NV rifle bull late 72, 73, 74

DonVathome

DonVathome

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Yes I got crazy lucky as a NR with only 9 points and drew.

Still have to do a ton of research but have a couple general questions for now.

Season 11/6 - 11/20

1. What is the best week to go?

2. How is access? Do I need an atv or snowmobile? Do I need a packer or horses?

3. Why is success not over 35%?
 
I drew that tag a couple years ago, however I was pretty much snowed out of where I wanted to go. I don't think any week is better than the other. I think I'd go in the first week. If you plan to go into the Jarbidge, I would highly recommend horses.
we took horses, but used our ATV more, because of the snow I mentioned earlier.
To answer your last question, I think the success rate is low, because its a hard hunt. There are some easier areas in 74, but less elk.
I killed a bull I passed on the previous day. A broken up 6x8, in a small bachelor group.
Hope this helps, and good luck!

heywouldya
 
I hunted 72 deer last year. Season started oct 5.
I know I was there a month earlier but we saw pleanty of Bulls.
I would highly recommend going into the wilderness.
 
Thanks guys I will be flying into Vegas or my brother lives and then taking his Toyota Tacoma. However it does not have four-wheel-drive or the best tires.

I borrowed it last year and it was tough getting to places with no snow. I will probably look into renting an ATV or snowmobile.

Or I might just get chains.

Any pictures of your bull?
 
Just getting into that country, let alone hunting it, in a 2wd Tacoma, could be challenging. Three months of lots of people with lots of tags will have the roads beat up. That plan could easily shut you out of over half of the available country if any weather comes in, if not more than that.
 
I am very concerned about that. Trying to rent a good hunting rig seems nearly impossible so I'm gonna look at renting an ATV.
 
I agree with all of the comments on this post.
you have good access on O'Neil basin rd, but that's about it. If it snows or rains a lot, you're going to have problems. I'm not sure why you aren't driving to Nevada from your place, but you may want to consider it.
I also agree with an earlier comment, if you want to make the best of this hunt and kill a great bull, get into the Jarbidge. There are some bulls that get killed outside of there, but that's your best bet. You may want to come in from the Idaho side and hike into the wilderness, but there are guides and other hunters at all of the trailheads, so get back in there far!
I'll try to post a picture of my bull in a bit.

hwy
 
I'm not sure what your budget is, but I believe Cottonwood Ranches will do a drop camp for you, if you don't want to go guided.
If you don't wan to do in the wilderness, PM me and I can tell you where we found elk.

hwy
 
My son had this tag last year. To say it is a tough hunt is an understatement. There are 450 bull tags awarded between the two hunts that take place over the course of a month. That's a lot of traffic for an area that has a lot of wilderness. There are great bulls in the area, but you will be working long days and fighting for them. Last year we found plenty of elk, it was the quality that was lacking. The big bulls were VERY far into the wilderness. My son was 12 last year and it was obviously his first tag of any kind, so he was happy with a small 5x6. There are great bulls in there, but you will need to locate and close the distance fast.

Feel free to PM me with more specific questions.
 
I love this area but as stated above can be tough and the late season is the toughest. It has changed over the last few years due to all of the tags that are given out. As bownanza332 has stated, there are a lot of bulls but the quality bulls are in deep and you'll have to pry them out with a crow bar. There will most likely be snow but not always. But no matter how much snow there is on the ground it could snow at any second and it could really dump a bunch at any time. A Twinn Falls weather report is not adequate for the Jarbidge due to a big difference in elevation. The bulls can be in one part of the Jarbidge one day and then be pushed to a different part because of all of the hunters. The good news is that most hunters don't go past 3 miles unless they have horses. The bad news is that there is a lot of elevation gain and loss daily if your looking in those out of the way drainages. You must be in great shape. Many people get in trouble in the Jarbidge. Sounds like you'll be alone? What are the dates of the hunt? When and if you come through Elko I'd be glad to meet up with you and show you some things on a map. fatrooster.
 
I also drew this tag and I am exploring all options. I had drawn Dutton late in Utah which I was expecting. Then drew this with only 5 NR points! Overlapping Dates! So I will be turning in my Dutton tag and eating the $285 and keeping my 17 points. That will make somebody else happy for sure. It is a challenge to shift gears mentally from one plan to another but it is a good problem to have. I will have my brother and his boys as helpers and I have an ATV. The one other late elk hunt I have been on was brutally cold! Our drinking water froze -11 degrees. I will PM you my contact info and share with you what I find in my research DonVathome.
 
LAST EDITED ON May-29-18 AT 11:09AM (MST)[p]This is just my opinion, but I would not even attempt this hunt in a 2 wheel drive truck. Any road with snow and a slight grade will be impassable with a 2 wheel drive truck. If you have chains it may help, but steering the truck will be almost impossible.

I was in that general area last year in late Sept / early October and on October 3rd it was 5 degrees at sunrise. Just before that period too it snowed a couple of inches.

Reach out to the rental car companies or see if a company that caters to the mining industry in Elko has a 4wd to rent for your hunt.
 
Thanks guys! Great ideas. I will reach out to rentals catering to miners would have never thought of that.

I do not have spot by I do have a plb. I have done many hunts solo in some of the most remote places in the lower 48 and AK. I have great gear and more importantly common sense.

I am going to contact Cottonwood. My concern with a pack in is being limited to what I can hike to after being dropped. That said it sounds like there are few access points so I am already limited.

I plan to arrive at least 3 days early to scout - maybe more. Sure wish I could predict there weather!

Also with the long season I can come back if needed. I got crazy lucky and also drew a mule deer tag (202, 205-208) and plan to hunt it later in Nov.
 
Any help is welcome I plan to stay 10 days or more and come back if needed. If it is ok give me a phone number and good time to call thanks!
 
Also ATV's are no allowed in wilderness right? Pretty much it is horse or on foot yes?

Any access locations will help me with my research right now a lot so thanks!
 
LAST EDITED ON May-31-18 AT 06:07AM (MST)[p]Twin Falls is actually closer. (At least for the north access to Jarbidge).

Also, keep in mind, there is not a paved road to 072, one of the few in the state without a paved road border. Also the Jarbidge is one of the most remote wilderness areas in the lower 48.

Very remote and unforgiving. You have to be prepared.

I am not sure where you are, but I think the logistics of trying to fly and rent a truck and ATV would be too much. I would drive my own truck if at all possible with spare gear and whatever was needed. Or hire a guide.

Also, you don't necessarily have to limit yourself to 072, as there are bulls in all three units, but not in the same density. The units are just a little different.

Good luck.

Pm sent.
 
Thanks. Is there cell service in the Jarbridge? I called Cottonwood seems like a great knowledgeable guy. I have minimal lightweight gear and figure I really do not need a pack in - can hike in my self. I have done long far climbs before many times.
 
cell service is spotty outside of the wilderness, I can't imagine there is any inside.
There are some great trails in the wilderness, but be warned, it snowed 4' overnight 2 days before my hunt. One guide had to get a dozer in, to get his clients and horses out. Our horses were belly deep and we had to walk them out of a lot of areas.
With that being said, I'd love to have that tag again and get back in the Jarbidge and chase those big bulls.

hwy
 
Jarbridge is a cool area, weather is unpredictable and be prepared for the worst mother nature can dish out..
And it is a dirt road all the way..not very smooth also..more rough I think..
I only Deer hunt there.. great Bulls and there smart and know the game from what I have seen..there always moving so you need to moving too..
I only suggest you have snow shoes..it was the only thing we didn't have..2 spares tires are a good idea also..good glass is mandatory..lots of country in between you and that shot.
Good luck
 
Congratulations on the tag!

If I had the tag I would:

Have a 4x4 truck and ATV/UTV.

Set up a base camp around the Camp Creek area, weather / weather forecast would help determine how close to the base of the range I would set up at. One could even stay at Cottonwood Ranch, rent a room, an RV spot, or a dry camp. They offer all three options if it something one was interested in.

Utilize the ATV/UTV to access the base of the range from T Creek to Canyon Creek, all doable from this base camp location. Good map and GPS/phone app required.

Hike the ridges that get you to a good glassing point, anywhere from a 1/2 mile to 3 miles in is all you will likely need. Bulls will be holed up and won't leave their "sanctuary" unless pushed out. Hopefully find one that is acceptable to you and go get him. Lots of 320-330 bulls in this unit from my experience. If you're a 350 plus guy, good luck.

Have both Cottonwood Outfitters and Cottonwood Ranch phone numbers on hand if you think you might have the bull packed out for you. Both offer this service if available at the time of need.

This is all based on no more the 1-2 feet of snow at the time of your hunt. Any more than that and I would have to reevaluate the situation.

Enjoy your hunt no matter how you go about it and good luck! Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
 
If you can't find a 4x4 truck to rent take your brothers truck and rent a flatbed trailer and put a rented quad on it and run those rough roads with the quad only. Find a camp area where it isn't a problem for that 2 wheel drive truck.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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Also I'm assuming the ATV is to get around to a trail head to the wilderness since you can't take them into the wilderness correct? Anyone know about cell reception in there?
 
I hunted that area two years ago for cows and had some cell service on the east side near the peaks but it is spotty. I also have a late season bull tag and will be up there from the 4th~15th depending on the weather. PM me if you want some more info.
 
I decided I am driving out with a tacoma 4wd, good tires and rear chains just in case. Not going to have an atv - do not own one, pain to trail all that way and crazy expensive to rent - I am going for 3 weeks.

Do you think my taco will suffice?
 
The taco will be just fine for most of the unit. Snow usually isn't a problem till December but I would recommend setting base camp lower just In case you get a big storm. The bigger bulls are going to be tucked away as there's a lot of tags on both sides of the boarder but we see 350 bulls every year
 
The snow can get very deep depending on the year and the elk are in varying units depending on the snow. I suggest a guide if you aren't familiar with the area. Mother Nature can make your hunt very challenging. If you have horses that would be your best bet for 072. Again though 3 feet of snow can fall in a 24 hour period there.
 
It's going to depend a lot on the weather, the elk winter in the lower country in 074 or in southern Idaho. There has to be a ton of snow to get them to move down though. If you don't have 4 wheel drive you are gonna have a tough time getting anywhere in those units. If there's not a ton of snow yet you are probably going to want to go up into the wilderness. If you do that go prepared it gets wayyyyy cold and unless you have horses your obviously not going to be able to bring a wall tent. Other option I would say if you can get that far is camp low near 76 creek and walk in every day. The success rate is low for a couple reasons: 1) you have to work hard in that unit, 2) a lot of guys are pretty picky and would rather eat their tag rather than shooting an average sized or smaller bull.
 

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