Ok so how many years do you have invested in it

[one_elk]

With the it being that elk hunting obsession, this will be fun to see the range of years. For myself 40 years....

[Broken arrow]

2 years in April in the planning for my first ever elk hunt.

[WapitiTalk1]

A few more than 35 total, with some Army interuptions keeping me out of the elk woods ..

[>>>---WW---->]

This year marks number 35 for me.

[planebow]

51 years for me with a few interruptions here and there

[Sean D.]

This year wil be lucky #13, I hope its lucky anyway!

[mongopino915]

4 years of intensive/extensive archery training, elk calling, elk sound studying, and bow tuning. Before that, 20 plus years of elk rifle hunting.

This is no secret but I will say that I have seen more bulls, bigger bulls, and elk (up close and personal) in the last three years than the 20 plus years of rifle elk hunting put together.

[ORelksniper]

30+ years. Even after all this time I learn something new every year. Amazing!

[JohnFitzgerald]

32 years

[one_elk]

Ok so I guess I need to make an adjustment on my estimate, cause I can't be that much older so I will change my estimate to 5 years haha....

[cnelk]

The answer to this question would be different if you ask it at the end of the season instead of the beginning...

I feel a lot older after

[Indian Summer]

I've been trying real hard night and day year round to learn about elk hunting for about 27 years and this will be the first season I think I might actually have my act together.

[buglmin]

Just 32 years for me, with 29 branch antlered bulls killed with a bow, with 15 of those killed with trad equipment. I havent shot a cow or raghorn in 9 years...I learn new things every year, see new things every year, just hoping I'll be around and strong enough to enjoy my 33rd year chasing bulls this fall...

[Lefty]

My first year I shot my first bull with a rifle in 92.
While I killed a few elk I didnt consider my self an elk hunter or obsessed until I picked a bow back up 4 years ago

[Buglemaster]

I killed my first buck deer when I was 12 years old. The dreams I had of killing a bull elk started before that..It did'nt happen till I was 17, but I remember it like it was yesterday.I have'nt missed an elk hunt in 44 years & hope to keep that streak going for as long as the old legs will let me.Considering this addiction I have, I'm pretty shure I had aspirations of being an elk hunter when that Dr. slapped me on the butt way back in 1955.

[scrubs]

On and off for 30 yrs, more off than on. I probably only actually only hunted elk about 6-8 yrs out of that 30yrs. Most years I have intention of hunting them, life usually gets in the way,and my serious dislike of WDFW/Wa state doesn`t help either. I`m working very hard to over these obstacles.

Man, some of you folk have ALOT of time invested in ELK, KUDOS to you folks !

[cnelk]

Shot my first elk on my first hunt when I was 16 as a NR. Went again the following year. Had a intermission until I moved to Colorado in 1988.
Then its been full steam ahead.

Probably about 27 years

[mandrroofing]

A whopping 2 years. Don't get me wrong I still love whitetail hunting but now I catch myself daydreaming more about being in the mountains chasing elk than I do anything else. Did I catch the fever? I've heard there is no cure

[ironhead22]

AI started hunting at age 14, started dreaming of elk hunting shortly thereafter. I started really planning a hunt 5 year's ago ,been obsessed ever since!

[N5J]

8 years...First 4 years thinking I was elk hunting with NO encounters and last 4 years of really elk hunting with encounters.

N5J

[ElkNut1]

Lots! (grin)

ElkNut1

[BowKill]

22yrs, wow has it been that long?

[Harmy]

I grew up hunting and then took about a 25 year break to be a rock climber then back at it in hunting. For me it is close to 30 years hunting with a solid 15 after elk but really it has only been the last couple of years where the passion has really taken over my primary focus.

[flystrait]

22 years chasing elk with a bow. It has taken a long time to learn the ropes myself just started getting my act together about 8 years ago..

CK

[elkmtngear]

Bowhunting for 40 years, but only 18 for elk.

[Swede]

I am 65 now. I started going out hunting with my dad when I was 7 or 8. I really don't remember. and I missed one season while I was in the service. You will have to do your own math here as I am not too good at it. If you calculate the seasons, please don't publish them. It make me start to feel old.

[Jaquomo]

Geez, this place is like an assisted living home for old elk hunters, with a couple young whippersnappers stopping by for a visit!

This season will be 39th for me for elk with a bow, 42nd year bowhunting big game. Took 7 years to get my first elk (I was too picky and didn't know how to close the deal - bad combination), but have had a fairly good run since then.

[Swede]

Jacuomo: You have had a great run on hunting, especially elk. If Colorado added a surcharge on the tags which are filled, I suspect you would need to get a second job to cover the cost. Just a reminder from the geriatrics ward in case alzheimer's is setting in.

[ctdad]

6 elk hunts over about 10 years time. Only been addicted for 2 though. I'm slow to catch on I guess.

[cnelk]

We are the 'Coffin Dodgers'...

[fiddlerE]

About 10 years of looking for elk with a rifle, and the last three years seriously chasing them with a bow.

[Da White Shoe]

I missed the season in 2003. My son was born at the wrong time for me to get away... my wife fills in for me running our business.
That's the only one I've missed since 1978, but I guess I made up for it a couple of times... when I had more than one tag in a year.
I've hunted elk for 30 days straight a few times.
Going to Alaska for moose this September, so I will miss this coming season, unless I draw a Black Hills rifle tag, (not the same thing as bow season!)

I'm very excited to finally get to hunt Alaska... and kind of sad at the same time.

[mtnmutt]

First 3 years, just the elk caller for a friend.

Last 3 years, the elk bowhunter.

2013 is either my 4th or 7th season depending on how you look at it.

[WindedBowhunter]

This year makes it 11 years for me in elk hunting

28 years of hunting and all with a compound bow

[GetemDuck]

Growing up in West Virginia, elk hunting never crossed my mind. I started hunting at the age of 6 took my first deer at the age of 10 with a bow but in 2002 when I moved out to western nebraska I started hearing more and more about elk hunting so after a few years of research and studying I finally broke down and gave it a try. Been hooked ever since So for the last 5 years I've been gearing up to spend my time elk hunting. Still learning the ropes of elk (they are not whitetails) and the mountains but having a great time with it.

[MTLongdraw]

I started elk hunting when I was 5 with my dad and grandpa. Since I turned twelve I can probably count the number of days I missed when I was able to go hunting (school and work) on two hands. This year will be my 19th season. Every year the addiction gets stronger. I've learned a lot but still feel I have so much to learn. I think this is the most passionate I've ever been about anything I always tell my wife its a healthier addiction than drugs and alcohol, just not necessarily cheaper.

[GetemDuck]

I don't know I here drugs are expensive and I know alot of people who spend more in the bar over the year then I spend elk hunting
suckers

[CrazyElkHunter]

45 years bowhunting, 33 years bowhunting elk, 27 elk with a bow.

[Sean_TeamNWHunting]

28 years, mostly all archery

[one_elk]

Just goes to show you the that more you elk hunt and just spend time in elk country the longer you live…not sure how many Dr’s we have on this site but I would guess that 5 out of 5 of them would agree with the above statement (and if they don’t they should be relegated to being a newbee because they certainly haven’t been paying attention. haha)…And there you have it a medical break through

[Magic]

I made my first successful elk hunt in 1973 at 30 years old. Last year at 69, was 30 something hunts. Some of the years were devoted to deer and or antelope. Come on October.

[Herb]

2013 will be my 23rd straight year, with a couple multiple hunts in some years.

[JohnFitzgerald]

Does everyone here realize that "we" have over 1000 years of hunting experience. Sure pays to be part of the ElkNut Forum Family!

[Trophyhill]

5 years for me. i'm just getting started with a long way to go. it has been quite thee experience thus far!

[cnelk]

Does everyone here realize that "we" have over 1000 years of hunting experience. Sure pays to be part of the ElkNut Forum Family!

im thinking the 10% of hunters that kill 90% of the elk are all right here.....

[sreekers]

This fall will be year 21, if i include the years following dad around. 15 with my own rifle ore bow in hand.

[Clip-Shot]

33 years and counting...

[Z Barebow]

Started in 1998. 2013 will be my 6th hunt. But eat elk hunting every day!

[dreamingbig]

2013 will be my 12th year. 4 elk so far with the bow.