First off I'm not a new hunter, I've just never hunted elk. We have tule elk, deer and piggies running all over our place but not allowed to hunt the elk per CA. laws.
I was invited last year for an Idaho hunt for 7-10 days. It dwindled to 2-3 days but was told that they were going 2-3 days early because they could usually get animals before the season opens. I bailed out on that one. I had another possible invite for Oregon this year with a private group on leased land but it filled up with the regular group.
Question is,,, should I look for an outfitter willing to take on a 70 year old newbie Elk hunter, try and mooch my way in with another group or just forget trying to hunt elk?
Redmont,
I'm 72 and I still hunt Elk. Here is what you do. First, don't give up. There is someone out there looking for a partner like you.
Join the RMEF if you haven't already. They support Elk hunting in a very big and wonderful way. You may even meet someone through them that would help you out.
If your goal is to hunt Elk this year first look at the states that still offer tags. Utah is one of them. They offer 15K tags to non-residents in July. Just make sure you purchase immediately upon the opening purchase date if you decide to hunt. Start a thread stating that you are interested in finding a hunting partner for whatever season in whatever state you are interested in hunting in both Hunt Talk and Rockslide.
Right now is a little late in the year to be looking for a hunt as some states have already drawn.
But there is at least one option that I know of which is Utah. I assume you hunt with Rifle but they also offer a Archery season.
If you are interested in Montana, buy a preference point this July/Aug and enter next year's draw at which time you buy another preference point for a total of 2 points which would give you a fair chance to draw a tag. Last day to apply for the draw is 1 April.
A tag in Montana is expensive but you also get a game bird tag and fishing license and it's good for the entire Elk season both Archery, (with purchase of a 10 dollar archery tag),Rifle and Muzzleloader seasons.
Most years I'm looking for a hunting partner too but I've gone alone more than once. I'm 72 but I managed to find a partner to hunt with this year. He and I are in the Montana draw as a party with only one point each so our odds are pretty low to draw so I'm looking at Utah as a possible alternate hunt location and I have hunted there so I am already familiar with the area. If I draw Montana this year I'm going during the Archery Elk season but the Elk tag is good for any Elk season
I can't promise you but you might be able to hang out with us if we don't draw Montana this year and decide to go to Utah. That's kinda of a big if though on both counts however. I would have to get the OK from my hunting partner and I'm not sure I will hunt elk this year if he isn't interested in hunting Utah. Also, he may be more interested in the Utah Archery season than in the Rifle season? These aren't things we bothered to figure out yet. That said, the Archery season there sucks as it ends before the better part of the Elk Rut.
