STAGING - staging.elkriversports.com - mail, payments and outbound connections are blocked
Skip to content
Hunting, camp & outdoor gear for Colorado’s seasons Ships to your door, tracked
ELK RIVER SPORTSSteamboat Springs · ColoradoElk River Sports home

Oct 14 – Nov 22 · Northwest Colorado

Rifle elk checklist

What we’d pack for a Northwest Colorado rifle elk hunt, in the order we’d pack it. Colorado law comes first: 500 square inches of blaze orange above the waist, plus a hat.

  1. Blaze orange
  2. Binoculars
  3. Rangefinders
  4. Spotting scopes
  5. Headlamps
  6. Packs
  7. Warm layers
  8. Gloves
  9. First aid

1Blaze orange

Required: 500 square inches above the waist and a head covering, visible from all sides.

See all →

2Binoculars

Most elk are found through glass before they are found on foot.

See all →

3Rangefinders

Know the distance before you decide.

See all →

4Spotting scopes

For sizing an animal across a basin before you commit to the walk.

See all →

5Headlamps

You will walk in and out in the dark. Carry a spare.

See all →

6Packs

A frame that carries camp in and meat out.

See all →

7Warm layers

October mornings in the high country start well below freezing.

See all →

8Gloves

Thin for glassing, warm for sitting.

See all →

9First aid

A small kit that lives in the pack.

See all →