On any bowhunt deep in the backcountry, be prepared to work hard. Physical and mental toughness are sure to swing the odds in your favor.

The first time I attempted a do-it-yourself elk bowhunt was in 1981. I knew virtually nothing about what I was getting into, but I had the desire to simply dive in headfirst. My first few days were spent climbing around in near-vertical country at a very high elevation. I got altitude sickness and lost half of my third, and all of my fourth day afield. Getting started again--as I started to get my "mountain legs and lungs" about me--I soon found myself into elk action.

As I neared success, the time I'd allotted for the trip (10 days) ran out. I headed for home just as I was getting prepared to bow-kill my first elk. Leaving like this certainly yanked my under-shorts into an immediate and quite serious wad. As soon as I got home, I started preparing to go back. Meeting some work requirements as quickly as possible, I loaded my old truck and headed to the mountains again.

This time, I was going to stay until I got the job done, or the season closed, whichever came first. With the determination to mentally and physically stretch my body to its limits each day, and with the time to hunt unhurriedly, I killed my first bull after 13 days of gut wrenching toil and strain.

The landscape on wilderness hunts has the potential to be fickle. Don't let the country get the best of you, be prepared for anything.

Synthetic Helpmates
If you've supplied the aforementioned ingredients for success, it's certainly a good idea to attempt to save yourself as much heartache as possible. Owing to the inherent difficulty of such an outing, it's an absolute necessity to surround yourself with gear that keeps you safe, comfortable and effective. On my first hunt, I was sadly deficient in support gear, and thus, my hunting effectiveness suffered greatly. When I got home, I saved every dime I could muster for the next year so that I could purchase some quality backpacking equipment, clothing and optics. As I look back on this sacrifice of money, however, I realize that my total expenditure was less than what the average guided hunt costs...what a deal!

I hesitate to tell people to equip themselves with top-end gear before they ever attempt their first do-it-yourself hunt for elk. I've seen many get the gear, try the trip, and then bail out. On the other hand, if you don't have the good gear when you first try such an outing, you'll be even more inclined to "melt down." I say, get the gear. E-Bay can be a lifesaver!

Spaced Out
One of the most intimidating factors that most newcomers face on a mountainous hunt is the "size" of the country. The elk habitat that I tackle is best described by adjectives such as rough, rugged, thick, steep and dangerous. The reality of getting lost or seriously injured in such country is a constant threat. Certainly, the unprepared novice is going to have problems remaining orientated in elk country, though, with time, you'll develop the savvy to get the job done effectively and safely.