Newbie in Colorado

[tino73]

Hello,
I'm from California and in November I will be taking my first trip to Colorado to hunt Elk.I was wondering if anyone might give me an Idea of what I may need to take in the line of clothing and camping gear?(Tent type,Brand or colors of clothing preferred for winter hunting,type of foods to take,canned,boxed,or is cooking over a fire or cooking stove better?I understand there are many bears there.)I have looked online for a hunting check list in North West Guide Colorado but I only found one for South West Guide Colorado.I've been told they are very different in climate.I just want to have a pleasant trip without frezzing and of course raising the odds of bringing home the BIG one!Any help would be greatly appreciated.My hunting unit is nearest the Grand Junction Office,Northwest Guide.If this helps anyone to better understand where I'll be.Thank you and hope to hear from someone soon.

[elk killer wannabe]

Newbie,

It would probably help if you told us what elevation you will be hunting and/or camping in and what part of November you will be there. Are you going on your own or will you have friends with you? I would guess that you will need to bring a variety of clothes and boots since you can never say for sure what the weather is going to do in the mountains.

EKW

[Buckbuster]

Hey Newbie,

I know that area well and you need to think warm, clothes not weather. It can be really cold, with deep snow, or just cold and wet; it all depends on the roll of the weather dice. Sometimes that roll comes up snake eyes. Yesterday Colorado got an early storm that dumped from 13 inches to 3 feet of snow a month earlier than normal. In the mountains in November, normal is a relative term. I'm betting there are some early season elk hunters up there right now that aren't prepared because they thought, hey, it's only October.

The hard, cold reality is that when you get dumped on like that, nothing is going anywhere for a while. You'd better be prepared for anything. Cabela's Alaknak tent is a great option for a group of guys. It has lots of room, is easy to set up and you can put a wood burning stove inside.

For clothing, take lots of layers and a well-insulated coat and bibs that are waterproof. Boots should be well insulated, tall and waterproof. You could be slogging through wet snow or mud from snow that has melted on the sunny side. Daytime temps vary somewhat, but the night will always be really cold at that elevation.

Cooking on an open fire works for some things, but for a week of meals you'll want a good camp stove. There are just too many things that are easier to cook properly on a controlled flame. I usually take something simple for breakfast and lunch and leave the big meal for the evening when time and getting on the trail isn't a factor. It just depends on what you want to eat, and how much trouble you want to go to in order to have it. I roll out of the sack, stick some jerkey, energy bars, an apple and a sack of nuts and dried fruit in my pocket. If there's time, I'll make a sandwich for lunch. If not, I might throw in a block of cheese and some extra snacks. I am good to go with some light snacks several times a day, rather than stuffing myself with a heavy load and then feeling really full. You'll find that cooking in the evening is a chore because you're so tired. Taking pre-cooked meals that just need to be warmed up is a good idea. That also takes up less room to transport. Some guys like canned anything rather than cooking. That's up to you. One thing for sure, you won't be running to the store because you forgot to bring something. Make a menu that covers each day and pack accordingly. You can't make spaghetti without the sauce.

I hope that you've done some exercising to get your legs in shape. You're going to find out what they're worth on the second day. Riding a bike for 5 to 10 miles would be good as well, preferably with lots of hills. If you just "think" you're in pretty good shape, you're not. Get out today and start walking at least a couple of miles a day, and do more as you get closer. The mountains will kick your flatlander butt, and that's a fact!

GPS would be a very good idea. It's easy to get turned around, especially when a storm drops clouds and snow down to treetop level and all you can see is gray skies and tree trunks because the mountain tops aren't visible for a landmark.

Extra socks is a mandatory deal. Your feet feel a lot better with a fresh, dry pair of socks. Liner socks will help prevent blisters, but make sure your boots are broken in well and that you have a proper fit.

Also, pay attention to the symptoms for altitude sickness. It's fairly common for people that have a dramatic change in elevation, and are not used to it. Again, if you didn't catch it before, the mountains will kick your butt. If you don't think so, they're already got the upper hand. Pace yourself and remember, the fun is over when you hear the loud boom!

I wouldn't worry too much about the bears in November. If it has been cold for a while, they'll be taking a long nap. If not, you just have to run faster than the person you're hunting with.

Good luck. Buckbuster

[grayling]

Forget all cotton clothing at home except for what you might sleep in or wear around the campfire. Synthetics is the way to go. Cotton absorbs perspiration, doesn't insulate well when wet, and takes a long time to dry out. If something does get wet remember that you can dry small articles very fast if you stuff it in the bottom of your sleeping bag. Your body heat will dry it overnight. But this is really only used for emergency situations.

Underarmour makes great cold weather gear (tops and bottoms). Wool socks or synthetic blends for your feet and maybe even a pair of Seal Skin socks that go over the calf. If you are limited to how much you can take but need light weight rain gear I use Frog Toggs. No insulation but breathable and packable.

If you are going with a guide he should be able to provide you with a check list. If not go online and find a guide service and see what they recommend taking at this time of the year.

Good luck.

Grayling