2024 Colorado DIY Archery Elk Hunt

DIY elk hunting is as much about preparation and decision-making as it is about the moment you draw your bow. This field note captures the approach behind a Colorado archery hunt and the lessons we want to keep building on.

Before the Hunt

The work starts long before the truck heads west. We want a clear plan for where to start, how we will access the country, what gear is essential and what we will do if our first area does not produce.

That preparation does not eliminate uncertainty. It gives us a better way to respond to it.

In the Field

Once the hunt begins, the priorities are simple: locate elk, protect the wind, move efficiently and avoid turning every encounter into a high-pressure decision. Public land also means being willing to change areas when the situation calls for it.

Gear That Matters

We favor gear that is reliable, quiet and useful across multiple situations. The goal is not to carry every possible solution. It is to carry the things that make the hunt safer, more comfortable or more effective.

Takeaways

• Build the plan before the trip, but expect to adapt it.
• Keep your setup simple enough that you can move when the hunt demands it.
• Physical preparation matters because hard decisions are often made when you are tired.
• Review the hunt afterward. The lessons are often as valuable as the outcome.

Watch the Hunt

The video below is the best way to see the trip in the field.