Big Horn Mountains

I hunted there a few years. Mostley the upper western slop. The Bighorns are some of the most rugged mounains I have ever hunted. Not much flat ground anywhere you go. The north eastern part is even more rugged. The areas accessable by 4 wheelers are flocked with hunters. I have not hunted the southern Bighorns, its some nice country. Plenty of elk get killed there every year, not many giants. I would not rifle hunt there again, I think there are better places. I only speak of rifle season. If you do hunt the Bighorns you better be in shape and really consider horses.

WB
 
WB, I've been talking to a outfitter that hunts around shell in area 42. He does have horses, said that Elk population is growing. This would be my first time hunting Elk.I would like to see some descent size ones. What's your thoughts on places to go. Thanks Bob
 
I hunted area 40 without horses, the first year it was very warm. Didn't see any. The second year there was a good snow and I seen a HUGE herd (200+ head) get spooked opening morning and run right through a firing line of camps and roads. Shoots rang out for 45 mins with many decent bulls getting mowed down. I was to far away and ran across a huge meadow hoping to get a shot. Later in the hunt I could of taken a cow but passed hoping for a bull. I was disappointed in the area because there where so many hunters, mostly hunters from MN and WI and other then that one snow it was always very warm, again I didn't have horses. I lived in Sheridan at the time and most of the locals prefer area 38, but I had a neighbor who kept telling my how great 40 was and he knew where to go. I do not know about area 42 from looking at the map it looks like a high elevation area with much of it in the wilderness. If your guied knows the country and the weather treats you good I would say your odds of getting a 6pt 290+ bull is good and always a chance for a 350. What is the name of your outfitter and why do you want to hunt this area? I don't want to turn you away from it, the Bighorns are so nasty in places I'm sure there are elk that die of old age and have never seen a human. Horses are a must for that country and if you walk that far bring your repeling gear and I wouldn't take a gun!

WB
 
Diamond Tail operated by the Flitner's. Why,thought it was a area I could get in. Had no idea they are so rugged! He did say they have some 1000ft canyons to get in. No need for a gun, no need to go! I've got Elk fever bad. Bob
 
WB
I have rifle hunted for muleys North and East of Burgess Jct. and you are right about the number of hunters. I am considering applying for an archery elk hunt for either 37 or 38. Can you tell me what to expect as far as hunter numbers? I love the Big Horns but it seems like they are crawling with hunters and ATVs during the rifle season. I would really appreciate any tips on which of these units would be better for archery elk or deer for someone hunting on foot(I am willing to work for an elk).
Thanks
260rem
 
I spent a great deal of time in 38 this past fall and the roads were crawling with hunters during the archery season. I'm not sure if it was all the pressure or what, but about 1/4 way through the archery season I hardly heard an elk bugle in the unit and the elk seemed to all of a sudden disappear. The elk disappeared into the steep, remote canyons were it was tough finding them.

As far as deer goes there were quite a few forked horn bucks and dink 3x's. I only saw one buck that was about 160 class. I saw a couple larger than that earlier in the summer prior hunting season.

I wouldn't go into a deer hunt expecting anything over 160 and if you hunt elk hard and are willing to hike into the remote stuff you may have success.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-07-05 AT 08:27PM (MST)[p] Hunted the Big Horns for Deer this last fall. It was great for Elk. We seen Elk every day and some dandy's. I seen one that would easy go 375. And most were near Burgus juc. Within a mile in fact. We also seen Elk just out of town from Buffalo.
Wish I would have had an elk tag. Seems like everyone we talked to were hunting elk and hadn't seen any. And we were hunting Deer and hadn't seen a buck worthy of the wall. We could have taken several 3x3 and a couple lesser 4x4. Go to wyomingoutdoorsradio.com and check out the bull some woman shot whith her bow up in the big horns this past fall.. It is a monster. OH yeah we were going through the check station on the south end of the unit and two bulls came out of there that were also monsters. I couldn't believe it.
Rut
 
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