Elite
offers an exceptional learning experience to anyone who dreams of possessing
the elk-hunting skills necessary to professionally guide elk hunters. Or, if
you have hunting experience but have never successfully hunted elk and would
like to learn first-hand how Elite achieves it's success, then invest a week
of your life into this course.
In Elite's opinion, most "guide schools" emphasize how to be packers, wranglers, and cooks more than they teach you to hunt anything, much less elk. This is where Elite separates itself from the rest. Elite's guides are part of the family because of their character and their superior elk-hunting abilities, not because of their superior packing or wrangling talents. Those talents are the packer's and wrangler's jobs. Elite will give you the basics on mule-packing, orienteering, and wilderness survival but the emphasis of the course will focus on teaching you the necessary skills to hunt elk anywhere on the continent.
Elk-Hunting
Skills Taught
Scouting for Elk - Bad scouting techniques can break you while good scouting can make you. You will learn to efficiently locate elk without disturbing their normal behavior patterns.
Reading Elk Country - Elk country is big country. You will learn to predict where elk bedding areas, feeding areas, and travel routes are located by using topographic maps and personal observations of the terrain.
Reading Elk Sign - Elk are amazingly generous with leaving signs of their passage. You will learn to interpret everything from tracks to rubs to give yourself an advantage over your adversary.
Understanding Elk Language - Elk have a unique language and you cannot speak it until you understand it. You will learn what the different sounds of both bulls and cows represent and how to use it to your advantage.
Calling Elk - A myriad of elk calls exist on the market today. You will learn to master several calls that Elite's guides like to use to mimic the language of both bulls and cows.
Effectively
Archery-Hunting Elk - Calling mature bull elk within bow range is the
ultimate hunting challenge. You will learn to use the terrain, calls, and
knowledge of their language to bring bulls in.
Effectively Rifle-Hunting Elk - Post-rut rifle hunting requires
different tactics due to behavioral changes. You will learn the bull elk's
post-rut tendencies and how to locate them during the later season rifle
hunts.
Scoring and Field-Judging Elk - An important
aspect of a guide's job is being able to accurately judge bulls in the
field. You will learn to estimate racks in the field and also to score them
once a trophy is harvested.
Photographing Trophies
- An understanding of basic photographic principles will greatly enhance the
quality of your field photos. You will learn to maximize a bull's strengths
and minimize his weaknesses with your photos.
Game Field Care - Reducing an 800 lb. bull elk with large antlers onto pack mules is not an easy task. You will learn field dressing and caping techniques and how to safely get the load out of the mountains.
The
school will be conducted out of Elite's lodge, located at the edge of the
White Mountain Wilderness. The material will be presented in a hands-on,
enjoyable fashion in the Wilderness because that's where the elk reside. As
a result, a moderate level of physical conditioning will be necessary to
complete the elk-guide course. Be prepared to cover ground on foot
most days because getting out and learning about elk is what this course is
all about.
You will be accommodated in Elite's lodge.
Visit The Lodge. You will receive first-class meals from our excellent cook. Plan on
hot meals for breakfast and dinner with a sack lunch each day. You need only
bring your personal gear.
The school instructors, Johnny Hughes, and Brian Newell have a combined 33
years experience hunting elk from Idaho to New Mexico. They have both
been hunting elk most of their adult lives. Their approach to this class
will be based on teaching you the skills they would want you to know as if
you were going to be guiding for them in the fall. Classes will be limited
to a maximum of 8 people so personalized instruction is guaranteed.
Elite will be able to assist you in finding guide work if desired.
Elk-Hunting School References
David Desko, PA 570-679-9359
Dale Price, TX 940-464-3463
Janice Price, TX 940-464-3463
Ron Brown, OH 740-369-7228
Kevin Brown, OH 740-369-7228
Loyd Chism, TX 512-556-2559
Don Nichols, VA 540-563-9501
Todd Carr, PA 570-946-4304
Pete Carrion, OH 513-673-4670
2008 Prices
5-Day Elk-Hunting School - $900
2008 Class
June 4-8, 2008