Building Confidence in the Elkwoods

[Trophyhill]

What can the less experienced guys do to gain confidence and become consistent killers? For me it has been by not being picky and capitalizing on opportunity. The old adage of "if it's brown it's down" has been very real for me. There are a lot of other factors too but this has been a good starting point. What say you?

[Lefty]

Experience always helps, so does knowledge.
All the training you want or can do.
While I tend to neglect the physical training , know your bow, your arrows, your gear, elk, the woods, your area, if your going to bivy hunt you should also be a back packer, if your tenting , know your camp, using horses, that's another experience, hunting with family anouther
If your new or live outside of elk area, realize that killing brown isn't the only way to have a great hunt

[stringunner]

What can the less experienced guys do to gain confidence and become consistent killers? For me it has been by not being picky and capitalizing on opportunity. The old adage of "if it's brown it's down" has been very real for me. There are a lot of other factors too but this has been a good starting point. What say you?

+1

[Toby]

Nothing like success to breed confidence. I like your idea of taking any elk, especially early in one's elk hunting endeavor.

[Trophyhill]

Nothing like success to breed confidence. I like your idea of taking any elk, especially early in one's elk hunting endeavor.

Don't get me wrong.......I want to kill a 350 bull as much as the next guy but getting that experience of the process of hunting, killing and packing an elk out is my preparation for the moment of truth every time it happens if that makes any sense.

[Elkduds]

Hunting season is short, scouting season is long. You can practice almost every aspect of elk hunting during scouting season, as much as you want. Time spent around elk in your hunting area outside hunting season is a tremendous confidence booster, and will pay off on the hunt.

[Swede]

I depends on where we place our confidence. I am confident I can get an elk. My confidence is low that I could get a 320+ class bull where I hunt. It is possible, but not likely. My confidence in getting an elk is based on years of elk successes. Experience is the foundation for my confidence, both for getting an elk and not getting a 320 class bull. I could be wrong either way, but that is my experience.

[easeup]

just kickin in a little different perspective to an excellent question......

I came from the school of hard knocks with no mentoring so I did every foolish thing under the sun gaining experience.. With that introduction, if there are new guys out there wanting experience without spending 15 yrs and ~ $30,000 to get it.....follow Mr Trophyhills advice but consider a different avenue. What can the less experienced guys do to gain confidence and become consistent killers? I say go with an elk-killer and watch every move and ask a hundred questions.
Seriously.....I know I spent over 30 grand in those 15 yrs on DIY hunts. I should have spent $5K up front on a guided hunt where I could watch school in progress. You think you are saving money by doing it yourself? OK.I will take my beating now.

[Kevrod3]

just kickin in a little different perspective to an excellent question......

I came from the school of hard knocks with no mentoring so I did every foolish thing under the sun gaining experience.. With that introduction, if there are new guys out there wanting experience without spending 15 yrs and ~ $30,000 to get it.....follow Mr Trophyhills advice but consider a different avenue. What can the less experienced guys do to gain confidence and become consistent killers? I say go with an elk-killer and watch every move and ask a hundred questions.
Seriously.....I know I spent over 30 grand in those 15 yrs on DIY hunts. I should have spent $5K up front on a guided hunt where I could watch school in progress. You think you are saving money by doing it yourself? OK.I will take my beating now.

I talked to my local bow shop guy and he said his worst mistake was going at it DIY the first 3 years. I'm glad I went with my guide this past year, although he taught me few things.... I took a lot more from what he Didn't teach me. What I mean by that is he left a ton of info out that either I've now learned on this site or from the Playbook(this year). Would of been very helpful, and actually Paul's Playbook would of been a better guide than the guy I had. My guide didn't know how to use a mouth reed.... IMO Make sure you get a quality guide!!!

[Swede]

Easeup, if you are looking for an argument, you are going to have to look somewhere else. I agree. There are a lot of resources available to help an new hunter get a head start. A DIY, OTC hunt is never easy, but going in ignorant sure helps the elk survival rates. I think teaching aids combined with some experience will shorten the time it takes for an individual to get some well earned genuine confidence. I think it is especially sad that new elk hunters can easily mislead themselves to believe that this elk hunting can be boiled down to some formula, that with some hard hunting will almost surely result is success. That mindset is not confidence. It is a misplaced misunderstanding.
You can walk out and get lucky once in awhile, but ultimately you need confidence, based on an understanding of the area you hunt, the animals you hunt and your real elk hunting skills.

[zpd307]

Nothing like success to breed confidence. I like your idea of taking any elk, especially early in one's elk hunting endeavor.

I 100% agree! I feel the same way with elk as I did with turkeys back in the day. its amazing how much a success affects you....

[Gselkhunter]

For the guys back east, move! For the guys that live in elk country, it isn't about killing them. Start in June and spend as many days as you can in the middle of them. Doesn't matter if it is bulls or cows, learn both. Move with them from sun up to sun down. Learn their comfort levels[canopy cover, shade and temp], feeding habits[plants included not just when], noise comfort level[what sounds bother them], visual & protective set ups[it is a key to why they go where they go], insect evasion. Learn how they transition from summer mode into rut, where they go and how they change their pattern. Learning their social order and it will open up secrets to the where, when and whys to becoming an elk killing machine.

[JPD350]

For the guys back east, move! For the guys that live in elk country, it isn't about killing them. Start in June and spend as many days as you can in the middle of them. Doesn't matter if it is bulls or cows, learn both. Move with them from sun up to sun down. Learn their comfort levels[canopy cover, shade and temp], feeding habits[plants included not just when], noise comfort level[what sounds bother them], visual & protective set ups[it is a key to why they go where they go], insect evasion. Learn how they transition from summer mode into rut, where they go and how they change their pattern. Learning their social order and it will open up secrets to the where, when and whys to becoming an elk killing machine.

+1 Good info, summer cow talk is a very valuable insight

Also agree with Trophy on killing what is offered to you, everything is a trophy!