In most national forests you can merely camp at no charge in a place that strikes your fancy. Choose a camp shelter you already own, but be aware that in elk country you can always expect extremely cold weather. Most hunters own some sort of camp rig, whether it s a tent, camp trailer, pickup cab-over camper, van, motor home, etc. In the case of the latter, consider towing a hunting vehicle, but remember that the cost of fuel for a motor home can be considerably higher than that for a pickup or sport utility vehicle. Sit down with your buddies at a planning session before your trip and determine who can provide essential camping gear, such as cook stoves, lanterns, axes, utensils, first aid kit, and other necessary items.
Most hunters already own such equipment.
To transport an elk out of the woods, you ll also need sturdy backpacks, a sharp saw and knife, rope, meat sacks, etc. You may need to spend a few dollars to buy items such as extra lantern mantles, propane, lantern fuel, etc. You ll also need items such as toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates, plastic utensils, and dishwashing soap. You can save money by using real plates and silverware, but you ll obviously need to wash them. When considering food, we re going to assume that it s not an extra expense.