CWMU two bear ranch for Elk

[sniper14]

I've read old posts about this unit and was wanting to know how things have gone with the new operator before I put my son in for this unit. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[treedagain]

Had a cow hunt this year. Tons of elk, but being their 1st year they had not learned it 100% for late cows. I think a bull hunt would be a good choice for a 320 type bull. Deer are struggling.

 

[PleaseDear]

I've been on hunts on the CWMU next door to the west and when my Dad had that tag, the opening wknd of the Gen Rifle elk hunt had the ranch covered in elk from all the hunting pressure on the public ground on the Uinta's.


I would think 2 Bear would be the same.



Robb

 

[JumpinJ]

I've read old posts about this unit and was wanting to know how things have gone with the new operator before I put my son in for this unit. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I hunted the ranch last fall. If you wan to send me a PM I can fill you in on my experience.

 

[muzz]

Had a cow hunt this year. Tons of elk, but being their 1st year they had not learned it 100% for late cows. I think a bull hunt would be a good choice for a 320 type bull. Deer are struggling.

This is not there first year there. It’s his first year back after being gone for a couple years.

 

[treedagain]

Ok, every person I delt with was their 1st year, even to the point they were checking onyx for the roads to take...... All 6 people. So yes their 1st year. Like I said lots of elk, but they had no clue how to hunt it.

 

[300WBYMULES]

It may have been the guides first year but it wasn’t the operators first year.

 

[treedagain]

It may have been the guides first year but it wasn’t the operators first year.

It was there 1st year. That means every person I delt with was their 1st year. A couple either it was their 1st or 2nd time on the property.... Ever
With that said, I would think a early bull would be a good choice.

 

[twopointdn]

The state hunters did not get to hunt bull elk until near the end of October. My friends wife had the tag last year and after much debate on if they should turn the tag back or keep it they ended up keeping the tag. She killed about a 280ish 6 point bull and said it was a good hunt. My dad was offered a tag that another hunter had turned in to the DWR and my dad declined the tag offered by the DWR due to the late dates offered and the change in the operator. The harvest rate was solid on elk in the unit last year according to the harvest report. Good luck with your decision.

 

[300WBYMULES]

Talk to the operator about the dates they may be able to work something out for you if late October is an issue. That should be a solid elk hunt either way. There may be some really good benefits hunting that ranch later in October as they get elk numbers off the surrounding highly pressured public land.

 

[FeartheTurtle]

I've hunted this unit for cow elk for 15+ years, myself and with each of my four kids. When Rolfs had it, it was always decent. They told you when to show up and where the elk were hanging out. We seldom had any issues and often it was about a one hour hunt. One of my sons drew again in 2022. We showed up with two other hunters (the guides got there a half hour late) and each drove out in a vehicle with a guide, but they made us all stay together. I knew the ranch a lot better than the guide and told him where we had found cows in the past. There was a herd of about twenty right where I told him. The head guide then made the three hunters go with him in a Ranger. We objected, saying we wanted to hunt together but they said no. We told then the elk would hear the Ranger motor from a long way away but they didn't listen. They left us on a bluff about a mile away. As they got closer, the elk heard them and started moving away. One idiot jumped out and started lobbing shells before the other two. My son never got to shoot. They then chased the elk, in the Ranger, up a draw and ran them completely out of the country. At about 9:30 they said there was no point in hunting for a while, drove us back to the highway and said to come back around 2:30. I told them I knew of a couple other spots where the elk like to hang out, but they weren't interested. This hunt was a joke.

 

[desertpointbrian]

Much better cwmu’s out there.

 

[twopointdn]

After my friends wife had a decent bull elk hunt in 2021 with the new operator my friend decided to put in for a cow tag in 2022 and he drew the tag. He said he had a similar experience as FearTheTurtle had. He stated it was a joke and ended up leaving after a few days into his hunt disgusted about his experience. He left without filling his tag just to end the miserable experience before it got worse. To bad this CWMU went down hill after the change in operators. I guess it is easy to see how important operators are when it comes to hunting on CWMU’s. There is some fair warning out now that the new operator is not going to provide the experience that the old operator did on this CWMU. I’m sure the quality of animals will slip as well under the new operators as they use more of the allocated tags. Quantity over quality business model. Poor experience over good experience business model seems to be an establishing trend for the state draw cow permit holders. Good luck.

 

[treedagain]

I also left early on my hunt in 2021. It was a **** show. Tons of elk. But hard to hunt them when your in a convoy of 5 trucks. Run and gun is not my way of hunting. They really did not have a clue what they were doing, would not have put in if I knew it was a escorted deal.

 

[Farmbuck]

If you don’t let the DWR and the CWMU wildlife board know of your complaints they can’t fix the problem. There is strict rules about how the operator runs the CWMU for the public tag. The DWR can put them on probation or not renew that CWMU

 

[JakeH]

Yep, hopefully you guys reported these activities to the dwr.

 

[FeartheTurtle]

He gave them the lowest rating and wrote up a summary of what happened. Is there something more to do?

 

[middlefork]

COMPLAINT PROCESS​

To lodge a complaint against a CWMU, contact the Division of Wildlife Resources. Field biologists and conservation officers can supply you with a complaint form, or you can make the complaint in person or over the telephone.

You and the CWMU operator should make every effort to resolve the problem before escalating it to the DWR. If the problem cannot be resolved locally, it may be passed on to a CWMU Advisory Committee for review and possible action.

 

[Packout]

Feartheturtle- you should file a complaint. Call the Northern Region office in Ogden. The only way to make the program better is to tell the stories that need to be fixed. Please file it this week- it only takes a few minutes. Since the hunt closed less than 2 weeks ago, it would be good to get it on record sooner than waiting.