MyHuntingForum.com
Hunting by Game/Technique => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Wapati on Jan 14, 2005, 04:05:38 PM
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I am brand new to this forum and could not believe there was no Elk posts. I would like to hear from some other Elk hunters in the Rockies or the northwest. I live in Central Wyoming and my passion is the pusuit of the willey Wapati with my bow. Any others out there that think that it just doesnt get any better than being out there with the bugling bulls?
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ive never hunted elk but i can imagine the thrill of it i always get excited watching those hunts on tv maybe one of these days ill make it out west and try my hand at it
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Hey Arch. How the heck are you. Its IceTroll from IS using my AKA. Somehow IceTroll for a screen name did not seem appropriate for this place. Your screen name is pretty universal however. Anyway, any time you are interested in hunting Elk in Wyoming I would be happy to hook you up. Just let me know when you are ready.
Wapati
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why thank you wapati (wapati? what does that mean?) i may take you up on that someday
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Wapati is the American Indian term for Elk. That is what the Native Americans called them.
Wapati
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all i know is tatonka from dances with wolves ;D
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I've been Elk hunting two time's in my life and consider myself very lucky. The first time was in Oregon with a bow and shot a small but trophy to me 5+5 bull at 11 yds. He was bugeling his head off, what a blast. The second time was in Colorado with some buddie's on an unguided do-it yourself hunt. The second morning I got another small but trophy to me size 4+4 bull with a rifle. They are a blast to hunt but man when you do get one it's a lot of work.
Jim
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yeah carphunter i got invited to go to colorado on a do it yourself hunt this year these guys go every year and brought back pics of all the work it looked fun but man it really looked like a lot of work i cant wait
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If you want to put the odd's in your favor start working out now. Don't be affraid to put some rocks in a backpack and do a little hiking. There was six of us that went on that trip and we all saw animals but after the first day no one else wanted to go back down over the cliff's again. I made up my mind I was going to do whatever it took to kill an Elk so off I went to where two other guy's saw elk the day before. To make a long storie short, by a 1/2 hour after daylight I had a Bull.
Jim
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ive been working out for over 20 years so thats not the problem working money out of my tightwad wife is the problem ;D i was told the terrain out there is pretty rough lotsa ups and downs then lotsa weight going up and down when you get one but im sure you can verify what i was told that the sore muscles and cramps are worth the rewards
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You know it ;)
Jim
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You got it right Carphunter. In order to be successful at Elk hunting, you have to do whatever it takes and be willing to go outside your comfort zone. If you are not willing to climb that next mountain or drop into that next canyon like your buddies on your Colorado trip, you might as well save your money and stay home. Elk hunting is as much work as any North American animal including sheep and you are right. The real work starts when you got a bull on the ground. When I hunt Elk in the fall, my trip is a minimum of 18 days straight. I hunt hard, but I have also learned about hunting smart over the years. I hunt during peak activity times and I will not go into the heavy timber after bedded Elk. Its a losing game and you can push Elk right out of a drainage if you jump them from their beds. Also, another piece of advise for Archbishop, in case you ever get your wife to part with some money, is to perfect the art of cow calling. I dont use a bugle for anything other than locating Elk. I call all the bulls in that I kill with a cow call. You can get away with being a mediocre bugler since the worst bugles I have ever heard were real Elk, but if you wanna really fool the Elk, master all the different sounds that cows make. And believe me, cows make lots of different sounds depending on their mood and the purpose of the call. I have killed 9 bulls in the last 10 years. Five were with a bow and one was a record book bull that scored 328. The one year I ate my tag, I passed on 24 bulls during bow season and two bulls during rifle season. No one to blame but myself that year. Also of note is seven of those nine bulls including the big boy were killed on public land with a general license (Not a limited quota draw tag). If there is anything I can do to help any of you guy be successful on a trip out west, just ask. I would be willing to do what I can.
Wapati
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Wapati, I know that this is a little off the subject but I was wandering if you or any of your connection's ever get into lion hunting. After this sept. I will have my caribou and the next thing on my list is a lion. I am looking for it to be the 06 ,07 winter trip. Thank's for the offers.
Jim
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off the subject yes but man thats gotta be a rush going after an animal that stealthy something that has the edge over you even though you have a gun wow now that would be a hunt good luck with that
we just had a cougar sighting in the corning area of new york lady took 3 pics of it through her window and the dang thing just stood there kinda like he was stalking her scary and cool at the same time
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I have a couple of different friends that have people that they know who have lion dogs. They routinely hook up with these people and go out to chase cats when it snows. I myself have never gotten the lion hunting bug but these guys have it pretty bad. It is a tough game chasing those dogs up and down the mountain when they are on a cat. Half the time, at least, they dont shoot the cat when its tree'd because its too small of a lion for them. I could probably find out for you if these guys that have the dogs do any guiding around here and if so I could get you some names. Lord knows we have way too many cats around here. Once I saw one in the middle of the city and know two others that have seen them in town.
IceTroll
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Hello Wapiti,
I got the archery Elk hunting bug seven years ago a real good friend USMC130FE introduced me to it in Colorado at Long Draw Reservoir. I have went back every year since. Although I am hunting up near your neck of the woods now. I have got my brother-in-law interested and we are hunting in areas 6&7 public land. We are only a few miles from the Wyoming border!!! We sometines take the easy way out for dinner and head to the WyColo Bar and Restaurant. I was able to get my dad up there for two years before the damn cancer took him he fought it for 5 years though and he is a heck of alot better off now!!!
I was able to connect on one elk a nice cow. Although every year but one I could have gotten an elk I was just trying to get a better shot ect.... Ya just can't beat it though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Sorry to hear about your Dad USMCFM. Its good you were able to get him up into Gods country before he passed. Elk hunting is my passion, especially with a bow. I am fortunate that I am able to dedicate alot of time to hunting Elk. I have been a Police Officer for 15 years, ten with my current agency so I accrue pretty liberal amounts of vacation time (one of the few perks of a stressful job). That along with the fact that I work 12 hour shifts so I get alot of time off working 4 on 3 off one week and then 3 on and 4 off the next. If I plan it right I can take 3 days off and get 10 straight days. I usually take 7 days and hunt the last 3 weeks in September when the bulls are rutting hard and are really jacked up. If you ever have a desire to give Wyoming a try I would be happy to hook up with you. There is some really great general license area's I hunt and some even better limited draw area's. My main area that I hunt, when I can draw the tag, has had quite a few 400 class bulls killed out of it and tons of 375 class bulls which is the Boone and Crockett minimum. The bull to cow ratio in this area would blow your mind. That area has a pretty good draw success rate even for non-residents.
Wapati
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Heh guys, I have some beaten elk trails behind my cabin in the hills. Questions: 1) How high should I place my tree stand? 2) How close to trails should I place my stand?
This will be my second year hunting elk and I started too late last year. I have a atv trail going up to the ridge but the terrain is definately not like what I have saw on some videos. Nothing real rough just thick. If we get an animal here you have to get it out of the bush quickly as lots of grizzly around. Every year a few hunters get it. Any help Mr Wapiti?
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Terry I'm envious, you have ice in may and elk in your back yard. As for your treestand's, I would start by saying stay within your limit's. some guys feel sure about 25 yard shot's and some feel good shooting 50 yard's. As the height goes, I alway's try to go 20' or so but I mostly hunt deer. I wouldn't think elk would be any different. Alot of that depend's on the terrain, if its brushy you don't need to go as high as you would in open tinber. Don't forget, alot can be said for a well placed ground blind.
Jim
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I have not been on ice for quite a few weeks. Buddies go up to high altitute lake with atv's now. Probably very soft as everything seems to be coming earlier this year. No one has been up there in 10 days that I know of. So no ice reports. It usually lasts into June but I don't think this year.
Thanks for the elk tips ;D. Appreciated.
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Hey Terry,
My friend and I are going to try tree stands this year for Elk. I have never tried it before because Elk herds move around alot and dont always stay put in an area. The herd and consequently bulls in the herd are alot of times at the mercy of the lead cow. Still, I believe a strategically placed tree stand near a wallow or on a well traveled trail can be deadly. I would not be concerned about getting real high in the stand because I dont think most Elk herds have been conditioned to look for or expect danger from above as are some whitetails that are hunted hard from tree stands. Just like anything else, I would set up so you are downwind from the prevailing wind and I would cow call, cow call, cow call while you are in your stand. I would try to set my stand between 20 and 30 yards of the trail in an area with plenty of shooting lanes. If you can tolerate them (I cant) practice making cow calls with a diaphram call because you will want to stop the Elk in a shooting lane before the shot. I would caution you about ever taking a frontal chest shot on any Elk with a bow. They are too heavy boned as you well know and it is a very low percentage shot from the ground. I would think it would be next to impossible from an elevated position. I like the idea of hunting from a tree stand because in my opinion, the hardest thing to do when hunting Elk is getting to full draw without being detected. Elk almost always travel in bunches and there are just too many sets of eyes to defeat. I cant count how many times I have called Elk inside of 20 yards and then just could not get the shot because I could not get drawn. I lucked out last year when I called a rag horn into 6 yards of me before he decided something was not right. I stopped him with a cow call, drawing my bow as he turned to flee. I ran him through at 19 yards. Getting them close has never been a problem, its getting the shot thats tough. Hope this helps you and anymore questions, I would be happy to help in any way I can.
Wapati (IceTroll)
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I have never elk hunted but a buddy of mine has a elk farm it is a thrill trying to score a huge bull elk they ar just a massive animal. but the liitle ones are just so cute.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/bauer1/DSCN1430.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/bauer1/DSCN1429.jpg)
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Thanks for the tips Mr Wapati. Luckily the elk were just opened up last year in my area and for 250 miles around. So they are not too spooky except where heavily hunted last year. No hunters for 6 miles where I hunt, which is just the way I like it ;D
Thanks for the pics B&S ;D
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I will get more pics soon that way I can get you guys all excited I will post some velvet and hard antlered
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Caught one small cow swimming accross the lake. Not very close though.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/terrygonefishing/elk1.jpg)[/img]
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Here are a few pics to get your blood pumping. they are starting to get pretty big not all the way there yet.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/bauer1/Other/Dscn1587.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/bauer1/Other/Dscn1591.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/bauer1/Other/Dscn1592.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/bauer1/Other/Dscn1593.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/bauer1/Other/Dscn1595.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/bauer1/Other/Dscn1596.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v724/bauer1/Other/Dscn1598.jpg)
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I find out July 7th if I drew my limited quota special permit for Elk. Fingers are crossed. If not I guess I will have to hunt on a general license. Both are good areas, one just gets more pressure than the other. During archery season the pressure is minimal anyway. The limited quota area I applied for has some monsters lurking about with some bulls in the 400 inch class. I would love to arrow one of those creatures.
Wapati
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well wapati only 2 days to go good luck with your draw
and by the way a while back i asked you what your name meant and lol i got i answer right on jeopardy because i knew what wapati meant, thanks ;D
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what a huge coincidence on jeopardy tonight the question was the other way around they asked what is the english term for the second largest of the deer family also known as wapati lol
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Wapati,
Allen here hope your draw is successful. I got my draw in Colorado but the area that we hunt isn't Trophy and ever year we have gotten what we applied for. Were in Wy. are you located??? For the tree stand questions both my brother-in-law and I have had good times using them. I have missed two elk one cow and a 5X4 from the same stand location on different evenings. Darn ELK FEVER I guess!!!!!!! ;D Brother in law got his first elk from a stand after letting four cows and a small bull walk by him he finally got his breath back and the next cow to walk by he placed a nice double lung arrow shot. So yes if you find a good trail/location set up and enjoy the wildlife.
Allen
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Quick question, Wyoming or Montana, I am looking for the best place, with a good mix of everything possible, moose, elk, cats, trapping, fishing, woods, etc. I have been out there looking, but can't decide. thanks
MASTERGUIDE
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USMCFM,
I live in Casper which is pretty much in the middle of the state. I did draw my any Elk tag for my area so I am pumped. I also am going to purchase an additional Cow/Calf tag for the same area which go on sale over the counter on August 15th. I have a 23 day trip scheduled starting on Sept. 8th.
Masterguide,
You really cant go wrong hunting in either state. There are a few additional Elk states that are also superb like Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Idaho. Washington and Oregon are also good states. I prefer Wyoming and Montana because you will find less population in these two states than any of the others and with the exception of Colorado, I think you will find that the draw is easier in these two states. Wyoming has any and all of the opportunities you are looking for including some of the best Antelope hunting in North America. Wyoming is the least populated state in the USA with less than 500,000 people statewide. It is the 7th largest state.
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Sounds good, any specific areas, Iknow some are just flat as can be, with those ravines, What are some of the top wooded areas in your opinion? Thanks
MASTERGUIDE
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Anywhere in the north west corner of the state is extremely rugged and timbered. Lots of Grizzlies and Wolves up there. The Wind River Range around Lander, the Big Horns around Buffalo and Sheridan, the Laramie Range in Central Wyoming and the Snowy Range in the south east. Dont ignore some of the high desert areas especially for huge Mule Deer bucks, Antelope and tons of predators. Some of the biggest Muleys in the state are prarie bucks living in the deep draws and high sage. The Laramie Range has a huge population of Mountain Lions as does the Big Horns. You will find excellant fishing anywhere in the state and some bruiser Whitetails in the north east corner of the state (Black Hills/Devils Tower area) as well as the river and creek bottoms.
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Thats what I needed to know, I owe ya one, if yo need any info from where I am, you got it. thanks
MASTERGUIDE
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Wapati,
Only a few days for us both now...I leave for Michigan on Wednesday then on to Co on Friday hopefully hunting Sunday or Monday! Hope you are sucessful with your hunt...I can't wait!!!!!
Allen
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I like this thread; as of 5 min. ago I just finished vaccum packing the last of the ELK I shot in Colorado. It was my first time, an un guided hunt ; north of Meeker.
I shot him [a 5x6] opening morning at 9:00 am I even got some video of him and 8 cows before I fired the 7 mm mag. Very cool!
I was alone when I shot him and had to quarter him up on the side of a mountain, the the lady who owned the ranch packed him out the next day w/horses; way more work than I ever dreamed of!
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Congrats Wizard. I killed a 5X5 in Wyoming with my bow during archery season. I am still looking for a cow since I have an unfilled cow/calf license. It must be nice that someone hauled your meat out for you on horseback. Me and my buddy packed mine out on our backs like I have done sooooooo many times before. Glad you had a successful hunt.
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I am brand new to this forum and could not believe there was no Elk posts. I would like to hear from some other Elk hunters in the Rockies or the northwest. I live in Central Wyoming and my passion is the pusuit of the willey Wapati with my bow. Any others out there that think that it just doesnt get any better than being out there with the bugling bulls?
Hi Wapati, I hunt Elk in SW Montana every two years or so. I have a friend that lives in Anaconda, and we set up a camp and hunt during the rifle season. My friend and I have entered the drawing for a license this year, and plan on hunting during the bow season if we get drawn. I'm really looking forward to hunting during the rut for a bull. I haven't hunted seriously with a bow for a few years now, but it's time to get back into it. I can't wait to get out there and wander around.
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Elk hunting is by far the most exciting to me. After hunting in northwest Montana where it is very brushy for the most part it is a real treat to be able to hunt around Anaconda now where it is open. Even in the timber here there is not the under brush I was used to. I can also watch elk winter from my living room and then wait to see them drop their headgear. Life is good :)
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Elk hunting is by far the most exciting to me. After hunting in northwest Montana where it is very brushy for the most part it is a real treat to be able to hunt around Anaconda now where it is open. Even in the timber here there is not the under brush I was used to. I can also watch elk winter from my living room and then wait to see them drop their headgear. Life is good :)
Hey zimmer2, are you watching them on MT Hagin or the Red Rocks? I've spent alot of hours wandering around above Lost Creek, and have no other more favorite spot in the country than your backyard. My friends live on North cable RD. I hope to be there this Sept/Oct. I come out once in a while to just fish and enjoy the scenery when I'm not hunting Elk.
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Hey zimmer2, are you watching them on MT Hagin or the Red Rocks? I've spent alot of hours wandering around above Lost Creek, and have no other more favorite spot in the country than your backyard. My friends live on North cable RD. I hope to be there this Sept/Oct. I come out once in a while to just fish and enjoy the scenery when I'm not hunting Elk.
NEKHUNTER
Mt Haggin, I live out by Fairmont. I have never hunted the Lost Creek area, I have across the interstate from there but hunt mostly hunt Mt Haggin. Maybe we will get hooked up some day? See ya in bugle season ?
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In Manitoba we have a descent population of Elk out here, but we find ourselfs going to Alberta for elk. That provence has amazing elk hunting.
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ELK HUNTIN IS MY FAVORITE!
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hey wapati when you say central wyoming you meaning riverton?
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hey wapati when you say central wyoming you meaning riverton?
I wouldnt get upset if you do not get an answer from him. wapati hasnt been on here since December of 2005. :o Come back we miss you brother.