There’s nothing quite like slipping inside 50 yards of a velvet-racked mule deer buck in the August sun, heart pounding, knees dusted in sage, and bowstring half-drawn.

Thermals can be tricky, but once you start paying attention to them, they’re like the secret sauce to getting close to elk and mule deer. Here’s how you figure out what they’re doing in a specific area.

If you’ve ever asked, “When’s the best time to hunt elk?” the real answer is: whenever you can get time off work and boots in the dirt. But let’s break it down so you can plan smarter, not just harder.

So, you’re fired up to chase bugles, see the sunrise over the Rockies, and notch your first elk tag. But where the heck should you go? Picking your first western elk hunting location can feel like trying to choose a single track on a greatest hits album—it’s all good, but not all great for beginners. Let’s simplify it.

If you’re new to the Western elk game, you’ve probably already noticed something: everyone and their brother has an opinion on gear. Scroll through Rokslide, Hunt Talk, or Elk101 and it feels like you need to take out a second mortgage just to set foot in the mountains. But here’s the truth—elk hunting does demand solid gear, but you don’t need to break the bank to get started right. You just need to know where to invest and where to skip the fluff.

Listen to these conversations with Hunt West advisor, Jaden Bales, featured on these podcasts, to get a jump start on your western hunting experience.