Fall elk


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We didn't draw elk or deer tags which is no great surprise. So rather than put in for leftover and waste the points at some place we don't really want to hunt, we are going to skip deer and just get OTC bull tags. Prob is we have no idea where to go. I'd like to stay within 3 hours of home( mostly cause my wife always has some school business come up during out hunt that makes it necessary for her to hunt a few, go back a few, and hunt a few days). I have a full week off so trying to decide 3rd season or 2nd. The where is the mystery. Im so tired of our non-success that I live in a total quandary thinking about where where where

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Understand Charlie. I really thought I would be deer hunting in Co. this year myself. The point creep is out of control and sounds like it is only going to get worse if they do indeed increase the landowner tags soon. I have one last shot in Arizona for deer, if that tag doesn't come (unless something really weird happens I should draw) I will be looking at OTC elk in Colorado also. My somewhat of a game plan if that happens is try to figure out where I want to deer hunt in the next year or two and if they have OTC elk, hunt it to try and get a little lay of the land. I won't know until mid July on Arizona, but if I do end up in Colorado and you want to join me or me join you I would be good with that.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I'm glad I live in Colorado. I draw every year' date=' just an hour and half from home to campsite. I've killed a 300 bull----he's on the wall. Now, I just hunt elk-----I shoot the 1st legal one I see. Nice bull, raghorn or cow-----all are the same in my book. Fact is cows are better table fare IMO. Bob[/quote']

We need to go w you. Even 1 elk would give us a 50% success ratio from our current 12 yr dry spell. Wife killed a nice muley buck last yr and we're still eating on it, and I drew a doe pronghorn tag on a place Ive been to a lot and have pretty well fig out. Elk continue to elude us.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Have you encounterd elk in the 12 yr period. I put in some boot leather till I find fresh sign and then camp out. Only been 1 time and it might have been beginners luck, but we we're into the elk every day of our short 3.5 day hunt, with a buddy missing a 6x6. We had to leave do to an injury. Although we killed no elk, I considered it a success by being into them every day. We found a place with a thicket on the north side with the elk feeding on the south side. Good luck

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I chase the elk here in northwest Montana every year and all I can say is that the wolf packs have made it a lot more challenging. During archery season when the bulls should be bugling it has become mostly silent. They have learned that to be vocal brings in the wolves. The other issue is that the wolves will cause the elk to move constantly, often five to ten (or more) miles per day. If you can locate them my theory is to get as close as possible and do soft cow calls to lure them in. East of the divide the hunting has yet to be affected much by wolves, but the herds are more concentrated (often on private property) and hunted hard. I just wish my aging body would let me push a little further from the roads, but being able to get an elk out of the mountains has become a major concern. Sometimes just hearing a bugle and exchanging a few insults with a bull can make for a great day. Just six more weeks until the archery opener before I'm out among them. Have a great season everyone!

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Have you encounterd elk in the 12 yr period. I put in some boot leather till I find fresh sign and then camp out. Only been 1 time and it might have been beginners luck' date=' but we we're into the elk every day of our short 3.5 day hunt, with a buddy missing a 6x6. We had to leave do to an injury. Although we killed no elk, I considered it a success by being into them every day. We found a place with a thicket on the north side with the elk feeding on the south side. Good luck[/quote']

Yes, Ive had opportunities, wife has not. I called in some good nonlegal bulls so my calling is good. Usually we have had the 'bull in cow season / cow in bull season' kinda encounters. Daughter wants to come out again and try in 2015 so I hope she can make it. This yr tho I may try the west slope of Monarch / Marshall Pass area u551. Two young guys at work hunt that area and have had good consistent success in past years. Its an area Ive only ever driven by, but have been curious about many times.

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  • 2 months later...
  • 1 month later...

CB, are you still hunting up Missionary Ridge way? I'm glad to have finally drawn the unit 61 tag and be done with it. Getting the bull was great, now I too can be just an elk hunter. I did pick up a leftover B list tag for 41 and could have filled it. If the cows hadn't been 2 miles from the road and up a fair piece I would have shot. As it was the rifle never left my shoulder. I just enjoyed the hike.

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