>I will see what works for
>my schedule. I know
>they still get some big
>deer there, just not the
>numbers they used to.
>Are there any quides for
>that area? Is there
>any private land to pay
>an access fee that may
>hold a few more deer?
> Thanks.
>
>Louie
Louie
Yes, there is private land but I'm not sure of the ownership and accessibility. There are a couple of big places up Montpelier Canyon/Crow Creek that are just gorgeous. You just KNOW there are some good bucks (and bulls) that find refuge there. In the bigger picture, these parcels of private ground are actually a good thing for the herd.
I understand from some local elk hunters that there's another big ranch also right on the border (don't know which side - Idaho or Wyoming - or if it straddles BOTH sides of the border) where a good number of the elk in the Diamond Creek unit head to and stay put once the mass of archery hunters converges on the unit.
An ugly divorce put a beautiful ranch where we used to hunt into the hands of the crazy wife of a ranch owner I know. She immediately sold it, and the new owner immediately sold it (to some easterner) for twice the amount he paid. Its now adorned by expensive rigs and loud mouth, overweight ATV riding "hunters" during October. Again, maybe its "good for the herd." I dunno. What I *do* know is that its now out of reach to us commoners.
Other local landowners have been quite good about letting hunters onto their property. Just ask around, find the owners and introduce yourself, show up w/ some fresh corn, peaches, tomatoes - or some baked goods. Stay in contact and send something for Christmas. At least this has been the formula that has worked for us. Even though we most likely won't be on any private ground this year, we'll still stop in and drop off something and say "hi" to a couple of local landowners. Nurture those hunter/rancher relations.
In the end, we are fortunate that there is still plenty of public land and access. That's where we go now. We just use our feet to get a little further off the beaten path. Deer or no deer - you can't put a price tag on the memories w/ hunting buddies or dad, brother, or son.
Neil