New Mexico Elk Saga – Draw Success!

Elk hunts rarely start 20 miles into Canada sitting in 24 feet of water on Lake of the Woods. Well, this is exactly where my Elk hunting experience began!

It went something like this….

I remember telling James while I was filming “Bear with me for an hour or so, I need to apply for an Elk tag”

To tell you the truth I forgot about it completely until a few weeks before the drawing, and at that point I was glad to have some extra dough back in the bank account. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to draw, I’ve never considered myself “Lucky”…..let’s just say I’m the last guy you’d want to bring to a casino.

The date of the draw arrived and an email popped into my inbox and it began with Congratulations! I was successful for my first choice which was an Archery Elk hunt for Sept. 15-24. I was excited but didn’t quite know what I was getting into….in the slightest.

It wasn’t until a google search of Gila National Forest Elk hunting, that my eyes almost bulged out of my head. Digging into a few more forums and it looked like I had drawn a truly coveted tag! I checked the draw info, odds & success spreadsheet from the NMDGF and with a .5% chance of drawing, I couldn’t care less if I had ever won a dime at a casino! This was well worth it!

Better yet after talking to the landowner it sounded like I was the only one who and drawn a tag for the entire ranch! He said I might have a few bitter hunters, as a lot of his non-resident buddies have been unsuccessfully trying to get a tag for the better part of 10 years.

Looking forward, I’ve immersed myself in Elk hunting knowledge, trying to soak up as much info as humanly possible. I’ve read and re-read Mike Eastman’s Elk Hunting the West in a matter of a few days and now I’m on to Cam Hanes Experiencing DIY Back Country hunting.

I’m so wet behind the ears to Elk hunting it’s not even funny. Heck, less than a year ago I had 0 interest in even trying it. I just caught a bug at the end of last deer season, and decided to go for it.

I was hoping to hear from a few of you form the IDO community who have elk hunted, to get some wisdom about preparing for such a hunt!

So far it’s been trying to religiously stick with a workout routine and shooting until I’m shaking like a leaf on a tree!

I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences throughout the summer and then next fall as we film the hunt!

WOW, Harvest Chronicles here we come. Cant wait to see that one. Congrats. Keep us posted on the hundreds of dollars of new gear that you “NEED” for the trip.
When I drew my Colorado elk tag, I was so tag drunk, I went wild with new gear!

Crazy luck ! Good luck on the hunt Ben !

sktrwx2200 wrote:

WOW, Harvest Chronicles here we come. Cant wait to see that one. Congrats. Keep us posted on the hundreds of dollars of new gear that you “NEED” for the trip.
When I drew my Colorado elk tag, I was so tag drunk, I went wild with new gear!

I started to delve into “What I think I need”…….makes the tag look like peanuts haha

Pat Howard wrote:

Crazy luck ! Good luck on the hunt Ben !

Thanks Pat! Should be an awesome experience!

Good luck Ben. Hope your arrow flies true.

Well, color me jealous. A dream hunt for sure!! You’ve already started the but key to an enjoyable hunt will be to be in the best shape possible. Days 3 – 8 can get brutal if you aren’t seeing game and your body wants to shut down on you. I’ve got little real world experience but I’ve been reading and studying archery elk hunting for many years. Hopefully I will be in Wyoming in 2016 to put this knowledge to work for me.

I can’t wait to read and watch this story unfold.

kooty wrote:

You’ve already started the but key to an enjoyable hunt will be to be in the best shape possible. Days 3 – 8 can get brutal if you aren’t seeing game and your body wants to shut down on you.

That’s something I’m nervous about, I’ve got to find something training wise I can actually stick with….I’ve faced the facts I’d rather be fishing or hunting than actually working out but I know it’s one of the biggest things that will bite me in the butt.

I’d love to sell you some magic elixir but it doesn’t exist. I’ve started walking during my Saturday golf league(poke fun all you want). I try to do as much as I can outside walking with the kids, mowing the lawn etc… The reality is, I’m much like you. I’d rather be doing anything else besides walking/running on that stupid treadmill in the basement.

Ben Brettingen wrote:

That’s something I’m nervous about, I’ve got to find something training wise I can actually stick with….I’ve faced the facts I’d rather be fishing or hunting than actually working out but I know it’s one of the biggest things that will bite me in the butt.

It’s tough. You gotta get into a routine. I was inactive most of the last 3+ years and decided I needed to change. I’ve now worked out (1 mile jog followed by 8 different lifts) 3 times a week for 18 out of the last 19 weeks. That first month or 2 is tough, but once you get into a routine that works for you it actually becomes kinda fun (can’t believe I just said that).

I’m thinking the big key is going to be diversity as I hate doing the same workout day after day. Loading up the pack and taking to the local sledding hill to attempt to simulate the ups and downs of mountain country has been my favorite thus far.

Days 3 – 8 can get brutal if you aren’t seeing game and your body wants to shut down on you. This is very true!! I hunted Idaho fall of 2014 and the first 3 day is all out going to see these big elk that we have been reading about on the internet. Day 4 came around and hadn’t see an elk in the mountains and your legs are starting to feel all those great hikes in the mountains! Hopes and dreams start fading and reality sets in!! Hunting out there is very similar to SE MN public land is over hunted and all the animals retreat to the private land that only has just a little pressure. So as the week went on we had fishing licenses for out there and stated fishing the lake that James fished on with the huge perch! We chalked up the hunt to a learning experience. There no doubt bring a good camera cause you will see some amazing country! New Mexico is on my bucket list of hunts for elk but this time I will spend the money and hunt on private land! Good luck on the hunt.

That’s pretty much exactly what I’ve been hearing from people, the mental aspect of not seeing Elk combined with fatigue is the most brutal. I’m fortunate enough to have private land to hunt with no pressure to speak of. Hopes are pretty high and keeping them realistic will be challenging.

You should spend a lot of time on the hill, and if possible find a sand hill or something of the like. I would also mix in some heavy lifting (Squats/Front Squats/Cleans) to increase your leg and core strength also. If your legs need a break you can get a great low impact workout running through water also. Good luck and keep the updates coming! I’ve been trying to line up an Elk trip to CO w/my cousins for awhile, and the physical part is definitely imposing!

Congrats, certainly an accomplishment just to get in the game with the tag.

Don’t foget to enjoy the planning part. I love the pouring over of maps, Google Earth, topo software, etc. Of course, the view on the ground is always different, but that’s part of the game as well.

Maybe we’ll get a Harvest Chronicles Boot Camp edition where we get to see Ben getting chased around a muddy training course while a guy with a Smokey The Bear hat yells a lot? Kwality.

Grouse

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

Don’t foget to enjoy the planning part. I love the pouring over of maps, Google Earth, topo software, etc. Of course, the view on the ground is always different, but that’s part of the game as well.

You’re right about the planning. I’ve been all amped up checking out gear and learning about elk in general.

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

Maybe we’ll get a Harvest Chronicles Boot Camp edition where we get to see Ben getting chased around a muddy training course while a guy with a Smokey The Bear hat yells a lot? Kwality.

That’s maybe something for future months, right now you’d just see a guy in his mid-20s flailing around in the mud…..

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

Maybe we’ll get a Harvest Chronicles Boot Camp edition where we get to see Ben getting chased around a muddy training course while a guy with a Smokey The Bear hat yells a lot? Kwality.

Grouse

I’m good at yelling.

Just thinking out loud. After watching countless hrs of videos, it will also be beneficial just holding your bow at full draw for extended periods.

kooty wrote:

Just thinking out loud. After watching countless hrs of videos, it will also be beneficial just holding your bow at full draw for extended periods.

That’s another early thing I picked up after reading around. A lot of people were saying to practice holding at full draw for 4 minutes before shooting. That might be a little excessive but considering when you’re at full draw waiting on an animal 20 seconds feels like an eternity. I can’t imagine what holding on a big bull for even a minute would feel like!

James Holst wrote:

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

Maybe we’ll get a Harvest Chronicles Boot Camp edition where we get to see Ben getting chased around a muddy training course while a guy with a Smokey The Bear hat yells a lot? Kwality.

Grouse

I’m good at yelling.

Sir Yes Sir!

Congrats. Gunna have to follow this hunt.

Thanks Cody!