Wyoming Unit 7 Elk Hunt
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Wyobowhunt
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I would check out Elk Mountain Outfitters.
wytex
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7 is a great unit if you go guided. Many big bulls on the private ranches, just be picky. Living close by we see and hear of many big bulls coming out of that area. Will not be a wilderness type hunt but elk are there in large numbers.Check their references.No wolves or grizz.
I have a friend I'm working with to find the same answer you are. he's also 1 point short of max so he's semi-screwed .
What we found on unit 7 is the hunts are high success and average quality . if you look at last years outfitter awards unit 7 did very well , with most of the outfitters in the area being members of the association. the top bulls were in the low 360's and that's Safari club . so drop it back a bit for B&C. and that's the top, so average is probably 330 though I'm just guessing. not too impressive for $8500 .
A lot of outfitters are not members so I have no idea who took the biggest bull or where.
He's narrowed it down to a couple units and outfitters. I'm staying out of it from here.
Stay Thirsty My Friends
What we found on unit 7 is the hunts are high success and average quality . if you look at last years outfitter awards unit 7 did very well , with most of the outfitters in the area being members of the association. the top bulls were in the low 360's and that's Safari club . so drop it back a bit for B&C. and that's the top, so average is probably 330 though I'm just guessing. not too impressive for $8500 .
A lot of outfitters are not members so I have no idea who took the biggest bull or where.
He's narrowed it down to a couple units and outfitters. I'm staying out of it from here.
Stay Thirsty My Friends
jm77
Long Time Member
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- 3,349
> What we found on unit
>7 is the hunts are
>high success and average quality
>. if you look
>at last years outfitter awards
>unit 7 did very well
>, with most of the
>outfitters in the area being
>members of the association.
>the top bulls were in
>the low 360's and
>that's Safari club . so
>drop it back a bit
>for B&C. and that's the
>top, so average is probably
>330 though I'm just guessing.
>not too impressive for $8500
I tend to agree with this and the Laramie Range is in my backyard. However, the boys at the Wagonhound did a good deal better than their average this year on big bulls. Looks to be a few over 350 gross B&C.
>7 is the hunts are
>high success and average quality
>. if you look
>at last years outfitter awards
>unit 7 did very well
>, with most of the
>outfitters in the area being
>members of the association.
>the top bulls were in
>the low 360's and
>that's Safari club . so
>drop it back a bit
>for B&C. and that's the
>top, so average is probably
>330 though I'm just guessing.
>not too impressive for $8500
I tend to agree with this and the Laramie Range is in my backyard. However, the boys at the Wagonhound did a good deal better than their average this year on big bulls. Looks to be a few over 350 gross B&C.
muleymaddness
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I'm in the same boat myself - 9 points and looking at unit 7. I've checked into two outfitters there. I'm also looking at the Cody units (not the super late hunts). The Cody country looks like rougher country to hunt in and seems to me like it would make for more of an adventure. I'm going guided either way due to logistics. Right now I'm leaning towards Cody area. I'm not hung up on score as long as it's a nice quality bull. I want a classic elk hunt and Cody looks good.
But unit 7 may fit the bill too. I hear lots of good things about 7.
But unit 7 may fit the bill too. I hear lots of good things about 7.
Obviously the late Cody hunts are the best tags in WY but in my opinion the earlier hunts in the NW corner are still better than most of the rest of the state. they kill some huge bulls even in the general units most years.
The experience in the NW corner of the state is hands down better than the ranch hunts, if you really want to hunt. everyone should do it at least once, I've been in 3 times and I can't wait to go back even if it takes a commissioners tag.
My friend has aa deathly fear of horses or I'd drag him there myself tie him to a horse and force him to go into the Washakie . if he didn't shoot me first he'd thank me afterwards.
Don't forget area 45. it's kind of in between the two extremes.
Stay Thirsty My Friends
The experience in the NW corner of the state is hands down better than the ranch hunts, if you really want to hunt. everyone should do it at least once, I've been in 3 times and I can't wait to go back even if it takes a commissioners tag.
My friend has aa deathly fear of horses or I'd drag him there myself tie him to a horse and force him to go into the Washakie . if he didn't shoot me first he'd thank me afterwards.
Don't forget area 45. it's kind of in between the two extremes.
Stay Thirsty My Friends
WVHUNTER
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Some of the outfitters in Area 7 are Turkey Track, Elk Mountain, Triple Creek Hunts(Posts on here as ICMDEER) and Wagonhound.
Wagonhound has the most property and is the most expensive and probably has more hunters.
I have hunted Elk with Elk Mountain and hunted antelope with Triple Creek so if you want to PM me I have a little info on both.
I agree with some of the others that a 350 bull in Area 7 is the exception not the norm. Some of the outfitters will tell you a 320-330 is a reasonable expectation. But if you look at photos on the outfitters web pages you will see a lot of 300 class bulls.
Wagonhound has the most property and is the most expensive and probably has more hunters.
I have hunted Elk with Elk Mountain and hunted antelope with Triple Creek so if you want to PM me I have a little info on both.
I agree with some of the others that a 350 bull in Area 7 is the exception not the norm. Some of the outfitters will tell you a 320-330 is a reasonable expectation. But if you look at photos on the outfitters web pages you will see a lot of 300 class bulls.
ICMDEER
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Mostly good thoughts and suggestions here. I've been outfitting in SE Wyo for 30 years now and have watched the elk in area 7 for longer than that. It is still a good area by Wyoming standards. The public lands get pounded so if you hunt there, please be in shape and know where you want to go, which will be in tough country as far as you can get from other hunters.
We only took 2 hunters in 7 in 2016. One got a 350 and the other had multiple chances at 350 bulls. He ended up with a respectable 6X6 but I didn't score him; maybe 310.
But area 7 peaked about 15-20 years ago. With 1500 bull licenses and people that often wait 5-10 years (residents and nonresidents) most people are real serious about hunting hard an getting a good bull. The quality is not what it once was due to all that pressure.
Our 2017 rifle hunts in area 7 are full. We (and other outfitters) take hunters in other areas. I hunt three other areas that I feel are increasing in quality. In fact, I apply in another area now because I think it's got better quality. Shooting 3,000-4,000 elk in one area over a 5 month season as is done in area 7 is hard on the critters.
I shot a cow on Dec 31 and there were at least 3 cows killed out of that group that day. I saw at least 6 hunters chasing that bunch and whacking elk. And on three different landowner situations.
I respect your dilemma. I'll be glad to try to help even if you don't want to hunt with us. I've done that for years and will continue to do it. I don't know much about the Cody area, but am pretty familiar with all of SE Wyoming and much of NE WY.
Best of luck to you guys and hope you get the bulls you have wanted and waited for.
We only took 2 hunters in 7 in 2016. One got a 350 and the other had multiple chances at 350 bulls. He ended up with a respectable 6X6 but I didn't score him; maybe 310.
But area 7 peaked about 15-20 years ago. With 1500 bull licenses and people that often wait 5-10 years (residents and nonresidents) most people are real serious about hunting hard an getting a good bull. The quality is not what it once was due to all that pressure.
Our 2017 rifle hunts in area 7 are full. We (and other outfitters) take hunters in other areas. I hunt three other areas that I feel are increasing in quality. In fact, I apply in another area now because I think it's got better quality. Shooting 3,000-4,000 elk in one area over a 5 month season as is done in area 7 is hard on the critters.
I shot a cow on Dec 31 and there were at least 3 cows killed out of that group that day. I saw at least 6 hunters chasing that bunch and whacking elk. And on three different landowner situations.
I respect your dilemma. I'll be glad to try to help even if you don't want to hunt with us. I've done that for years and will continue to do it. I don't know much about the Cody area, but am pretty familiar with all of SE Wyoming and much of NE WY.
Best of luck to you guys and hope you get the bulls you have wanted and waited for.
jm77
Long Time Member
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- 3,349
> Perplexes me how 7
>has not been made a
>general unit when 6 was.Too
>many tags but too many
>elk from what landowners say
> I know.
Anyone who's been around long enough knows they tried area 7 as a general license and it didn't work out as expected.
" Shooting 3,000-4,000 elk in one area over a 5 month season as is done in area 7 is hard on the critters."
Actually, the harvest in 7 is closer to 2,200 a year, but that's still a lot of elk.
>has not been made a
>general unit when 6 was.Too
>many tags but too many
>elk from what landowners say
> I know.
Anyone who's been around long enough knows they tried area 7 as a general license and it didn't work out as expected.
" Shooting 3,000-4,000 elk in one area over a 5 month season as is done in area 7 is hard on the critters."
Actually, the harvest in 7 is closer to 2,200 a year, but that's still a lot of elk.
wytex
Very Active Member
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Been here 28 years and never had a general tag in that time for 7, not sure when that was, care to enlighten me? Landowners do not want general tag from what I hear, landowners I know, but my contacts are not vast for that area. ICMDEER when was it a general tag?
jm77
Long Time Member
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>Been here 28 years and never
>had a general tag in
>that time for 7, not
>sure when that was, care
>to enlighten me? Landowners do
>not want general tag from
>what I hear, landowners I
>know, but my contacts are
>not vast for that area.
>ICMDEER when was it a
>general tag?
Like I said, if you had been here long enough you would have known Tex and I doubt Freeburn has been either.
>had a general tag in
>that time for 7, not
>sure when that was, care
>to enlighten me? Landowners do
>not want general tag from
>what I hear, landowners I
>know, but my contacts are
>not vast for that area.
>ICMDEER when was it a
>general tag?
Like I said, if you had been here long enough you would have known Tex and I doubt Freeburn has been either.
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