Whatever you do, don’t let the weather come between you and your Elk.  Elk hunting rain gear is a must have in my opinion.

Because we can’t control the weather, you always need to pack rain gear in your day pack. If you make sure that you are prepared for rain or snow your chances for getting your elk greatly increase.

Hunting rain gear is a really hard item to choose. Rain gear can be found in so many styles and materials it becomes hard to make a decision on which one to choose.

Many suits claim to be water proof and breathable and aren’t. Those that are can be like wrapping yourself in plastic. Some are made out of fabrics that are quiet while others are sure to give you away.

Make sure that any rain gear that you buy is taped at all seams with rain flaps over zippers and a hood. Many folks like the jacket and pants combination because it gives a fair amount of freedom of movement. Some like poncho style rain wear that gives the user options to cover extra gear with the ample cut.

Rain gear can be very expensive depending on the brand, style and quality of the suit. I have been using a very inexpensive suit lately with great results. It is made by a company called Frogg Toggs. These suits are extremely light, waterproof and breathable.

The material will throw you off because it looks disposable, almost like paper. These suits are surprisingly durable. They are very quiet and hide your movement. The best thing is that they are priced under $50. I think Sportsman’s Guide even has them on sale right now.

I recently went deer hunting during a tornado watch. I know, I’m crazy. The rain was blowing sideways but I was warm and dry. I have never stalk hunted in this rain gear because I didn’t know how it would hold up.

My strategy was to move so slowly that I wouldn’t tear my rain gear. Slowly I moved through the rain soaked woods and in a very short time, I harvested a deer. To my delight, my suit held up without any tears.

You can spend a lot of money on rain gear but if you’re looking for something reasonably priced, I think Frogg Toggs is a great choice. Frogg Toggs also makes a poncho that sells for around $10.00 that I keep in my pack at all times.

It has saved me from getting soaked several times. I even had it with me when our family went to Disney World and it was a life saver. When you’re hunting you always want to be prepared, so remember, don’t forget your elk hunting rain gear!

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Now that elk season is over and the great memories remain, I turn my attention to hunting whitetail in Alabama. As I mentioned in the Rocky Mountain Elk Guide, whitetail hunting keeps a hunters skills honed and besides, it’s just fun. I don’t know about you but I have found that I need all the help I can get to make sure that I make an accurate shot on an elk or whitetail.

 Over the last few seasons, I have started using a shooting stick. Shooting sticks are nothing new, actually they started with the beginning of firearms. I still remember pictures of the early Spanish and English explorers resting their blunderbust rifles on a forked shooting stick. They didn’t use them for accuracy but to hold the weight of the firearm.

A shooting stick can be fashioned from a small sapling with a fork in it or you can buy one from many sporting good stores. The sticks that you purchase at a sporting goods store often are telescoping to adjust to your height. This also allows them to be easily stored in a hunting backpack.

Another advantage that I have found of this type stick is that it doubles as a walking stick. When hunting in elk country, you are constantly climbing up and down slopes. The shooting stick will make you more stable and less prone to falls or twisting your ankles or knees.

There are several models to choose from…There are single shooting sticks (1 leg), bipod shooting sticks (2 legs) and tripod shooting sticks (3 legs) . You just need to decide which one is right for your needs.

Now is a good time to purchase your shooting stick and what better time to practice using it than during whitetail season. Good luck and happy hunting.

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Recently I was in my local Bass Pro Shop and found a really good pair of binos for under fifty dollars. Of course they were on sale and usually sold for about $149.99. But still, at regular price, that's a pretty darn good deal.

I pulled a pair out of the box and glassed around the store, which is cool because you can spot whitetail, wild hogs, turkey and just about every other species of game animals found in the United States. After day dreaming that I was out on the hunt, I decided to give them a try.

The binoculars are Redheads, a Bass Pro brand. The pair I tested are 10×42, waterproof and fog proof. The manufacture did a great job in the design by making them easy to grip, fairly light weight 20 oz, and armored with a rubber coating.

Field of view at 1000 yards is 304 feet. They feature twist up and down eye pieces for those of us who wear eyeglasses are nitrogen purged with fully coated lens.

So the real question you want to know is, how did they do on the hunt? Well, they were very clear in low light conditions. Focus was smooth and extremely clear. I spotted a doe and yearling walking up a ridge a good one third mile away, squirrels playing in an oak tree at 200 yards and plus other wildlife in the area.

I harvested my first deer of the season ( I’m down in Alabama right now) using these binoculars on the same trip. All of this to say that I love em and will keep using them. If you are in the market for a great pair of binoculars that don't break the bank, I would definitely recommend  picking up a pair.

RedHead Binoculars from Bass Pro Click Here

Hi, my name is Chuck and I would like to welcome you to my site. Elk hunting has been a passion of mine for years and I was lucky enough to be able to spend over 15 years hunting and guiding in the Rocky Mountains.

What a ride it has been! I learned a lot along the way (much of it the hard way:-) so I decided I would pass on some of what I learned over the years for those of you who would like to experience a Rocky Mountain Elk Hunt.

On the left you'll find some helpful articles and tips on preparing for an elk hunt. You can also get a free elk hunting checklist. Just enter your email to the left and and I'll get it off to you right away.

Thanks for stopping by……….

Best of luck on your Elk Hunt!

Chuck

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Warmth, comfort, quietness and function are at the top of my list. Recently I found myself going around and around in choosing what type of jacket to buy. I kept looking at a parka with a hood. It was windproof, waterproof and insulated. The jacket had a plush lining that felt like you were wearing your sleeping bag to the stand.

But how often does it get cold enough to wear a jacket like this in my area? Also the jacket would be too hot to wear on my walk to my stand so I would have to store it in my backpack. This would then mean that I would have to wear a lighter jacket in route.

I have always been a believer in layering so I went with a lighter jacket that can be worn under an outer coat and would be just right for stalk hunting or traveling to my stands.

I found a performance fleece jacket that would work for bow season, winter and spring turkey season as well. The jacket is light weight, made with bonded fleece and treated to bead water making it windproof, water resistant and quick drying. The sleeves on this jacket are designed in the arms up position. This allows total freedom in arm movement.

The other quality that I like about this jacket is that it is almost totally silent. You feel like you are in stealth mode when you wear it. The makers included hand warmer pockets, a slash zippered pocket for easy access. The jacket is tailored to be longer in the back covering most of your rear end. The bottom hem has two drawstrings to close out any unwanted breezes

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It is the attention to all of the mentioned details that impressed me with a hunting wear company called Gamehide. Gamehide only makes clothing for hunting using the finest of materials and innovation. I believe that if you are interested in quality hunting garments, Gamehide is your best bet and value for years to come. 

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Just wanted to remind everyone that haste can make waste in elk camp. If you are like me, you like to eat well in camp so food is very important. My son in law and I got in a hurry to get into the woods one day and we left some of our food sitting out. Luckily it was still there when we got back to camp.

It’s really easy to get excited (especially if you are hearing a bull elk bugling in the distance:-) and leave camp with your grub sitting out. This is really a problem in bear country.

Be sure to clean up your mess and properly store your food before you leave camp. If you fail to do that, you may find yourself on an unwelcomed diet, the leftovers!

Food left out also attracts small creatures like rodents and flies. These carry diseases and can contaminate your food. So take a few minutes to clean up BEFORE you head out for the hunt………..you’ll be glad you did!

Enjoy your hunt!

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Wishing you a successful Elk hunt!

This is a question that I always find myself asking before I go on an elk hunting trip. Three times I have reached into my hunting pack and couldn’t find a flashlight after hunts. On one of those times I was bow hunting for elk near Stagecoach Lake, Colorado.

To make matters even worse, I had passed by several muddy spots in the trail with fresh bear tracks. That was the most un- nerving hikes back out of the woods I have had to make. No light, with an arrow in my hand to defend myself against a bear attack.

Fortunately, the bear didn’t show up. I had learned a valuable lesson to make a checklist and go over it before I leave camp or vehicle on the way to hunt.

I now make sure that I have checked my pack using my elk hunting checklist for such important things as a flashlight, first aid kit, food and something to start a fire with to name a few.

These are just a few of the important items that should be on your elk hunting gear checklist. Believe me, you won't catch me going to the woods without going over my checklist.

 With everything that we have on our minds today, it is really easy to forget what is needed. Take a tip from someone who has made the mistake and learned from it. Being prepared for an elk hunt can literally save your life as the mountains are not very forgiving.

Get a comprehensive elk hunting checklist plus a step by step guide

to planning an elk hunt Click here http://rockymountainelkguide.com/guide

There are estimates of at least 292,000 elk in the state according to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. So is there a "best" place to hunt elk?  Well, it depends on several things.

If you're planning an elk hunting trip to Colorado, you need to ask yourself a couple questions. First, when do you plan to go? And secondly, what type of hunting will you be doing ? Will you be elk archery hunting, muzzleloading, or hunting elk with a rifle?   All this will dictate where to hunt elk in Colorado.

If you are going in the earlier part of the elk hunting season, which is usally archery and muzzleloading, you will want to hunt at higher altitudes. Most elk will stay at higher altitudes until snow starts to set in.

Once the snow has accumulated and its harder to find food, which is usually in the later part of the season (Mid October into November) they will begin to migrate to lower altitude and settle in to the valleys.

Unfortunately, much of the valley property is privately owned land and will require special permission to hunt on them. If you're hunting during rifle season, my two favorite seasons to hunt are first and second season. The weather is still pretty darn good and you might even hear an elk bugle or two. There will be some snow,  but usually not too much, plus,  it's great for helping you track your elk.

But no matter what season you hunt, with a little advanced planning, you have a good chance of seeing some elk.

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