deerfanatic
Active Member
- Messages
- 122
Anyone had experience bow hunting area 31 for elk?
Area 31 - WY
- Thread starter deerfanatic
- Start date
K
ktc
Guest
Area 31? It should be called "The Elk Farm." Pretty amazing hunt.
M
moleskin
Guest
>Been there alot in september, lots
>of bulls. Quite a
>few in the 300 range
>a few 350. I
>would hunt the bow hunt
>for sure, lots less pressure.
> PM me and I'll
>tell you where.
I am a eastern hunter who will also be elk hunting in area 31 this fall. I plan to bow hunt 2nd week of Sept. If I do not score will try to return in Oct to gun hunt. I would prefer to
hunt for a 350 elk and fail rather than bag a 300 class elk.(I know the odds will be aganist me)Any info would be appreciated.
>of bulls. Quite a
>few in the 300 range
>a few 350. I
>would hunt the bow hunt
>for sure, lots less pressure.
> PM me and I'll
>tell you where.
I am a eastern hunter who will also be elk hunting in area 31 this fall. I plan to bow hunt 2nd week of Sept. If I do not score will try to return in Oct to gun hunt. I would prefer to
hunt for a 350 elk and fail rather than bag a 300 class elk.(I know the odds will be aganist me)Any info would be appreciated.
E
elkdreamer
Guest
yes the odds are against you....prepare for tag soup....just remember it isn't a crime to shoot a 300 bull, most guys will not even SEE a 350 bull....its your tag....
dwalton
Very Active Member
- Messages
- 1,515
Don't get too locked into "only taking a 350 inch bull". The odds of ever drawing this permit again are so remote, it's fair to say this a once in a lifetime tag. Enjoy the hunt. Remember that the difference between a 330 and a 350 bull is a little over 1.25" per antler point. Best of luck!
D
d13r
Guest
20 years ago a 330 bull was a rare thing indeed.
JB
JB
M
moleskin
Guest
>Been there alot in september, lots
>of bulls. Quite a
>few in the 300 range
>a few 350. I
>would hunt the bow hunt
>for sure, lots less pressure.
> PM me and I'll
>tell you where.
What week would you recommend for bow hunting? I am thinking about the 2nd or 3rd
>of bulls. Quite a
>few in the 300 range
>a few 350. I
>would hunt the bow hunt
>for sure, lots less pressure.
> PM me and I'll
>tell you where.
What week would you recommend for bow hunting? I am thinking about the 2nd or 3rd
I was up there last year and watched several bulls get dumped that wouldnt even come close to 300. Might want to get the salt and pepper out for the tag soup, or else lower your sights a bit. If you see a nice 320-330 bull, I'd say dump him. I would go with the 3rd week in September. I won't say where, but it won't take you long to figure it out. I was told that bull tags increased substantially on this unit last year. If that is true, the elk quality will go to hell just like the deer quality did. I would look some bulls over on the summer range in early August so you know what you are facing--my 2 cents.
M
moleskin
Guest
>I think you could get the
>bull you are looking for!!
> I hunted it last
>year if you are looking
>for any info. I
>would leave the calls at
>home and make sure you
>are in good shape!!
>Brian
>bull you are looking for!!
> I hunted it last
>year if you are looking
>for any info. I
>would leave the calls at
>home and make sure you
>are in good shape!!
>Brian
deerfanatic
Active Member
- Messages
- 122
Thanks for the info.
K
ktc
Guest
dwalton,
I have drawn TWICE!;-)
350-370 is top-end for sure, but it happens. Not being local and using a bow, I would also say 320 would be a great trophy. I am with d13, I would have a pile of 320's before I thought it was not worth shooting. If I bowhunted and shot a 320 it would go on the wall.
Action packed hunt, but not real bow friendly terrain.
I have drawn TWICE!;-)
350-370 is top-end for sure, but it happens. Not being local and using a bow, I would also say 320 would be a great trophy. I am with d13, I would have a pile of 320's before I thought it was not worth shooting. If I bowhunted and shot a 320 it would go on the wall.
Action packed hunt, but not real bow friendly terrain.
M
moleskin
Guest
>dwalton,
>
>I have drawn TWICE!;-)
>
>350-370 is top-end for sure, but
>it happens. Not being local
>and using a bow, I
>would also say 320 would
>be a great trophy. I
>am with d13, I would
>have a pile of 320's
>before I thought it was
>not worth shooting. If I
>bowhunted and shot a 320
>it would go on the
>wall.
>
>Action packed hunt, but not real
>bow friendly terrain.
>
>I have drawn TWICE!;-)
>
>350-370 is top-end for sure, but
>it happens. Not being local
>and using a bow, I
>would also say 320 would
>be a great trophy. I
>am with d13, I would
>have a pile of 320's
>before I thought it was
>not worth shooting. If I
>bowhunted and shot a 320
>it would go on the
>wall.
>
>Action packed hunt, but not real
>bow friendly terrain.
M
moleskin
Guest
Based on your coments and those of others it sounds like reasonable advice. PM me about where to concentrate efforts, if so inclined.
CAelknuts
Moderator
- Messages
- 3,822
Moleskin, I've often read comments like yours that indicate you'd rather come home with a tag than shoot a 300" bull. I'm disappointed to read that, as most guys in all honesty have never shot a 300" bull. Think about that for a moment, because it is true. There are many thousands of bull elk killed all across the west every year, and I'll bet that less than 5% of them score 300" or higher. Now that I've said that, yes, unit 31 is an excellent place to try to kill a bigger bull, but unless you've already killed several bulls bigger than 300", why would you pass up one that size? If you have, my comments may not apply to you, but if you haven't shot a few bigger than that, why would you pass up such a nice bull? I'll venture a guess that over 80% of hunters wouldn't know what a 350" bull actually looks like on the hoof. Most guys would be thrilled to have a legitimate shot at a 320-330" bull, and it'll likely be the biggest bull they ever shoot. There are lots of 310-330 bulls killed every year by guided hunters where the guide tells them 'congratulations, that's a solid 340, or 350, or 360 class bull, and the hunter never knows the difference or cares to verify the guides estimate. Why would he, he can only be in for a letdown if he has it measured and realizes that he shot a very nice bull, but not the exalted 350"er.
If you've taken bigger before, by all means be selective, have a great hunt and don't be afraid to come home with a tag in your pocket. If you haven't shot a few of those caliber of bulls, don't be so darned picky and get yourself some experience, still have a wonderful elk hunt and be damned glad to get an nice bull regardless of how big his antlers might be.
That's just my unsolicited .02, but it comes from someone who's done a lot of elk hunting, and taken a few really big bulls in addition to other smaller bulls.
If you've taken bigger before, by all means be selective, have a great hunt and don't be afraid to come home with a tag in your pocket. If you haven't shot a few of those caliber of bulls, don't be so darned picky and get yourself some experience, still have a wonderful elk hunt and be damned glad to get an nice bull regardless of how big his antlers might be.
That's just my unsolicited .02, but it comes from someone who's done a lot of elk hunting, and taken a few really big bulls in addition to other smaller bulls.
M
moleskin
Guest
>Moleskin, I've often read comments
>like yours that indicate you'd
>rather come home with a
>tag than shoot a 300"
>bull. I'm disappointed to
>read that, as most guys
>in all honesty have never
>shot a 300" bull.
>Think about that for a
>moment, because it is true.
> There are many thousands
>of bull elk killed all
>across the west every year,
>and I'll bet that less
>than 5% of them score
>300" or higher. Now
>that I've said that, yes,
>unit 31 is an excellent
>place to try to kill
>a bigger bull, but unless
>you've already killed several bulls
>bigger than 300", why would
>you pass up one that
>size? If you have,
>my comments may not apply
>to you, but if you
>haven't shot a few bigger
>than that, why would you
>pass up such a nice
>bull? I'll venture a
>guess that over 80% of
>hunters wouldn't know what a
>350" bull actually looks like
>on the hoof. Most
>guys would be thrilled to
>have a legitimate shot at
>a 320-330" bull, and it'll
>likely be the biggest bull
>they ever shoot. There
>are lots of 310-330 bulls
>killed every year by guided
>hunters where the guide tells
>them 'congratulations, that's a solid
>340, or 350, or 360
>class bull, and the hunter
>never knows the difference or
>cares to verify the guides
>estimate. Why would he,
>he can only be in
>for a letdown if he
>has it measured and realizes
>that he shot a very
>nice bull, but not the
>exalted 350"er.
>
>If you've taken bigger before, by
>all means be selective, have
>a great hunt and don't
>be afraid to come home
>with a tag in your
>pocket. If you haven't
>shot a few of those
>caliber of bulls, don't be
>so darned picky and get
>yourself some experience, still have
>a wonderful elk hunt and
>be damned glad to get
>an nice bull regardless of
>how big his antlers might
>be.
>
>That's just my unsolicited .02, but
>it comes from someone who's
>done a lot of elk
>hunting, and taken a few
>really big bulls in addition
>to other smaller bulls.
>like yours that indicate you'd
>rather come home with a
>tag than shoot a 300"
>bull. I'm disappointed to
>read that, as most guys
>in all honesty have never
>shot a 300" bull.
>Think about that for a
>moment, because it is true.
> There are many thousands
>of bull elk killed all
>across the west every year,
>and I'll bet that less
>than 5% of them score
>300" or higher. Now
>that I've said that, yes,
>unit 31 is an excellent
>place to try to kill
>a bigger bull, but unless
>you've already killed several bulls
>bigger than 300", why would
>you pass up one that
>size? If you have,
>my comments may not apply
>to you, but if you
>haven't shot a few bigger
>than that, why would you
>pass up such a nice
>bull? I'll venture a
>guess that over 80% of
>hunters wouldn't know what a
>350" bull actually looks like
>on the hoof. Most
>guys would be thrilled to
>have a legitimate shot at
>a 320-330" bull, and it'll
>likely be the biggest bull
>they ever shoot. There
>are lots of 310-330 bulls
>killed every year by guided
>hunters where the guide tells
>them 'congratulations, that's a solid
>340, or 350, or 360
>class bull, and the hunter
>never knows the difference or
>cares to verify the guides
>estimate. Why would he,
>he can only be in
>for a letdown if he
>has it measured and realizes
>that he shot a very
>nice bull, but not the
>exalted 350"er.
>
>If you've taken bigger before, by
>all means be selective, have
>a great hunt and don't
>be afraid to come home
>with a tag in your
>pocket. If you haven't
>shot a few of those
>caliber of bulls, don't be
>so darned picky and get
>yourself some experience, still have
>a wonderful elk hunt and
>be damned glad to get
>an nice bull regardless of
>how big his antlers might
>be.
>
>That's just my unsolicited .02, but
>it comes from someone who's
>done a lot of elk
>hunting, and taken a few
>really big bulls in addition
>to other smaller bulls.
M
moleskin
Guest
>>Moleskin, I've often read comments
>>like yours that indicate you'd
>>rather come home with a
>>tag than shoot a 300"
>>bull. I'm disappointed to
>>read that, as most guys
>>in all honesty have never
>>shot a 300" bull.
>>Think about that for a
>>moment, because it is true.
>> There are many thousands
>>of bull elk killed all
>>across the west every year,
>>and I'll bet that less
>>than 5% of them score
>>300" or higher. Now
>>that I've said that, yes,
>>unit 31 is an excellent
>>place to try to kill
>>a bigger bull, but unless
>>you've already killed several bulls
>>bigger than 300", why would
>>you pass up one that
>>size? If you have,
>>my comments may not apply
>>to you, but if you
>>haven't shot a few bigger
>>than that, why would you
>>pass up such a nice
>>bull? I'll venture a
>>guess that over 80% of
>>hunters wouldn't know what a
>>350" bull actually looks like
>>on the hoof. Most
>>guys would be thrilled to
>>have a legitimate shot at
>>a 320-330" bull, and it'll
>>likely be the biggest bull
>>they ever shoot. There
>>are lots of 310-330 bulls
>>killed every year by guided
>>hunters where the guide tells
>>them 'congratulations, that's a solid
>>340, or 350, or 360
>>class bull, and the hunter
>>never knows the difference or
>>cares to verify the guides
>>estimate. Why would he,
>>he can only be in
>>for a letdown if he
>>has it measured and realizes
>>that he shot a very
>>nice bull, but not the
>>exalted 350"er.
>>
>>If you've taken bigger before, by
>>all means be selective, have
>>a great hunt and don't
>>be afraid to come home
>>with a tag in your
>>pocket. If you haven't
>>shot a few of those
>>caliber of bulls, don't be
>>so darned picky and get
>>yourself some experience, still have
>>a wonderful elk hunt and
>>be damned glad to get
>>an nice bull regardless of
>>how big his antlers might
>>be.
>>
>>That's just my unsolicited .02, but
>>it comes from someone who's
>>done a lot of elk
>>hunting, and taken a few
>>really big bulls in addition
>>to other smaller bulls.
>>like yours that indicate you'd
>>rather come home with a
>>tag than shoot a 300"
>>bull. I'm disappointed to
>>read that, as most guys
>>in all honesty have never
>>shot a 300" bull.
>>Think about that for a
>>moment, because it is true.
>> There are many thousands
>>of bull elk killed all
>>across the west every year,
>>and I'll bet that less
>>than 5% of them score
>>300" or higher. Now
>>that I've said that, yes,
>>unit 31 is an excellent
>>place to try to kill
>>a bigger bull, but unless
>>you've already killed several bulls
>>bigger than 300", why would
>>you pass up one that
>>size? If you have,
>>my comments may not apply
>>to you, but if you
>>haven't shot a few bigger
>>than that, why would you
>>pass up such a nice
>>bull? I'll venture a
>>guess that over 80% of
>>hunters wouldn't know what a
>>350" bull actually looks like
>>on the hoof. Most
>>guys would be thrilled to
>>have a legitimate shot at
>>a 320-330" bull, and it'll
>>likely be the biggest bull
>>they ever shoot. There
>>are lots of 310-330 bulls
>>killed every year by guided
>>hunters where the guide tells
>>them 'congratulations, that's a solid
>>340, or 350, or 360
>>class bull, and the hunter
>>never knows the difference or
>>cares to verify the guides
>>estimate. Why would he,
>>he can only be in
>>for a letdown if he
>>has it measured and realizes
>>that he shot a very
>>nice bull, but not the
>>exalted 350"er.
>>
>>If you've taken bigger before, by
>>all means be selective, have
>>a great hunt and don't
>>be afraid to come home
>>with a tag in your
>>pocket. If you haven't
>>shot a few of those
>>caliber of bulls, don't be
>>so darned picky and get
>>yourself some experience, still have
>>a wonderful elk hunt and
>>be damned glad to get
>>an nice bull regardless of
>>how big his antlers might
>>be.
>>
>>That's just my unsolicited .02, but
>>it comes from someone who's
>>done a lot of elk
>>hunting, and taken a few
>>really big bulls in addition
>>to other smaller bulls.
K
ktc
Guest
Start up on Little Mountain then work down as needed and as the rut gets going. The low cedar and sage is great. I would not concentrate on any areas, they are all over the place. Current Creek is a great place to start.
treedagain
Long Time Member
- Messages
- 6,510
I found that the best elk were in the lower country...
M
moleskin
Guest
Thanks.
W
WARBIRDUM
Guest
The elk hunting in unit 31 is un-real.Plenty of action one of the best elk hunts I have ever been on.
M
moleskin
Guest
Nice. Bow of gun? What did he score.
W
WARBIRDUM
Guest
I harvested this bull with a rifle thats why I have my orange hat on.You over scored him bighamr he would have been closer to that if not for the broken points.Not to far off about 10 inches per side on the score is all, there were larger bulls than this that I seen on the archery hunt last year but the terrain is so open it can be kind of tough getting in on them for a shot.I Have heard in late October during the rifle hunt most of the hunters have punched tags and some good bulls will group back up during later October.The bulls will still be screaming the first week and half of October during the rifle hunt so it makes for a real fun hunt.Like ktc said you dont need to be up on top during the rifle hunt glass lower elevations in the mornings and evenings when they are moving around and active.Go scout the unit if you can or go over a couple days early to locat the elk, for the most part you wont have any trouble finding elk on that unit if you move around and glass the country.Most will be road hunting the unit locate areas you can get away from roads a little and you will do fine.
Good Luck
Good Luck
CAelknuts
Moderator
- Messages
- 3,822
Warbirdum kind of makes my point about size. I think that is an absolutely gorgeous bull, bigger than most guys will ever shoot in their lifetimes. Why would a guy pass up a bull like that, unless he's already taken a few that size or bigger? Have a great experience, and be happy with whatever bull you end up taking, regardless of whether he scores 310, 330 or 350.
I'd love to draw that tag someday.
I'd love to draw that tag someday.
S
shedfinder
Guest
drew an elk tag last year. We saw a lot of bulls in the 300 range. We only saw 3 we thought would score over 350 but couldn't get them. One was on the wrong side of the road, area 32 instead of 31. another one we were getting close to and a deer hunter ended up scaring them away, and the last one was on private property "currant creek ranch". As far as bow hunting I would stay on top of the mountain in the trees. But when rifle season starts, good luck because the elk are all over the place. there wasn't a day that went by that we didn't see over 50 elk. I shot a 300 bull and have no regrets about it. I'm 36 and it was some of the funnest hunting in my life. Constantly seeing deer and passing on elk a lot of people would love to shoot because you knew the next time out you would see more.
>drew an elk tag last year.
>We saw a lot of
>bulls in the 300 range.
>We only saw 3 we
>thought would score over 350
>but couldn't get them. One
>was on the wrong side
>of the road, area 32
>instead of 31. another one
>we were getting close to
>and a deer hunter ended
>up scaring them away, and
>the last one was on
>private property "currant creek ranch".
>As far as bow hunting
>I would stay on top
>of the mountain in the
>trees. But when rifle season
>starts, good luck because the
>elk are all over the
>place. there wasn't a day
>that went by that we
>didn't see over 50 elk.
>I shot a 300 bull
>and have no regrets about
>it. I'm 36 and it
>was some of the funnest
>hunting in my life. Constantly
>seeing deer and passing on
>elk a lot of people
>would love to shoot because
>you knew the next time
>out you would see more.
>
Dang. We were hunting 32 last year and didn't see one over 310 after opening morning of archery season. We should have been with you.
>We saw a lot of
>bulls in the 300 range.
>We only saw 3 we
>thought would score over 350
>but couldn't get them. One
>was on the wrong side
>of the road, area 32
>instead of 31. another one
>we were getting close to
>and a deer hunter ended
>up scaring them away, and
>the last one was on
>private property "currant creek ranch".
>As far as bow hunting
>I would stay on top
>of the mountain in the
>trees. But when rifle season
>starts, good luck because the
>elk are all over the
>place. there wasn't a day
>that went by that we
>didn't see over 50 elk.
>I shot a 300 bull
>and have no regrets about
>it. I'm 36 and it
>was some of the funnest
>hunting in my life. Constantly
>seeing deer and passing on
>elk a lot of people
>would love to shoot because
>you knew the next time
>out you would see more.
>
Dang. We were hunting 32 last year and didn't see one over 310 after opening morning of archery season. We should have been with you.
