Book Cliffs Roadless Section

Elkhunter96

Very Active Member
Messages
1,096
This is more research for extended family who put in for this unit. If I ever get this tag, I wiould do it right by setting up camp 4-6 miles in...

Have you or anyone you have known hunted the BC roadless for elk by camping at the trail head and either hiking or riding in everyday?
 
I have never hunted it but family has. From what I've heard it's a good 4-5 miles in before you are in good elk country. That's alot of wasted time hiking in and out every day IMO. It's downhill going in and uphill coming out from what I've heard.
 
+1 to what Marley said.
It is pretty much horse country for elk (hunting and getting one out) so there is no way you would want to camp at the trail head. As I remember there is not a lot of room for camping there anyway.
 
Keep in mind if you camp at the trailhead coming from Thompson Springs, you have go 1-2 miles through the Res. before you can actually hunt. Pack in.
 
I have hunted the Bittercreek side and been right up on Steer Ridge road looking down at the Roadless section, so I do know a small amount about the unit from the north side. I have also heard all the elk are 4-6 miles in and would be setting up camp in there, if it were my tag. Looks like Thompson Springs is on the Southern end, any issues with parking on the Res and heading in?

I have some cousins who do have pack animals that should draw the tag this year. But, they were debating camping at the trail head and walking or riding in everyday. I kind of figured that would be a good way to waste a decent elk tag. Of course, three of them may draw, one is for certain. That may be another train wreck in itself....
 
Coming in from the South. No problems parking or passing through the Res. The state has some easment for access. Riding in daily from there will get real old after the 2nd or third day.
 
know of 2bulls on south killed with 1mile of trailhead 2 on north all 4 over 330. seen smaller than that killed in deep ever where last year..so 1/2 & 1/2.
 
Pack in, it's the best way to go. We called elk in right to camp and they walked right through camp at night. One of the best hunts I ever been on. As said, why waste time riding in and out each day.

Smokepole

MikeElk1.jpg
 
Nice Bull.
8 miles of extra riding per day will suck up alot time and energy.
Take some tarps make a lean-to tent and make a camp in close to the area you are going to hunt.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
 
I spend several weeks in the roadless area every year. Coming in from the north you have very little camping area. From the parking lot, you have a 2-3 mile/800-900 foot decent into the canyon bottom. From there you still have several miles to the better hunting areas. Any elk needing to be packed out would be a killer from this end. We won't even do it on a horse.

Coming in from the south, there is plenty of camping at the parking lot, but as has already been mentioned, you have several miles across the reservation before you can begin hunting. Once thru the reservation, you are still on top and will have to decend into the canyons to hunt. A pack out here would be easier, but still a major chore. Horses are not a requirement, but certainly a recommendation.

I would recommend setting a camp 5-10 miles in and hunting from there each day. The elk will sing you to sleep each night and be your alarm clock in the morning - if they even let you sleep at all. It is an awesome place to hunt. I will be taking a rifle tag myself this year (16 points).

Good luck,

Jon
www.HuntersTrailhead.com
www.DoubleCGuides.com
 
If you don't have access to horse's, some of those "Green River Boys" use to pack people in on their mules and then come and get them in 5 or 6 days. Don't know if they still do that? Guy Webster, Phil Dinkins, Cory Veturi, Darrell Mechum........Last name spellings are probably wrong.
 
Thanks all, we do have mules and horses, so that is not really an issue. It was more getting information on the setting up camp in there or camping at the trail head. If I were to get the roadless tag, I will set up a wilderness camp...

Lots of very good information, appreciate it.
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos
Back
Top Bottom