Hunting Supplies

• Hunting supplies is the equipment used directly for hunting purposes. Your weapon is the most important supply. Most states that allow elk hunting will offer archery, muzzleloader and rifle seasons. One of the most common elk hunting supplies are game calls. You can use a series of game calls such as cow mew calls or bugles to lure an elk into your location.
  
  Your selection of clothing and boots must meet the requirements of the hunting area. Early-season hunts may require uninsulated boots and lightweight clothing, while late-season hunts might call for 800-gram insulated boots and insulated outerwear. Rain gear is required in elk country as thunderstorms are common.
  
  

Optics

• Optics is crucial for your elk hunting success because it provides an opportunity to locate and field judge elk from a distance. As a general rule, higher-priced optics provide better quality and will outperform lower-priced optics in elk country. You can choose compact sizes if you are concerned about weight or full size models for a full field of vision while glassing meadows.
  
  Rangefinders and spotting scopes can also be added to your optics supplies. Laser rangefinders will measure the distance to the elk when you are faced with a shot opportunity and are an absolute must for bow hunters. Spotting scopes provide additional magnification when you are looking at elk more than a mile away or field judging the trophy size of a bull.
  
  

Camp Gear

• Elk hunts will consist of base camps from cabins, wall tents or bivouac, or bivy, tents. Depending on your hunting style, camp supplies can be adjusted to meet your requirements. Start with a high-quality tent with a rain fly to keep rain and snow from entering the inside of the tent. Choose a sleeping bag with a temperature rating that exceeds the anticipated temperatures. Prepare supplies for cooking meals. Wall tents can accommodate cook stoves, while bivy tents will require a backpacking stove.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• Prepare for the unexpected when choosing elk hunting supplies. A first aid kit should have bandages, personal medications, adhesive tape, tweezers and pain medicine. Other safety and survival equipment includes a GPS, maps, satellite phone and a compass.
  
  

Considerations

• The time of year and duration of the hunt will affect the elk hunting supplies needed for the trip. Adjust your supplies for early-season or late-season hunts. Pack enough food and supplies for the anticipated hunt duration. Choose lightweight supplies if you are backpacking, and take a digital camera to capture photos and memories throughout the hunt. Always take extra batteries and memory space.