2013 elk ideas

[CAelknuts]

It's that time of year when I start seriously thinking about what tags I'm going to try to draw in the coming year.

My son is pretty easy, as he has 14 moose points in Wyoming, and we'll put him in for a tag in unit 1. I will probably put him in only for very long shot elk draws this year and focus on getting him a nice Shiras Moose.

My own situation is much more complex. I have 15 elk points in AZ, and am thinking I'll wait one more year before I can draw unit 9 archery one last time. Nevada, I have 13 points and would love to draw any of the hunts I apply for there. Wyoming, we'll probably do points, as we're at 5 and it sounds like Wyoming may be a bit of a mess with the tag price changes this year. Here is where it gets kinda interesting...

I have 7 elk points in Colorado and will probably burn them. I have 10 elk points in Oregon and would like to burn them as well. So, over the next two years I expect to hunt both of these states on LE tags. I'd really like to read any suggestions for these two states. My thinking is I'll continue building points in AZ, WY, and NV while I get these two hunts out of the way.

What would you guys do in this situation?

 

[Stubaby]

First of all, let me tag along on the moose hunt : ). I live an hour and a half from there. My buddy killed a pretty good bull there last yr with his bow and it was awesome to be there when he killed it. Are you sure 14 nr points gets jr a tag?


I don't know what your schedule looks like but if I had a tag for there I would devote at least 4-5 days scouting prior to the start of archery, and I would probably dedicate most of my hunt days during archery. With as many locals that will have tags and can scout after work all summer and early fall it would be a good idea to have a hit list of 4-5 bulls. I also think its a better chance at a bruiser during archery. Once the willows freeze and go bitter the bulls timber up and are harder to find. Plus, by the time rifle starts the biggest bulls are probably dead anyway. We had that bull dead 5 minutes after shooting light on the opener of archery with 4 others guys with tags within 1000 yards of us!!!

Two guys walked up to us to verify it was this particular bull and once they did they were in thier trucks headed to plan b or c bull. That time of year the bulls are easy to find and easy to get on. Just get the wind right and send jr in with his bow. I know it was an elk question, but if my son had a tag for moose in unit 1 then I'm not sure that I'd elk hunt that fall. I'd get a region y or r deer tag and archery hunt deer as I scout for moose. How many times is your son gonna be able to have the chance at a 150-170" shiras with a bow in his life? Sorry for the winded reply but that's just my take.

"That's a special feeling, Lloyd"

 

[Zim]

LAST EDITED ON Dec-31-12 AT 07:43AM (MST)[p]CA, Strategizing gets more complex every year, huh? My decisions are dependent on hunting buddies schedules first. I am matching max points in WY with them. Only until those results are posted do I commit on these others. Next is AZ with 11 points but tag quotas surging so could draw unit 1. Then another decision pending a hunting buddy in CO where I have 17 and he 10. We are considering doing an archery/muzzleloader combo in unit 76 since they cooincide. Then OR Mt. Emily with 15 points. And last is NM where we may apply depending on these other decisions. Got a 30% chance in my old favorite low demand unit, but since I know it so well it's a very good tag.

We should just be glad SFW is being held at bay for right now. I really hope you can draw your unit 9 tag before AZSFW greases enough politicians to steal it with a morphed HB2072. They will be back. You can bet the ranch on that. If they get their way you can add, at minimum, 5 years to your wait.


***********************************
Member RMEF, Pope & Young Club, UBNM, UWC & the SFW Hate Club

 

[TOPGUN]

"Wyoming, we'll probably do points, as we're at 5 and it sounds like Wyoming may be a bit of a mess with the tag price changes this year"

FYI any fee increases in Wyoming will not happen until at least 2014 because they have to be approved by the Legislature in it's session next year

 

[CAelknuts]

Thanks for the input.

Stubaby, I'm going to PM you, as I'd like to discuss unit 1 with you in greater detail. I do agree that our focus will be entirely on getting my son a great Shiras bull, as we both know its a 1 time thing for him. I drew unit 4 back in 2002, and shot a decent bull with my bow on the 2nd day of archery season. He will also be bowhunting, as we both love to archery hunt, and I believe that hunting during the rut is the best way to kill a moose. I do think that 14 points probably gets him a tag, but it won't be 100% draw, at least not according to Hunters Trailhead. I'm also putting him in for a Utah LE archery elk tag, and if he draws both we can always turn the Utah tag back in and retain his points. He's at 11 points for that tag. Not too bad for a kid 25 years old!

 

[oilcan]

I'm looking for someone with 18 Arizona Elk points to combine with my 4 so i can draw another unit 1 tag ,any takers.LOL

 

[Robiland]

Sounds like you have a good plan. I agree with others on the Wyoming thing. It might be best as a NON RES to put in this year before they screw things way bad.

Good luck on the moose hunt!

I have 6 Wyoming elk and deer points. Not sure what to do. I want an archery elk hunt with chances of 320+ bull.

I also have 7 deer and elk points in Colorado. I do want to burn my elk points there also.

Nevada, well I am well behind the game there. Just started last year.

Arizona, this is my 1st year for there.

Utah, 11 moose points, 8 bear points, 7 deer points. What to do.

Any ideas or help would be great. Good luck this season to all!!

 

[littlebighorn]

CA,
The great thing about playing the game and being a little older is you have so many choices, and most all of them are good!
I don't have any advice for your choices, other than PLEASE post your hunts like you did your Utah Elk hunt! That was indeed the finest hours I have ever spent on the Monster Muley Forum!!!
Good luck to you and your son and please remember your MM fans!

 

[CAelknuts]

>CA,
>The great thing about playing the
>game and being a little
>older is you have so
>many choices, and most all
>of them are good!
>I don't have any advice for
>your choices, other than PLEASE
>post your hunts like you
>did your Utah Elk hunt!
> That was indeed the
>finest hours I have ever
>spent on the Monster Muley
>Forum!!!
>Good luck to you and your
>son and please remember your
>MM fans!


Thank you for the kind words. I am surprised that anyone remembers that hunt on Monroe in 2008. That was a lot of fun, and I may be applying my son for that same tag this year or next, not sure what to do for his 11 Utah elk points. If we draw a good tag, I'll try to do that again, as I had a lot of fun cronicling that hunt each day.

 

[littlebighorn]

I am always a little surprised at how much pleasure I get out of experiencing the hunts of others vicariously.
I will be pulling for your success in the draws.
I would really love to hear about your son's moose adventure. You must have started putting him in as soon as he was old enough, which shows your wisdom and foresight as a father. Good luck to you and your son!

 

[Stubaby]

I remember your post back in 2008. Awesome. I sent you an email.



"That's a special feeling, Lloyd"

 

[CAelknuts]

>I am always a little surprised
>at how much pleasure I
>get out of experiencing the
>hunts of others vicariously.
>I will be pulling for your
>success in the draws.
>I would really love to hear
>about your son's moose adventure.
> You must have started
>putting him in as soon
>as he was old enough,
>which shows your wisdom and
>foresight as a father.
>Good luck to you and
>your son!


Yes, I began applying my son, who is now 25, for points all over the west just as soon as I could in each state. In Wyoming, he got his first point the year before they came out with the $7 points, so he is 1 ahead of that big group for moose and sheep. He should get to hunt Bighorns by his mid-30s. That point strategy has paif off well for him, as he's already drawn an Arizona early muzzleloader bull at age 16, and a late Kaibab deer tag at 18. He's got a boatload of points in most western states, and we're going to get to enjoy some special hunts together over the next 10 or so years. I'm a lucky dad!

 

[littlebighorn]

He is also a lucky young man! I was cheap, and short sided so my son (26) is one pt. behind yours in Wyoming.
Nothing is better than spending quality time in the outdoors with your kids!

 

[dz]

Your 10 Oregon points wont get you in the super good hunts. We have the white Bible here that will help you find out where you can draw with 10. PM me if you want some specifics.
DZ

 

[CAelknuts]

Thanks, PM sent.

 

[dz]

PM back.

 

[bowhunt10]

I loved that post on your 08 hunt on the Monroe. Then to find out you were shootin a longbow. I remember you were thinking about getting a compound after that. I sent ya a message on bow ideas. Did you ever switch over? That post was actually one of the first I ever read on MM. I had the same feeling as when you just finish reading a good book.

Anyway looking for a Wyoming hunt this year for elk. Have only 4 pts. Too many for a general area not enough for a well known premium area. Anybody have ideas? Lookin for something that goes under the radar. Was thinking gun but am really a bowhunter and have killed most everything on the wall with a bow. Anybody got suggestions? Scared of bears and don't own horses.