Very cool, I'm looking forward to seeing pics and hearing about your hunt. I've been thinking about one of the Bighorns hunts for awhile now.
Congrats and good luck!
Well The last couple of years I haven't drew cow or bull and this year is no different, but my son applied for cow for the very first time and gets drawn lol , I'm so happy now we get to go hunt together for the first time.....
Drew General West with 5.5 points. The work began yesterday. I started my walking back and I need to take off a few pounds.
It sure is tough trying to figure out where to start. So many units with very little knowledge on elk hunting. As a non-resident I know to rule out wilderness units. I have never trusted Wyoming harvest results. Reading the elk reports seems so broad and not unit but regional information. So my best plan may be setting aside at least 3 weeks off and covering as much area as I can to try and locate elk. I am very happy to finally draw my first elk tag. And what could be better than spending up to 3 weeks in Western Wyoming in the fall.
Drew General West with 5.5 points. The work began yesterday. I started my walking back and I need to take off a few pounds.
It sure is tough trying to figure out where to start. So many units with very little knowledge on elk hunting. As a non-resident I know to rule out wilderness units. I have never trusted Wyoming harvest results. Reading the elk reports seems so broad and not unit but regional information. So my best plan may be setting aside at least 3 weeks off and covering as much area as I can to try and locate elk. I am very happy to finally draw my first elk tag. And what could be better than spending up to 3 weeks in Western Wyoming in the fall.
Well The last couple of years I haven't drew cow or bull and this year is no different, but my son applied for cow for the very first time and gets drawn lol , I'm so happy now we get to go hunt together for the first time.....
Well The last couple of years I haven't drew cow or bull and this year is no different, but my son applied for cow for the very first time and gets drawn lol , I'm so happy now we get to go hunt together for the first time.....
Congratulations, over the past two years I was able to take my son and then my daughter to Wyoming for their first elk hunt. Both of them killed their first bull, I was more excited and happy than I remember being for any animal I have ever taken. I hope you and your son have a blast and regardless of the success there is nothing better than hunting with your kids.
Drew General West with 5.5 points. The work began yesterday. I started my walking back and I need to take off a few pounds.
It sure is tough trying to figure out where to start. So many units with very little knowledge on elk hunting. As a non-resident I know to rule out wilderness units. I have never trusted Wyoming harvest results. Reading the elk reports seems so broad and not unit but regional information. So my best plan may be setting aside at least 3 weeks off and covering as much area as I can to try and locate elk. I am very happy to finally draw my first elk tag. And what could be better than spending up to 3 weeks in Western Wyoming in the fall.
No tag for me this year, but will be taking a scouting and fishing trip in the area that we hope to draw next year. I had an "any elk" tag and a cow tag and spent 6 weeks in WY in 2022. You may want to consider spending the extra $75 to get an archery tag. You can use a crossbow if you aren't a stick hunter, and the hunting pressure is a tiny portion of what the rifle hunt will be in General areas. It seems that everybody and their little brother have horses in Wyoming, and many of them are in the mountains once the rifle season starts. If you are not successful, you can come back for the rifle season...IF you have the time. Good luck.
Drew General Elk W tag this year. Geez took 5 points plus to draw.Anyways now to e-scouting where to go. I have few places down just need to find some information. Congrats to all that drew tags.
Drew General West with 5.5 points. The work began yesterday. I started my walking back and I need to take off a few pounds.
It sure is tough trying to figure out where to start. So many units with very little knowledge on elk hunting. As a non-resident I know to rule out wilderness units. I have never trusted Wyoming harvest results. Reading the elk reports seems so broad and not unit but regional information. So my best plan may be setting aside at least 3 weeks off and covering as much area as I can to try and locate elk. I am very happy to finally draw my first elk tag. And what could be better than spending up to 3 weeks in Western Wyoming in the fall.
Drew General West with 5.5 points. The work began yesterday. I started my walking back and I need to take off a few pounds.
It sure is tough trying to figure out where to start. So many units with very little knowledge on elk hunting. As a non-resident I know to rule out wilderness units. I have never trusted Wyoming harvest results. Reading the elk reports seems so broad and not unit but regional information. So my best plan may be setting aside at least 3 weeks off and covering as much area as I can to try and locate elk. I am very happy to finally draw my first elk tag. And what could be better than spending up to 3 weeks in Western Wyoming in the fall.
I agree with Tim, get a guide, while they do cost money the experience is well worth it. They will know the area and animals where you will be going into the area blind even if you do get some time to get out and scout.
A guide will increase your odds of getting a bull ten fold if not more. Plus if you plan on going solo or even with a partner they will have help available to pack a animal out.
Tim and Jim both of you make a good point. I have to confess. It just means more to me to do it on my own. Of course I would like to kill the biggest bull that ever walked those mountains. But the truth is I would rather kill an average bull or nothing and do it on my own. It just means more and I do not have to fill my tag to enjoy a hunt. Right now I plan to spend up to 3 weeks chasing elk. I am fortunate to have found a local that has helped me a lot to decide the when and where's of the hunt. Who knows I have had pretty good success in the past. Also my past 3 guided hunts over the years have not been very successful.
Tim and Jim both of you make a good point. I have to confess. It just means more to me to do it on my own. Of course I would like to kill the biggest bull that ever walked those mountains. But the truth is I would rather kill an average bull or nothing and do it on my own. It just means more and I do not have to fill my tag to enjoy a hunt. Right now I plan to spend up to 3 weeks chasing elk. I am fortunate to have found a local that has helped me a lot to decide the when and where's of the hunt. Who knows I have had pretty good success in the past. Also my past 3 guided hunts over the years have not been very successful.
I have found that on a guided hunt your experience is what you put into it.
I have been to Africa twice and in Africa you are required to have a Professional Hunter with you at all times that you are in the field. I have seen some hunters who go and pretty much just turn it into a shoot without be a active participant besides being the one behind the rifle. On both of my hunts I was constantly asking questions as we drove to the hunting area, once in the field I was constantly glassing for the animal that we were after and finding lots of others, some before the PH and tracker even saw them. it was no different really than hunting with a friend here in the Rockies looking for elk where you have the tag and your friend doesn't.
The big thing with a guided hunt is that the guide knows the area and if you haven't had a chance to get out to it that is a huge plus. Along with them having all the camping gear where you don't have to haul it out into the boonies except for your personal items and sleeping bag.
Here in the US I also consider the time that it took me to gain the points in order to draw that area. It it only takes one or two points then you really are not out much if you head out on your own and go home empty handed. But if it is likely that you'll never have the oppertunity to draw that tag again in your lifetime then that outfitter/guide is going to be well worth the money that you pay them.
