wyoming elk hunt 2010 what do you think?

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36moose

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the hunting seasons are winding down and just need to ask a few ?????? to kill the boredom. last fall we had deer tags in region # .they had a fair amount of snow fairly early so it took us a couple days to find the deer ,when we did we also found the elk and lots of them. we got into lots of bulls that i would be happy to shoot and after learning the lay of the land i would gladly burn my points to try and get this tag. my buddies think this was a fluke deal and the elk were down mid elavation because of the snow 8- 12 inches in most places.where we were hunting was a good hike in and i think the elk were there to escape the hunting pressure that was heavy atv and vehicle traffic non-stop.my questions are when does the harvest statistics for 09 come out so i can compare past years to this year and do any of the elk experts think the elk would all be up high the middle of october still in the wilderness areas which leaves the non- resident on the outside looking in. i know there is a lot of variables just want to hear some thoughts, thanks.
 
8-12 inches of snow will not move elk unless it is crusted so hard they cant break through for food-Hatrick
 
I think hunter pressure has more of an effect than that much snow. Was the area an out of tha way hidey hole you stumbled in to? Not many other hunters there? No matter, I'd guess if it held lots of elk this year, odds are better than not it will be good next....As far as a gamble, hunting is always a bit of that:)
 
it was an out of the way place several steep canyons to cross and we hunted and glassed from before light to after dark on public land and did not see a single person when three miles over if they had a car counter cable strung they would probably tar the road next year because all the traffic.the success rate for the unit is in that mid thirties range and my buddies don't want to burn points on a dud.i am ready to take that gamble they are a little harder to convince.
 
We hunt a unit in wyoming with 38-42 percent success. Last year we went 3 for 4, should have been 4 for 4. Quite afew hunters around, just not at the peak hours. Not one person saw us pack one out or shoot them. I would say go for it, unless your holding out for a quality unit. Me, well would rather go on a good elk hunt every couple of years and get to know the area and put a few on the ground.
 
Would need more infor. to know if the advice we give would be for the right unit and if the elk move in that pattern each year,or if it was because of the snow and not the traffic, The snow could moved them just enough so you ran into them where in a normal year they might be a rigde or two higher and in thicker trees so not as easy to spot from a far. Not all units are the same and the terrain will make a huge differents in what happens. Hunting a new unit is tough someimes. Hope your scouting pays off.


"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
 
I say go for it and let us know how you do. If there was feed and water there, I bet they will be back next year. It also would probably be a more rewarding hunt than waiting for a sure thing on a harder to draw area.
 
what month was it? were they rutting still, were the cows and bulls running together still, had there been domestic cattle or sheep in there recently? These are all factors that would help determine if the elk would be in the same general area next year
 
I'm with the majority of other opinions, it will probably be close to the same next year unless there is a significant change in the weather.

An area we hunt in CO is at 10,000. One year we had 12+ inches of snow the day before the season. We saw just as many elk as previous years with no weather. Our area may be unique cause an elk could drop from 10,000 to 6,000 in an hour or two. I know I could do it in half a day.

But just so you know, I'm no "expert."
 

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