Bow Elk Aug 27, 2011

[Deleted member 33033]

I am looking for a couple of guys to bowhunt elk in SW CO during the rut. Interested? Am considering this operator...anyone use em before? Thoughts? Referrals?
http://www.themangus5.com/index.htm

I may have located an even better deal: http://www.loneconeoutfitters.com The owner's a retired USAF fighterpilot. I kinda like that. Plus his pricing is much cheaper!!

More questions have surfaced since I first posted. I am now told that if I want to a nice big buck that'll make a fine shoulder mount I should wait until October when the rut is over and the hide is in pristine shape for the winter. He said my odds of getting one with a rifle are much higher. Opinions?

 

[Superduty65]

Wow, after reading about Lone Cone Outfitters, I don't know why you would even consider anything else. Hell, I've hunted Colorado on public land for years and have filled every tag I ever bought there but I would even consider hunting with Ron and his group just to say thanks to him for supporting fellow Veterans like he does. Look, he offers kids up to 17 years old for only 10% of the normal hunt rate, that is just all around tremendous. It is very obvious he is a family oriented man and his intentions are very clear. I would call them first man. Heck, If I weren't hunting Oregon (family pressure) and California this year I would be right back in Colorado and would even consider saving up for this guy.

 

[jdjtexas]

Bruce, I am Looking into that archery hunt right now as well, I just gotta convince the wife its a good idea for us both. I have never hunted Elk but I already got that bug. I took her to the fred hall show today and there was a ranch manager from Idaho filling us in on his operation but after reading a bit on lone cone I see that I will have about a 20% discount seeing as Im active duty. I like that he is so family oriented as well. Ill post once I get some clarity from her.

 

[Deleted member 33033]

Ron and I have been chatting and emailing each other alot...here's what he has told me. Nonguided hunts (restricted to public lands) have a 15-20% success rate. Even with strategically positioned ground blind, tripods and tree stands, the archery elk take on the guided hunts is far lower than rifle season and you must be able to shoot up 50 to 80 yards to be successfully, even if you hit the rut dead center...and nobody knows when that will be. I told him I wanted a shoulder mount, he suggested a late Oct hunt because the elk will look better then. He also said every hunter that comes with an elk tag and not a mulie tag ultimately has a monster buck stop 20 yards away from him and that "...you will crap your pants..." when it happens. Love this ole guy! He's trying to hook me up with another CA hunter whose looking for a buddy to join him so I may switch up my plan and go in Oct instead. I am just not proficient beyond 30 yards w/ my bow and believe it would be unethical to even attampt a 50' shot...much less an 80. But yes, Ron is a very cool cat and bottom-lines everything so you can make the best possible decision.

 

[jdjtexas]

Is it hard to get a tag in october though? I thought it was a draw system? I aint sure how the whole process would work to get a tag and book a hunt. I dont wanna book then not get drawn.

 

[dirtpoor]

50 to 80 yds.....very very few archers are proficiant consistantly at 50 yds, 80 yds is a crap shoot for all but a select few and in my opinion unethical to attempt for most archer's, its one thing to shoot long distance on a controlled range quite another in the field given the variable's including the high excitment factor, my hunting partner has taken 9 bulls with his bow and is proficent at 50 yds but hunting during the rut we've never had to make a shot over 40 yds, I can't imagine not being able to call them in close at the height of the rut.