WY Elk Thoughts

LIK2HNT · Jul 4, 2014

Hello All,
I would appreciate any help anyone can offer in planning my future Wyoming elk strategy. I am a NR with max points and due to work have to hunt the last half of November or latter. I was putting in for 58-1 but most of that unit is on the Hoodoo ranch. This year they are not allowing DIY bull elk hunters on the ranch the last 2 weeks of the season because they are going to lease it out to an outfitter. The season ends Nov. 30. I would be hunting DIY either solo or with one friend helping out. I have all the snow camping & hunting gear need for winter hunting.

All the late season hunts have slim odds, but I would rather wait for a great DIY hunt. Some of the other units I am looking at are 56-1, 59-1, 61-2, and 124-1. 124-1 and 56-1 (only offered every few years) would fit my work schedule easily and I could spend 2 weeks hunting. If I switch to 59-1 or 61-2 I would be restricted to hunting to 1 week if I was lucky. Then again I could also try and hunt for 1 week in 58-1 before they close it for the outfitters.

Guess what I am asking is if anyone has any information on these units, or another late hunt I missed and should be researching?
Would hunting for a week only in 58-1 before the outfitter started still be good, or are the last 2 weeks of the season the best? Is the small amount of public land in 58-1 enough to hunt and have a good chance at a big bull?

Thanks
Bill

goofyelk · Jul 4, 2014

You might want to look at 16-2 tags..
And getting a beermug ranch access permit.

northwyohunter · Jul 5, 2014

This is the first time i have heard the hoodoo shutting the last two weeks down for an outfitter only. As far as I know the last i heard was when you paid your fee for trespassing to them that you were good to go for the season for the deal them and the game and fish worked out? 61 is a good late season tag but a lot of times you better know some landowners in there as well.

jims · Jul 6, 2014

Keep in mind that there are quite a few big bad grizz to reckon with in many of the units close to Cody! Keep your fingers crossed that some day Wyo opens grizz season and they become a little more spooked of man...rather than come running when they hear shots fired!

LIK2HNT · Jul 6, 2014

Randy thanks, I will look into 16-2

Taylor, trespass fee went up to $1,000 this year, and the outfitter thing is new this year. When I talked to the ranch manager he said last year the outfitter was there but not at a dedicated time. And I guess they had problems from some guys from Utah. He said they are making more money giving the outfitter the last 2 weeks than they make from all the trespass fees. From a business standpoint you can see why they did what they did. I am just wondering if hunting the week before the outfitter and then hunting the small amount of National Forest would be worth it.

Jim, I was hoping the bears would not be a problem in late November. I am I wrong?

Thanks
Bill

WapitiBob · Jul 6, 2014

This is looking from the main FS road where it turns due East under Carter, 10/7/2012.

songdog · Jul 9, 2014

Hey goofyelk, I sent you a private message.

All of the info mentioned above is good advice, especially with the griz factor. Hopefully, they will offer a few griz tags in the near future...