Western Elk Part 8: Planning for Future Elk Hunts

James: 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."

Elk Hunting, Out Of State HuntsTom ZandstraAugust 5, 2024Elk, e, elk hunting

Western Elk Part 7: Field Dressing and Meat Care

James: 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."

Deer Processing, Elk Hunting, Out Of State HuntsTom ZandstraAugust 5, 2024Elk, elk hunting, meat care

Western Elk Part 6: Late Season Elk

James: 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."

Elk Hunting, Out Of State HuntsTom ZandstraAugust 5, 2024elk hunting

Chasing Elk Part 3: Scouting for Elk

If 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.

Out Of State Hunts, Elk HuntingTom ZandstraJuly 19, 2024scouting for elk, elk hunting, elk

Field Notes

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