Frank Church Solo Elk Hunt Report 2024

[Jason Snyder]

Well done. Thats not easy country.

 

[Aginor]

Rokslide isn't letting me upload any more for some reason

 

[wind gypsy]

1. As I neared the end of the first stage of the trip, one of my notes from the biologist really stuck out to me. And I hope anyone planning on hunting the Frank heeds this: there are 500 bulls in the Middle Fork. Not legal bulls, but bulls. In 2.3 million acres. If you don't math good, well it's not very good math anyway. If you want to come do this in the later season, your best bet is to pray to God for a giant snowstorm to drive the elk down. You can make your own luck, have an exceptionally detailed and thought out plan, and work your ass off all you want, but with elk densities like that luck is going to be the main factor that decides your fate. That's a really hard thing for some guys to hear. Myself foremost among them.

1 bull per 4600 acres? Ouch.

 

[Qmac]

Awesome read!

 

[Aginor]

 

[Aginor]

 

[Aginor]

 

[Aginor]

 

[Aginor]

 

[Aginor]

 

[Aginor]

I have a thousand more, but this is a good sample I think

 

[old_coyote]

Thanks for bringing us along on your adventure. As a dad of little ones, I found your commentary on family, loneliness, and homesickness strangely cathartic.

I like the disposable-income-to-momma move. Especially if it prevents the “come home” inreach message :/

Keep it up! Both in the field and at home.

 

[Ecampbell25]

Amazing write up!

 

[Yooper]

Simply awe inspiring photos and write up....well done!

 

[sniper61]

Thank you, that takes me back about 40 years . The elk were thick back then about a 33 percent on bulls . Hot springs are magical on the body. Again thank you for the great write up.

 

[Duckhunter14]

Awesome write up and incredible photos! Way to stick it out and keep grinding. I think a lot of people underestimate the mental game after being run down physically. It’s easy to quit, especially solo. Much respect to your perseverance. Unfortunately it doesn’t always equate to success, especially in that wilderness. Was the sheep skull a ram? Pretty cool find either way.

 

[Aginor]

Awesome write up and incredible photos! Way to stick it out and keep grinding. I think a lot of people underestimate the mental game after being run down physically. It’s easy to quit, especially solo. Much respect to your perseverance. Unfortunately it doesn’t always equate to success, especially in that wilderness. Was the sheep skull a ram? Pretty cool find either way.

What's interesting is a few feet away I found two elk sheds from different elk as well

Thank you, that takes me back about 40 years . The elk were thick back then about a 33 percent on bulls . Hot springs are magical on the body. Again thank you for the great write up.

Man, what was lost...

I still hunted the FCW this year, but in the early season like usual. I also picked up a second tag in another unit. It was staggering the difference between the amount of elk I saw in the Frank during the rut and this other unit over Thanksgiving. I believe the WMA ranger said 7,000 elk winter in this tiny unit (not that we've had much of a winter this year)