learntohuntnyc
FNG
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2024
- Messages
- 12
I'm a whitetail and turkey guide in NJ, planning my first elk trip for 2024. I have just enough time to hunt the first week of September before I have to be back for deer season.
I chose to put in for Unit 70 because it had the highest reported success rate of any unit that a nonresident can draw without points. 29% according to OnX research. I found it right away by the metrics but looking at the summer habitat size and the commentary across the forums made me think it would be way too crowded on the public stuff to have a prayer. So I went down the rabbit hole of many other units. Every unit seemed to complain of too many hunters, so I ended up back where I started.
I'm still questioning my decision, which I made only because the deadline was nigh. I might look to a different unit for the next draw after more research. A major factor influencing my thinking is Unit 71, which seems to have way more summer range habitat but a mere 7% success rate.
What am I missing? Are all the elk being killed on the private land in 70? Is the habitat less productive in 71? Why is the same success rate being displayed for both bulls and cows in OnX?
I chose to put in for Unit 70 because it had the highest reported success rate of any unit that a nonresident can draw without points. 29% according to OnX research. I found it right away by the metrics but looking at the summer habitat size and the commentary across the forums made me think it would be way too crowded on the public stuff to have a prayer. So I went down the rabbit hole of many other units. Every unit seemed to complain of too many hunters, so I ended up back where I started.
I'm still questioning my decision, which I made only because the deadline was nigh. I might look to a different unit for the next draw after more research. A major factor influencing my thinking is Unit 71, which seems to have way more summer range habitat but a mere 7% success rate.
What am I missing? Are all the elk being killed on the private land in 70? Is the habitat less productive in 71? Why is the same success rate being displayed for both bulls and cows in OnX?