I’d venture to say nearly every North American hunting author has written articles proclaiming the bull elk as the most majestic trophy animal on the planet, and rightfully so. Most of us who have ever entered the woods with a gun or bow to pursue deer sized game have dreamed about setting our cross-hairs on a trophy elk.
Whether our mind pictures a silhouetted bull with a perfect sunset on a mountain backdrop, or a bruiser in a hidden green meadow, we most likely have the image etched in our mind. Many of us have even tried to fulfill the dream with relatively inexpensive (compared to deer or antelope) out-of-state, do-it-yourself hunts. I have tried that very thing numerous times with both bows and rifles. I have enjoyed all of those experiences, but never fulfilled the dream burned into my mind.
Of course there is nothing wrong with these do-it-yourself hunts. As I have stated, I’ve had a great time doing that very thing myself. I’ve also done elk hunts with outfitters that use horses and mules to get you off the beaten path into their public hunting areas. Though these hunts were good, I still never had a shooting opportunity at a big 6×6 elk. My lack of success could be attributed to numerous factors, such as my lack of knowledge or skills, hunting crowded areas, weather, and/or physical limitations.
Everyone has their own definition of what constitutes a trophy animal, and I consider that a good thing. For some hunters it’s any branched antlered bull, for others it’s any 6×6 bull, and for some it requires something measuring in the mid-to-upper 300’s.
To finally achieve my elk goals, I decided to hunt with very experienced guides who had access to public and private land where trophy elk roam in areas that are not over-pressured. These fully guided elk hunts with a high success rate are what we strive to provide for our clients. It has worked for me, and it will work for you too!
