Medicine Bow Nat'l Forest - WY

[300wtby]

Guys, I'm looking for some additional information on an area we have selected to archery hunt for elk this fall in Wyoming. We are planning to hunt in the Sierra Madre Mt Range in the Medicine Bow National Forest. We have selected a specific area based on doing some phone scouting and from speaking to a few people from our area that have hunted it in the past. One thing that baffled me was trying to get information on the area from a Wyoming Game and Fish officer. I'm sure he gets hounded and probed alot for information and has come up with some pretty generic answers to my questions. I honestly felt like I probably wasted 30 minutes of his time.

That is where you guys come in, I would sure appreciate it if you could provide me some answers to some pretty basic questions. I already have a place to hunt so I'm not asking where to hunt although I will accept advice on that subject as well but really looking for answers to the following questions regarding the Archery Elk Hunt for the Medicine Bow National Forest:

- What is the hunting pressure like for the Archery Elk Hunt in that area?

- What is the caliber of bulls in this area. Is a nice 6pt 280 to 300pt bull the top end or can you expect better?

- How about the over all Elk population in the area in September?

Thanks, in advance for your replies.

300Wtby
Dave

 

[338shooter]

PM sent

 

[300wtby]

338shooter, PM sent back.

Thanks,

300Wtby

 

[pymulies]

PM Sent

 

[DonVathome]

I hear you about wasted time, I have made many calls to G&F and bio's and 90% of the time it is worthless. I do my homework first, ask specific questions etc.

Now, just for fun, I ask very specific easy to answer questions and still get bs. Like when I ask what is the weather USUALLY like, I get 0-80! I have found them to be of no help to the point I want to tell them thanks for nothing when I hang up.

Good luck sorry I cannot hepl.

 

[SouthernWyo]

1. The hunting pressure for the archery season is extremely high. It's hard to get more than 1/2 mile from a road in the Sierras, so with easy access, the pressure rises dramatically.

2. If you see a 280 bull, you had better do your damndest to kill it. They live there, but are extremely rare. What you're probably going to be into are raghorns and spikes. The pressure just doesn't allow the bulls to get any age on them (the rifle season pressure in this area is unbelivable.) The bigger, older bulls tend to hang on the deeded lands surrounding the public, in many cases year-long. If you can find cows that haven't been pressured off the forest, they may pull an older bull up but usually the opposite happens.

3. The overall elk population in the area in September is good. The Sierra Madre elk herd, and in particular, the general units in the mountains, are managed for opportunity rather than trophy status. Currently, and within the last 10 to 15 years, the Sierra Madre elk herd is and has been several thousand animals over objective.

Overall, the unit can be extremely fun to hunt. It's beautiful country and the terrain is not too punishing. Unfortunately, you will have a hard time getting away from other hunters and ATV's. Concentrate on hunting during the week and looking over some new country on the weekends.

Don't be too tough on the WGFD biologist. Their job is to manage the wildlife, not to guide prospective hunters into "exact" spots where they can kill critters. While I do feel that they have an obligation to communicate with their constituents, it's up to the individual hunter to actually get out and hunt the area and find out what it holds, that's why its called hunting. This area is easy enough to draw that even non-residents can probably put the time in to find where the best chances are to find critters.

Over the last ten years, the hook and bullet rags, especially the specialized ones like Eastman's have made it seem like calling the local management agency is a critical step in getting into the game, so much so that these type of calls for information now consume major portions of biologists jobs, which IMO should be better spent managing wildlife.

Good luck, have fun with your hunt.

 

[Rem308]

I have got some real good info frm the employees of the G&F,you will never hear a complaint from me about them.

 

[CWeeks]

Hunted down along the Co/Wy border in the Madres a few years ago, missed a 260ish bull with my bow, then went back during rifle season with a friend of mine from Laramie and spiked out in the wilderness and both tagged out the first 5 min. on opening day with a 5pt and a 6pt bull 50yds from the tent. Elk were lower than expected during archery season as the dry weather made feed better down low, so we actually got into more elk when we hunted with the crowds. Saw a huge 5pt in one camp so there are a few nice ones in the area, but I'd take the first decent bull I could. Good Luck