The average success rate of public land deer and elk hunters averages between 14 and 20 percent in Colorado. At first glance, that’s not very good, but many of the same hunters fill their tags every year with a just few key tactics that help them make their own luck. Here are five ways to tip the odds in your favor.
1. Know the area your hunting and have a plan
1. Know the area your hunting and have a plan
1. Know the area your hunting and have a plan
Get to know the lay of the land you’re hunting. Find animals during the time of year you’ll be hunting and get a plan for future hunts. Elk and deer usually summer in the same areas up high, and then as their breeding seasons come, they head to the same areas they’ve spent the rut before. I’ve seen bulls move into the same drainage year after year almost on the same day every September, with trail camera photos to prove it. Knowing where the animals bed and feed and how they get to these areas will give you a hand up. All this comes with spending time in your hunting area.
2. Be aggressive but smart
2. Be aggressive but smart
2. Be aggressive but smart
Sneaking up on a drainage full of bulls bugling is exciting because it’s game time. But before you dive in, check that wind. Get the wind correct, and you almost can run up to the edge of them. Get it wrong, and you’ll hear crickets not long after they’ve whiffed you. Almost every morning, western Colorado has consistent wind until the thermals pick up at about 10 a.m. Use it to your benefit and plan for it accordingly. You can bust an elk with it seeing or hearing you, and it probably won’t go far. But if they smell you, they’ll be long gone.
3. Be familiar with your equipment
3. Be familiar with your equipment
3. Be familiar with your equipment
Practice, practice, practice. Being able to take that steep downhill shot with confidence only comes with time at the range. Just know your limitations and be considerate of the animal. I stir my hunting soul by shooting at the range all summer long. There’s no better feeling than making a 12-ring shot on an animal you’ve spent a ton of time and effort pursuing. Put the range time in, and that will be the norm.
4. Have a good fitness base to go the extra mile
4. Have a good fitness base to go the extra mile
4. Have a good fitness base to go the extra mile
Being in good physical shape to get a little farther into the backcountry will lead to more animals seen and more success. Deer and elk don’t like people; you won’t find them near trailheads or neighborhoods. Be in shape, get deeper into the timber and watch what happens. When you see that giant buck or hear those bulls one ridge over, it’s nice to just go without thinking. Also, have a plan when you get an animal down. An elk on the ground 3 miles back is a challenge when you’re alone. Have a pack with plenty of food, water, knives, game bags and the knowledge how to safely handle the situation. Having the proper gear to process and start to get the meat out of the woods is just as important as the bow, rifle or binoculars.
5. Don’t stop believing
5. Don’t stop believing
5. Don’t stop believing
It was the great Jim Valvano who said, “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.” It rings true in hunting along with just about every other facet of life. I like to have at least three areas lined up that can produce action. If Area A is dead, I’ll move to B, then C. Usually, a three-day rotation gives areas time to calm down and get scent free. It also keeps your mind fresh and attitude positive, keeping your head in the game. Every time you step in the woods, believe you’ll be successful that day.
Regardless of whether you punch your tag this fall or not, we always leave the mountains stronger than when we entered and hopefully with appreciation for the animal we were after and a deeper respect for the country they live in. Best of luck.