New Hunter Any Bull Questions

elkiegirl

Member
Messages
8
Hi all,

My friend and I are brand new hunters this year.

We each have an any bull tag and an antlerless control tag but are really only looking to fill one anterless tag between the two of us for the freezer .

We intend to be ethical hunters and we know the serious nature of a elk hunt. I've got a stack of books on elk biology, behavior, and hunting techniques, all of which I've studied.

My question is regarding scouting. I've twice scouted near the Hayden peak area where I've seen sign but no elk. I've been on the ground and have also been glassing from high ridges around 7am. Our next step was to scout near Christmas Meadow and/or closer to the WY border rather than the areas nearer to Kamas as I've read pressured elk often flee into WY.

I know we need to put in more time scouting. My question is this: would anyone be willing to give us some more specific direction? By direction I mean anything from from a large area to look, a basin, or something more specific if you're willing. In addition, are the best hours for looking dawn and dusk or is there any use in scouting during midday hours?

In addition, we're curious about glassing from high ridges vs. scouting the timber. We've read that you should hunt it but not scout it because it spooks the elk. But then, how do you know which dark timber to hunt if your ridge glassing is showing no elk? We've been focusing on the Uintas so far but are willing to change our plans to another unit if something else makes more sense (my friend is also looking in the West Desert as a family member mentioned seeing a small band there).



We're not looking to steal anyone's spot they've worked for. Neither of us grew up hunting and neither of us has mentors we can reach out to. The Uintas are a huge area so any narrowing down help would be very appreciated.

*we do not have horses or ATVs so while we are willing to get off the road we cannot haul quarters miles and miles out of the deepest country.
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-20-17 AT 12:14PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Sep-20-17 AT 12:10?PM (MST)

By october those bulls are going to want to find solitude they've been through quite a few hunts at that point. The uintas is tough just keep looking. Maybe get out and try to call some elk in while the rut is in full swing to try to find out where some elk are and then try to go back and hunt nearby when october rolls around. The bulls most likely wont be with cows but they should be near by look for some nasty pockets around those areas and that could help. There will be alot of hunters on the any bull hunt. Try to pin point areas you think they will go when pressured as well. I would not be picky either. You may get lucky and find elk close to the road you may find them in a hell hole and you may not even find them at all. Good luck and have fun. Also I saw a guy who's daughter killed a bull on the youth elk hunt. Maybe he'll be of some elk. Take a fishing pole with you as well it's a great place to get some good fall fishing in.
 
First I would like to welcome you to the forums, and hunting.

You and your friend have chosen a very difficult hunt for your first hunt. You would have probably beeen better off on a spike unit, there you would have for sure seen elk, and been able to observe them and thier actions.

That being said, this weekend would be a great weekend to scout the Uintas. They will be vocal, and it will help you familiarize yourself with your intended hunt area.

It is good to see new people and especially youth and women getting involved in this sport. With no mentors and no frame of reference really, it seems as though study and some scouting you have really taken the initiative and put yourself out there.

I have sent you a PM with some information you can use as you see fit.

Again welcome to this crazy world.
 
"In addition, are the best hours for looking dawn and dusk or is there any use in scouting during midday hours?"

elkie,
This is pretty much universal anywhere that elk are expected to be. If you want to see them it is best to be in or at your glassing position before it gets light in the morning. Elk generally use the cover of darkness to feed and are moving at the crack of daylight usually towards bedding areas. If you are not getting to your glassing spot until 7 am in August or September you are definitely running late. Also elk don't usually show up moving around in the evening until the last bit of daylight is fading, especially if it is warm weather. Maybe the best use of mid day hours is looking in likely feeding areas for fresh sign. If elk have been in an area recently you can sometimes catch the smell of elk. Hope you have a good time and best of luck.
 
The wyoming border is a mess of tight forest and canyons running in every direction. Get a GPS, compass. The elk on the North slope won't be out in public. Its dark timber, and its vertical.
I don't carry binos, waste of weight. I've never killed a bull in there further than 50ft.
On top of that, its a one shot area, in that first shot they hear, all your scouting is gone.

Last. The wyoming border North slope area goes from sunny and 60 to 2ft snow, 20 in a few hours. Been a good couple years weather wise, we are due a cold, nasty, snowy hunt eventually. Be ready for that, then get more ready.

You picked a tough hunt to start. Its remained open bull because of its toughness.

You can have my honey holes. The point, 2nd meadow, swampy flat. I have no idea their official names, or if they have any. Just learn, consider it scouting with a rifle. Use the cow tags for the freezer. Don't let us scare you though, of the 8 of us with tags, we've brought out 1 or 2 for about a decade, its truly is gods country. And BS. If you can't drag a quarter, cut it, make more trips. You can do everything you set your mind too. Don't over think it. Don't set yourself short.


"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun"
 
You may have a more productive hunt on a cow hunt . Or can you turn your open bull tag in for a spike tag ? You will at least see elk. Open bull units can be tough. Unless you have access to private property or good knowledge of the heard in the area. Not trying to discourage you. Just thinking you may enjoy your first elk hunt a little more with a change. Elk hunting is great . Spikes can be tough to. Your just going to have big bulls bugling in your face. ?Oh don't shoot them. ?
 
Your on the right track, the areas you mentioned hold elk. It is a tough area, but stick with it, pay your dues and you will eventually be successful.
 
Hi wstrntines and thanks for your response! I've always wondered about these hellholes people describe. I'm not opposed to giving them a look. I'm new to hunting but certainly not to all kinds of outdoor pursuits and I have done some off trail bushwhacking in my time. I don't mind all the the nastiest stuff, and even that I'd be willing to take time to very carefully hunt (or almost still hunt). Do you happen to have pictures of how thick this 'black timber' is that people refer to so that I can compare it against what I've been in before?
 
Hi DBG3285,

Thank you for your response and encouragement. We sure did pick a doozy for our first hunt. I have every intention of using this as a learning hunt, and elk or no elk I will be back next year with some very detailed plans (and a lot more scouting!). At any rate, the encouragement has been appreciated
 
Hi sjhgraysage and thanks for the reply. I should have figured this, but you're right; I was not in position before sunlight. That's the part of scouting that's proving more challenging for me. I didn't think to smell for elk but I will give that a go (I guess I haven't been that close yet).

I'm also still learning sign. I've got a few tracking books and am working on telling the difference among elk, deer and moose. Fascinating new ways to read the landscape. Thanks again!
 
Hi Hossblur,

Thanks for the reply. I am getting better with topographic maps and compasses but perhaps not to degree required for certain types of never ending black timber. Do you have a GPS recommendation (the cheaper and simpler to use, the better). That's something I'd be willing to invest in at least by next year.

The idea of a slow and deliberate stalk through the timber appeals to me on certain levels.

Can you say, in general, how may miles you hike from the road or trailhead before you move off trail and into the timber?

Do the elk have any preference for north or south facing slopes (I've read north)?

Is there any benefit to hunting in timber near sources of water or parks or do you just look for the thickest, more intimidating patch of vertical trees you can find an figure the elk are in there?

In general, will the elk in traveling in small bands or larger herds, or does it vary?

Thank you for the encouragement with the meat! I've decided on field quartering (gutless) as my method of choice and I'm going to be looking for a small cow. If I have to cut it into smaller 'eighths' that is what I will do!
 
Hi BIGJOHNT,

Thanks for the reply. I thought about a spike unit but I thought it might be harder locate spike (I just read they were more rare.) But like you said, you do get to learn the unit and see the bulls. From what I can tell I am more or less stuck with my tags as they are, which is ok.

I've made myself learn about the points system so I will be entering in the drawing for LE tags from here on out. But quite honestly I'd be more than happy with a small cow for the freezer (and the experience) this year. I didn't start with a deer simply because that's not what I want to eat and I only feel ok about hunting what I will use.

I did see a few units in the Unitas are antlersless control as well as any bull areas so I'm attempting to narrow my hunt down to those spots and hoping my planning leads me to a cow. My friend wants to hunt the West Desert...that seems even worse!
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-30-17 AT 12:06PM (MST)[p]In a pressured area, the heavy timber, bedding areas, thick cover are likely to produce. The trick is to find them and get a shot, rather than just hear them busting out somewhere in front of you. You'll know, they'll sound like a freight train.

Watch the wind and always hunt into it. It can be frustrating as the winds are very inconsistent in the mountains. Be aware of thermals based on temps and time of day.

I use my binos at least as much in the thick stuff as the open. Take your time, move very slowly when its thick, and stop every few feet and glass. Often you'll pick up on an ear, belly line, part of the light tan rump, a lower leg... that you might have missed with just your eyes.
 
Also, if you are packing them, only pack what you plan to use. Naturally you'll take the antlers and ivories, but bone out the beast and just carry meat. I even trim as much of the fat as I can, while boning them out. Pics of packs with elk legs sticking up in the air look cool, and taking the bone out is fine if it isn't too far or not too steep, otherwise, why would you?
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-30-17 AT 01:00PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Sep-30-17 AT 12:58?PM (MST)

Hi MMBW,

Thanks for the info! I couple of people have kindly PM'd me some ideas to try for spots, and there are some areas that I've found myselfI'm really excited to try. I saw what I believe is elk sign (I'm still trying to learn the difference between elk and deer and moose) but it was hard to tell how old or new it was. But there were numerous tracks that seemed too large for deer and a lot of droppings that seemed to big for deer. I have yet to see actual elk so I still can't be sure I'll even be hunting in the right basis, but I guess time we will see in a week.

The hunting you described appeals to me. I like the idea of moving slowly and looking (and thanks for the tip on using binos in cover). I'm new to reading the wind so that might be challenging but I've seen people use both powder bottles and also lighters to determine direction. I suppose I will check it often and move with it.

Regarding the timber, there are a lot of flat areas in basins in the Uintas. The sign I've seen has all been on flat areas but I've also gotten advice to look 2/3 of the way up north facing slopes in nasty timber. Ive also heard people say two different things: you need to hike miles and miles off the road to find elk and that you can find them closer to a lot closer if you're willing to look in nastier cover (I am). What are your thoughts?

Finally regarding the meat: My plan was to gutless quarter it, debone it, and haul it out in loads that are realistic for me (so not full quarters unless it's a yearling). I am hoping for a cow just for the sake of less meat and no antlers to haul because this year it's just me and one other person who may or may not be reliable.
 
At least a story even if it was unsuccessful.

My first 3 elk hunts were in the 70s, far less elk than IMO. The archery hunt was successful, the 2 rifle hunts weren't. For the next 20 years I didn't pick up a rifle for elk with the exception of a couple of cow hunts, strictly archery. Got horses in 99, the family has filled 25 of 27 tags since then.

The point being, once we were able to hunt further in, or steeper country, not having to worry how we were getting em out, our success really climbed.
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos
Back
Top Bottom