Any Elk Hunters

[bigdaddypife]

Was wondering if anybody did or does any Elk hunting out West? I am very interested in Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, etc. and am not really interested in an outfitter. I have heard good things about public land hunting in New mexico. If anybody has done any of these hunts, PM me and let me know how yopu did, and how the hunt was. I am looking to go out maybe in 2010 and need to narrow down a state and area in that state.

[bmiverson]

the selkirk mt range in washington has some pretty good elk hunting.when i was logging up there i saw a 60 head herd.

[PA BUCK 2]

I went out to Utah with a buddy of mine and stayed in a tent in the Unitas mtns. We saw quite a few Elk and I still hunted a 5 x 5 (pic in my gallery) while in his bed. Our camp was near Kings peak and flaming gorge (near the Montana border).

We have been putting in for restricted tags in the book cliffs area of Utah as a party- we have 5 preference points now.... I hope next year is the year to go back.

Couple of things-
1. make sure you have the equipment to get the elk out once you pull the trigger. Took me a day and a half to pack this bull out... He was not huge- but the butcher told me about 650lbs. (shot him about 2-3 miles back from the nearest road where we hiked in from).
2. It got COLD up there at 10000 feet at night. We stayed in a tent and when we got up our 5 gallon water was frozen solid. I think it was about 10 degrees. But in the day it got up to 45-50...

J

[TVCJohn]

I know you didn't mention this state but......I had two tours on the Oregon coast. On the coast range, general season elk archery tags are OTC. Rifle season in the local unit was a draw hunt but they had alot of tags so drawing was easy....even for NR's. The unit I was in was called the Tioga Unit. The local town was Coos Bay, OR. Alot of Roosevelt elk there. The hunting terrain is rugged. It's not like you see in the Rockies. You are on a hunt and if you get one you will most likely work to pack it out....unless you get lucky and pop one close to a log landing. Hence the high elk numbers.

The guys on the Oregon forum on Bowsite are good with the info.

http://forums.bowsite.com/TF/regional/threads.cfm

[Citori]

Beaverhead National Forest in Montana. Lots of elk, camp sites and a four wheeler trail can get you back in pretty far. I went with a guide but we saw public hunters everyday.

[boots741]

The advantage Colorado has is over the counter bull tags for alot of areas. In addition there is a ton of BLM and state land available to hunt. I cant speak to any of the other states, but I have made 5 Elk trips to Colorado, all public land DIY.

[PA BUCK 2]

BTW- the bull I took in Utah was with a OTC tag and we had about 1 million acres of federal land to hunt.... We started applying for the book cliffs area following this hunt.

[GrizzlyHunter]

Personally New Mexico has been very lucky for me. There's a Once-In-A-Lifetime draw unit known as the Valle Vidal. The odd's are that you'll die before you ever get drawn...but somebody has to draw. I put in for me and a buddy and we got drawn the first and only time we ever put it. We hired a guide...but in hindsight you absolutely do not need one.

Here's a pic:

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Picture_029_Small_.jpg

I've been elk hunting in Colorado a number of times. If you go there be prepared to see ten times more orange than elk. :( Seriously!

So far I have not found any hunting more fun than elk hunting. Good luck!

GH

[boots741]

Awesome Elk Grizzly, I would agree that at least the last couple years my elk hunting is CO is definetly down, as far as number of elk seen. Weather has been a big factor. My main reason for going there is family friends that live there, that give my a nice, free place to stay.
That said I will be back again next year.

[GrizzlyHunter]

The year after I took the elk in my previous post we decided to apply in New Mexico again. This time we applied down in the Gila area which is known for it's superior genetics. And again the New Mexico elk lottery gods were in our favor. We drew tags in the 16A unit for the first rifle season. This time we both shot 6x7's. (The previous year we both shot 6x6's.) Here's a pic of mine:

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/ELK-2006-NM_011_Small_.jpg

I would strongly suggest doing your homework now to determine where you want to apply. If you really want to go in 2010 about your only for sure way to go is to an over the counter area in CO (read lots of hunters and not many elk) or you'll have to buy a tag who has a landowner permit. I know CO and NM has these, but expect to spend a few thousand or more for each tag. I think you might be able to buy archery tags in Idaho also. Most of the states are on a drawing only basis though.I've applied in six states for elk in some years. Lately it's in CO, NM, WY, UT & MI pretty much every year. It's a LLOOOOONNGGG waiting game for premium areas. But if you don't get in you'll never get drawn.

Good luck!

[ID-Birddog]

I live in Central Idaho, decent elk numbers, some units are over the counter for rifle.

[redwingsdude]

I went out to Utah with a buddy of mine and stayed in a tent in the Unitas mtns. We saw quite a few Elk and I still hunted a 5 x 5 (pic in my gallery) while in his bed. Our camp was near Kings peak and flaming gorge (near the Montana border).

We have been putting in for restricted tags in the book cliffs area of Utah as a party- we have 5 preference points now.... I hope next year is the year to go back.

Couple of things-
1. make sure you have the equipment to get the elk out once you pull the trigger. Took me a day and a half to pack this bull out... He was not huge- but the butcher told me about 650lbs. (shot him about 2-3 miles back from the nearest road where we hiked in from).
2. It got COLD up there at 10000 feet at night. We stayed in a tent and when we got up our 5 gallon water was frozen solid. I think it was about 10 degrees. But in the day it got up to 45-50...

J

I'll be putting in for Utah for the first time this coming year, but the odds are very bad, especially for a non-resident. Book Cliffs are some of the best hunting in the west, guys out there have 10 or more points and don't even sniff those tags. But theres always a chance.

[PA BUCK 2]

Yeah- I know it is tough to pull. We have a resident out there, one of my friends that moved out to Utah, that we put in for a party tag. He wants to hunt with us when he goes- so if he pulls we all pull. But- you have to be in it to win it....

Griz hunter- nice bulls!!!

[bigdaddypife]

The year after I took the elk in my previous post we decided to apply in New Mexico again. This time we applied down in the Gila area which is known for it's superior genetics. And again the New Mexico elk lottery gods were in our favor. We drew tags in the 16A unit for the first rifle season. This time we both shot 6x7's. (The previous year we both shot 6x6's.) Here's a pic of mine:

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/ELK-2006-NM_011_Small_.jpg

I would strongly suggest doing your homework now to determine where you want to apply. If you really want to go in 2010 about your only for sure way to go is to an over the counter area in CO (read lots of hunters and not many elk) or you'll have to buy a tag who has a landowner permit. I know CO and NM has these, but expect to spend a few thousand or more for each tag. I think you might be able to buy archery tags in Idaho also. Most of the states are on a drawing only basis though.I've applied in six states for elk in some years. Lately it's in CO, NM, WY, UT & MI pretty much every year. It's a LLOOOOONNGGG waiting game for premium areas. But if you don't get in you'll never get drawn.

Good luck!

I think New Mexico would be my first choice. I want to bowhunt it, not gun. Call me crazy, but I just want to do it with my DXT. I checked out the New mexico DFG and am still trying to decipher the information. Where you hunted, is that a draw only, or is there OTC tags?

[GrizzlyHunter]

I think New Mexico would be my first choice. I want to bowhunt it, not gun. Call me crazy, but I just want to do it with my DXT. I checked out the New mexico DFG and am still trying to decipher the information. Where you hunted, is that a draw only, or is there OTC tags?

I believe that it is draw only.

GH