Wyoming gen elk tag advice

usa · Sep 14, 2006

My buddy and I just returned from Wyo and he got a nice 4x4 with the bow, I want to go back for the rifle season but I can't hunt where we were because I'm 66 yrs old and don't want to take a chance hunting alone 20 miles from the nearest paved road. I wonder if anybody could direct me to an area where I could leave my wife at a motel and hunt within about an hour from town(not interested in anybodys honeyhole ). I'm very experienced and have packed out my last 3 bulls alone but I think its time to slow down, Thank's for any help, Bill

alsatian · Sep 15, 2006

USA: I don't know what your issue is with going back in so far. It sounds like you feel capable of the trip but are concerned about risks if something goes wrong and you are on your own. You could consider renting a satellite phone which would give you phone service in a remote area. This would allow you to phone help if (1) you broke your leg, (2) heavy snow immobilized you, and (3) if you got lost. The phone does NOT help if (1) you are unconscious or (2) are dead. I'm renting a satellite phone for a solo backpack elk hunt in mid-October in SW Colorado. I know this doesn't reply directly along the lines of your question, but it may be helpful anyway.

I look forward to what others reply to your query. I'm 50 years old this year. I feel very fit, but I know this will not be my fate in only a short number of years. So I am anxious to identify some general elk hunting spots that will not require the level of effort to hunt that my 11,400+ foot wilderness area hunt requires.

rumproast · Sep 15, 2006

Okay, for specific requirements, I'll give a specific answer--this don't happen everyday!
I trust you will wish to have your good wife quartered comfortably, not in some dump. I'll avoid Jackson, because I always do. For the far west, Alpine is a good staging point--from there a guy can cruise up the Grey's and the Little Grey's, hunt whatever terrain you like, and let every mother's son with a horse and the outfitters beat up the herds for you. Works for us! But if it is warm and dry, it can be tough--they go to ground fast and you gotta step on them.
For the south, the Saratoga circus is way fun--one week generals and a thousand guys per area--you bet! Talk about action--plan on a moving target!
That's all I know--best of luck to you--I'll be taking my Dad, just turned 72, out there also.

Mike

usa · Sep 15, 2006

Alastian, thank's for the advice. At 50 yrs old I thought I was invincible and stayed that way until about 60 yrs old , then the metamorpous (sp) started to set in, My theory is that the last 20 yrs of your life are as dramatic as the first 20 but in reverse.Last week in Wyo it rained for 3days nonstop and we buried both rig's and trailers up to the axle's in mud, that's all part of the fun when you have 3 guy's but when you are alone it can be life threatening (overexertion/heart attack/ accident or whatever, I've decided that I want to live long enough to see my grandkid's grow up so I'm taking less chance's than I would normally take. I'm extremely fit at 6-2 and 200 lb's and until recently I thought I could outhunt anybody but as Clint Eastwood said " a man's got to know his limitation's " Relish those 11,000 ft hunt's while you can, thank's, Bill

usa · Sep 15, 2006

Rump, thank's for the reply, I've taken some nice muleys out of alpine but never did see any elk, maybe I was too focased on the mulie's, I'll probably take your advice and hunt the grey's, enjoy your dad I took my dad hunting until he was 78 and couldn't do altitude and we just had my buddies dad (82) yrs old in camp with us last month, you know the deal we hunt until we drop, I think its an incurable illness !! , Bill