Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing for Your Elk Hunt

Preparing for an elk hunt - especially in a rugged, high-country environment like New Mexico - is no small task. Whether you're a first-time hunter or a seasoned outdoorsman, success doesn't just come from drawing a tag. It comes from what you do before you ever step foot in the field.

At LOH Outfitters, we’ve guided hundreds of hunters across the Gila, the plains, and everything in between. And year after year, we see the same mistakes derail hunts that had incredible potential. The good news? Most of them are completely avoidable.

Here are the top five mistakes to avoid when preparing for your elk hunt - and how to make sure you’re ready when the opportunity presents itself.

---

1. Underestimating Physical Demands

Elk hunting isn’t just walking through the woods. In New Mexico, you're often dealing with steep terrain, high elevation, and long days covering miles of ground. Hunters who haven’t trained for it often find themselves exhausted early in the day, which limits their effectiveness and decision-making.

How to Avoid It:

• Start a spring training program focused on cardio, leg strength, and core stability.

• Hike with a weighted pack to simulate field conditions.

• Practice moving at elevation if possible - altitude will wear you down faster than you think.

Bottom line: Get in shape early. The better your fitness, the longer you can hunt - and the better your odds of success.

---

2. Only Practicing in Perfect Conditions

Too many hunters head to the range, shoot standing on flat ground with no wind, and call it good. But elk don’t live on the range - and they certainly won’t present you with a textbook shot.

In the field, you might be kneeling behind a tree, shooting while winded, or needing to thread an arrow through brush at 38 yards.

How to Avoid It:

• Practice from awkward positions: knees, sitting, or leaning.

• Shoot when you’re out of breath to simulate adrenaline.

• Practice at non-round distances: 23, 37, 46 yards. Elk won’t stop at 30.

• If you're a rifle or muzzleloader hunter, shoot from realistic field rests, not just a bench.

Train how you’ll hunt, not how you wish the shot would unfold.

---

3. Waiting Too Long to Test or Upgrade Gear

You don’t want to find out your boots give you blisters, your pack rides wrong, or your rangefinder battery is dead on day one of your hunt. Gear failure - or simply not being familiar with your gear - can absolutely cost you an opportunity.

How to Avoid It:

• Start testing your gear in the spring and summer.

• Break in boots early with loaded pack hikes.

• Use your optics regularly - especially at long distances.

• Confirm your broadheads or bullets are flying true, and check your weapon setup in real conditions.

If you're hunting with LOH Outfitters, we can help you decide what gear works best in New Mexico’s terrain. Reach out here for brand recommendations and outfitter discounts on proven gear like KUIU, Kenetrek, Zeiss, and Gunwerks.

---

4. Not Mentally Preparing for the Challenge

Elk hunting is a grind. You'll wake up before dawn, hike miles, get soaked, get cold, go days without seeing a shooter - and still need to stay locked in. Hunters who come in expecting an easy, quick kill are often the ones who fall apart when the pressure hits.

How to Avoid It:

• Set your expectations around the process, not just the outcome.

• Understand that elk hunting involves patience, persistence, and mental grit.

• Visualize the moment of truth - heart pounding, breath short, awkward angle - and how you'll execute the shot.

A strong mindset is as important as a strong shot. Prepare mentally as much as you prepare physically.

---

5. Not Having a Plan If You Don’t Draw a Tag

New Mexico’s draw system is random - there are no bonus or preference points. That means you have just as good of a chance as anyone else, but it also means you may not draw.

Every year, hunters who don’t draw think their season is over. It doesn’t have to be.

How to Avoid It:

• Work with an outfitter who offers landowner tag options.

• Apply for multiple weapon types or hunt dates to increase your odds.

• Be ready to pivot your plan - if you don’t draw, a landowner tag can still get you in the game.

At LOH Outfitters, we help hunters apply smartly and secure guaranteed hunts through New Mexico’s EPLUS landowner tag program. If you don’t draw, we still have ways to get you on a quality elk hunt this fall.

---

Final Thoughts: Be Proactive, Not Reactive

Elk hunting is hard. That’s what makes it rewarding. But a successful hunt doesn’t start in September - it starts now. By avoiding these five common mistakes, you’ll give yourself the best chance to be ready when that bull steps into range.

Recap: Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid

1. Failing to get in shape for the physical demands

2. Only practicing in ideal conditions

3. Waiting too long to prep or test gear

4. Not mentally preparing for the grind

5. Having no backup plan if you don’t draw a tag

Ready to Plan Your Hunt?

Whether you’re applying for the draw or looking for a guaranteed landowner tag, LOH Outfitters can help you line up a hunt tailored to your goals.

Contact us today to start planning your New Mexico elk hunt the right way. The best hunts start long before you enter the woods - make sure you’re ready.