LAST EDITED ON Sep-26-12 AT 11:56AM (MST)[p]No your research was fine. The hunting was just really hard this year. The area I hunt in and have hunted for the last 15+ years was all messed up. The elk were not where they usually were and in fact I was finding em in places I had never seen them before. The area I hunt is not usually hunted hard by other hunters and as a result the elk tend to be extremely vocal when you actually find them. This year however, they just were not talking. I found lots of elk later in the season, but they were all acting weird. On 3 separate occasions I sat and watched small groups of elk. They were groups that were 4-5 cows, 1-2 spikes and a legal bull someplace in the mix (not a big bull at all). Due to size of bull, and conditions the elk were not where I could make a move and I had to sit from 200 yards and hope they just walked my way. That being said, having seen elk on several days and also having watched elk for several hours, I heard exactly 3 cow calls and 2 bugles. the bugles is not that big of a deal, but the fact was even the cow elk were strangely quiet.
As far as the unlimtied cow elk tags issue. It is a lie, it did not happen at all. All cow tags are draw only and limited. Last year was not a great year for elk hunting in general and by all accounts we did not significantly change the overall herd numbers. there are good numbers of elk in unit 12, but weather, hunting pressures, drought, bears (which seemed to also be places I have never seen em before), lions, etc. all play part on the elk behavior.
this year the extremely hot and dry summer played a huge role in elk location and was ultimately the main cause of my issues. This year was so dry that even up high there was hardly and good grass, I saw several springs in my area go dry for the first time in 20+ years. Where there was water the elk travelling over 5 miles to it from the bedding/feeding areas, etc. It was just a hard year and from what I have seen the success rate was down all over the place.
I have a good friend who works at processors place in Meeker. They esitamte that thier early season business was down by almost 60%.....
Also some of the area you mentioned is hunted hard by different outfitters etc. I would tend to say that packing in and camping in unit 12 is not necessary and not extremely productive. Instead I would suggest looking at camping someplace off the top around where the yellow jacket pass road goes in and being extremely mobile in that area as the elk will move a lot. The areas that a person can pack into and get away from the roads are all hunted pretty hard by drop camps and outfitters thus making them almost the same as areas with better access. I would think that having a good central camp then driving out from that camp and then hiking in 1-2 miles in the dark would be far better than packing in, limiting your self to an area etc.
Just some food for thought on your next trip out.
