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mnelkhunter · May 17, 2017

Hello all-
This is my first post on this site, so bear with my naivety and excitement to learn more. I am a life-long whitetail deer hunter from Minnesota. Only recently, myself and brothers have had the opportunity to start hunting in the western states. We started hunting in Northern Minnesota when we were about 12 yrs old. Sitting in a treestand, usually cold as hell, was the norm on the first weekend in November, but as many know, it was a right of passage. As I grew older and appreciated the intrigue of hunting, I thought, "there has to be more to big game hunting than this!" That is when I became interested in looking at different states in the west. As a "flat-lander", I know it will be hard to get acclimated to this landscape. Well, little did I know, how hard it would be. Finding yourself out of breath heading up the mountain is the constant that you have to deal with.
We have been trying our luck at different state big game application draws, and finally hit paydirt! When the results were revealed for Wyoming, me and my two brothers drew elk tags! Another adventure awaits! I have been to Colorado the past two seasons, one for elk, one for deer, and can't wait for the fall. I don't even know where to start when explaining how different this type of hunting is compared to the midwest. The mountains humble you. And the difference in chasing bull elk compared to a whitetail buck. I just want to make sure I give it my very best effort. Thanks for listening and reading my intro post. In my mind, I believe that it is not all about the harvest, but how you get there. Maybe not the most exciting, but I look forward to the chance to post "pics" here sometime.

Millsworks · May 17, 2017

Welcome.
I haven't been a member long but have lots hunting and shooting experience.
I will be in Wy. this fall also on a elk hunt.
Have two friends trying for muley tags ,I hope to add a deer tag to my pocket also.
I'll be in northwestern part of the state.
What tag did you draw and are you in the draw for a deer as well?

mulecreek · May 17, 2017

Welcome!

I have had college friends from Michigan and Missouri out to join me a few times for elk and deer. They seem to leave with very similar thoughts to yours. Good luck this fall. What unit did you draw?

mnelkhunter · May 17, 2017

Thanks for the welcome! One thing that is too bad is, being so far from "home", it is difficult to learn about new areas w/o actually setting foot on the ground. We have hunted in the same areas in Mn. for 15-20 yrs! I know others here will tell me to buy maps, go on google earth, talk with game biologists and other ways to find and explore the unit. It seems that every spring, you roll the dice and hope for the best. Some how we were lucky enough to draw elk in 22! I am just thankful that me and my brothers will be able to hunt this fall again in the west. I am planning on making the most of it!

TOPGUN · May 17, 2017

Lucky to draw 22---I guess so if you actually drew it! The stats show that no tags were issued in the Random Draw and only two were issued in each of the PP Draws with both taking the max of 11 PPs and the % was 3.92% in the Regular and 16.67% in the Special Draw to draw those 4 tags.

WiscoKid · May 17, 2017

I actually just came back to say that same thing... Thats an 18% chance tag with 10pp in the regular draw. Seems interesting or incredibly lucky

grosventrehunter · May 17, 2017

If you drew 22 you have a great elk hunt in your future. Good luck!!

Millsworks · May 17, 2017

Congrats on the draw!
I have drooled over that unit for years. But have never had more than four points, so ain't happening for me.
I hope you realize just what kinda tags you have there. You guys are in for a hunt of a lifetime.
Shouldn't be any trouble seeing bulls in the 330 range and they do take elk over 350 on regular basis,but I wouldn't pass on any bull close to 330 class. Stats have an average success rate on bull elk at over 70% through the past four years. Hard to beat that. If that wasn't enough, the bull to cow ratio is around 59 bulls to 100 cows and the herd numbers are way over objective.
And 90% public land with no designated wilderness makes it hard to not find a place to hunt.

If even half of the good things I've heard are true then the area you have to hunt has mild terrain, easy access, and lots of big bull elk.
I think I might be a little jealous, maybe just a little.
Keep the wind in your face and hike in the day before the opener to make spike camp. You might want to bring plenty of help or at least have them on speed dial, cause you all might tag out on a bull on the first day.
Elk here are concentrated so seeing one then turns to four or more when you start looking.
Suggest an Easterly entrence to the unit. Let the other hunters scent and noise push elk to you as you wait before daylight in a good observation point ,rifle ready.

Good luck to all in your party and happy hunting!

DW · May 17, 2017

Why would a guy come on the forum with an opening post like his and lie about the tag he drew? Fer f's sake.

Welcome to the forum from an old Minnesota squarehead! I miss watching the oak woods come alive from high in a tree. Good luck in Wyoming!

Millsworks · May 17, 2017

I think a few might be thinking life is not fair. Maybe daddy didn't love them enough.
Ha,ha, just kidding. But really guys I don't think we have to be so anal.
Party draws do mess with the numbers and that area has had a tag increase also.
Good thing that unit really doesn't need local help or all knowing knowledge to be successful.

If you can't kill a bull there, then you SUCK.
Or maybe your just a bad shot, or worse, you are to picky!

TOPGUN · May 17, 2017

LAST EDITED ON May-17-17 AT 08:29PM (MST)[p]>Why would a guy come on
>the forum with an opening
>post like his and lie
>about the tag he drew?
>Fer f's sake.
>
>Welcome to the forum from an
>old Minnesota squarehead! I miss
>watching the oak woods come
>alive from high in a
>tree. Good luck in Wyoming!
>

Good question! All I can say is that if their party of 3 got 3 of the 4 tags that were issued in the only draws that had tags for unit 22 they had better all start buying as many power ball tickets as they can afford because the odds of both are phenomenal!

WiscoKid · May 17, 2017

I didn't mean any disrespect by it, it just sounded too good to be true once I looked at the unit and the draw odds floored me lol. Good luck to all, should be the hunt of a lifetime!

Millsworks · May 17, 2017

Remember the system See's a party as (1). So if three tags were givin out per the quota, it is possible that all three were groups of two to six people. That happened in the unit I drew also.
Only two tag quota but each was a party of two. So now four tags have been issued ,etc.

TOPGUN · May 17, 2017

>Remember the system See's a party
>as (1). So if three
>tags were givin out per
>the quota, it is possible
>that all three were groups
>of two to six people.
>That happened in the unit
>I drew also.
>Only two tag quota but each
>was a party of two.
>So now four tags have
>been issued ,etc.

The quota for each PP Draw was two (2) and only two (2) tags were issued in each of the draws, so what you mentioned didn't happen in this case if all three drew.

ce61 · May 17, 2017

My buddy and I drew the regular unit 22 type 1 tag with Max points. Did you draw a type 1 also or a type 7 cow tag?? Good luck hunting and maybe I will see you out there. Ce61

jm77 · May 17, 2017

It would have had to been the 22-6, no other explanation.

WapitiBob · May 17, 2017

LAST EDITED ON May-17-17 AT 09:29PM (MST)[p]The system does not see a party as "one".
As a practical matter, because all in the party have the same random number, they all get drawn, but the "system" sees all of them individually. Which is why the 1st choice app total for a hunt will always be equal to, or greater than, the issued.
The Demand Report shows all tags issued for a hunt. If the quota is 1 tag, and a party of 6 draw, the issued will show 6. If the party of 6 are the only applicants for that hunt, the report will show 6 1st choice apps as well.

Millsworks · May 17, 2017

Guess he never said what type tag they drew ? ha, ha, ha.
Good luck to them all the same!

TOPGUN · May 17, 2017

>It would have had to been
>the 22-6, no other explanation.

That has to be what they drew since there were 10 first choice applicants for the 4 tags in that cow draw and our other member says he and his buddy drew the two Regular Type 1 tags. I hope the OP knows what they put in for and that none of them can shoot a bull! If he doesn't, I hope he comes back on this thread and finds out what they can and can't hunt in 22.