Chasing Elk - Opinions Sought

[glennw89]

I'm a Canadian (Ontario) high school teacher planning to head to the western archery elk woods in Fall 2027. Why 2027? I'll be taking a semester off from work (only way long hunting trips are viable) so conceivably have the entire month of September to hunt. I'll be driving my F-150 out so will have 4x4 "wheels" the entire time. There's a possibility that a friend may join me to tag along for part of the hunt too.

I haven't hunted elk before, but have hunted deer, moose, and mountain goat in some very remote locations and have done a tonne of remote wilderness travel in BC, Yukon, Northwest Territories, etc. Fitness and backcountry skills will not be an issue.

I've been applying to several states to build points for retirement (2033 onward) hunting trips. This leave of absence from work gives me a window to put some of these points to use sooner.

For the 2027 draw year I will have 6 points in Colorado, 6 points in Arizona, 6 points in Montana, and 7 points in Wyoming.

My goals for the trip are:

1) Spend a lot of time in the backcountry - I have the entire month of September if necessary.
2) See/hear plenty of elk
3) Have a reasonable chance to harvest a representative mature bull. I have no specific trophy expectations.

I'm not looking for "hot spots", units to apply, or any top secret info. Just perspectives about what folks who have actually been there would do in my shoes. At this point I'm thinking using my Colorado points would be the preferred option - but would welcome any/all perspectives. If you'd rather share by PM, feel free.

I'll be narrowing my focus with specific unit research, etc. through the likes of GoHunt from 2026 on - but just want to canvas for more general opinions in this early stage of planning.

 

[cohunter14]

This is just my two cents, but I would probably recommend keeping your points and hunting a unit in Colorado that doesn't require preference points and can be drawn with a second choice tag so you don't have to burn your points. Considering you've never been elk hunting before, I think it would be smart to get out and hunt a basic area and learn more about elk and elk hunting. With a month to hunt, you could get multiple years of experience in one year. Get the experience, then use your points in the future.

The only other thing I would recommend is doing a shorter trip or two before 2027 to get your feet wet and then use the points.

 

[cgasner1]

With point creep and all I’d probably burn those Wyoming points on a general tag. That would depend on what keeps happening with that. I’d also throw in for New Mexico that year and Idaho for wild cards at a potential hunt

 

[trb]

PM sent.

If you are taking a semester off, why not two hunts in one year? I understand the limitations of schedule, so I'd be taking advantage of your semester off and doing WY General, putting in for lower odds random states as mentioned in NM and ID, and then getting a good CO tag and returning that if you hit on a lower odds hunt. Worst case scenario would be that you're splitting your time between CO and WY hunts, and WY could be archery or rifle depending on which CO hunt you chose.

 

[glennw89]

This is just my two cents, but I would probably recommend keeping your points and hunting a unit in Colorado that doesn't require preference points and can be drawn with a second choice tag so you don't have to burn your points. Considering you've never been elk hunting before, I think it would be smart to get out and hunt a basic area and learn more about elk and elk hunting. With a month to hunt, you could get multiple years of experience in one year. Get the experience, then use your points in the future.

The only other thing I would recommend is doing a shorter trip or two before 2027 to get your feet wet and then use the points.

Appreciate the perspective and it is one that would make sense for most, but with my work schedule I pretty much have to push in the chips. There is no way I can hunt the west before 2027 and it would be 2031 (the next time I can hopefully afford another semester long unpaid leave) after that. I know this isn't ideal from an elk specific approach and accept that it will quite likely result in lower odds of filling my tag. I'm hoping having nearly the full month of September to hunt will offset some of that.

I've spent a lot of time in the high mountains of BC, Yukon, NWT, Nepal, New Zealand, etc. I know that doesn't directly translate to elk hunting in Colorado, but I'm very comfortable in the backcountry and hopefully that skillset can help translate into higher odds of success as well.

 

[glennw89]

PM sent.

If you are taking a semester off, why not two hunts in one year? I understand the limitations of schedule, so I'd be taking advantage of your semester off and doing WY General, putting in for lower odds random states as mentioned in NM and ID, and then getting a good CO tag and returning that if you hit on a lower odds hunt. Worst case scenario would be that you're splitting your time between CO and WY hunts, and WY could be archery or rifle depending on which CO hunt you chose.

My wife is also taking a semester off work and we have a couple shared trips planned as well. She is not a hunter, but is an avid hiker/climber/skier and we're likely heading to Patagonia and the Canadian Rockies together for a couple trips during our time off I don't think I would be have the $ or justify the additional time (beyond the month of September) of staying out west for multiple hunts - although it certainly is a compelling idea.

 

[Addicting]

I will just add of the species you’ve hunted, Elk are different, very different. They will humble you. They seem to know exactly where the thermals are and swirl on the mountain side. You can be standing in a cross wind opposite from them and have them smell you.

I would watch videos on thermals and wind swirls. I’ve seen it where dandelion seeds can be released and they make a huge circle on the mountain side and can come back to you. The elk are masters at knowing those areas and hanging out there. They are not patterned. They will do the same thing for a couple days and fool you into having it figured out. Only to do the complete opposite the following morning leaving you scratching your head.

 

[ccc23454]

If I was in your shoes planning for 2027 I would: start buying MT pref points this year, try for a idaho general in dec 2026(doubtful you get one worth hunting) if you don't get one then in spring apply for WY general or a LE you can 100% draw and MT. You may not draw your LE hunt in MT but hunt the general combo. This gives you 2 elk tags and a deer tag with a ton of flexibility and plenty of season time to hunt. That would be a pretty good fall...