Which Unit for 2009--ELK?

I'm starting to plan for next year. If you had 8 preference points and wanted a great chance at a good bull, which units would you look at? I can do bow, muzz or rifle.

RES. OR NR.....IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE......YD.

Non-res

Hey guys...how about a little help here...let's say rifle bull elk next year non-res with 8 points...what units would you recommend? Thanks in advance

First let me say congrats on 8 points. You are kind of
in no mans land IMHO. You have too many points to waste on
the 3-6 point units and not enough for the upper end units.
If it were me I'd wait a few more years and draw a 1st season
tag in 76, but if you can't wait then apply for a 3ed season
tag in 76 and scout for 3 or 4 days prior to the third season
and if you can't locate a bull that you feel is big enough to
burn your points on then turn your tag in and take the 500
hit but keep your points. I wish I had your points, I burned
mine last October in 49 and I'm back to square one. Good
Luck with whatever unit you chose. Later Baker

You will waist your 8 points if you apply for a unit next year ,keep buying points unti you can draw a true trophy area and buy an OTC or leftover if you want to hunt next year.

LAST EDITED ON Nov-22-08 AT 02:55PM (MST)[p] Why would you waste your points by applying
next year ?

LAST EDITED ON Nov-22-08 AT 07:19PM (MST)[p]What I ment was ,you would use 8 Pref Points and draw an area that others would draw with 3-6 points,kind of a waste of the extra points that was earned .With 8 points I would continue to save my points untill I had enough to draw a trophy area and if I wanted hunt next year I would go for OTC or leftover license. But that is just my thoughts.I never have had 8 points ,so 3-4 points got me the hunts that I wanted.Tough to save points for 8 years ,good luck with your decision.

I get it now. I think we are saying the same thing.
That's what I ment by saying he is in no mans land.
I agree, I'd save a few more points and go with a
top of the line unit. Like 76 IMHO. Good Luck with your
Choice Splitear.

As a nonres, there are painfully few units that take right at 8 points. Even 6,7, and 9 point units are few and far between for nonresidents. I'd take a look at the few units that take about as many points as you have. Look at the quota for the area to see how many tags are given out. After all, you saved this many points so you didn't have to compete as much with the human factor. Then I'd take a look at the public land available to hunt. Most units in this category have plenty. Then I'd take a look at how big the elk population is in those areas, bull:cow, and harvest stats. Put in a call to the area biologist to get a few more details. Ask about access points, areas to concentrate on, areas to avoid, size of bulls, etc...If you wait a few more years, there will be some more, although few, units that take 10-12 points. Take a look at those hunts as well. You might decide that those few extra points might buy you a bit more.

Thanks Guys for your advice. It makes sense to grow the points a couple more years and try for a true trophy hunt. I didn't see anything in 49 3rd season that would make me want to burn them there.

Take care

The best place to start is here:

http://huntodds.monstermuleys.com/

Beyond that, you are pretty much on your own. I don't mean that in a disrespectful way, only that it is unreasonable for you to come on a website for the first time and expect people to give up info that they have researched years for.

Do you really expect people who don't know you to tell you to "apply for unit XYZ because there are big elk behind every tree" on an open forum? Not really reasonable to expect. If for example I was in the same place as you points wise, would I tell someone I didn't know which were the best units according to my research, and thereby lower my odds since more people would then apply for that unit? Not likely.

Granted, this is a great website with loads of knowlegable people who have the info you seek. But they are not very likely to give it to someone who is making their first post, why would they?

Believe me, I am not trying to diss you or your post, but hopefully trying to help those that want to find this kind of info. Dive into the water and stay awhile, you will learn some things around this website and in the process, you will develop some friendships that will provide you with the kind of info you seek. If you are not at least willing to do that, I am not inclined to give you what little info I know.

If you would at least show that you have done some research and haven't just collected points and now just want someone to tell you where the big ones are, that would be a start. People who post: " I have been thinking about the units A, B and C" at least usually get someone to tell them about those units. But to ask an open ended question: "Tell me where to apply for" doesn't usually get much response.

Hope this makes some sense. Good luck.



txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

Oh, and by the way, watch out for misdirection and missinformation too! That happens often.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

I agree 100%---good post TX.