smokechaser

Good luck with your hunt. Ive been hunting in montana for getting close to ten years(almost 15 if you count the years i couldnt pack a rifle) and my biggest piece of advice is to be in the best shape you can. These rocky mountains are steep and rugged. getting hurt or lost can turn into a really bad situation in a hurry. And do a lot of scouting. and not just checking out a lot of areas but try and get some locals to talk to you. im sure a lot of locals arent going to want to give you a lot of info about there area and be carefull of wat you beleive when they talk to you. but especially elk do a lot of moving and knowing wats gonna make them move and where they will move to is a critical piece of information cuz in some circumstances they will move a long ways in a short period of time.

willhunt4food

And get some good boots! When I first started hunting out here I used the same boots that I hunted whitetails in. Whitetail hunting is a much more sedentary sport and boots are designed more to prevent cold feet. I really had some big blisters the first few years I hunted because I didn't know what good boots were like.
You're probabably going to cover a good bit of ground so I'd go get a good pair of waterproof, breathable hiking boots that fit right.

EricH4964

Any suggestions on make/model of boots?

elkbane

you really can't go wrong with a pair of Danners

EricH4964

Thanks elkbane.

RyanH

Filson makes the best boots on the market but they will run you about 350 bucks

EricH4964

RyanH - Thanks.

E

AlaskaMagnum

Danners are okay, but most of the sheep hunters up here use Meindl's or Lowa's, or the plastic boots if your feet can stand them (mine can't). Meindl's or the Lowas are an all day hunting boot in rough country. They are tough, sure footed, and extremely waterproof.

I have hunted out west my whole life. Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and now Alaska. The one thing that will separate who gets the game from who does not is physical ability and equipment.

Get in the best shape of your life. Hunting off the road is NOT going to do you much good 95% of the time. You need to put some miles between you and the other hunters. I have found that about four to six miles in gets you away from the road hunters but also keeps you out of the outfitters hair who go in deeper.

Get a really good frame pack. You want to have a remote camp and have a freighter to haul quarters out on your back.

Get a good lightweight stove and a tent. Your goal on a five day hunt is to bring in no more than 40 lbs. Pack accordingly.

Be prepared mentally. If you spike camp it, it is tough. Food is bad, pumping water sucks. A lightweight pad provides little comfort from the ground, and lightweight sleeping bags usually sleep cold. Big game hunting out west is brutal, but it is suppossed to be. But....it is all worth it when you come packing that last load of meat out on your back.