice packed in here man! I absolutely love backpack hunts, so this is a subject near and dear to the ol' heart 👍 Regarding #7... you nailed that mindset spot on. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly things can change for the better if you just hang in there and wait for it to happen. The only thing that I would add that has helped me get through "the suck" is just trying to maintain a good attitude and look for the positives in the situation/s. I'm glad that you included that bonus as well... it's just asking for trouble to go into an extended and remote trip without thoroughly testing and knowing your gear in advance. Thanks for the great vid brother! 👍

Oh boy #8 the last elk hunt I barley made it out the tent. Item #8.2 Pee bottle. #9 Having to quit because of health issues. Had a great setup and failed due to headaches. It was Shingles. Some issues can be life or death Do not be tough guy, we got to pack you out.

I am blessed to live near my elk areas and I day hunt. The urge to quit is strong when your cold and home is only 2 hours away.

Good information #7 we been two times these hunts are hard and everyone misses there honey so be prepared.

Great tips! I’ll come in on that last point you made about having a plan to not quit. I grew up elk hunting and seeing my dad do it. He lit the same passionate fire for it that he has inside of me as well. I honestly took for granted that burning passion. I have never went into the woods and remotely thought about quitting. Because it’s always been what I want to do even if it’s painful. I want to took a good friend of mine elk hunting, and after the first day he quit, and didn’t want to go back out again. I when I heard him, say that, I really couldn’t believe what I was hearing. But to drive home your point about not quitting because it only takes one moment. The second day of that hunt, I went out by myself and shot a nice bull. So don’t quit.

There is so much truth to this. I’ve been on two backpack elk hunting trips one last year in the Bob Marshall and he’s spot on with the idea of only being able to do a major relocation one time and maybe subtle relocation a couple to three times. The urge to quit is real two. So far I’ve been able to avoid quitting myself but the thought crossed my mind almost every day on my last hunt. Sometimes multiple times per day. I’ve personally not had an issue with eating dehydrated/freeze dried meals but I have had problems forcing myself to want to eat. For me the idea of a quick protein bar in the morning makes a lot of sense but it’s so unappetizing when I’m out hunting that I can’t even make myself eat them. Some things you just have to learn by doing which is a good reason to do a scouting trip if you can to figure things out before your hunt. Thanks Cliff for the great content!

I prefer not having a "destination" each day. This helps me not accept the "quit" temptation, when I don't meet expectations. In Idaho, I carried camp and simply told myself, I will just get in there around this area. Then if it went well or I found a better spot I camped at it. I wasn't glued to a set of "requirements". I also wasn't worried about being "lost". I just got up next day and headed in a direction and eventually I was in a recognizable coordinate. When tired I just spiked out from where I was and regained sleep or energy and went on the next day. My only plan was, "I have 5 days, to explore". Any less than that I felt rushed. Any more than that and I felt overloaded with food like the pack would never lighten up. lol. Quitting comes from failure or missed goals. Fatigue amplifies failure and will even take small successes and turn them into failures. Set yourself up to succeed.

Many great lessons here, most of which I've learned the hard way myself. I've noticed that if I go out for opening weekend of archery elk, my tactics and location will likely change compared to the following weekend. Once the elk realize it's hunting season again, the game changes. Last year I spent opening day near the trails and had a couple run-ins with elk. The next weekend they were gone from there but I was able to find them again by simply looking at a map and triangulating the hillside that was farthest away from any trails. Sure enough, that's exactly where they were, but it was a godforsaken hellhole of beetle kill. Also, if I get to a crowded trailhead, I'll try to talk to the other guys and see where they're going then I simply go to a different spot on the mountain, or somewhere higher or lower, and I've had success that way too.

Being a solo backpacker back in the boondocks is something that not everyone can do, get mentally prepared to have a moment when you say &$@k it. Power through it however you can.

I do a lot of hiking and the biggest revelation to me when I started hunting was the amount of work required to harvest an animal for the packout. It's way harder than any hike I've been on. I can't imagine backpacking 6+ miles away from my car and having to hike back with a 50+ pound pack through rough country...doing that 4/5 times to get the entire animal back. If hunting alone, you're not gonna get that animal back in 1 day. You gotta be in great shape and have a strong willpower to push through something like that. Makes the hunt a lot more valuable though, but there's a lot of 'suck' getting through it. I also start hiking with extra weight many months before hunting season to prepare myself and condition my body.

Good tips! I kill plenty of elk behind my house in MT that are 1-2 miles from the road. Hunting those weird nooks and crannies that are.overlooked are the ticket. I still pack in the night before so I can be in the juice at day break, plus I like sleeping on the mountain. I can probably see my house through a spotter the whole time, but I'll stay up there for 3-4 days. Patience in those overlooked bands is the ticket. meanwhile, the backcountry RU-vid warriors are dreaming of packing in 15 miles deep and staying 10 days. Haha

Ok, I have time to follow up... "dealing with outfitters"... fortunately I know THE outfitter in my area and for a couple years we worked together... I knew when and what hunts he had going on and knew his area better than his guides who were new... but generally I stayed away from where he was taking clients and they stayed away from where I liked to hint and we some how copasetically pushed animals back and forth between us. We shared game cam information and animal knowledge in the area... not everyone is that fortunate tho... I agree that you gotta consider Outfitters and what they do that affects the animal herd... elk know when calls from a trail are most likeliy human, they know that an occupied camp means human activity ... in those times I get out and away from the horsebeaten path!

I like your tee shirt 😊 Very timely video thanks

Thanx for all your tips and content. First and foremost, ya gotta be in shape. If you don't take the time to prepare your body, it's going to be miserable and you will hit your mental wall way too soon. Second, like you said maintain elevation as long as you can, don't drop into holes unless you're going after something. Also, elevation will give you more vantage points to glass glass glass and glass some more, to save miles and limit expending energy hiking. Something that has definitely increased our time spent in elk, is having our camp on our back, we sleep where we stop for the day, don't keep heading back to a base camp or spike camp which saves a ton of energy, sleep on the elk with a good lightweight bag and rain bivy, spend the bucks. Probably the most important thing with elk is to hunt the wind, wind changes direction, you change direction !! If the wind is swirling and all over the place, best thing to do is just sit, glass and study your maps, don't blow them out. So Much to cover, as you know, doesn't even scratch the surface. Thanks again for your advice and guiding wisdom.

Awesome advice! I've been binge watching your channel for the last week. Can you do a video for a 7 day backpack hunt on what your pack would be loaded with and how everything should be stowed for accessibility? What's important to have easy access to? How do you set camp and some things you do at camp at the end of the hunting day? I'd really appreciate it and I know others would too.

I’ve had a number of guys go in with me on the wilderness hunt only to quit! When they’re by their selves and And only their thoughts, they start to question their selves what kind of father they are what kind of husband they are and they fall apart and then they ultimately leave I tried to tell them stick it out deal with it go back and be better don’t quit you will regret it. Then they asked me an Season later or two can they come with me again with me and I told them no. You don’t walk out on your hunting partner you stick it out and it will make you better. They always regret it.

Missing your family. Spending 5 hrs covering 3 miles and trying to understand how that happened! Understanding how steep the topo lines are. Wider topo lines can still be steep if the tight ones are near verticle!

lot's of recommendations, I was already planning on doing. you can always park at the top and hitchhike back to get the truck if you have to

We are packing in for 13 days this year… it’s gonna be hard AF, and miserable but can’t wait for the suck!

Great tips. Used to do a lot of backpacking for mountaineering trips, a lot of the same principles crossover to backpack hunting. I prefer 4th rifle for the solitude and snow. Any thoughts on how quickly elk return to normal behaviour after each season? Lots of variables of course.

Hey cliff I love your content. I think you should do some more content in horses and how to do a successful hunt in a limited entry unit. Could you also go over what kind of scope you would suggest for a horse back hunt that is in rough country. Thanks and god bless.

Preach it!

Information provided on this vid is the truth. I am well seasoned back pack hunter in NM, ID, CO. who has taken 14 maybe 15 elk in 28+ seasons. Several dear and multiple antelope as well. Seen score of bear but never chose to hunt them. Also mountaineered for decades so I know how to get out there and move. Never signed onto guide trip except a few day guides on private land ($300). Outfitters, road hunters, etc do get their game but often through luck of crossing them. Guided private land hunts an entirely different ball game. Hardest part of the hunt in NM is getting a tag. Cost of my elk hunt this year will be tag $75, gas and couple restaurant meals, $150, food while camping (3 hunts, 15 days, $250). (joining 3 additional hunts). Ahhhh... Life is good just live it well.

These are great tips. I can speak from years of experience that backpack hunting now is completely different than it was even 5 years ago as far as the number of hunters you will see and less game in the woods due to CPW numbers management. The biggest mistake that I see new hunters make is underestimating the amount of physical effort it takes to pack an animal out. If there are only 2 or 3 of you hunting, it will take at least 3 trips in and out to pack out an elk and your camp. The videos you see of other hunters successfully harvesting an animal and packing it out does not due justice to the amount of work it is. Keep this in mind when you are packing 5 miles in. I have witnessed the meat of a large bull elk get wasted because the hunters did not consider how much time and effort it would take to pack the meat out. September in Colorado can be very warm. Meat will spoil quickly. Last, on the subject of quitting. My experience has been that we see animals in the first couple of days of hunting. But as time goes on and we see more and more hunters in the area, the animals disappear to a new area. It is very frustrating to stop seeing animals 3 days into a hunt and sometimes it is best to pack up and move somewhere else. My experience has been the animals don't come back unless they are pressured back or the hunting pressure decreases over several days.

great video

Dang Cliff now everyone has changed their plans!😂

The anti quit section was good but sometimes u may have to quit if something sneaks up on you like altitude sickness.

When game are pushed out of open areas after early season hunts, they move back to the nooks and crannies, into the forest. Look for the rich food and water sources as they never stop eating.

A video on shot placement would be awesome. Especially on archery vs rifle

Twice I came out early due to being soaked. I wish I had stayed and built a fire and hung out til I got dry. We saw blood in the snow and two archery hunters who had been hunting in the new foot of snow while we were packing up a wet camp. Consider your partner’s experience level and dedication. One partner spilled all the alcohol for the stove the first day. Another partner wasn’t in shape. It’s hard to stay even if you have your own vehicle if the partner gets wet or won’t eat cold food or used up all their energy just getting there. Because now you have to pack an animal out alone, which not only is hard but it might spoil. And if you were sharing gear… The day after I got a bull 9 miles in, another hunter got one between the interstate and the trailhead on block management in a hay field with willows. The last thing I’ll say is, when everyone else goes back to the trailhead an hour before dark, and the woods get quiet, the elk get busy and start moving and bugling!

I can put up with a lot on the mountain but my body doesn’t like MRE’s. By day 3 I had to rage quit because I couldn’t eat enough to get full, couldn’t poo, couldn’t think straight or break out of my whiney ass attitude lol. Diet has since been fixed but I wish I learned that at home and not 10 miles off trail

Best advise for tagging your elk?? Loose the intent to kill. Animals can sense your intent, clear your mind and just be with nature. Then you will have that opportunity

funny we backpack hunt 1 mile from the end of a trail that has over 50 hunters camped and we average 2 or 3 out of 4 guys getting one archery every year.

Also, there’s a ton of great info in these comments too!

I have December muzzleloader tags for New Mexico. Any advice for that time of year?

Video idea: how to escout and find the best glassing spots

Do you have any rifle hunting tips for logging country with lots of roads, road hunters, thick timber and clearcuts?

Thanx

👍

always set a waypoint where you drop your pack.......jusayin.

Its only 6-8-10-12 days of your life!! If you can't suck it up for that small amt of time, stay home!! Take a 5-7 day progressive backpack trip that covers 15-25 miles and you will have a better idea if you have it together.

How are you liking the origin camo?

If you plan to call an outfitter to pack your game out, maybe you shouldn’t be hunting in the first place. Everyone’s happy to pull the trigger, but don’t want to do what it takes through prep & fitness to finish the job

Logistics logistics logistic

Just tell them cliff . Don’t be a beeoch and quit

Basically what you're saying is, is they're where you find them.😂😅

dehydrated food will give a guy problems 50 percent of the time every time

Dear Cliff, I need all these hunters to quit early. 😂😂😂. I actually prefer they quit before they hit the state line, buahahaha. My success rate goes up drastically the more that they throws in the towel. However my success has elevated from hunters with thumbs up their butts pushing elk to me. Yours truly, Flatlander

Those freeze dried meals are horrid!!! Nothing like eating spoonfuls of salt. 🤮

I talk to so many hunters that a trip like this is “once in a lifetime” so they want to think they will just slam it all week and go go go until that big bull is down and then they’ll pack it with two people or maybe even alone after days of trying to bomb the whole damn state. They fail 100% of the time. Especially city folk who haven’t hunted of packed much anyway and have no real concept of what it takes. It’s just not possible and you have to accept it. Never give up but also don’t ruin the trip before it starts by setting yourself up for failure. At the end of the day if you’re not packing out meat, best case is you got an awesome trip to a new place, thats beautiful and amazing and best of all, you learned! Worst case is you pushed yourself too far and go home injured and meatless, or maybe worse

Hunt near private property.

QUR ARCHERY MOTIVATION SAYING IS " 5 MINUTES ,,,IT ONLY TAKES 5 MINUTES WITH THE RIGHT BULL,WORK YOUR BUTT OFF FOR THAT 5 MINUTE ENCOUNTER !!!!!!

New food and new equipment must be tried out and tested in the summer or while scouting. My boys love trying out new hunting meals and even like my homemade dehydrated meals that contain a lot less salt. Backpacking way into the backcountry is a great adventure but the last 4 bulls I have killed have been less than a mile from my truck. My Idaho bull was awesome because there was no where to park the side by side so we put it in the ditch and started hiking to an area that had lots of human foot prints. We had seen elk there from a distance with binos and the hunters were all in camp burnt out. We walked up to the meadow, layed in the snow/mud mix, and the elk showed up. Last day, last light, 5x5 bull down. As we were tying it down to the vehicle, about 10 hunters stopped by and asked where we hunted. We told them right where they had been hunting for the past 3 days. Part luck and part grit. I was not going to eat an out of state tag because elk meat tastes way better. Absolutely great video! Hope to bump into you some day! Come hunt by fatbike with me in WA. The Central Cascades are a blast! FATBIKEHUNTER.COM