Getting the “Low Down”

So, you have drawn a limited entry elk tag!  Where do we go from here?  Whether your hunting witha bow or a rifle, drawing an elk tag for an unfamiliar unit can be overwhelming, but here are some tips to get started.
This year, my son and I have drawn elk tags for a controlled, trophy [...]

Calling all Quitters

I have lots of advice.  Whether your going to buy a new 4×4 truck,  or going out for dinner, I can usually put in my “two cents”.  But as far as elk hunting goes, I have narrowed it down to my favorite two tips.
CALLING ELK
No matter what elk hunting forum you choose to search for [...]

Dirk’s day pack

My day pack consists of many of the same items that most hunters carry.  Some are more crucial than others and I will try and highlight them.

I’ve used the Black’s Creek “Hunter” Pack for the past couple years, but this year I’ll be using the Sitka Ascent 14 pack.
 MUST HAVE ITEMS
- 2 KNIVES AND A [...]

Working toward Elk Season

This time of year while talking to friends, I frequently hear the comment ” I cant wait till elk season”!  And that gets me thinking “why wait”?  There are so many preparations to be made in the next couple months, we can’t wait until a week or two before opening day to throw all our [...]

The Count Down Begins

The final 90 days are upon us before the season opener. This is when I shift from “Slacker Dude” into “The Elk Killer”.  I work 60 to 72 hours in my normal work week, so it’s hard to find alot of time for physical conditioning. Here are a few things that help me get rid of some of [...]

Lucky Thirteen

  2007 archery elk season had started off with a bang.  Opening day found my brother Lance and I, at a favorite “low country” hunting spot.  The evening before while scouting, we had some cows cross the road in front of us. Since we had poor luck in having a bull return our bugles, it made [...]

Defining Moments

  As elk hunters most of us can think back to a moment, scenario, or hunt that changed you or your approach to hunting.  Some of us have been influenced by our fathers, uncles, friends or just a unique circumstance. We all have visions of who we are, and who we want to be as hunters, [...]

Hung-up on Bull Elk

  Every season we look back and reflect upon what we could have done differently on a particular elk hunt.  The scenario goes like this - ” I called back and forth with a bull for at least an hour.  He charged in, only to hang up just out of archery range.  Sound familiar? Especially those of us who hunt [...]

Calling for success

The year was 1989, I was fifteen and wanted to hunt elk with a bow.
My Dad had long since lost his drive to “beat the brush” as he called it. So I was on my own. Being an avid hunter I wanted to take advantage of the early season that archery hunting offered. I new nothing about calling elk. My best friend Randy ( now my brother in-law) Wise also wanted to get involved. We made a pact. We would learn to call elk no matter what the obstacles , we would learn.

Get psyched up about drawing an elk tag!

Screaming bulls all around. This can’t be really happening. Your every heart beat is felt as it tries to burst from your chest. You cant breath. Off in the very near distance brush is breaking, and hooves are pounding the ground, closer, and closer. The intense, up close and personal challenge bugle makes you close your [...]

“Trolling for Bulls” – Archery Elk Hunting

Something is wrong. The elk wont bugle. It’s too hot, the moon is full, too many people, too many wolves……….
I think I am as guilty as the next guy for using one of those lame excuses about why I haven’t tagged out yet. But let’s get real, real quick. You are ultimately in charge of [...]