Stonefly
Very Active Member
- Messages
- 1,195
I didn't want to hijack another guys thread about Elk in this area. So I started this one. I began hunting this area in 1980, along with my dad and uncle,who both had hunted here long before then. I now hunt it with my family ( Wife, 2 Sons, and a Daughter).
Over the years we have had very good luck. By luck I mean, we harvest 1 or 2 Elk each year,out of the 5 of us. I understand how things can change in an area over time, and because we do ALOT of scouting we have, to a point been able to change our plans and adapt. This has been VERY hard to do for the last 2 years.
#1 the dead fall in our area has been unbeliveable, Area's we have hunted for years and years are so clogged up even the animals avoid them.
#2 I saw a Bear the 3rd year I hunted out there. My uncle saw it also and it was a huge story around our camp. In the last 3 years only my Daughter has not seen Bear. I hiked over to tell my wife about a huge boar that had wandered under my tree stand one day, and while at her ground blind with her a momma and cub came into her seep for a drink. I dont know how much a Bear in the area should effect the game but, there has to be some effect. Also there are Moose( 2 Big Bulls,1 small Bull, and 2 cows one with a calf) that are in this area, and dont seam to be affected by the Bear. I am also glad to say the Deer numbers are really rebounding well. This year I saw 10 to 18,on each all day hunt. A few small bucks and 2 really great bucks. All the animals that have moved into the area must impact the Elk in one way or another I am sure. But for 3 years the numbers for Elk have really gone down. And when you find them they are in area's where in the past were not "Good" Elk area's.
#3 This year was really Hot and in the begining dry. Most of the Elk we found were in the "Dark" Pines, on steep canyon edges. And were very jumpy. Everyone saw Elk and the really strange thing was that it seemed the Elk didnt group up. you would find 2-3 in a group, and then a short distance away find another group of 2-3 again.
Those of you who know me , know this area I talk about is Huge. My guess is about 10 square miles. There is little access unless you like to walk, and walk, and then walk some more. The hunter pressure is not to bad. We did have some trouble with a couple guys setting up next to my wifes ground blind, But we moved her and the other guys said they were after deer. I only seen them walking in one day and it was at 9am. We did fill half a 55 gallon trash bag with their empty pop and beer cans after they left. And they left a nice hunting Knife at there campsite, that my son said fit in his back pack just right. The Elk numbers in this area are going down. This year we didnt take any animals, My wife did connect with a cow near our home in fairveiw. We did have some Close call's and I drew my bow twice, but no shots.
The folks I know that hunt this area are telling me that their hunts are becoming even less productive that ours. Are any of you folks doing any better around the Strawberry area. or in the Waters in Diamond Fork ?
Over the years we have had very good luck. By luck I mean, we harvest 1 or 2 Elk each year,out of the 5 of us. I understand how things can change in an area over time, and because we do ALOT of scouting we have, to a point been able to change our plans and adapt. This has been VERY hard to do for the last 2 years.
#1 the dead fall in our area has been unbeliveable, Area's we have hunted for years and years are so clogged up even the animals avoid them.
#2 I saw a Bear the 3rd year I hunted out there. My uncle saw it also and it was a huge story around our camp. In the last 3 years only my Daughter has not seen Bear. I hiked over to tell my wife about a huge boar that had wandered under my tree stand one day, and while at her ground blind with her a momma and cub came into her seep for a drink. I dont know how much a Bear in the area should effect the game but, there has to be some effect. Also there are Moose( 2 Big Bulls,1 small Bull, and 2 cows one with a calf) that are in this area, and dont seam to be affected by the Bear. I am also glad to say the Deer numbers are really rebounding well. This year I saw 10 to 18,on each all day hunt. A few small bucks and 2 really great bucks. All the animals that have moved into the area must impact the Elk in one way or another I am sure. But for 3 years the numbers for Elk have really gone down. And when you find them they are in area's where in the past were not "Good" Elk area's.
#3 This year was really Hot and in the begining dry. Most of the Elk we found were in the "Dark" Pines, on steep canyon edges. And were very jumpy. Everyone saw Elk and the really strange thing was that it seemed the Elk didnt group up. you would find 2-3 in a group, and then a short distance away find another group of 2-3 again.
Those of you who know me , know this area I talk about is Huge. My guess is about 10 square miles. There is little access unless you like to walk, and walk, and then walk some more. The hunter pressure is not to bad. We did have some trouble with a couple guys setting up next to my wifes ground blind, But we moved her and the other guys said they were after deer. I only seen them walking in one day and it was at 9am. We did fill half a 55 gallon trash bag with their empty pop and beer cans after they left. And they left a nice hunting Knife at there campsite, that my son said fit in his back pack just right. The Elk numbers in this area are going down. This year we didnt take any animals, My wife did connect with a cow near our home in fairveiw. We did have some Close call's and I drew my bow twice, but no shots.
The folks I know that hunt this area are telling me that their hunts are becoming even less productive that ours. Are any of you folks doing any better around the Strawberry area. or in the Waters in Diamond Fork ?
