First time elk hunt 3-5 year time line?
- Thread starter Wis65x55
- Start date
Are you looking for a cow or bull hunt? Cows would typically be easier for your schedule because you can hunt them late and the seasons are more liberal. I know many of the seasons in Utah for cows run into Jan. I think WY has some seasons like that as well. There are a few seasons in ID like that but not many.
- Thread starter
- #5
I assume your trying to hunt around school? If so you'd need to hunt in early August or late December. If you apply for points this year in WY and/or UT you should draw for something decent by 2017. ID had greenfield hunts (within 1/2 mile of a planted field) in August but finding a place to hunt with elk isn't that easy. There are a few late in the year tags but most are by drawing. Also ID is about 550.00 to hunt elk (cow or bull), WY is about 316.00 for cows and UT is under 300.00 for cows.
- Thread starter
- #7
I also suggest a late season cow hunt and on private land. 1x1 with guide, 2x1 only if its your wife or really good hunting buddy. That way you will see game, beautiful country and end up with the best eating. Later, if you want a good bull you will have a better idea of what it will take physically and financially to get him. He may or may not be fit to eat (depending on the rut) but you will enjoy it. I personally have a tight schedule every day of my life, ha, and the late cow hunts just work best for "me". Here in Utah, as a Resident, I put in for late season cow hunts on private Ranch hunts called CWMU (A ranch allows so many hunters to hunt on their ranch but for less days, say 5 days as opposed to 9 days general season)
Either way you go, just keep dreaming, talking to folks, contact some outfitters, etc and see what's out there. Some very reputable exotic game ranches ( with lots of acres) have cow elk available too and lots closer to you, say Springfield, MO there is High Adventure Ranch. its worth a look anyhow. Have a ball!
Either way you go, just keep dreaming, talking to folks, contact some outfitters, etc and see what's out there. Some very reputable exotic game ranches ( with lots of acres) have cow elk available too and lots closer to you, say Springfield, MO there is High Adventure Ranch. its worth a look anyhow. Have a ball!
If I was going guided I would try to do it on public ground so you could potentially go back on your own at a later date. The CWMU hunts in UT can be done DIY. I don't know much about CO but I would bet there are good cow tags available there as well.
What's getting married got to do with it? I'd try to do it the end of this year. :lol:
Seriously, if you drove out you could do a cow hunt for pretty reasonable like under 1500 and even less if you were splitting it with a buddy.
What's getting married got to do with it? I'd try to do it the end of this year. :lol:
Seriously, if you drove out you could do a cow hunt for pretty reasonable like under 1500 and even less if you were splitting it with a buddy.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,496
- 6,498
Wow! :shock: Do you do reconciliation counselling as well, Vince? Read Vince's new book, "After the Divorce," available for a donation of only $25! :lol:
filmjunkie4ever
Handloader
- May 4, 2011
- 1,977
- 1,406
Don't hunt Eastern Idaho. I have hunted here the last two years running and haven't seen a thing in our areas. The wolves have them pretty down in numbers where I go hunting.
Northeast Oregon is good hunting but good luck drawing a good tag.
Good luck!
Dale
Northeast Oregon is good hunting but good luck drawing a good tag.
Good luck!
Dale
salmonchaser
Ammo Smith
- Dec 13, 2013
- 5,114
- 5,447
Oregon does have some good hunts and it is difficult to draw a tag, particularly for a non resident. A non resident elk tag and hunting license will run about 700.00. We had several cow hunts this year, 6 I think. The advantage to hunting private land is the landowner preference tags/ depredation tags. The hunts we sold went for 1200.00. That got you food lodging, transportation on the ranch, packing, guartering and boning the meat to get it home. Most of it ended up cut and wrapped.
From what I've seen that's an average price.
I wouldn't wait. The area I hunt for Bulls has half the elk it did 20 years ago. The wolfs are really spreading. They will have an impact before balance is achieved. That's just going to make it harder to draw a tag and tougher to find an elk.
From what I've seen that's an average price.
I wouldn't wait. The area I hunt for Bulls has half the elk it did 20 years ago. The wolfs are really spreading. They will have an impact before balance is achieved. That's just going to make it harder to draw a tag and tougher to find an elk.
- Thread starter
- #15
salmonchaser
Ammo Smith
- Dec 13, 2013
- 5,114
- 5,447
Keith
In some respects it's easy, the tough part is finding a land owner with tags available. The guy I work for doesn't know how many if any he is going to get until early summer. A variety of factors come into play, winter mortality, crop damage and overall herd health. The second factor would be they are coveted. Most of the guys I know have enough buddies or employees with an un- filled bull tags the few cow tags go pretty quick. In your case, if my boss had one to sell, I drive you down to the fish and game office, you buy a non resident license and general season elk tag, the lady then exchanges your elk tag for the depradation tag and charges you another 14 bucks.
This year there were a lot of elk in our area by Christmas. The bio called and asked us to please get after them if we could. We're trying.
The season is very long. Last year and this year we started on them before the regular elk season, when I picked up my tag she gave me until the end of February to fill it.
So in your case there could be a lot of flexibility. The problem would be snow. This year the snow line is relatively high, easy access. Most years I wouldn't have made it to elk with my truck because of drifts. But a guy could walk it and worse case we would have to pack down hill, not the end of the world by any means.
Our success on the cow tags is 100% sometimes it takes a few days. Earlier this year we had a father daughter hunt planned, I checked two areas the morning before saw plenty elk. Also some of the neighbors cattle. Made a big mistake, bumped into one of their hands on my way down let him know. The next morning they rode in collected their wandering bovines and ran both herds out
it was a couple of days before they drifted back.
I'll see the boss next week, if he thinks he might offer a couple of hunts I'll let you know the details. If nothing else it will give you comparative information to file away.
As far as Bulls go, you'll probably see some dandies. I don't even get to hunt them.
In some respects it's easy, the tough part is finding a land owner with tags available. The guy I work for doesn't know how many if any he is going to get until early summer. A variety of factors come into play, winter mortality, crop damage and overall herd health. The second factor would be they are coveted. Most of the guys I know have enough buddies or employees with an un- filled bull tags the few cow tags go pretty quick. In your case, if my boss had one to sell, I drive you down to the fish and game office, you buy a non resident license and general season elk tag, the lady then exchanges your elk tag for the depradation tag and charges you another 14 bucks.
This year there were a lot of elk in our area by Christmas. The bio called and asked us to please get after them if we could. We're trying.
The season is very long. Last year and this year we started on them before the regular elk season, when I picked up my tag she gave me until the end of February to fill it.
So in your case there could be a lot of flexibility. The problem would be snow. This year the snow line is relatively high, easy access. Most years I wouldn't have made it to elk with my truck because of drifts. But a guy could walk it and worse case we would have to pack down hill, not the end of the world by any means.
Our success on the cow tags is 100% sometimes it takes a few days. Earlier this year we had a father daughter hunt planned, I checked two areas the morning before saw plenty elk. Also some of the neighbors cattle. Made a big mistake, bumped into one of their hands on my way down let him know. The next morning they rode in collected their wandering bovines and ran both herds out
it was a couple of days before they drifted back.I'll see the boss next week, if he thinks he might offer a couple of hunts I'll let you know the details. If nothing else it will give you comparative information to file away.
As far as Bulls go, you'll probably see some dandies. I don't even get to hunt them.
- Thread starter
- #17
Thanks for the offer Salmonchaser. Things are not in the cards for the immediate future. Between three weeks on the new job and my dad having elective knee replacement surgery early next week. Just have too much on the plate for the time being. If the offer still stands, I will contact you in the future.
Keith
Keith
salmonchaser
Ammo Smith
- Dec 13, 2013
- 5,114
- 5,447
Understood, when we decide what we're doing next year I'll let you know just for information, give you a place to start as you start weighing your options.
Hope your dad recovers quickly.
Hope your dad recovers quickly.
- Thread starter
- #19
salmonchaser
Ammo Smith
- Dec 13, 2013
- 5,114
- 5,447
The country is open grass land with tight brushy draws. We've learned to sit all day if necessary, let the elk move out of the draws and then take them. Kinda like whitetail hunting. We will circle around to alternate key spots if it makes sense. Those two big whitetail bucks we killed came off the same rock pile I shot my cow from last week.
You want to be comfortable out to 300 yards. 25/06 or better. If you need an excuse to buy a 338, you have it now. We always take sticks with us. The grass is too tall to go prone in many cases but most of the time sitting over sticks works great.
You want to be comfortable out to 300 yards. 25/06 or better. If you need an excuse to buy a 338, you have it now. We always take sticks with us. The grass is too tall to go prone in many cases but most of the time sitting over sticks works great.
Similar threads
