You don't need a bunch of fancy clothes to elk hunt ....1/2 the time I feel like I look like a dumbarse because the guy I'm with has on blue jeans a Carhartt Jacket and a cowboy hat.

The only people out there in all that Kuiu garbage is people like us....


Get some boots now.

Get in shape.

That's about all you really have to do. The rest is determined on how you will be hunting, i.e. riding around in a truck OR possibly what you will be doing staying in a cabin all the way to a DYI hike in 10 miles and sleep in a tent and everything in between. All requirements are different.


Gaiters and packable rain gear are the only true essentials.

I hunted Wy last year...exercise like you are training for Olympics. I believe my Fitbit fried trying to keep up with the miles we walked.

Don't try to go out there and shoot one with a .243 either.... You'll be really upset if you lose a nice bull because you are hunting with a dern pea shooter. You might miss a lifetime opportunity.

Arm yourself adequately.

Yeah third year out son shot a nice 6x6 325 WSM heart hit and that sucker still went dang near a quarter mile believe it or not. Snow everywhere so tracking was good.

I’ll be carrying a .300 WSM so I think I should be good.

As to the need for a sidearm, can you outrun your buddy?

I hunted in Colorado the fourth season last year. Every day was in the mid teen temps. Blowing snow one day. We were able to stay in a motel and day hunt last year. Base camp hunted about 5 years ago at 10,000 feet. I was in really good shape going in that year and still was short winded for two days. Finally got a little better. Here are some points I did not see above:

Practice shooting from 300 - 400 yards. I never take that shot around here but it very well could be required in Colorado.
Buy a good range finder. It is just different terrain out there and you will be surprised if you don't have one. Good optics are a must!
If you are in a cabin - cook and freeze meals to take with you. You will be worn out at the end of every day and a quick heat & eat meal helps you get to bed.
Wet wipes will be your friend if you don't have running water.
Have a plan for getting an elk packed out. Plenty of game bags make it easier. Find a local with horses for packing and you will have spent money well if needed.

If you will be hiking a lot at high altitude and can leave 3 - 4 days early then do it. You can't prepare for over 10k in altitude without going to 10k in altitude.

We used to go quite a bit. Gunnison, Pagossa Springs, and the Gila in NM. I agree with all above. We did not have GPS's when I went. Buy a good compass, and trust it. Get you a good fannie pack with all the essentials, We used to take horses into the back county. It's a lot of fun, and can be a lot of work! Read a book on what to do if you get lost (don't panic). It saved my AXX one time. It's fun when camp is set up, and you are there.........

make sure there is a plan in place to get a dead elk out that does NOT include you backpacking it out. Been there, seen it, ain't done it, don't want the damn shirt. Elk are BIG animals.

Get some gaiters, probably one of the most underrated pieces of equipment out there.

When getting in shape do stadium steps , pull steep hills or a stair machine. Build those calf muscles up! Wear light boots. First day I hunted NM , I had small pack and had on regular 8" boots. Second day , I canned the pack and wore 6" hiking boots. I wore 6 pocket pants, few extra shells, knife , 2 bottles of water , couple of snickers that's bout it on day two. You don't want any unneeded weight. Oh , did I say wear LIGHT boots.

You do not need a sidearm, esp. in CO., too much xtra weight anyway.
I've never had any problems with altitude(up to 7Kft.), but would be good to do some
cardio a while before going. Not as bad as some make out. I'm old and fat and
get around just fine out there. Just pace yourself.
Always hunt your way up, that way if you kill your packing downhill.
And probably most important. Stay Hydrated!!!

No offense , but 7K feet is a lot different than 10K plus up near the black timber.

What he said.

Take GREAT optics!

keep in mind that elk are big tough animals and tend to NOT show any reaction to being shot. Just because the elk didn't hump/jump/spin/drop at the shot does NOT mean you missed.

So true, they act opposite of whitetails. You clean miss an elk , he's in the next county before he stops , a whitetail is likely to not move a muscle , allowing a second shot. Hit an elk he'll just ease off like nothing happened , whitetail will tear down saplings and run mach 2 through a thicket.

6. Do not wear new boots just opened before the trip. If you need boots, buy them now and break them in really good before the trip. A blister on the first day will ruin a hunt.

7. Practice shooting from different positions. It won't be like hunt deer from a stand. Shoot in prone a kneeling as well as rested on a tree in standing.

8. A really good set of binos will make the trip more enjoyable.

9. Enjoy the hell out of it. And being prepared will help with that. Good luck.

For starters, if you're carrying a rifle, ya don't need a sidearm. Learn how to get ya gun off your pack quick. You won't need to do that though. Also, quality gear will make a difference. The people that say it won't haven't used quality gear...
There's good hiking clothing that will be cheaper than the expensive camo gear so, you have options.
My big 3 if paying for an out of state hunt would be
Good Glass
good boots
good pack
warm clothes/rain gear too, so I guess it's my big 4.

someone mentioned a water bladder, I'd have a water purifier too unless I 100% knew I wouldn't need it. Shitting ya drawers all day would mess up a hunt.

So true. I shot a big 5x5 bull at 15 yards with my bow and watched the arrow bury behind his shoulder. The elk just turned and looked at me for a few seconds, then turned and trotted off like nothing was wrong. It only went maybe 75 yards, jumping over downed trees, and fell over. The arrow made a clean pass through and got both lungs and the heart. I couldn't have made a better shot but was surprised at the lack of reaction. Another 6x5 that I shot just turned and trotted off like nothing was wrong and it piled up within about 100 yards.