Spirit Lake area for Elk

niceshot · Sep 3, 2008

Has anyone hunted the Spirit Lake, or Red Cloud loop areas this year, if so how was it. I'm heading out for the last week of the hunt and I'm looking for an any bull unit. Ive hunted this area in the past but not this year. Any help would be great.

BrowningRage · Sep 3, 2008

Sorry more people haven't responded to your question. My guess is not that many people have been hunting up there lately. I haven't been elk hunting up Spirit Lake for years. The last elk I saw up there was about 2 years ago. Saw a herd of about 17, there were two little raghorns in the herd then, they've probably grown by now. I am usually up that way fishing in spring and early summer though, not hunting in the fall.
Up at Henry's Fork 2 years ago deer hunting I came across 3 cows and a nice looking 4 point, he wasn't your usual raghorn. But the elk are few and far between my friend. GOOD LUCK!!! Sorry I don't have better information...

thebroker · Sep 3, 2008

been hunting there for over 10 years and have done well doing the youth hunt there with a friend of mine and have my tags for the generalseason right there .... here is the key .. after the first day its all over to anything close to people ... put on the day pack and keep walking in and uphill untill ou run back into them and you will if you just keep going .. there are thousands of elk on the slope the big ones stay deep and high if the weather gets babd and snows then you will stat picking up cows and raghorns again down low .... I have found the best hunting is the first two hours of the opener and then the last 6 days i will be camped at Brownie lake will hit elk park on the opener then spirit lake on day two

best of luck

tdregal53 · Sep 3, 2008

Park your vehicle on the north end of the Lake. Take off on the trail heading almost straight north from that pull out. You'll come to a large draw with a pond in the bottom, go down near the pond and head due west. When you go West get on the side hill. Follow the bowl around and you should kick up several groups. The bulls will be getting into full rut with the weather the way it has changed in the last few days. You should plan on a 4 - 6 hour hike in to this spot. It will be well worth your trip.