I'm from lower Alabama and just finished up my fourth tag out west and finally filled a tag in General W. I went up to WY twice this year (2024). On the first trip, we rented a train of 6 llamas and went all over the place in this unit; tag soup. On the second time up there, I was fortunate to take a detour while driving my son to school cross country and added only two days to get it done. I have an excellent spot/honey hole that afforded us a sweet opportunity and will likely produce often in the future. We hiked six miles back and got it done the first day with a regular pack-out on our backs.
I've spent hours e-scouting, untold costs (gear-subscription-trip-tag soups-training courses) that I am too embarrassed to disclose. All of my friends at the park and church are eager to know my secret sauce. I tried to help my hunting partner learn how to scout and stalk elk, but he needed me to put him on the spot so he could pull the trigger kind of like whitetail in the southeast. After the first 2024 hunt, I changed my mapping password and won't give out my intel unless they want to share points or go with me the next time.
I know that if I disclose the unit number or the areas we marked off and those we found elk, all of that is lost- it burns a spot or a unit. I too started a few threads like this one and got roasted much the same way you did. It is part of the process; western hunting is exactly that- western.
Does that make them or me selfish for not disclosing specifics? You could ask my kids that question for the time and money I spent towards preparing for each of their tag-soup hunts we went on over the years. They would consider me foolish for toasting this investment I put towards understanding the great public lands we have out west. This type of intel is precious and took so much to earn the hard way.
If you've hung on for this long to read this, great. It is so satisfying to get it myself and thrilling to know the mountain I've chosen to hunt. I will probably never get an outfitter knowing what I know now.
The marrow of this forum and the people who started it is they are willing to tell you how to get the information you need. The HOW is so much more valuable than a unit number or a spot. The process of weeding out the people who want it quick and easy is necessary. Spend time listening to the free content R. Denning and so many others deliver from their podcasts.
After you consume the free material, invest in GoHunt or OnX elite to peruse the vast amounts of data available. I've found ways to go beyond the data even the paid services provide. Scan the harvest numbers and JCR's given by Wyoming GF. After reading the results and job completion reports (JCR's) for the unit(s) you are interested in, then give a call to the biologist for the unit you've already researched.
Even then, don't just ask the biologist for the spot; ask him about the elk behavior, hunter density, key vegetation in drainages that you think are promising, reliable water, outfitter presence, etc. in certain areas that you've highlighted, etc.
Then, go hunt. Boots on the ground out west is nothing like the walk from the truck to the deer stand over a green plot. Some people get it done diy on their first try. It took me four trips and I finally got it done. R. Newberg ate tag soup seven times before he got his first elk. He fires his staff when they give out spots.
If this is just too much, stop now and spend the money on an outfitter who has done all of this and more. For example- they live in the area year after year and even at camp setting up just a few days to a month before you get there. For perspective, a $6-$10,000 hunt isn't such a bad deal for an outfitter who gives you an opportunity to put your crosshairs on an elk. It may seem like it costs you an arm and a leg for them to put you on the spot, but it really doesn't when you compare that to the alternative- diy. Hope this helps.
