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Hoyt1cam2002
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I got my email notificatioin this morning. I drew my Elk archery tag for the roadless area. Have any of you information sharing guru's out there hunted this unit before?
Outdoordan
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You need horses. Hunted there last year, I had a buck tag archery, and my buddy had an elk tag archery. You have got to get in about 5 miles before the hunting gets good. The guy we hunted with had an elk tag and mules, his bull was 350 and some change, and my buddy shot a 320 bull. Lots of elk.
Smokepole
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Had a tag in there 6 years ago. One of the most fun hunts I ever been on. Because the elk like to bugle all night long we hardly slept. Most hunters seem to hunt fairly close to the access points, but if you can get back in 5 or 10 miles you'll have more fun and less compition from other hunters. We packed in 10 miles on mules and had the place all to ourselves.
Smokepole
Smokepole
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BlastNCast
Guest
What a great tag. I have hunted there many times and it truly is one of the most beautiful places on earth and the elk are amazing. Just like smokepole said they literally keep you up all night. Horses are a must to get in to where you can set up basecamp. Are you resident or non-resident? Congrats.
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Hoyt1cam2002
Guest
I'm a resident and we will be going in on Mules, it seems as though the entire state got socked with moisture this year except the bookcliffs, oh well I'm just tickled to finally be going.
A 350 and change is a nice bull, and if the biggest problem we run into is bulls keeping us awake with there bugeling, I'll think I died and went to heaven.
How's the deer population in the roadless area? I know it's outstanding in the bittercreek unit but I've yet to venture into the roadless area.
A 350 and change is a nice bull, and if the biggest problem we run into is bulls keeping us awake with there bugeling, I'll think I died and went to heaven.
How's the deer population in the roadless area? I know it's outstanding in the bittercreek unit but I've yet to venture into the roadless area.
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archeryelk
Guest
Just a question on the horse comments. I hunted NM last year in the wilderness and was 2-3 times farther from the road with a backpack.
I was in the Bookcliffs last year and know this could be done with a backpack. Yes, hell when/if you kill one but it can be done.
Archer
I was in the Bookcliffs last year and know this could be done with a backpack. Yes, hell when/if you kill one but it can be done.
Archer
Outdoordan
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Of course anything can be done. But, to be able to be 5-15 miles back in there with good food for fuel, a comfortable tent and sleeping bag, and a table makes a 10 day stretch much much more bearable. You end up hiking alot chasing critters around anyway. The best place we found for the elk, and yes their were elk everywhere, but one place was UNBELIEVABLE, was another 2.5 hour horseback ride from our basecamp 8 miles in. Can you imagine trying to pull an elk out of there on your back? You might as well bring a fork along, cause you could eat it faster than humping it out on your back. Why mess with it when these opportunities come along so infrequently? I mean, I have put in for 8 states and come up 0-2 so far, and am not holding my breath on the others. I bought a conservation tag last year, and it cost me big $$ (well big for me, maybe not for the guys that buy the governors tags).
As far as deer go, I think the roaded area is better for archery, as it seems like there are more, and easier to get on quickly. I shot mine in the roaded area after spending alot of time in the roadless. My .02 cents.
As far as deer go, I think the roaded area is better for archery, as it seems like there are more, and easier to get on quickly. I shot mine in the roaded area after spending alot of time in the roadless. My .02 cents.
Outdoordan
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Something to get you MORE excited.
350+
350+
Outdoordan
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I know the pictures are bad, they should have taken them in the sun. I was helping to pack up camp, and they spike camped in the middle of the Honey Hole, when both bulls were shot 15 minutes apart the morning after they got to spike camp.
320+
320+
Outdoordan
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Ok, and now for my dink. The last day we drove into the roaded area, spotted a couple of bucks 20 inch or so 4X4 and this 3X4. I put a stalk on them, and they changed positions, (I shot the wrong one). Oh well, still eats good.
Outdoordan
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Oh yea, I know about humping animals out! Not exactly the way to do it, but we got the truck fairly close. So we made a backpack out of him!
Outdoordan
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I tweeked on the pictures in photoshop to help the contrast issue.
Outdoordan
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Outdoordan
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Other views:
Outdoordan
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Ok, this is it I promise.
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Hoyt1cam2002
Guest
Thanks guys, I'm having a hard enough time sleeping at night as it is. Ha ha.
Bring on September!
Bring on September!
I drew the roaded area once with no bonus points. Camped across the road from the roadless area trailhead. I visited the roadless parking area often, and made several friends. I shot a 320 bull and the other 2 bulls I saw taken were the same size. Tines seem to be short and heavy there. When the folks with roadless tags saw my bull, they said they'd have shot him as well, given what they were seeing. I'd do as others say and get back in there as far as possible. If a guy were only going in 5 miles they may as well apply for the roaded area. It's a great hunt with many quality bulls. Pass on the 320's and hold out for a 340/350.
