Mike Stroff's Elk Hunting Tips

If you're new to the world of elk hunting, chances are you're busy scouring the internet and watching videos about rifles, calling, land access, and elk behavior. Savage ambassador and host of "Savage Outdoors" and "The One", Mike Stroff has two expert tips to consider for your clothing and choosing an outfitter. 

Dress the Part
Elk hunting is not like whitetail hunting...at all. If you're whitetail hunting, you're probably sitting in a tree stand for a few hours, layered up in bulky clothing, wondering if you'll ever feel your toes again. And you probably didn't have to hike too far into the woods to get to your stand. Elk hunting, on the other hand, generally requires quite a bit of hiking at elevation. Elk live in rough country, and you should expect to deal with some extreme elements of Mother Nature on any elk hunt. Because of this, Stroff says "You need good clothing, good boots and good socks. Good pair of hiking boots, make sure they're broke in, and they're super comfortable and you know you can put the miles on them." It's not uncommon to put 6-8 miles or more on your boots during a single hunt. Stroff stresses the importance of choosing good base layers for elk hunting. There are so many great lightweight clothing options available these days that will work hard to keep you warm, comfortable and dry. Most elk hunters are mindful of weight in the mountains and take great care to choose gear that isn't unnecessarily heavy (our favorite rifle for this is the 110 Ultralite!), and your clothing should be the same. Choose materials that will wick moisture away from your body.  Even if you're hunting in cold conditions, once you start hiking, your body will warm up so dressing in layers is the best way to ensure you will stay comfortable. Wearing proper clothing lets you hunt hard and stay in the field in all weather conditions. Elk hunting is NOT the time to bundle up like Randy from "A Christmas Story".

Choose an Outfitter
An outfitted hunt is a dream for many hunters. How do you choose an elk outfitter? Good news -- there are lot of options! But that means that you need to do your homework to find an outfitter that is going to help you go on the hunt you want. Before you book your trip, make sure you ask the outfitter about their operations, how many clients they have that year, how many elk they anticipate harvesting, how much country they're hunting. If you want a trophy elk, you have to go to place that produces trophy bulls and that usually means trekking into areas that are harder to reach, so it's important to find an outfitter that is capable of helping you reach your trophy bull.