Best thing I’ve received in the mail in awhile! I’ve been wanting to go out west to try my hand at bagging an elk for a long time and the stars finally aligned. As someone that hasn’t hunted ANYTHING in a long time I expect the learning curve is going to be rather steep but I expect I’ll enjoy the experience.
Next item on the list? I need a rifle!
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Lucky duck. Go get em. Ya know, the name of your show is In Depth OUTDOORS. I’d watch a hunting show from time to time from you. It ain’t Ice fishing, but I’m sure your camera crew and yourself would put together a good show. Maybe use it as a filler episode for the unexpected no show weeks? Then you can call it a “business expense”. Get a rifle with a gold trigger…….
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agree with everything drifter said. do it!
Congrats James! Happy Hunting!
Way to go!
Congrats on the Elk tag!!! 
Have never chased Elk out west but have always wanted to. Unfortunately my son moved back from Montana before I got the chance to. ENJOY!!!
Congratulations and good luck! It will be an adventure.
Congratulations, great state for hunting. I’ve hunted there for last 45 years. If you have any questions feel free to ask.
Congratulations, great state for hunting. I’ve hunted there for last 45 years. If you have any questions feel free to ask.
Thanks Wayne. We’re going to be hunting out of Anaconda. My father-in-law has been making the trip each fall for a few years now so thankfully we won’t be going in totally blind.
X3 on Drifters comments. I sure hope you bring a camera and at the very LEAST have a small excerpt from the trip on an episode next season. Good luck!
X3 on Drifters comments. I sure hope you bring a camera and at the very LEAST have a small excerpt from the trip on an episode next season. Good luck!
No camera crew on this one. Sorry. The group my father-in-law hunts with needs to be convinced that I’m a good guy and a responsible hunter before we dare ask to drag cameras and operators along. I’m going to be the new guy in camp… and need to act accordingly. I expect I’ll be doing a lot of grunt work – splitting wood, cooking, dishes, etc., to earn a much desired invite to return the following year. But my long range hope is that in subsequent years we’ll be able to make filming this hunt a reality.
Get a rifle with a gold trigger…….
I’ve been doing my research and after talking to outfitters, guys that work in the hunting industry, and friends that have been hunting elk for a long time I’ve landed on a Kimber Mountain Ascent in 280 Ackley Improved. With a little luck I’ll be able to share pics next week. 
https://www.kimberamerica.com/mountain-ascent
I opted for the Kimber for the best reason of all… I’ve wanted one since I was in high school. Call it full-blown gun lust. I’m not sure where or when the attraction to that brand was established but this elk hunting trip was the excuse I needed to check that box!
Good for you… I was out a couple times in Wyoming with a group that had hunted there for years. Just a tag along guy…. first thing I figured out is all the extra walking and physical stuff these guys did in advance was huge in enjoying the trip. Being in shape made all the difference in really enjoying the wild lands out there.
The first time you hear a elk sound off… well it is something to experience.
I spent some time hiking down into a canyon for small stream trout fishing – and that was also very cool.
Congrats James! Jealous.
As Chuck mentioned working out is huge part of the preparation on a trip like this. My Dad has hunted elk since I was a tot. I think he’s as addicted to elk hunting as I am to fishing.
He pulled a stoneboat similar to the one in the picture a mile every night for months before his trip. As a kid it was amazing watching him turn into an ox. From his sons eyes he was the strongest man in the world. Looking back as a grown man I’m not sure I could endure the same physical pain.
He’s always said, “fishing is fun but elk hunting is F’in WORK!” But, I know he loved every minute of it! He’s shot a good number of elk with a bow an arrow over the years. He’s in his mid 60’s now and headed out for another 14 day trip this fall!
Good luck James!
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Congrats, James. I scored my first elk tag in Montana this year as well. Looks like we’re hunting about 50 miles south of you guys. Starting my workouts now!
He’s always said, “fishing is fun but elk hunting is F’in WORK!” But, I know he loved every minute of it! He’s shot a good number of elk with a bow an arrow over the years. He’s in his mid 60’s now and headed out for another 14 day trip this fall!
I hear you loud and clear! My father-in-law is a machine. He runs 4 – 5 miles a day, does 200 sit ups and a 100 push ups every day. He doesn’t even skip days on vacation. And he’s 74. 
He runs 4 – 5 miles a day, does 200 sit ups and a 100 push ups every day. He doesn’t even skip days on vacation. And he’s 74
Ok, now I feel really out of shape!
My father-in-law is a machine. He runs 4 – 5 miles a day, does 200 sit ups and a 100 push ups every day. He doesn’t even skip days on vacation. And he’s 74.
So where are you at with your father-in-law’s workout stats today? I bought a good backpack that I put a few red bricks in and carried the pack when I went for my evening walks. Then I’d slowly add bricks to it for my walks but also went to car parking ramps and did stairs, up and down and up and down. 60 pounds was my target weight for heading west.
It sounds like a lot of dedicated work but when you take in some of that mountain scenery you’ll consider the effort a bargain. And the effort is a safe-guard for you.
Have a great time Jim. Be safe! And have good luck!
Congrats! I got the same tag in the mail. I’m going in September with my bow.
Elk hunting is not just physically draining, it’s mentally exhausting. Easiest part is clicking the safety off and pulling the trigger. Everything before and after is where the real enjoyment is. It’s kinda like waterfowl hunting, you gotta have more than a few screws that have wiggled loose over the years to think it’s enjoyable. But man it sure is fun.
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