2 nice guys in from MI looking to join forces with a WY resident for some backcountry

[Colorado Cowboy]

Elk, bring along some approved bear pepper spray and NEVER run! From what I've heard from friends, the bulls don't bugle much because of the wolf presence. Those killer wolves sure thinned out the elk since '95. I haven't hunted teton park in 12 years. Too many wolves & grizzlies!

We were all told by our outfitter in advance to bring bear spray as the FS would not let them take any hunters without it. I was there during the rut and heard NO bugles. We found one small group of about 10 cows and a small bull on the opposited side of a canyon about 1/2 mile away. My guide cow called and the bull grunted back. Within 10 minutes there was a pack of wolves on them and they scattered like a covey of quail! My guide told me that happens a lot.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

We were all told by our outfitter in advance to bring bear spray as the FS would not let them take any hunters without it. I was there during the rut and heard NO bugles. We found one small group of about 10 cows and a small bull on the opposited side of a canyon about 1/2 mile away. My guide cow called and the bull grunted back. Within 10 minutes there was a pack of wolves on them and they scattered like a covey of quail! My guide told me that happens a lot.

How friggin sad is that! Not only do they kill everything I wonder how many elk die of stress alone from the wolves chasing them.

 

[elk_n_esox]

The wolves are a plague on the wildlife in that region and the politicians are more worried about re-election and not pissing off the animal rights greenpeace wolf conservationist disc golf playing masses out there, than doing their real job. I just read the other day how some famous wolf was legally harvested in montana, and because he was collared and probably extra plush and cuddly, all wolf hunting around yellowstone in Montana has been suspended. This stuff makes me sick! I'm shocked the ranchers, landowners and outfitters haven't fertilized the ground with every wolf they come across. It is clearly out of hand and only baby steps have seemingly been taken to remedy the problem.

 

[kcaves]

its not like wolves are under every tree, we hunted elk between jackson and dubois this year and all of us had wolf tags in our pockets, that area had a quota of 7 wolves, which tells me there are quite a few in the area. I personally went to find a wolf and I never even saw any tracks. Saw 3 or 4 grizzlies in there. Our group managed to take down 2 or 3 bull elk though. Nothing huge though. After that experience, I think I'll stick to the eastern side of the state

 

[mntnguide]

I can assure you, if you go along with your plan of yours to hunt elk in the wilderness with a resident...You will be hassled much more by grizz than by wolves. Its a whole different ball game out here than other areas that arent thick with bears.

 

[T.S. Allen]

mntnguide,

Do you feel the bears are as big of an issue in surrounding units? As in 70 or 71?

 

[mntnguide]

Entirely. The bears that i deal with are in 70,71. Its thick. from the trailheads all the way to the yellowstone line. My camp sits 18 miles into the wilderness, we pack in boat batteries and run 3 strand electric fence around the entire camp and corral area that pushes 11,000 volts when turned on. I guess i should mention that if we didnt have that fence, we would have a grizz IN camp each night most likely. They are a serious nuisance and get worse as the season goes on and they get closer to hibernation as they look more and more for food sources. I will try to remember to post up a couple game cam pics i got this fall of one of the biggest bears i have deal with. He caused us absolute havoc around camp this year, so i set up a game cam and got picture and video of him hitting the fence.

 

[ssliger]

Entirely. The bears that i deal with are in 70,71. Its thick. from the trailheads all the way to the yellowstone line. My camp sits 18 miles into the wilderness, we pack in boat batteries and run 3 strand electric fence around the entire camp and corral area that pushes 11,000 volts when turned on. I guess i should mention that if we didnt have that fence, we would have a grizz IN camp each night most likely. They are a serious nuisance and get worse as the season goes on and they get closer to hibernation as they look more and more for food sources. I will try to remember to post up a couple game cam pics i got this fall of one of the biggest bears i have deal with. He caused us absolute havoc around camp this year, so i set up a game cam and got picture and video of him hitting the fence.

Would love to see those pics!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Entirely. The bears that i deal with are in 70,71. Its thick. from the trailheads all the way to the yellowstone line. My camp sits 18 miles into the wilderness, we pack in boat batteries and run 3 strand electric fence around the entire camp and corral area that pushes 11,000 volts when turned on. I guess i should mention that if we didnt have that fence, we would have a grizz IN camp each night most likely. They are a serious nuisance and get worse as the season goes on and they get closer to hibernation as they look more and more for food sources. I will try to remember to post up a couple game cam pics i got this fall of one of the biggest bears i have deal with. He caused us absolute havoc around camp this year, so i set up a game cam and got picture and video of him hitting the fence.

Yes sir!!! The hunt I went on in Thorofare was the same. Our camp had electric fence around it and several camp dogs that sounded the alarm when a bear was near....

 

[T.S. Allen]

Heck yeah lets see some of the pics. That sounds like some stressful sleep. I bet that helps keep hunters out in the field and not just sunning in camp.

But heck for the chance at a big old herd bull isn't it all worth it? As long as you stay alert use proper storage and keep a clean camp. It sounds like the trip of a lifetime.

 

[Fink]

Entirely. The bears that i deal with are in 70,71. Its thick. from the trailheads all the way to the yellowstone line. My camp sits 18 miles into the wilderness, we pack in boat batteries and run 3 strand electric fence around the entire camp and corral area that pushes 11,000 volts when turned on. I guess i should mention that if we didnt have that fence, we would have a grizz IN camp each night most likely. They are a serious nuisance and get worse as the season goes on and they get closer to hibernation as they look more and more for food sources. I will try to remember to post up a couple game cam pics i got this fall of one of the biggest bears i have deal with. He caused us absolute havoc around camp this year, so i set up a game cam and got picture and video of him hitting the fence.

Screw all that... When decided what units to apply for, the first question I answer, above all else, is: Are there grizzlies in the area. I refuse to hunt anywhere near where they are, or might could be.

You could say I have an mildly irrational fear of them.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I know one thing for sure....I consider the big bears (Grizzlies & Alaskan Browns) as the most dangerous animals in North America! I want nothing to do with them except from a long distance away. I really don't even have any desire to hunt them either. They are awsome animals.

 

[Muleys 24/7]

You might see signs like this when coming into the wilderness areas, this pic was taken by a buddy in Wyoming

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Yep, saw just like it at the Deer Creek Trailhead.

 

[HuntWYODon]

I can assure you, if you go along with your plan of yours to hunt elk in the wilderness with a resident...You will be hassled much more by grizz than by wolves. Its a whole different ball game out here than other areas that arent thick with bears.

I'll second that mntguide ! The grizzlies haven't been hunted since around 1970 and have no fear of people and will eat your downed elk if they get to it before you do and not a thing you can do about it. They have no fear of going after your hanging meat (elk and deer) either. I'm sure wolves are no different but at least they are getting an education , the slow way.
How all has been well with you mtnuide .

 

[HuntWYODon]

Hey ! I had copyrights on that pic ! LOL !
I have a better one taken by moonlite in a different area but I didn't want to scare you off with it...

 

[ivorytip]

eastern idaho units are getting there grizz probs too, obviously island park and driggs area but also pallisades on both sides of hwy and north and south of there along wyoming border. stopped baiting bears in a couple spots for that very reason. had a close run in with a grizz in unit 67 years back and wasnt cool knowing i had little choice as to what to do. luckly we backed out and he headed the other way. even during self protection if you harm or kill a grizz and tell about it you become the criminal. child molesters get lighter sentences than some people that have killed grizz in defense. not cool.

 

[mntnguide]

Here are a couple pictures of this guy from my game cam...I should mention that he figured out how to rip through the electric fence with one rip of his paw. That is what is laying on the ground under him. .. So yea, just cause you have a fence doesnt mean your safe. We guessed him at 500+lbs.. easily. He is one of dozens we see regularly. I usually see 2+ a day while out covering country guiding.

 

[elk_n_esox]

This will be like the movies.... "who's got first watch?"... don't forget the night vision goggles... oh New Mexico I miss you so....!

 

[ssliger]

That bear is huge!!!!!!!!!!!!!