Wyoming elk help ?

hunter · Dec 7, 2011

I know I am not the only one looking for some help, But I really have no idea witch elk area in Wyoming to choose? I have never taken an elk before, so size would be less important than opportunity but hopefully something 280? or better. I usually hunt from my trailer and plan on taking my 7 and 10 year old boys with me to enjoy the hunt. I hope that I can find a unit that this might be a possibility.
I was looking at unit 111 and 100(I know the odds are terrible) and maybe 31 or 32. Hope fully a unit with little pressure, if that exists! Any ideas ???
If anyone is willing to help, thanks in advance.
PM me if that's better for you.

PleaseDear · Dec 7, 2011

Of course those units would give you a better chance to draw if you are in the max point pool for elk......as I am sure you know.

Maybe 'TOPGUN' or 'WapitiBob' can chime is as they have all this odds and such down pretty dang pat.

I have fairly decent knowledge of 31/32 but 'nontypical' has those units as his backyard type deal.

I will toss you a PM with another unit or two you maybe interested in with a 7 and 10 year old sharing your experience with Dad.

Robb

TOPGUN · Dec 8, 2011

How many PPs do you have and how many days can you spend hunting since you want to take school age kids with you? My suggestion would be to forget about the 280" comment and think smaller. A 280" is doable in a lot of areas, but if you have never even killed an elk I would suggest thinking smaller or maybe even a cow hunt to take the kids on. There are plenty of areas where you have a decent chance at a smaller bull with a general tag and there is always the chance you might run into a bigger one. If you don't have any PPs and want to take the kids in 2012, I would buy a PP and a cow tag and take them on that hunt to get their feet wet. The areas I'm familiar with take 3 or 4 PPs to draw.

mntman · Dec 8, 2011

+1 on the 280. When I take people out that have never shot an elk, I say forget rack or score, just shoot one. That in itself is a trophy. Shoot a couple elk on general hunts (save your points) gain experience/knowledge. Then once you know what a "280" bull will look like then use your points and hunt for a bigger bull. Putting expectations/goals on yourself like that right out of the chute is hard. enjoy the hunt and have a good time.

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"

nontypical · Dec 8, 2011

You can pretty much forget about 30,31,32 or 100 unless you have max pts.

bonepicker · Dec 8, 2011

Good advice mtnman. Get your first elk under your belt and then worry about score. Elk are smart creatures and can be very challenging to hunt, to get any elk is an accomplishment to be proud of.

mmwb · Dec 8, 2011

I agree with the recommendations on a general hunt. Not only will the boys, but you also will be impressed with a cow on the ground. Until you walk up to one, you really don't appreciate how big they are.

WapitiBob · Dec 8, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Dec-08-11 AT 01:58PM (MST)[p]
I can't help with an individual unit as I'm going thru the process myself.
If you want to be assured of hunting in 2012:
A Special GEN tag will cost you $1000 unless you have points and I would strongly encourage you to keep building points rather than burn them.
You can draw two (2) Cow tags (type 4 and type 6) and still keep your points for $900 or, draw one type 4 Cow for $600, or draw one type 6 Cow for $300.

Personally, I would draw a Cow tag in a unit that I wanted to Bull hunt "in the future", learning the unit as you whack Cows and build points. When the stars align, you'll be going in as a seasoned veteran, in a unit you know well. NOTHING trumps that knowledge.

Be VERY mindful of the hunts that are on the application, and whether they are 1st or 2nd choice, to avoid burning points unintentionally.

hunter · Dec 8, 2011

Hey guys, thanks for the input. I agree with alot of what you have all said. When I said a 280"+ bull, that is what I would love to take. That is alot diffrent that what I would be happy happy with, any decent 5 or 6 point would be in trouble givin the chance. I have max points. I would try for a 5 or 6 point in any unit I can draw, so I hate to keep buying $50.00 points. I drew a moose tag last year in Wyoming and took my kids out of school for a full week and it worked out awsome.
They were not with me when I took the moose but it was in a great spot and my wife and boys were in the pictures and they turned out great. I would take them out for a full week,
(with there home work) to go on this hunt if can get a tag.
So I am hopeing for a unit with good numbers of elk and a good success ratio. I always look to see what the Huntin Fool and the Eastmans have to say, But is hard to beat what guy like you with first hand experiance have to say. Thanks

Pleasedear, your PM did not come through, send it again if you will.

PleaseDear · Dec 8, 2011

I did again---

Reads like you have gotten quite a bit of idea's and options.

Plus with your moose harvest and packout with the family there----this certainly isn't your first Rodeo hunting big bodied animals! ha

Not sure where you are traveling from but with most any LQ tag you can bow hunt most of September (for $30 more after ya draw).

That would be exciting for the 7 and 10 year old to see and hear.

Robb

TOPGUN · Dec 9, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Dec-09-11 AT 07:19AM (MST)[p]If you have max points, then I would suggest putting in for any of the units in the BigHorn Mountains that are almost all National Forest where you can hunt without a guide. If you bow hunt and draw the tag, then buy the $30 archery permit and go out the first week of September to have fun and scout before the kids even start school, assuming they don't start until after Labor Day like ours here in MI. Then get serious the following week because usually the bulls are really sounding off there by the second week of September and chances of calling one in are much better than waiting until later in the season. The weather is also a lot more conducive to a family hunt out there then and the kids will remember the scenery alone for the rest of their lives. If you don't bow hunt and have to wait for the rifle season, IMHO it's a lot tougher hunting even though you can shoot a lot further than with a bow and the weather is a lot more "iffy" in October. Doing a bow hunt would definitely be the way I would go to get the most from your PP money, have a fun time with a good chance to see and hear bulls, and just for the plain enjoyment that time of the year with the family.

phantom · Dec 12, 2011

WapitiBob you mentioned something I did not know. Is there a way to apply for a limited entry bull and draw a general bull and still keep my points. Would special money land me with a general tag if listed as my second or third option? Does WY have a system like CO has is what I am getting at?
Thanks,
Phantom

WapitiBob · Dec 13, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Dec-13-11 AT 11:55AM (MST)[p]Special draw, list unit 7 or similar as 1st choice and GEN as 2nd. You might draw the 1st but you will have better odds on Powerball. You should get the GEN tag but, each year there are fewer of them left over because Eastmans, Huntin Fool, and well, guys like me post this stuff.

You will need to be in the special draw, $1000 for the tag.

TOPGUN · Dec 13, 2011

What WB said! This came up last year on draw questions and I goofed and had to retract my erroneous statement when WB and BuzzH set me straight on that being a pretty sure way of getting the general tag and keeping your PPs, at least the way the draw has been going lately.