Now that you're on the ground, what should you be looking for? This is what we'll be discussing in episode five of this series. We discuss how to find fresh sign, food sources, and funnels to narrow down your hunting zone. We also touch on key tips for different phases of the season, from the early season to the rut and late season, with strategies to keep you flexible and adaptable.
Read MoreIn the fourth episode of our series, we cover packing.
What do you need to bring to ensure your hunt goes smoothly? From base layers and essential gear to packing for hot and cold weather, we dive into the must-haves and the things we wish we hadn’t forgotten in the past.
Read MoreIn this third episode of our series, we dive into the critical process of scouting. Once you’ve picked your area and a few potential hunting spots, what should you do next? Listen in as we discuss how to scout, whether it be in-person prior to your trip or virtually with tools like OnX.
Read MoreIn this second episode of our whitetail hunting series, we dive deeper into the process of narrowing down your hunting area after you've picked a state. Using examples from hunts in states like Kentucky and Wisconsin, we explore key strategies such as analyzing public land, considering hunting pressure, and utilizing tools like onX maps and forums to make the best decisions. Flexibility and preparation are key, and we share our tips on how to adapt if conditions or locations change.
Read MoreJames: After someone's first elk hunting season, what should they reflect on?
Joe: "Regardless of the season that you took, if it's over-the-counter, limited entry, a turn back tag on a second list, now you actually have boots on the ground experience elk hunting, which is more valuable than anything that you or I can say on a microphone. That's what you need and that's something that you need to compound on year after year. Start planning on things that you want to do differently, whether that's like a tactic that you tried that didn't work out or an area that you tried that was overcrowded."
Read MoreJames: Once you've shot an elk, what's your process for field dressing?
Joe: "I don't gut any elk. I almost always do the gutless method, even if it is an overnight situation. I just open them up. Get that hide off of them as soon as you can. The first thing I would do in any situation is flip it to the opposite side whether there's snow or not. That's just a good practice if you can flip it."
Read MoreJames: How does late season elk hunting differ from hunting during the rut?
Joe: "Rifle, anything post rut is going to be significantly impacted by weather much more than what your rut will. Obviously, if you have nice cool mornings and the pressure is nice, the moon phase is right, like the rut is more amplified, but I've also been out on 90° days where the bulls are freaking going nuts 'cause there's a hot cow in the area. It's more determined by her than it is the weather. Late season, much more the opposite. Weather is king, it determines almost everything. Then you have pressure mixed into that, and then where they're at after the rut as far as how depleted are they."
Read MoreIf you're reading this blog, you likely don't live close to the elk you pursue. Busy lives, limited vacation time, and hundreds of miles separate you from boots on the ground scouting.
Welcome to the 3rd of 8 episodes on Western Elk with Joe and James from The Fair Chase.
In this episode, you will learn how to do some valuable "e-scouting" from the comfort of your own couch. Mix this with some woodsmanship and hard work and you'll probably find some elk.
Read MoreThis is a continuation of the conversation between James and Joe from The Fair Chase Podcast, focusing on strategies for different types of elk tags.
James: So Joe, what are the different categories of elk tags?
Joe: "Basically there's a few different categories for the types of tags that you can draw and those happen in different points of the year and some cost a lot more than others, some of them cost points some of them don't.
Read MoreThis is a conversation recorded between James and Joe from The Fair Chase Podcast.
It’s Part 1 of an 8 Part Series on Getting Ready for Elk Season.
James: So Joe, why are talking about elk?
Joe: "We decided we'd start with elk. It's coming up soon. We’re in July now, so people are starting to transition from their spring turkey and bear activities to thinking about the fall.
We have guys that live out west and they're out elk hunting anyway. They always want more information. But we also have a lot of guys from the Midwest that will go out west once a year. We wanted to share what we’ve learned so far being those Midwest guys who have to travel out west to hunt elk.”
Read MoreYou've just completed an epic cross-country hunt and shot the bull elk of your dreams. Now comes one of the more important parts of a successful hunt: transporting pounds of precious edible meat from that mature bull back home. This might seem overwhelming, but with the right approach, it's quite manageable.
Read MoreOctober is an exciting month for deer hunters looking for a mature buck moving during daylight hours. You've put the late summer and early fall behind you and all that goes with it - sweat, heat, bugs, etc. By this point, the leaves are changing, the cool air is invigorating and deer season is well underway. For the average whitetail hunter in the midwest, deer movement tends to change in a magical way as you get closer to the rut.
Read MoreWe’ve hunted for thousands of years and it’s something other animals do on a daily basis. However, it doesn't always go as planned...
I spent the past few weeks camping through the Tetons and Yellowstone with my family. We were able to witness a lot of pretty amazing things but one particular thing sticks out in my mind...
Read MoreGrowing up in Northeastern Pennsylvania, I always dreamt of going out west to chase elk, mule deer and whitetail. I have longed to hear a mature bull bugle from the distance in unknown territory. I am finally at the point in my life where planning my first out of state hunt is on the horizon. I have been taking some time to research, learn and get my ducks in a row for my trek across the country. While I haven’t made my trip yet, I have learned a lot about the planning phase because let’s face it, from the outside, planning an out of state hunt when you’ve never hunted anywhere but your home state seems like a monumental task. However, for me, stepping out of my comfort zone and into a new world is one of the many reasons why I love the adventure of hunting. I have gained a lot of knowledge in my quest to head out west and want to share this with anyone looking to do the same. Hopefully, after reading this article, you will feel more equipped to begin your plans too.
Read MorePlanning an Out-of-State Hunt or even group trips, from a personal perspective, can be some of the most memorable events someone can be a part of. On the flip side, they can also be a planning nightmare with scheduling, finances, coming together, and overcoming adversity. Even your best friends and family members can become hated enemies at the end of a major trip. This is why knowing “who” your trip members are before you leave and establishing the dynamics of the trip are soo important. A past hunting trip comes to mind whenever I think about this.
Read MoreIf you're like us, expanding your hunting horizons with different opportunities is one of the great adventures we all as hunters can enjoy. Whether it's chasing elk in the western mountains or setting up on a buck in the midwest, there are plenty of opportunities to explore. For hunters who have never planned an OOS, the entire process can be intimidating. We're here to tell you, it's easier than you think! ⠀
Read MoreLike we discussed last month, a well-planned trip comes with a well thought out budget and can aide immensely in the baseline planning. Determining the realistic amount you'll be comfortable spending on the trip can aide immensely. Looking at the basics, travel, lodging, tags, food, and gear will be the main expenses that you'll need to consider, but there are a ton of ways for you to save money.
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