Help for antlerless elk nv 144,145

I drew a cow elk tag for 144,145 sept1-30 for rifle. I have hunted whitetail all my life and most recently mule all with a bow. Is my .308 a good choice for the hunt?
I honestly have no idea even where to begin. I plan to scout in June so if anyone could point me in a good direction it?d be greatly appreciated.
Also, strategy for cow elk? Still doing research on calls, mating cycles, etc, but any good tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks anyone in advance for the help!!!
Justin Jaynes

Welcome to the elk hunting scene. .308 is fine I'd suggest a federal premium trophy bonded tip minimum 150 grain. Calls not needed for cows. The hunt in a nutshell should be fairly quick. Locate , intercept ,shoot. Then the pack out!

Thank you for ur reply. Are u familiar with 144,145? From my understanding, numbers r low, but with that being said why r there depredation tags?
Any populated areas you may know of to scout?

LAST EDITED ON May-28-18 AT 07:22PM (MST)[p]The hay farmers don't want the elk.

There are very few resident elk in the units. 4 cows and 6 bulls were killed last year on all the hunts.

You have to have some knowledge of exactly where some might be, or get really lucky.

Good luck.

Hey Justin, I drew a Antlerless Elk Depredation tag for Nov. 1 - Jan. 31 (late hunt) for 144-145. I, too, have never hunted in that area and was wondering if you were able to come up with any information that people gave you? Or, if you have any advice about elk hunting in general.

Thanks for your time and help!

Unfortunately the best info I have got is the numbers r low and I'm going to have to get lucky. Going up in late June early July to scout. I don't even know where to start but hopefully I will know a lot more then

Call the biologist. Read the hunter information sheets. Call the BLM.


________________________________________

If Hunting and Angling Ended
There is no alternative funding system
in place to replace the potential lost
funds for conservation. If hunting and
angling end, funding for wildlife
conservation, including enforcement of
all wildlife laws, will be jeopardized.
Hunters, anglers and shooters actively
support wildlife conservation through
tangible actions such as buying licenses
and paying taxes on hunting, fishing and
shooting equipment. Why are hunters and
anglers so willing to support
conservation through their pocketbooks?
Because people place added value on ?
and are willing to pay for ? what they
can use.

Called the Biologist for Units 144-145 because there is nothing on the NDOW site in regards to the 144-145 Antlerless Depredation hunt. The Biologist wasn't really helpful but said there are very low numbers in those areas. He also said that the hunt is going to be hard because the hunt pressure will force the elk to go all over the place. I asked of he had any trends on where the herds are and he said no because the funding for depredation hunt is too costly. Hope this helps a bit. Kinds seems like you have to be at the right place at the right time.

This is a quote from the 2018 big game status book.


Units 144, 145: Diamonds, Fish Creek Range, Mahogany Hills and Mountain Boy Range; Southern Eureka and Western White Pine Counties. Report by: Clint Garrett Hunt Results Depredation hunts for antlered and antlerless elk in Hunt Units 144 and 145 were initiated in 2012 to prevent the establishment of a viable elk population in accordance with the Central Nevada Elk Plan. Due to thick tree cover, a small number of elk, hunting pressure and dispersed movement patterns, elk hunting conditions are very difficult. In the previous 5 years. 47 bulls and 33 cows have been harvested. For each of the last 3 years, there have been a total of seven different seasons offered with a combined quota of 85 tags. Overall harvest success during the 2017 season was the lowest on record at 12%compared to 26% in 2016. Survey Data Elk numbers are low in this unit group and no formal composition survey was conducted during the reporting period. An incidental observation of 2 yearling bulls occurred in Hunt Unit 145 during postseason mule deer surveys in November 2016. A landowner complaint in Hunt Unit 144 resulted in the observation of 3 bulls and 5 cows on private property in Oct 2016 and 3 bulls and 9 cows on private property in August 2017. Total incidental observations of elk for 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 are 10 and 12 respectively. Population Status and Trend A formal population model is not maintained for this population due to the small number of animals and limited availability of data. Hunt Units 144 and 145 are transition zones and are seasonally used by elk. Current harvest management practices have been successful as elk numbers remain extremely low.

That's basically what I've heard all over. Low numbers and luck is required. Not discouraged, I'm getting out there either way!!!

I have the same hunt and area in October. This will be my first hunt of any kind and I've been looking for tidbits myself. I went to a website called rmef.org and looked at their elk conservation map for that area for this year and years past, but didn't help all that much for this area.I did read somewhere to go to local bars on your scouting trip and talk to ranchers for info on the elk as well. So I'm going to try that when I go scouting later this month. My understanding is elk can be a nuisance to ranchers so they might be very helpful in locating some elk. I don't know if everyone knows that since I'm a greenhorn, but I'm trying to be helpful and learn this stuff as well. Good luck on your hunt!

I'm going up scouting tomorrow - sat. I will update upon my return!!!

There are a few elk in the diamonds but pretty slim. I would go during the ladder part of your hunt to try to catch them in the rut if it were me. Might be a little easier to locate them.

Justin,

Did you have any luck this year for your cow elk tag. My season starts Nov. 1. Any info would help. Thanks!