Hoytxl2009
Member
- Joined
- May 28, 2017
- Messages
- 43
As I’ve been told by my wife I’m not getting any younger. Just hit the dirty 30 a few days ago, but luckily my line of work and high energy keeps me up to par to chase elk in the nastiest places they like to frequent. Grew up in NE Oregon and currently live in Washington. Have hunted and chased elk since I was 12.
My preparation and research for a hunt can be extensive and annoy the hell out of my wife. I spend a lot of time on GoHunt and fish and game websites researching and learning as much as I can. I have bought and acquired a lot of ranger district maps for most areas I’m interested in. Most of them are $5 a piece. I do both archery and rifle. Recently I have been getting things geared up to apply and cordinate a lot of western hunts including WY,MT,NV,UT,NM,and AZ. I Already hunt WA,OR, and ID a lot and play there point game. I have 1 point for WY currently. Currently I’m trying to draw a Unit 18 ID tag and do OTC if not selected.
My style of elk hunting is unorthodox, but aggressive. I don’t do a lot of hunting near a pickup, but will if the pressure is low and elk are around, but I still prefer extended overnights trips. I have bought and sold a lot of gear finding the right nich that fits my hunting style. I’m either mobile with a 35lb pack or heavy with a 50lb pack when I’m spiking out. The heavy hunt I always have my SO stove and JT floorless TP. I’m either glassing when Rifle is in hand or calling and moving fast when bow is in hand.
The problem with most my hunting partners is not that they don’t like to hunt. They just don’t seem into as much as myself. That includes all the E scouting, reasearch, application process, planning, backup planning, etc. I’ve grown tired of doing all the research necessary then last minute everyone pilling in the truck and I’m the only one that has a plan. My next issue is they don’t want to spend the money or time on the gear required for these style of hunts and generally are miserable after the first night and want to return to the truck. These styles I feel just throw a wrench in my attitude, and plans. This also subsequently throws all my summer planning out the window. A lot of that time is taken away from my family for nothing.
Finding people that are interested in this the same as myself has proven to be very difficult. Which I never thought would be difficult. In my experience so far most guys can talk the talk, but not walk the walk. I run into guys on the river every year fishing that seem interested, but after chatting further you find out they are only interested In learning about it or just getting started at it. Which is Great! And I have no problem teaching, but having a hunting group that is already in tune with this is invaluable. There are a lot of things that I can learn and become better on, but will never achieve those goals with guys that are just getting into the backcountry game or are interested in learning about it. I got nothing wrong with road camps and hunting behind a different gate every morning. Those guys probably kill more critters then me every year anyway, but its just not the style that I have a addiction to.
I’m interested in chatting with a few of you gents that have a group already with a open slot, or a Lone Ranger struggling similar to myself that is already in tune with the things I described above. PM me and lets see if the shoe fits. I’m able to take almost a month off in the fall. So typically I would do 2 weeks in September and 2 in October. Ultimate goal in 3 states a year and all necessary planning involved. If I don’t draw anything special Idaho and Oregon are on my list every year. By next year WY will be a every other if I can draw the general special draw consistently.
Best Regard Gents! Looking forward to hearing from a few of you.
My preparation and research for a hunt can be extensive and annoy the hell out of my wife. I spend a lot of time on GoHunt and fish and game websites researching and learning as much as I can. I have bought and acquired a lot of ranger district maps for most areas I’m interested in. Most of them are $5 a piece. I do both archery and rifle. Recently I have been getting things geared up to apply and cordinate a lot of western hunts including WY,MT,NV,UT,NM,and AZ. I Already hunt WA,OR, and ID a lot and play there point game. I have 1 point for WY currently. Currently I’m trying to draw a Unit 18 ID tag and do OTC if not selected.
My style of elk hunting is unorthodox, but aggressive. I don’t do a lot of hunting near a pickup, but will if the pressure is low and elk are around, but I still prefer extended overnights trips. I have bought and sold a lot of gear finding the right nich that fits my hunting style. I’m either mobile with a 35lb pack or heavy with a 50lb pack when I’m spiking out. The heavy hunt I always have my SO stove and JT floorless TP. I’m either glassing when Rifle is in hand or calling and moving fast when bow is in hand.
The problem with most my hunting partners is not that they don’t like to hunt. They just don’t seem into as much as myself. That includes all the E scouting, reasearch, application process, planning, backup planning, etc. I’ve grown tired of doing all the research necessary then last minute everyone pilling in the truck and I’m the only one that has a plan. My next issue is they don’t want to spend the money or time on the gear required for these style of hunts and generally are miserable after the first night and want to return to the truck. These styles I feel just throw a wrench in my attitude, and plans. This also subsequently throws all my summer planning out the window. A lot of that time is taken away from my family for nothing.
Finding people that are interested in this the same as myself has proven to be very difficult. Which I never thought would be difficult. In my experience so far most guys can talk the talk, but not walk the walk. I run into guys on the river every year fishing that seem interested, but after chatting further you find out they are only interested In learning about it or just getting started at it. Which is Great! And I have no problem teaching, but having a hunting group that is already in tune with this is invaluable. There are a lot of things that I can learn and become better on, but will never achieve those goals with guys that are just getting into the backcountry game or are interested in learning about it. I got nothing wrong with road camps and hunting behind a different gate every morning. Those guys probably kill more critters then me every year anyway, but its just not the style that I have a addiction to.
I’m interested in chatting with a few of you gents that have a group already with a open slot, or a Lone Ranger struggling similar to myself that is already in tune with the things I described above. PM me and lets see if the shoe fits. I’m able to take almost a month off in the fall. So typically I would do 2 weeks in September and 2 in October. Ultimate goal in 3 states a year and all necessary planning involved. If I don’t draw anything special Idaho and Oregon are on my list every year. By next year WY will be a every other if I can draw the general special draw consistently.
Best Regard Gents! Looking forward to hearing from a few of you.