I drew an elk tag, in KANSAS

[Dos Perros]

Imagine my surprise to draw this tag. The odds are pretty steep, somewhere around 2.5% chance of drawing something. I managed a firearms/general antlerless tag, good for the entire month of October. I can hunt with a bow or muzzy during their respective seasons in September, too. From what I can tell Fort Riley will be my only option for places to hunt. I've hunted it for quail in the past but kinda moved on because of all the red tape associated with hunting a place that gets heavy military (dangerous) use.

I can't imagine the audience on this website is very applicable, but if anyone has done this hunt before I sure would appreciate any info you'd be willing to share. I've got a call into the biologist, of course. Thanks for any help folks.

 

[dotman]

You lucky SOB!!!! I'll get it someday, from what I understand, unless you know a landowner that borders the base Fort Riley will be your only option.

 

[SHTF]

Who'd of thunk it. Thats fantastic. I found this article that I thought may interest you and give you some good places to check out. Elk sightings on the rise in Kansas | The Wichita Eagle Good luck on your hunt.

 

[colonel00]

Heh, I never even put in for the thing because I figured I'd never draw it. Congrats. As far as I know, Ft Riley is the place to hunt as well.

 

[realunlucky]

Was stationed there a lifetime ago was awesome to see the bulls they grow there. I'd imagine the fort will be pretty easy to work with once you make contact with them

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[BoonROTO]

Congrats, I put in every year. Some day

 

[Dos Perros]

Finally spoke with the bio this morning, nice guy.

Indicated to me that there are about ~275 animals that come and go from the fort. The largest herd is ~60 animals but they mostly inhabit the impact zone (where the artillery hits, off limits). He mentioned they'll be in the timber most often early season, they rut mid to late September, bugle just like you would expect, bed next to creeks, feed on crops and mowed grass. It sounds like I'll be hunting whitetails that look like elk essentially. He said success rates for folks with either sex tags are 80% or higher, but folks with antlerless tags are only 15% or so. He said it's a difference in hunter effort, and that if I put in the effort I should expect to have success.

Unfortunately my September is blown (in a good way), first weekend in Colorado, then next is a wedding and my son's birthday (didn't time that very well), then next two are back in Colorado. But I can hunt the October rifle season with a bow, just have to wear orange. It is allowed for folks to tag along with no license whatsoever, but if they are rendering aid at all they should have both a Kansas hunting license and a Fort Riley hunting license.

 

[avluey]

Dos Perros - I was stationed at Ft. Riley from 2012-2014 and am pretty familiar. Have a couple friends who drew tags (I never put in as draw odds were so long and I was hunting them in Wyoming anyway) and all of them either took animals or at least got a chance (only one failed to tag out and he missed a muzzleloader shot on a cow). PM me and I'll fill you in on the spots we most often saw elk. Most guys who draw a tag are brand new to elk hunting and aren't prepared for the post-kill work, but Fort Riley allows you to leave the roads for animal recovery (no ATV though). The herd actually has very good genetics - big healthy corn-and-bean-fed bulls. The herds stay almost exclusively on post...it's pretty amazing actually that they rarely leave the boundaries despite no noticeable change in terrain. I would not recommend trying to hunt them like whitetails. The terrain is the same, but the animals are not.

 

[mcseal2]

Congratulations I've been trying to draw that tag for a while. If you PM me I can get you the number of a game warden I know who spends some time in that area and might have some ideas. If I ever draw I'll be trying to convince him to scout for me!

 

[AdamW]

Congratulations I've been trying to draw that tag for a while. If you PM me I can get you the number of a game warden I know who spends some time in that area and might have some ideas. If I ever draw I'll be trying to convince him to scout for me!

This is one of the many reasons Rokslide is awesome.

Good luck on the hunt and congrats!

 

[Dos Perros]

On the last hour of the last day, after 8 days of hunting, I saw my first legal elk at 350 yards and decided she better come home with me. Very humbling experience taking care of her solo, much respect to those of you who do it in the backcountry.

I actually covered a lot of ground, hunted 4 different "zones" or whatever and for sure the last was the best, was the only place I ever saw elk. If anyone ever draws this tag and wants some tips I am happy to share what I learned.

It was pretty crazy, Oct 29th was the first day I even saw elk and they were over in the impact area. This bull was bugling his guts out, crazy.

It's a very bizarre place to hunt, constantly being overflown by Chinooks or Apaches or hearing ordinance explode, machine gun and "20 mike mike" fire, seeing convoys of military equipment and tanks and howitzers, glassing destroyed vehicles and equipment left on the prairie, making artillery craters ground blinds, lots of spent brass. Just weird, and cool.

 

[marktole]

I go to school in Manhattan right next to Fort Riley and have hunted turkey out there before. It's an interesting experience with everything going on for sure. Wish I would've seen this back when you started the thread, I know a guy who guides elk out there, I could've put you in touch with him. He was stationed there for like 10 years as a sergeant major. I think his success rate for clients is like 99.9999999%. Ridiculously high.

 

[bz_711]

Congrats - neat experience!

 

[Transition Wild]

Congrats! Very cool hunt and story. Thanks for sharing!

 

[avluey]

Congrats - the elk absolutely know the impact area is safe for them!

 

[Roy68]

Congrats. I have a friend whose family farms around Frankfort and there was a mid 200" bull arrowed last week up there.

 

[Nomad]

Thanks for the follow up. Very interesting stuff. Congrats!

 

[avluey]

Congrats. I have a friend whose family farms around Frankfort and there was a mid 200" bull arrowed last week up there.

Was talking to some guys at a bar in Marysville in mid-November and one of them showed me the picture as his cousin had shot it. Hadn't heard of elk venturing that far away from post but guess it's true.

 

[Roy68]

There was one tagged in Lyon county last year as well (emporia area). I remember the hunter catching a lot of flack over it.

I think it was last year as well that one was hit on 70 close to abeliene.

 

[hobbes]

Congrats on the elk.