Elk hunting

[Dos Perros]

This weekend I'm going on my second scouting trip to WY, first was over Memorial Day. Two trips is 4000 miles. If you want it bad enough you'll find a way. Not scouting and then not killing anything will make you want it bad enough, too (trust me).

 

[Wapiti1]

What do you mean by rule of thumb? Like what should you do? Depends on how far away the bear is. If close and they don't know you are there, you leave quietly. If close and they do know you are there, you leave quietly and slowly. If far away, enjoy watching them, and consider yourself lucky to see the apex predator of the lower 48. If possible, I find a spot to watch the bear from a distance and decide what I'm going to do next.

The main thing is to put distance between you and the bear.

Do a search on here to read about dealing with a downed animal in bear country. For camp, follow the clean camp guidelines put out by the FWP. They cover what you need to know and how to do things.

If you see a wolf, shoot it. No one has mentioned a wolf tag, get a wolf tag regardless of which state. If you need one, not sure on Idaho's wolf tagging requirements.

Consider a truck camp for your first couple of trips. 4-5 miles in is a commitment to that spot. You really need to know there are elk there to make that kind of commitment. Also, a 5 mile packout in the mountains is not for the faint of heart. I would highly suggest you not go farther than 3 miles if alone. When I solo backcountry camp, I do the packout in two days. Day one to camp. Day two to the truck. Camp is no more than 3 miles from the truck and less is rough country.

Montana is an every other year tag draw generally speaking. Idaho is OTC, but more limited on where you can go on the OTC tag. MT is wide open on the general tag except for a few units. Both have elk, the rest is up to you.

Jeremy

 

[CAElkhunter]

I have never seen a grizzly in the zones I have hunted for 20 + yrs. 329, 331, 332. I have seen a few wolves, a Mtn lion or two and there are Black bears there but you don't see them much during rifle season.

 

[Wapiti1]

I have never seen a grizzly in the zones I have hunted for 20 + yrs. 329, 331, 332. I have seen a few wolves, a Mtn lion or two and there are Black bears there but you don't see them much during rifle season.

More of MT and ID are basically grizzly free than have them. That said, spring of 2016, I watched a young male grizzly having the best time eating flowers in Vipond Park at the north end of 331. Friends of mine said he stayed for about two weeks, then headed to the Blacktail. We figured he was looking for love and roaming.

I don't think many make it across I15, and those that do go back. There are much larger problems to worry about. Like finding elk.

Jeremy

 

[CAElkhunter]

More of MT and ID are basically grizzly free than have them. That said, spring of 2016, I watched a young male grizzly having the best time eating flowers in Vipond Park at the north end of 331. Friends of mine said he stayed for about two weeks, then headed to the Blacktail. We figured he was looking for love and roaming.

I don't think many make it across I15, and those that do go back. There are much larger problems to worry about. Like finding elk.

Jeremy

Or getting away from all of the other people looking for the elk........One thing about Montana that is common in every zone I have hunted is that there is always one private ranch of 10K + acres that doesn't allow hunting that the elk know and pile into and will lay in the middle of the field in broad daylight just taunting you. It is torture to see a few 350 bulls just laying there. We were in 270 last year and watched a herd of 1000 just hang out. Too many people in that unit by the way. Hard to get away from them.

I still love Montana. Great people. Great setting to hunt in.

 

[jmh00043]

This weekend I'm going on my second scouting trip to WY, first was over Memorial Day. Two trips is 4000 miles. If you want it bad enough you'll find a way. Not scouting and then not killing anything will make you want it bad enough, too (trust me).

Your 2 scouting trips is almost 1 for me. But yes I can only imagine the desire to get back out there after not filling a tag

 

[Roughwater]

Just posting to see opinions:
Should I buy a PP and hunt General season in Montana or OTC in Idaho for first time elk hunting for next year. I have only mule deer hunted a couple times never elk. Won’t be picky, if legal it’s probably going down. I’m accurate to 500 yards gun and 50 yards bow. Any thoughts? Wont have time to scout, don’t mind packing in and out. In my 20s and in good shape.

JMH,

Concerning scouting, I didn't read every post so I don't know if anyone mentioned this but my thought would be that rather than take a individual scouting trip just arrive a couple days ahead of the season opener and do your scouting then. You have more than a year to scout google earth or Xmaps etc to find several potential areas and backup plans. Elk often move. So where you find Elk during your scouting trip might not be where they are during your hunt. Of course you need to make up your mind between Rifle or Archery. With your limited time to hunt it probably won't help you but a Montana general combo Elk tag would allow you to hunt both archery and rifle if you didn't get a Elk with a bow. You can also shoot game birds and fish with the same tag.
You being young might consider also to start building some points in at least one state so you can eventually get a LE tag. Also If you can, purchase a Montana Elk preference point this year if you decide to hunt Montana next year. Additionally, pick up a preference point when you put in for your Montana Elk combo tag next year and with 2 preference points you would be almost sure to draw a tag next year. With you being new to Elk hunting I would suggest you follow Baxter Bowman and if you want to learn to call Elk check out the Elknuts youtube videos. There is a great wealth of info to be had between those two folks for very little to no cost.

 

[PredatorX]

You don't HAVE to scout beforehand with boots on the ground, but you should escout the snot out of potential spots. After that just get out there and find the elk and try to put one down. If you are in good shape and can cover the miles you should have no problem locating them. Have a solid backup plan and don't get tied to one spot. Enjoy the ride.



Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

 

[jmh00043]

JMH,

Concerning scouting, I didn't read every post so I don't know if anyone mentioned this but my thought would be that rather than take a individual scouting trip just arrive a couple days ahead of the season opener and do your scouting then. You have more than a year to scout google earth or Xmaps etc to find several potential areas and backup plans. Elk often move. So where you find Elk during your scouting trip might not be where they are during your hunt. Of course you need to make up your mind between Rifle or Archery. With your limited time to hunt it probably won't help you but a Montana general combo Elk tag would allow you to hunt both archery and rifle if you didn't get a Elk with a bow. You can also shoot game birds and fish with the same tag.
You being young might consider also to start building some points in at least one state so you can eventually get a LE tag. Also If you can, purchase a Montana Elk preference point this year if you decide to hunt Montana next year. Additionally, pick up a preference point when you put in for your Montana Elk combo tag next year and with 2 preference points you would be almost sure to draw a tag next year. With you being new to Elk hunting I would suggest you follow Baxter Bowman and if you want to learn to call Elk check out the Elknuts youtube videos. There is a great wealth of info to be had between those two folks for very little to no cost.

Thanks for sharing the knowledge. I have a couple points built up in WY but am saving those for a really nice unit. In the meantime I was trying to get my feet wet with general tags.

 

[String&stick]

Thanks for sharing the knowledge. I have a couple points built up in WY but am saving those for a really nice unit. In the meantime I was trying to get my feet wet with general tags.

Hope your planning on that really nice Wyoming unit coming in your late 50's! Point creep will push it there if you've only got a couple points now.

 

[jmh00043]

Hope your planning on that really nice Wyoming unit coming in your late 50's! Point creep will push it there if you've only got a couple points now.

What state doesn’t have point creep?

 

[jmh00043]

What state doesn’t have point creep?

Gotta love it when people put stupid crap, completely irrelevant to the original question asked...

 

[HeavyFootHick]

I’ve never Elk hunted outside of Oregon so I can’t help you there.
Whatever you decide if you end up driving there take two or three weeks off if possible.
Try to arrive at your hunt camp at least four days before the season begins to rest, acclimate, scout gather firewood.
Let us know your plans when you decide.

 

[String&stick]

Gotta love it when people put stupid crap, completely irrelevant to the original question asked...

Gotta love it when people ask questions, make comments, then reply to their own replies . . You're new here, you mentioned having a few wyo points and saving for a really nice unit/hunt so I offered some insight. If you want a premiere Wyoming unit, you're playing for a random draw or waiting for the next 30 years. I would change that plan and hunt Wyoming general tags as often as you can! I'm 4 points behind max points in Wyoming and am in noman's land for points and can't draw most mediocre units. Just sharing some knowledge on Wyoming.

Haven't hunted Montana so best of luck

 

[jmh00043]

Gotta love it when people ask questions, make comments, then reply to their own replies . . You're new here, you mentioned having a few wyo points and saving for a really nice unit/hunt so I offered some insight. If you want a premiere Wyoming unit, you're playing for a random draw or waiting for the next 30 years. I would change that plan and hunt Wyoming general tags as often as you can! I'm 4 points behind max points in Wyoming and am in noman's land for points and can't draw most mediocre units. Just sharing some knowledge on Wyoming.

Haven't hunted Montana so best of luck

Well that was helpful. The other post basically said good luck... in looking it seems like every state has point creep though? Would you agree?

 

[neil.hansford]

Yes, every state with a point system has some form of point creep. If you want to go every year, pick a state with OTC tags, but even those will likely come to an end one day. Build points in as many states as you can to increase hunting opportunity in the future. As far as Idaho vs MT next year, you may not draw MT. But, both states have plenty of elk.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[400orBust]

I'll just throw out...good on you for wanting to travel so far to elk hunt. That's a big commitment and I'm glad to hear of a new generation putting the effort in. If the next gens don't hunt...it will be lost.

Scouting can make a big diff but I understand the time constraints. Based on that, I would recommend ID because if you plan on doing this every year you'll learn alot by going back every year. With MT being every other year or so it will theoretically take you at least twice as long to learn an area.

 

[jmh00043]

Yes, every state with a point system has some form of point creep. If you want to go every year, pick a state with OTC tags, but even those will likely come to an end one day. Build points in as many states as you can to increase hunting opportunity in the future. As far as Idaho vs MT next year, you may not draw MT. But, both states have plenty of elk.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

Looks like I can buy PP and hunt next year in general. I won’t be able to do it every year. Most likely every other. Just trying to get opinions on if one held more elk regardless of size and the amount of people. I’ve done research on both, but was gonna ask people who actually hunted it.

 

[neil.hansford]

You may draw a general with 1 PP next year. I know several people who did not this year.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk