DonVathome
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I wanted to share my experience since I will never be back.
In 2018 with only 8 points I drew desert sheep and this year deer and elk. Very very very lucky.
I hunted the 2nd rifle season in NV units 72, 73 & 74. I spent the fits few days looking every where for elk but besides 3 bulls I saw in the trees driving saw no elk. No fresh sign. I did not hear elk, smell elk - nothing. I was glassing hard and giving 100%. I glassed for miles and nothing. Not only that but I heard no gunshots. Other hunters I saw glassing - often from miles away - on the other side of a drainage, never left there vehicle to hunt.
I decided to hike as far into the jarbridge as I could each day. Note I found old elk sign all over and evidence of kills from the 1st rifle season. However the elk were clearly over 2 miles from any roads/access (or more).
Once I got over 2 miles in I found elk easily. In the first day I came close to getting a 315ish bull twice. While taking a break I did the math if I scored. Ignoring butchering, breaks meals etc. it would take a solid 18 hours of hiking to get a bull out. That is if I could and everything went smooth and only 2 trips. In was all uphill with the last mile straight up in step terrain with no trials.
That evening I found a smaller bull a mile closer an over 1000 feet lower in elevation. I took him with no regrets. It still took 12 hours solid work to get him out. 2 heavy loads 6 hours round trip each.
I found an amazing amount of bull sign up high. Rubs, droppings, beds etc. Old and new. Clearly there are a lot of bulls. My guess is archery is amazing - bull to cow ration is nuts so calling should be a breeze.
However diy is not possible. I never thought I would say this. To far and to rough. That said I suspect all hunts before had bulls lower and closer to access.
I would highly recommend this tag and the jarbridge wilderness - but a packer is a must.
I cannot stress that enough.
Solo and phone/camera did not work in the cold. so only snapped a couple quick pics before butchering. Took at 75 yards with a .280.
In 2018 with only 8 points I drew desert sheep and this year deer and elk. Very very very lucky.
I hunted the 2nd rifle season in NV units 72, 73 & 74. I spent the fits few days looking every where for elk but besides 3 bulls I saw in the trees driving saw no elk. No fresh sign. I did not hear elk, smell elk - nothing. I was glassing hard and giving 100%. I glassed for miles and nothing. Not only that but I heard no gunshots. Other hunters I saw glassing - often from miles away - on the other side of a drainage, never left there vehicle to hunt.
I decided to hike as far into the jarbridge as I could each day. Note I found old elk sign all over and evidence of kills from the 1st rifle season. However the elk were clearly over 2 miles from any roads/access (or more).
Once I got over 2 miles in I found elk easily. In the first day I came close to getting a 315ish bull twice. While taking a break I did the math if I scored. Ignoring butchering, breaks meals etc. it would take a solid 18 hours of hiking to get a bull out. That is if I could and everything went smooth and only 2 trips. In was all uphill with the last mile straight up in step terrain with no trials.
That evening I found a smaller bull a mile closer an over 1000 feet lower in elevation. I took him with no regrets. It still took 12 hours solid work to get him out. 2 heavy loads 6 hours round trip each.
I found an amazing amount of bull sign up high. Rubs, droppings, beds etc. Old and new. Clearly there are a lot of bulls. My guess is archery is amazing - bull to cow ration is nuts so calling should be a breeze.
However diy is not possible. I never thought I would say this. To far and to rough. That said I suspect all hunts before had bulls lower and closer to access.
I would highly recommend this tag and the jarbridge wilderness - but a packer is a must.
I cannot stress that enough.
Solo and phone/camera did not work in the cold. so only snapped a couple quick pics before butchering. Took at 75 yards with a .280.
