Unit 38 Elk Tag

FrogLips · Mar 25, 2017

I'd like to hear some of your thoughts on the unit 38 rifle elk tag. A buddy and I are planning to hunt in 2018 and are considering using Beaver Trap Outfitters in unit 38. I'll have 6 points going into next year?s draw and my buddy will have 5 points?so we'll probably end up doing the special tag to play it safe. We?re from the east coast, so scouting beforehand will not be an option. The type of hunt doesn't matter too much; we've done drop camps and horseback hunts in the past. We just don't want to be standing within site of the vehicle when/if we shoot. Antler size does make a difference for us; we're looking for 300-330 class. We don't want to spend much more than $5k/each on an outfitter.

My question to you: Is there another unit that you would recommend over unit 38 for the amount of points we have and what we're looking for? Unit 6 is another area we were looking into, but we couldn't find an outfitter there that we liked as much as Beaver Trap.

I appreciate any input you have.

tracker12 · Mar 25, 2017

I hunted with Ross last year on an archery tag. Was great hunt and good people to hunt with. Not sure how the gun hunt is but the archery was awesome.

FrogLips · Mar 29, 2017

Thanks for the reply. Ross seems to have a great reputation. From what I can find, it seems like unit 38 is much better for an archery hunt than a rifle hunt. I found a lot of information on the unit, but not much about the rifle season there.

junior · Mar 29, 2017

I remember reading the elk migrate out of that unit before the rifle hunt on some years. If your going outfitter, start looking at some general unit outfitters. You won't need many points at all.

ClearCreek · Mar 29, 2017

>I remember reading the elk migrate
>out of that unit before
>the rifle hunt on some
>years. If your going outfitter,
>start looking at some general
>unit outfitters. You won't need
>many points at all.

junior:
Not sure where you read that but, there are plenty of bulls in the area during the rifle hunt.

I have seen the photos.

ClearCreek

junior · Mar 29, 2017

Thanks for the info.

I have read that several times on different forums. If the snow flies early your screwed. Here's a post from a simple search on this forum

Elkhunter96, Units 38 and 39 are migratory units where the archery season holds good populations of elk but rifle can be hit and miss depending on when the snow comes.

junior · Mar 29, 2017

Hell, it was just a couple years ago when the archery hunters got dumped on with snow. Some of there camps/ vehicles were there for weeks! Not sure about elk but that would dam sure migrate my ass!

jodog · Apr 1, 2017

When the sun comes up on opening morning -elk rifle- 38 has more traffic than an interstate highway on Monday morning !! I had that tag in 2012 and it was the most crowded unit I have ever hunted between the elk, deer and lion hunters. Roads and trails everywhere. I think bow would be good but rifle in 38 was way to crowded for me. Pickups, ATV's, Horses, hunters hiking......If you do go I think Bear Trap is the right choice.

mmwb · Apr 1, 2017

If you've a hankering to hunt the first couple of days, then look at the terrain and watch for funnels that he animals may be using, moving around with all the pressure. You can also look to the steep, thick nasty stuff.

I never hunted that area, but did hunt 45 to the south. There were a lot of people the first few days, but not as many off the roads very far.

If I can't hunt both, then I will always lean to the end of the season. You won't see many hunters and the elk are settled a bit more. As has been said above, the weather can hammer you, though I found I was hunting in a lot more snow, in the Bighorns, during the bow hunt, than the rifle hunt.

FrogLips · Apr 2, 2017

Thank you for the replies. The possibility of snow is a concern for us mainly because I hear they shut down some of the roads in the area. The biggest concern we have is other hunters. I think we'll look for private access in a unit 6, 34 or 122.

jodog · Apr 2, 2017

In 2012 it snowed on the west side of 38 about 14 inches and I don't remember any roads being shut down... chain up and go. It did move the elk east and the hunters. 38 is a beautiful place and there are elk in there but also a lot of people. I didn't kill an elk that year because I was looking for a 325 and up and never saw one. I could have shot a couple small bulls but chose not to.