Let's Go West: Part I
Many hunters dream of coming west for the first time and hunting elk or mule deer. If you don’t believe me, just look at the draw odds and trends over the last ten years. There are very few, if any, tags that are easier to obtain now than ten years ago. The first time coming west can be a great experience, or it can sour you for life. Let’s dig in over the next few articles and really break down how to come west and have an enjoyable hunt that maximizes your available time.
The process of hunting elk or mule deer for the first time can be daunting. There are a bunch of small decisions that are equally important to the overall goal of having a great trip. When you start to plan the adventure, you need to consider many things, but in my opinion, these are the most important:
1. Species and Weapon Type: Do you want to chase elk around the mountains and listen to bugles? Or are you more of a mule deer guy?
2. Tag Requirements (Location and Season): How do you obtain a tag? Is it a multi-year strategy, or can you get a tag easily?
3. Define Success: Do you need to kill an animal to call it a successful trip? Are you planning on coming back in a couple of years and need to build knowledge for the next trip?
4. Logistics: How much time do you have for the hunt? Will a bunch of that time be eaten up by travel?
5. Gear: What are the necessities? How soon do you need it, and is there a break in the process?
6. Preparation: Are you physically prepared for the hunt you want? Can you mentally grind out challenging hunts when conditions aren’t optimal?
Those six questions need to be answered before you step foot into the field. If
you can develop a strategic plan that covers all the topics above, you’ll likely have an enjoyable and successful trip out West. I will break down all these questions over the next few articles. If you have specific questions that I don’t answer, please reach out, and I will help guide you through the process.