Mount Grafton scouting trip

Sergio4195

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Drove to Mt grafton today with my dad to scout for his cow elk tag since we both have never been there. We got there around 7am and we left around 3pm and we didnt see any elk or mule deer which really bummed us out. Only saw 2 antelope bucks which we werent really expecting.

Anybody know why we didnt see anything for such a popular unit? The temperature was in the 80's and we hiked halfway up the mountain my guess is the animals are really high up on the mountain? Anyways we saw alot of tracks and feces so thats a plus!
 
Mt. Grafton & Mt. Grafton Wilderness are huge areas, covering lots of rugged country, and no easy access. A lot of catching sightings of animals depends on time of year. I have a video I took within 1 mile of Geyser Ranch/North Creek Road of a bunch of elk with close to 70 animals in March several springs ago. There is also a resident herd that roams from Mt. Grafton across Geyser Ranch to Guzzlers in the Fortification Range that has 200+ animals in it. On a nieces elk hunt in Nov. several years ago, at three in the afternoon, there was a bull w/22 cows just inside the fence close to the Ranch HQ...wrong Area and on private ground. Good luck on your hunt, hope you locate some animals in your endeavors!
 
I hunted it with a friend 10 years ago in November. Both the bucks and bulls were at the top and you only see them in the early morning and late evening. In November they've already had a lot of pressure and do not like to show themselves. In August I'm guessing that they are shaded up trying to stay cool. Your only going to see them again in the early morning and late evening. Fatrooster.
 
What side did you go in on? I packed into Grafton this passed weekend to scout for deer. Spent two full days on the mountain and couldn't get away from the elk. Saw about 50-60 elk and only 6 deer.
 
I definitely would not hunt Grafton for deer. Too much work for so little available. Grafton is nearly all Elk now. By December, you wont see a deer up there.
 
They were out more in the evening I would say but I saw plenty during the morning as well. Not sure how much your willing to work for a cow. I went in on the west side. Bulls were way high. Cows a little lower. PM me if you want some more info.
 
In this heat you need to be there at daylight/dusk. Full moon was last week which doesn't help either. Commit to one or the other and you will be fine.
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-07-16 AT 01:29PM (MST)[p]All the guides glass it daily and are done by 7:30 this time of year.

Drive the hi way in the area you were in paying attention to where others are glassing from. That'll tell you where the pros are seeing elk.

I scouted Aug and Sept the year I had a tag and had no problems seeing elk.
 

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