The Elk Thread

[piercebronkite]

I have been saying I want to do this for years. Well I am sitting on a plane headed back from estes park and I need to start planning now. Is Wyoming or Montana the best options? I probably need to put in for preference points now for a hunt 2-4 years down the road. We hiked some in RMNP and saw a couple small bulls at about 20 yards and a big boy in town and it really gave me the itch. Also, is there a website with information on what units to apply to?? I'd be open to colorado or NM too. I put in once for NM and it cost me $500 and I got nada for it. I'm afraid I did something wrong there. Also, gear. I need to start buying gear. Is there a gear list on here? Mainly backpack recommendations and maybe tents and more depending on what route I go.

This is a comprehensive gear list that I found on MeatEater. It goes over what to carry, weight, etc. I found it helpfull.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vRxsTtrbAsdCTqzy-j25Juv9K4a2KWfmKxjrUFKs0WcWdUqGUIaKIRWR-lnSyOVRm3ZwGgMmcqub9oG/pubhtml?gid=0&single=true

[wytex]

Wyoming is revamping their NR elk hunting. Going to general Regions next year I believe, have to pick a region, and Special license fee is going way up.
I suspect regions like the Snowies will take far fewer PPs than NW part of the state. If you have the coin to go in the Special draw might take fewer PPs than this year in Snowy Range. Odds will go up for Regular draw I'm betting though.
Buy your Wyoming PP now.
We also have reduced price cow tags to draw, no PP needed for those, random draw.

Equipment needed is good boots, a pack to haul meat and a warm tent or trailer for sleeping. Your deer rifle is fine unless it is a 243 and even that will work.
Leave your cotton clothing at home too.

There are licensing outfits out there that help you apply and give advice on areas, Huntin' Fool, Tags etc.
Look over all the Western hunting forums too, Hunt Talk, Monster Muleys and Rokslide for info.

[justletmein]

I suspect regions like the Snowies will take far fewer PPs than NW part of the state. If you have the coin to go in the Special draw might take fewer PPs than this year in Snowy Range. Odds will go up for Regular draw I'm betting though.

I hope you're right! I've never been anwhere other than the Southern part of the state except for a little fishing here and there, so I'd have to rediscover and scout all new hunting areas. I was thinking with the regionalized general apps the Snowy area would be overrun with NR's who don't want to play with grizzlies up in the NW, plus it's closer to drive from the South obviously.

[wytex]

Parts of the Western side have no grizz and are good elk hunting, we've been over there a few times. The NW corner though will be set for the outfitters with the changes.
Hoping to get reasonable quotas around here for NRs , the numbers put out so far on NR tags for Snowies looks too high for most of us, sorry to say.
We shall see, as they say I guess.

Read about another wolf sighting between Laramie and Cheyenne this morning. We'll be watching up on the ranch in Sybille Canyon and spouse has a WT tag for Vedauwoo area where the wolves have been seen.

PPs can be bought until Oct 31. in Wyoming.
Cool and rainy again today up here, Fall is getting closer every day!!!

[justletmein]

Parts of the Western side have no grizz and are good elk hunting, we've been over there a few times. The NW corner though will be set for the outfitters with the changes.
Hoping to get reasonable quotas around here for NRs , the numbers put out so far on NR tags for Snowies looks too high for most of us, sorry to say.
We shall see, as they say I guess.

Read about another wolf sighting between Laramie and Cheyenne this morning. We'll be watching up on the ranch in Sybille Canyon and spouse has a WT tag for Vedauwoo area where the wolves have been seen.

PPs can be bought until Oct 31. in Wyoming.
Cool and rainy again today up here, Fall is getting closer every day!!!

If that NW corner region ends up dropping in PP required, never imagined I'd ever say this, but I may look into using an outfitter for wife's hunt next year or year after that. She's a point behind me on the PP so not sure she'll be able to catch creep any time soon. I'm starting to think there might be better options than a General with 5+ points.

[Etxnoodler]

Parts of the Western side have no grizz and are good elk hunting, we've been over there a few times. The NW corner though will be set for the outfitters with the changes.
Hoping to get reasonable quotas around here for NRs , the numbers put out so far on NR tags for Snowies looks too high for most of us, sorry to say.
We shall see, as they say I guess.

Read about another wolf sighting between Laramie and Cheyenne this morning. We'll be watching up on the ranch in Sybille Canyon and spouse has a WT tag for Vedauwoo area where the wolves have been seen.

PPs can be bought until Oct 31. in Wyoming.
Cool and rainy again today up here, Fall is getting closer every day!!!

Are they still just looking at 3 “general unit groups” for non residents?

[solocam_aggie]

Officially 1 month away from heading to MT! Did a 4 mile ruck yesterday with 50lbs in 108 degree heat. Felt pretty decent at the end which was encouraging. Just a few more weeks to put the finishing touches on the cardio. Doing a week of crossfit next week just for giggles.

[wytex]

Are they still just looking at 3 “general unit groups” for non residents?

Yes, with pretty good sized number of tags in each Region. Special draw price will be very high as well.

Been up in the forest cutting firewood, still have another couple of cords to go. Mountains look great right now, very green and moist.

[Texans42]

Seen alot of good bulls above tree line last three days. Should be a good year for S.Colorado

[Traildust]

Seen alot of good bulls above tree line last three days. Should be a good year for S.Colorado

38 days!

[Bill]

It was 46 degrees when we got up this morning. Antelope archery opens next Wed and elk opener is 25 days.

[TradAg02]

Anyone have any info they care to share about WY unit 37? Please shoot me a pm.

I was planning a scouting trip this month, but work is getting in the way. With the uncertainty around the NR draw next year I went ahead and burned 7 points and hate that I’m now going in blind.

[Sackett]

Anyone have any info they care to share about WY unit 37? Please shoot me a pm.

I was planning a scouting trip this month, but work is getting in the way. With the uncertainty around the NR draw next year I went ahead and burned 7 points and hate that I’m now going in blind.

Hopefully, you’ve worn out Google Earth, OnX and GOHUNT. When are you going? What type of hunting are you planning (spot and stalk, sitting water holes, calling, etc)?

[wytex]

Weather can be an issue in 37 and it is rugged with lots of thick timber from what I can turn up. Roads are pretty iffy too but get back in there.

Better have alternate travel plans too for roads closures getting up there.
Going with someone or by yourself?

[solocam_aggie]

Hey guys, need some advice. 10 days hunting, boiling water twice a day for coffee and supper, how much fuel would I need? Tried to watch some videos but once they started getting into the trigonometry I was out lol.