Youth Elk

txjp · Mar 10, 2011

Where is the best opportunity for a youth hunter? I hunted elk for the first time last year and connected on a nice bull in 34 NM and my son loved it. You would have thought he killed it. So I would like to get him one of his own. I am going to put him in the draw for NM but was wondering if there were some units that are easyer to draw that still have some elk he does not care at all about size. I would just like him to have a good experience. He is already 15 so I can build alot of points for him in other states. Does anyone have any good ideas? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

It would be a diy.

THANKS
Jason

BIGJOHNT · Mar 10, 2011

What states are you thinking ? If utah is one the cow elk draw comes up in a few months. They are always great hunts for kids or new hunters .

txjp · Mar 10, 2011

Thanks

I have never hunted Utah so I did not think to look into that state.

carrot13 · Mar 10, 2011

Last year was my last year being able to hunt as a youth and I went to new mexico december 26th-30th muzzeloader either sex it was a blast I saw alot of elk and they ALL where BULLS just couldnt connect had tons of oppurtunities I hunted the rest of my youth years in Idaho got drawn every year but last year they changed it from either sext to antlerless only....thats why i went to new mexico cause i wanted a bull...But every year that i put in for the youth tag in idaho I got drawn as a non-resident and so did alot of my friends without a problem...Ill check to see if they changed the units back to either sex. If not new mexico is great ill send you a message with the unit that I hunted Last year.

SDBugler · Mar 10, 2011

Jason
What states would you consider? Are you looking for a bull tag? A cow tag? or an either sex tag? Is cost an issue? Are you just looking for a good chance to draw a tag? If you are looking for this fall, then some of your options have passed by already.

Colorado probabably has the cheapest NR youth elk hunts prices. They also set aside cow tags for youth hunters. they also have some late season opportunities for unfilled tags.

Unit 34 in NM where you hunted has a youth hunt and has both cow tags and either sex tags. any ES tag in NM will have tough draw odds for a NR youth.

txjp · Mar 12, 2011

SDBugler

I would consider any state. He would like a bull even just a spike but if it is the difference between going and not he would shoot any elk. I am looking for a good chance to draw. cost is an issue in the sence that i can not afford a guided hunt.
I was going to get him in the draw for 34 but was wondering if any of the other units had better odds.

Really bottom line he just wants to go.

Jason

PaysonOutfitters · Mar 13, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Mar-13-11 AT 12:38PM (MST)[p]Jason, I'll send you a pm but we helped this young man get this bull in Az with 2 years of drawing. Good luck

We saw 20 bulls before choosing this one, he was so excited he was going to take the first spike we saw!

Premium Hunting Gear at great prices and Free Shipping. www.SantanaOutdoors.com

SDBugler · Mar 14, 2011

Jason
Without knowing where you live, usually the biggest cost of a DIY hunt is the travel to/from home. Colorado has probably the cheapest youth elk tag for NR's and with the set aside tags for youth antlerless, you would be all but guaranteed to draw a tag. Tons of elk to hunt also. Colorado also allows youth to hunt some late season areas if they have an unfilled tag. the only drawback to Colorado is that the youth hunt during the same seasons as the adults so you will have plenty of company.

I took one of my sons to NM unit 34 a few years ago. Great hunt but they are cutting the number of either sex youth tags in half this year so the drawing odds will be really tough for a NR either sex tag. There are no units in NM that have good odds for a youth ES tag. They will be in the range of 1:15 - 1:20+ odds. Odds for drawing an antlerless tag are MUCH better in all units. NM also has "Youth Encoragement Hunts" that take place over thanksgiving or christmas breaks and are available to youth who didn't draw a tag in the first drawing.

txjp · Mar 14, 2011

payson that is an awsome bull!

sdbuglar thanks for all the info.

BIGJOHNT · Mar 15, 2011

If you are thinking about Utah . You have missed the regular draw. But the antlerless draw starts june 1st.It is always a fun hunt for the youth. In most cases a little easier than a big bull hunt.

txjp · Mar 15, 2011

Thanks
I think I have read where you can get in to some of the better units on those antlerless draws. I think he would love to seem some of those bulls.