Unit 34 1st archery Elk

jgriffin82 · Jun 11, 2022

Drew a unit 34 tag after 7 years of applying for it. I've laptop scouted the unit quite a bit. I've got a pretty good lay of the land. I have 9 areas that I plan to focus on when I get back there. I'm curious on the accuracy of water source locations as referenced in OnX, Go Hunt maps, etc. For the guys that have been in the area, do most of the spring/seeps that are marked on these maps actually exist in normal rain years? I ask this for two reasons, first, I will be camping and would like to be near a water source. Secondly, I imagine sitting over water could be a productive strategy for killing a bull. I'm sure the latter depends greatly on the amount of summer rainfall. I've had pretty good luck in most other states regarding water sources marked on maps.

This will be my first archery elk hunt. I haven't been this excited to hunt elk in a long time! I've hunted bulls a couple times during the rut with a rifle. Killing one with a bow should be quite a bit more challenging. Looks like it's difficult to get more than a couple miles from any road. That may be a good thing considering my achilles will only be 4 months out from being reattached. Is it worth towing a SXS back there to putt around on?

Jim

tmbr_hntr · Jun 11, 2022

Should not have a problem finding a nice 5x5 near the road.

wweaver79 · Jun 11, 2022

No on the SXS if your hauling it far, with gas the way it is they have limited use in 34, unless your afraid of a couple pinstripes. If it is a normal monsoon there will be water all over and a lot not marked on maps. The marked ones will have water, you will know by mid Aug about the water situation anyway. The higher stuff will hold a lot of elk ( above 8k to 9k ) and it is easier to kill them in the trees w a bow.

NMPaul · Jun 11, 2022

Most of the unit is grazed by cattle so there is water pretty much everywhere.
As weaver said this is our rainy season so likely there will be water in most places.
Sitting water can still be productive if you can find a remote spot. I have never been able to get myself to do it.
I would probably hunt bugles in morning and sit water after they quiet down, though there will be a few days in your hunt that if your are in the right spot they will be bugling all day.
Its a great hunt, and you should be into elk every time you go out.

jgriffin82 · Jun 11, 2022

Thanks for all of the input fellas. I appreciate it. I'm not scared to shoot a nice 5x5 near the road. The first bull I ever killed was in Colorado, 25 yards from an ATV trail. We had hiked from first light up to a park at 13k and on the way back that evening, I stopped to take a rest and ended up falling asleep next to a deadfall pine. I woke up with a 6x6 bull 75 yards to my right perfectly broadside. He didn't stand a chance. Definitely beginner's luck. Every elk since then has been quartered and packed out.

Anyhow, sitting water always seems like a great idea until I actually try to do it. It is hell sitting in one spot for that long thinking about how there could be elk over the next ridge that I can't see because I'm sitting here on me arse.

I'm driving 20 hours from northern California. I'll leave the SXS at home. My truck is 23 years old. It has more than a few pinstripes and dents. A few more will only add to its character. I have found a few spots on the map that look promising. I'll be focusing on the timber up high and those cool NE faces.

Jim

BUGLEnmIN · Jun 12, 2022

jgriffin82 said:
Thanks for all of the input fellas. I appreciate it. I'm not scared to shoot a nice 5x5 near the road. The first bull I ever killed was in Colorado, 25 yards from an ATV trail. We had hiked from first light up to a park at 13k and on the way back that evening, I stopped to take a rest and ended up falling asleep next to a deadfall pine. I woke up with a 6x6 bull 75 yards to my right perfectly broadside. He didn't stand a chance. Definitely beginner's luck. Every elk since then has been quartered and packed out.

Anyhow, sitting water always seems like a great idea until I actually try to do it. It is hell sitting in one spot for that long thinking about how there could be elk over the next ridge that I can't see because I'm sitting here on me arse.

I'm driving 20 hours from northern California. I'll leave the SXS at home. My truck is 23 years old. It has more than a few pinstripes and dents. A few more will only add to its character. I have found a few spots on the map that look promising. I'll be focusing on the timber up high and those cool NE faces.

Jim

I’ve sat water literally twice in my life, didn’t see nothing and I went CRAZY!
Save your money for gas! It’ll be 10$ a gallon there by then and 8$ here ??Brandon

jgriffin82 · Jun 12, 2022

BUGLEnmIN said:
I’ve sat water literally twice in my life, didn’t see nothing and I went CRAZY!
Save your money for gas! It’ll be 10$ a gallon there by then and 8$ here ??Brandon

Won't be long! I'm paying $7/gallon for diesel right now. Everything I own is diesel. I have a TDI Jetta with manual trans that I may have to drive back there. I've got her tuned and can get near 55 mpg if I keep it under 80.

BUGLEnmIN · Jun 12, 2022

jgriffin82 said:
Won't be long! I'm paying $7/gallon for diesel right now. Everything I own is diesel. I have a TDI Jetta with manual trans that I may have to drive back there. I've got her tuned and can get near 55 mpg if I keep it under 80.

I have a Cummins and a jeep!
The wife’s Audi A-6 turbo is getting bout 33 in town and 39 on the highway!
We use that to go run errands

wweaver79 · Jun 12, 2022

You can kill an elk out of a Jetta in 34, no problem. Just bring a spare. Lots of highway you hunt right off of up high. It can be done !!!!

BUGLEnmIN · Jun 12, 2022

wweaver79 said:
You can kill an elk out of a Jetta in 34, no problem. Just bring a spare. Lots of highway you hunt right off of up high. It can be done !!!!
View attachment 78586

Hell yes!

NMPaul · Jun 12, 2022

I put an entire buffalo I killed into my company car in the late 90s. Dodge intrepid. Went 900 miles with my ass almost dragging. LOL

jgriffin82 · Jun 12, 2022

Guys, I'm now seriously considering taking the car. I'll throw a rooftop carrier on it and fold the backseat down to handle the ice chests. Should be good to go!

wweaver79 · Jun 12, 2022

In all seriousness, not sure that is a real word, but anyway PM me and let me know if you take the car I will help you out I know several spots you can get into elk without bad roads. I have hunted it twice for elk. If it is a Jetta wagon you can get two 120 maybe 140/150 quart colors in there which should be close to fitting a boned out elk, some have big bodies down there. That and a small grill chairs and tent since it is early sept and your set. You can throw a lot inside the coolers for the ride out.

jgriffin82 · Jun 12, 2022

A bison hitching a ride in an Intrepid would be a helluva sight! I imagine you were bouncing off the bump stops all the way home.

Jim

Cahunter805 · Jun 13, 2022

jgriffin82 said:
Guys, I'm now seriously considering taking the car. I'll throw a rooftop carrier on it and fold the backseat down to handle the ice chests. Should be good to go!

Take the back seat out before the trip! There are certainly roads that you could take a Jetta on and be into elk everyday in 34. Lots of elk in the area!
Congrats on the tag.

Wapitiwilly · Jun 13, 2022

I would take the truck. A few hundred more in fuel is nothing considering the invest you already have made. Hell start a go fund me account??‍

jgriffin82 · Jun 13, 2022

Wapitiwilly said:
I would take the truck. A few hundred more in fuel is nothing considering the invest you already have made. Hell start a go fund me account??‍

I'll probably end up in the truck. My dad has an eco diesel Ram that I may try to talk him out of for the week. It gets over twice the mileage my old 7.3 gets. My daughter is going with me and I'm sure my dad will come along also. That'll make things tight in the car. I'll just put in a few hours of OT to cover the extra fuel cost in the truck. I work in power generation... in California. There's never a shortage of work.

Jim

Wapitiwilly · Jun 13, 2022

Work some OT and bank some cash. Having your Daughter and Dad along is priceless. Make the most of it because the memories will last a lifetime. Hunted 34 with my nephew a few years ago and it is an amazing place!
Good luck?

jgriffin82 · Jun 13, 2022

Yep, no doubt. I've made a lot of memories hunting with my dad and kids. My son was able to kill his first deer last year at 13. My daughter turned 12 in March. She has her first deer tag this fall. Should be a good time.

Jim

Wapitiwilly · Jun 14, 2022

I had two of my sons with me on an Archery Arizona elk hunt a couple of years ago. It was an amazing experience. Can’t wait to do it again?

Monster bulls · Jul 3, 2022

I hunted 34 for elk/ deer back in 2011. I punched 2 tags in 7 days it was a blast.
this year wife has a cow tag. I’m hoping she’ll tag out as well haven’t been to 34 in 11 years, but I’ll be there in late August for a little scouting b4 archery season.

H8Brick · Jul 3, 2022

Wapitiwilly said:
I would take the truck. A few hundred more in fuel is nothing considering the invest you already have made. Hell start a go fund me account??‍

Exactly! The things people worry about amazes me you go on a 10k elk hunt and worry about 200 bucks extra in gas lmao

tracker12 · Jul 4, 2022

wweaver79 said:
In all seriousness, not sure that is a real word, but anyway PM me and let me know if you take the car I will help you out I know several spots you can get into elk without bad roads. I have hunted it twice for elk. If it is a Jetta wagon you can get two 120 maybe 140/150 quart colors in there which should be close to fitting a boned out elk, some have big bodies down there. That and a small grill chairs and tent since it is early sept and your set. You can throw a lot inside the coolers for the ride out.

I hunted elk out of a Subaru several years ago in UT. Had no problem with meat in coolers inside and antlers on the top.

Mudbull · Jul 4, 2022

I’ve seen a guy deep in 16c with an old Subaru 5-6 years ago on an elk hunt. Not sure how he got it in there but neither was anyone that saw my camper. Maybe it was you?

jgriffin82 · Jul 4, 2022

H8Brick said:
Exactly! The things people worry about amazes me you go on a 10k elk hunt and worry about 200 bucks extra in gas lmao

This hunt definitely isn't a $10k hunt! I'll be doing my best to keep it under $2k.

Savage110 · Jul 5, 2022

Mudbull said:
I’ve seen a guy deep in 16c with an old Subaru 5-6 years ago on an elk hunt. Not sure how he got it in there but neither was anyone that saw my camper. Maybe it was you?

Subaru has the highest customer satisfaction rating of any auto maker. I’m not surprised.

tracker12 · Jul 5, 2022

My current Outback has 203,000 miles on it. Little aggrerssive tires and I can go a lot of places. Seats folded down and I can easily slide in my Jet sled with a full size Mule deer buck. I have also had a 300lb bear in it.