46 elk points..Help me choose.

[ChubbyTuna]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-27-10 AT 01:02PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jan-27-10 AT 12:56?PM (MST)

Luckily my father had the forsight to start putting me in for elk points long ago. I took up archery about 3 years ago and have done 2 solo archery hunts so far. No success but I feel like I'm climbing the learning curve. I've rifle hunted for over 25 years but the elk/archery bug is eating me alive.
I'm 41 and in pretty good shape. Last year Colorado I hunted from my truck, 2-3 miles in and dark to dark (OTC unit 71). Since I'll be solo DIY, I'm looking for medium rugged terrain but can do steep just not everyday. I would love to see lots of bulls with plenty of opportunities. Prefer a rut hunt where I can do some calling. Size doesn't matter as I'm looking to just get my hands bloody. Based on the points I have what would you suggest for an archery hunt. I'm a Cali resident.

WY 3 points
NV 5
Cali 8
Utah 8
Col 10
AZ 12 applied for unit 9 (2010)


Am I in pretty good shape for some decent hunts in the next 5 -8 years? AZ is my one hope for a trophy bull hunt someday.

 

[CATMAN]

If size isn't a big factor and your a non-res to Utah. You could draw the Diamond Mtn. archery tag. Alot of elk just not 350+
Good Luck

 

[littlebighorn]

If you just want to get your hands bloody, keep trying the OTC tags and maybe save the higher bonus point states fore a once in a lifetime type hunt for a nice bull. You can archery hunt spike elk and cows in some of Utah's best elk units with an OTC tag during the first part of the rut. And other states have similar hunts. Good luck!

 

[ultra7mm]

I just looked through this year's Utah Odds book. You would have drawn out or had a good chance on these units last year:
Cache North with 4 pts.
Cache South 6 pts.
South Slope Diamond 6 pts.
Book Cliffs Roadless 8 pts.
LaSal 5 pt.
Manti 8pts.
Nebo 7 Pts.
Wasatch 8 pts.

There are some really good units there. Wasatch, Book Cliffs and Manti are good areas where you have a good chance of drawing.

Good luck.

 

[mshred]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-27-10 AT 03:56PM (MST)[p]as for Colorado, you can hunt all but the premier units for archery (2, 10, 201, 61). If you are into high country hunting, you might give 76 a try.

go to the Colorado forum and do a search for "rocketman" to see what sort of hunt you would be in for in 76. he has some awesome photos showing the terrain and type of elk herds you could anticipate getting into.

good luck.

mshred

 

[UT1031]

Of the Utah hunts listed, I would choose in order:
Wasatch - lots of animals 300-350" very good
Manti - Larest herd numbers in Utah, size similar to Wasatch
Book Cliffs Roadless - If you have horses, my #1 choice if not, then a long hike! Great chance at 330-370"

 

[ducksbucksandbulls]

Wyo...General tag
Nv 231
Ca. Del Norte
Utah... Manti,
Col... 76, 61
Az... 1, 3a, 8

 

[HKShooter]

What? No Oregon points? Man you are really missing out.


HK



Not really.

 

[J_C]

Catman you have a P.M. J.C.

 

[Hondoarcher]

There are other units in Colorado that you will also need to draw for not just the list above. Be sure to check the regulations. Most you can draw with 1 or 0 points but as the rules are now you will burn all your points if you put in and draw them so be careful.

Goodluck on your quest.

 

[yak4fish]

I just looked at the Utah draw odds your one year from a max points on Fishlake archery unless they increase the tags then your a sure thing. Manti your in this year.

I used to hunt Manti but got frustrated with all the ATV trails but if you study your maps you can find a quiet spot.

Never been to Fishlake but have heard some good things about it.

What part of Calif. are you from I'm in Orange County?

 

[ttj]

I just sent you a P.M. TJ

 

[ChubbyTuna]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-29-10 AT 01:08PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jan-29-10 AT 11:40?AM (MST)

This is great news!! I really thought I was years away from a decent hunt anywhere but looks like I'm in pretty good shape in UT, CO & AZ. I really appreciate the info and knew guys would have great suggestions. Since I really am a rookie with a bow and hunting elk I need to choose carefully. I don't want to blow 10-12 years of points on a great unit and just bumble around the woods. Since I'll probably be doing these hunts solo, would you suggest I get a guide? I really like the idea of doing everything myself and I really don't need a 400 bull. I like the idea of working with a partner for calling and packing out but the $4000-$6000 fees are just not in my future.OR would you suggest I get an spike/cow (UTAH) tag this year and use it as a scouting trip. Sound like Wasatch and Fishlake are on my short list. Thanks again for the suggestions and keep them coming.


Joe

YAK, I'm in Long beach

 

[Pruney]

Have you taken the hunter safety in AZ?

At 12 points, you would be in the discussion for several high end units in AZ. Unit 9 will likely be closer to the 8 year mark than the 5 year mark for you. I have 14 points and don't see it as a lock for another two or three years because of the NR cap. My estimate for NR draw odds on unit 9 will be:

in 2010:
13 points and below 0%
14 points 8-16%
15 points 100%

in 2011:
14 points and below 0%
15 points 45-55%

in 2012:
15 points and below 0%
16 points 75-100%

Massive point creep for NRs on unit 9. I could easily see this tag taking 20 points to draw for those that curently have 12.

Pruney
Guns kill people? That's like saying a spoon made Rosie O'Donnell fat

 

[ChubbyTuna]

I'm planning on taking the course this year. Even if it does take 5+ years I think I'm ok with that. I plan on AZ as being my once in a lifetime trophy hunt. My dad has 17 points but he's holding out for a unit 10 early rifle. Hope AZ doesn't mess it all up in the next few years.

 

[littlebighorn]

I like your thinking about a UT spike hunt to figure things out. It is almost impossible to bow hunt/call/pack out an elk solo. But I bet if you throw it out, you can get some Utards to go along with you.

 

[Bwht4x4]

Just to shed some light on the AZ unit 9 hunt.

My partner and I drew AZ unit 9 elk last year with 14 points and it was our second choice. We both took 330-335 bulls, but don't go there thinking there are 350" bulls everywhere. It's not as easy it is made out to be.

There's so many trail cameras that anything closer to 400" are known about by a ton of people. The trail cameras on the trick tanks on the west side were obnoxious. Would love to see a ban of trail cams within 300 yards of a water source!

 

[Califelkslayer]

In Colorado I highly recommend 61. I hunted the last 2 weeks in "08" and on every single hunt I heard bugles and during the last week I called bulls in everyday. 8 bulls working at the same time sound like fun??? Knowin 2 or 3 of em are coming in down wind but not caring cause there are bulls on all sides of you. The quality varies depending on whom you talk to but I saw several 320+ type bulls.

Someone mentioned Oregon. Wanna trade my 10 Ore PPs for your 10 Co PPs??? Yea, I didn't think so but you can't blame me for trying.

 

[realunlucky]

Utah hunt will run til sept 17 so its the best year in along time to hunt the rut with archery equipment.

 

[mike111]

Bwht4x4, I agree unit 9 is not as easy of a hunt as most think. You'll probably have some opportunity's at smaller to medium bulls through the hunt, but the bigger bulls are tough to harvest in any Arizona unit. Also I've noticed the quality decreasing in the unit, possibly because of the early muzz and rifle hunts.

 

[YukonDall]

PRUNEY...I SENT YOU A PM....THANKS....YD.