Levtover Cow/Calf tag help Wyo Units 3 & 6

[.280 Remington]

Hey folks. I'm looking to purchase a leftover cow/calf tag in eastern/south eastern Wyoming. I don't really know where to even start. The two areas that I'm looking at are 3(which is closest to me) and 6 which is between Cheyenne and Laramie. The reason for those two choices is that they are somewhat close and have leftover tags. I don't need a full on crazy back pack experience, but would like to fill the freezer. I don't know squat about the area other than some of Area 3. But I've never seen an elk in any of my travels through the area.

Any help would be appreciated. With the price of beef now, spending that $288 bucks on a tag seems VERY reasonable.(Plus I got clearance from the Household 6 :grin: )

Thanks so much.

Mike

 

[wildgene]

...if you would consider going just a little farther (about 40 mi. past Laramie), Unit 8 might be a another choice around Woods Landing in the NF (15 tags left). It's a lot smaller area w/ a good population of elk & would be easier to concentrate your efforts...

 

[.280 Remington]

Gene I'm willing to travel within 300 miles, but if I traveled that far I'd almost want one tied up for me when I get there! :lol: :lol:

Seriously, I'd consider going further if there was more than a fair chance I could get something. It'll be a bunch easier to gain acceptance from The Boss if it was closer. But I'm open to all options really.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll look into the area. I just really don't know squat about public land hunting, as I've never done it. EVER.

Mike

 

[SJB358]

Dang! Starting to sound like plans coming together!

Gene, I need to pick your brain for next Fall. Hoping to be hunting in Wyoming in 15.

 

[wildgene]

Gene I'm willing to travel within 300 miles, but if I traveled that far I'd almost want one tied up for me when I get there! :lol: :lol:

Seriously, I'd consider going further if there was more than a fair chance I could get something. It'll be a bunch easier to gain acceptance from The Boss if it was closer. But I'm open to all options really.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll look into the area. I just really don't know squat about public land hunting, as I've never done it. EVER.

Mike

...uh, that would be a 61-6 tag, the WYG&F takes you out on the Pitchfork Ranch, points @ the elk, & most the time will even drive their ATV's out to pack it back to your rig for you, about 150mi. from Casper, Unit 34 would be closer on the SE corner of the Bighorns, tougher going...

...Unit 8 don't look too bad, 77% nonresident success rate/ 7.2 day avg. hunt, that pretty much on par w/ around here, percentage wise. Public land is easy. You get a good map, figger out where you can hunt, go out look for tracks, get out yer map, then figger out, "if you were an elk why would you be leaving tracks here, where would you be going, how would you get there". Good chance you'll get lucky, & the elk will still be standing in the tracks...

 

[Oldtrader3]

When they stipulate calf, does that mean a yearling or a spike elk?

 

[Oldtrader3]

Unit 8 elk tags left, cow or calf?

 

[wildgene]

Wh8en they stipulate calf, does that mean a yearling or a spike elk?

...the cow/calf is a reduced price tag, allows a cow or calf w/ antlers less than 6". In some areas around here you are allowed one full priced tag & up to two reduced priced tags for elk...

 

[.280 Remington]

Gene I'm not trying to say I don't want to work for it. I guess it may be coming off that way, but that is not the case. Thanks for the info and I will look into all the options for sure.

 

[wildgene]

Gene I'm not trying to say I don't want to work for it. I guess it may be coming off that way, but that is not the case. Thanks for the info and I will look into all the options for sure.

...naw, didn't think that, but realize that w/ limited time a person really wants to try & maximize the potential for success. Honestly, Units 3 & 6 would baffle me, limited, scattered public lands, no good way to spot & stalk, huge areas w/ relatively small numbers of elk, & no time for scouting. The SW corner of Unit 8 would be a much better choice for me, larger tracts of public land w/ good access, some topography, so I could probably pattern movements, & it's adjacent to areas I know have good elk herds...

 

[Elkman]

280 I understand the wife thing.
But think about the western USA. My closest drive for an elk is slightly over 100 miles and that's in a different state. I will bet that gene would travel at " least" 300 miles going to Unit 8, and he lives in the same state. Distances out here are huge, we have counties bigger than many states. Several years ago while in the East, I crossed 5 states in one days driving. Here you can drive pretty much all day and not leave your state. Just thought it was a neat idea to share.

 

[elkeater2]

I suggest contacting the G&F and ask for the names and numbers of biologists in areas 3 and 6. They should be able to tell you where access and elk are either private or public. The Pole Mountain unit in area 6 is my first thought, as it has a fair sized piece of public ground on it. If you check that area 8 out really closely, you'll see it is almost 100% private. There isn't much public ground on it at all, and not that much forested either. Still worth asking a biologist about.

They sell those cow/calf licenses to do herd/carrying capacity control, but also to quiet the complaining landowner types. If somebody was just going to hand me a tag and give me my choice of those three, I wouldn't hesitate to grab area 6. It has the most true elk habitat of any of those areas.

Not sure what map Wildgene was looking at. State Highway 10 runs south from Woods Landing to the Colorado state line, and forms the west boundary of area 8. EAST of Highway 10, in the SW corner of the area, is pretty much bare badlands nothin'. Look at the satellite view in Google maps after putting in Jelm, WY. You might be able to see an elk from the top of Ring Mtn. but she'd be in area 9 on the other side of the highway! If you put Pole Mountain, Albany County, WY into the map, there are elk in the timber everywhere around Pole Mountain itself and on over towards Twin Mtn. Change the map back to 'map' from satellite view. The green is Forest Service Land. There are some small private holdings in there, but it is a fair sized chunk of public forest.

Truly hope this helps! If the g&f office won't give you the names and numbers for the biologists, they are listed somewhere on the website anyway. If that fails, just call the Laramie office for starters. I've found them pretty friendly and willing to take some time in the past.
EE2

 

[wildgene]

...when I worked outta Saratoga, I ended up down towards Keystone, Fox Park, Woods Landing on occassion. From Woods Landing to Jelm Mt., Ring Mt., Red Mt. there's about 25sq. mi. of continuous BLM & State lands E. of Jelm, New Jelm, Hiway 10. Like Saratoga & the South Fk. (Shoshone), there's a resident herd that wanders up & down the river (Laramie) corridor & adj. foothills. If there were still tags available I would have recommended Unit 9 or 110. I recommended Unit 8 over Units 3 & 6 for a few reasons. I know there's a few elk wandering thru there. The n-r hunter success rate in Unit 8 was 77%/ 7.2 day avg. vs. 66%/ 9.0 in Unit 3 & 39%/ 16.9 in Unit 6. The topography/ terrain favor my style of hunting. The elk are more of less contained in a 4X10mi. corridor w/ accessible elevations that allow spotting back down towards the river bottom, & a chance to plan a strategy if you spot them...

 

[elkeater2]

Wildgene,
All good info and you're right. I wouldn't cross off Unit 8 entirely. They do go up and down the river there, but both sides of the river are in Unit 9 now. It is almost spot and stalk like antelope and you need to know those BLM and state land boundaries, as they aren't as obvious as the Forest Service. The success rates don't take into account private vs. public, snowstorms, etc. When I lived in Centennial for eight years, we knew the gal that was stationed on top of the old Jelm Mountain lookout tower. She had pet names for some of the elk and deer she saw daily from up there and they were all in Unit 8. So it's not like the place is devoid of elk by any means.
There are some guys who hunt just across the Colorado line from Unit 8 who sit up on the hills in the sagebrush and just watch for migrators coming from the river to Bull Mountain. They do it because it works. The elk are pretty adept at reading those state line signs, though.
EE2

 

[.280 Remington]

Met Mr Elkeater2 yesterday over in Wyoming! What a gentleman and it was a pleasure to meet you Sir!

 

[SJB358]

Met Mr Elkeater2 yesterday over in Wyoming! What a gentleman and it was a pleasure to meet you Sir!

That's awesome Mikey. The guys around here have been 1st class!

 

[.280 Remington]

That's no joke! Besides the LEL guys, I've met Fotis and Elkeater2 now and hope to meet more in the future!

 

[SJB358]

That's no joke! Besides the LEL guys, I've met Fotis and Elkeater2 now and hope to meet more in the future!

Hey man, what am I, eggs and chopped liver... Jeeze.... :lol:

 

[.280 Remington]

You'd be one of the LEL guys that I've met hoss!

 

[.280 Remington]

I guess I should say LEL, Nosler, 24HR, Marlin Owners, ect.....................For you anyway! LOL