Elk Hunting

 
  In two days the Utah rifle elk hunt officially opens. Saturday, October, 3rd will be one of the most popular hunting days of the year. If you are new to hunting, the idea can be both ominous and appeasing. While hunting can be complete skill, the majority of the hunt depends on pure luck. The state of Utah opens around 29,000 elk tags per year. As of 2012, the estimated elk population was at 72,000 head. While those numbers seem inviting, there's no guarantee of success. Only about 15% of tag holders actually come out of the hunt with an elk. The odds, it turns out, are not in the hunters' favor. It begs the question, is elk hunting a worthwhile investment?
 
  The average elk will provide anywhere from four to seven hundred pounds of meat. While hamburger sits close to four dollars a pound, an elk kill could save anywhere from a thousand to three thousand dollars, minus the butcher fee. In order to actually kill an elk there is a lot of expense involved in the process. A rifle could cost anywhere from four hundred to thousands of dollars. Then there is the in-depth needs of camping, hunting, and transportation which rack up the expenses quickly. The initial investment of hunting is, in all honesty, a very costly endeavor. Based on the numbers, the cost just to hunt is an extravagant luxury. However, if hunting became a way of life, and a gradual investment, after a few successful seasons, the expense would be paid off in full. The cost to pay-off ratio would be worthwhile.

  The next question then is how can success be based on skill and not on luck? The keys to hunting are simple.
The first is simply to be around hunters. Anyone who has been around the hunting and fishing crowd knows they like to tell stories, either about success or about the one that got away. The wisdom that comes from seasoned hunters is priceless and is a lot of times the key to success.
Next, don't be afraid to get out, way out. Elk are nervous creatures, and they tend to move away from the pressure put on by hunters. The more you can get away from the 4-wheelers and the pop-up trailers, the better. Get out and hike in the trees and the chances of seeing an elk will be greatly improved. A lot of people focus on the gear and the strategy of the sport. Really though, spend time away from people and get into nature. That's where the animals are. The more you understand the animal, the more of a chance you have.
Finally, have the time of your life. How often do people get a free opportunity to hike... with a gun? Hunting is great time to camp out with your friends and family and get away from the chaos of life.

  With determination and some simple smarts, hunting is not a far-fetched idea. While it may be expensive, the pay-off is a great investment of both your time and your money.



Plenty of bull elk in Utah. (2012, September 28). Retrieved October 1, 2015.
http://wildlife.utah.gov/wildlife-news/926-plenty-of-bull-elk-in-utah-sp-1004377917.html