Archery Bull Elk 61, 71, 62, 72-74

[hubba20]

I´m a NV resident and I have 6 points going into the 2013 draw. I have spent a lot of time in areas 23, 11, and 22 and I know there are A LOT of big bulls in these areas, but I have never been to the northern part of the state.

What I have personally seen is that all of the biggest NV bulls come from the 23, 22, and 11 areas, but a few nice ones come out of the northern-part too... Since I have 6 points I have a DECENT chance of drawing a 61, 71....62... or 72-74 archery tag... I realize I could get lucky and draw 22, 23, or 11, but I dont have a great chance for that...

So my question is:
Would it be worth it to burn my points for a 61,71....62....or 72-74 tag and possibly have to wait 10 years to put in again. Or should I just forget those areas and stay with 23, 22, and 11 and have the best chance of killing a monster bull? I figure that since its so hard to get a NV Bull Elk tag, I want to kill a big bull when I get a tag. So is the hunting good enough and the bulls big enough in the northern-areas to use my points? Or should I just stay with 23, 22, and 11???

Any opinions about the northern-areas would be great... Willing to help anyone who´s got questions about 22, 23, or 11!
Thanks



PS:
I also realize that the 22 and 11 areas got split into 2 separte areas, so that might give me a better chance of drawing one of these areas...??
But it´s impossible to tell what my odds will be until they update the ndow.org website with the 2012 info...
Does anyone know when they will be updating the info from 2012??

 

[tdub24]

Sounds like you have a lot of knowledge of 23, 11, and 22 so I would stick with that.. Monster bulls can be found in any unit in NV, and I'm talking 400" bulls (give or take 15") have been killed every year in all the units you mentioned. If wouldn't burn points for units I am unfamiliar with. I normally notice they get the NDOW page updated around end of March or beginning of April. Hope this helps.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

111-222 late season. The later the better. Tons of bulls and many many over the 350" and plenty in the 380" and always every year the 400"+.

 

[packer58]

111-222 late season. The later the better. Tons of bulls and many many over the 350" and plenty in the 380" and always every year the 400"+.

I somewhat agree with IKIC, there are plenty of serious bulls in 111-222.....However hunting the late season with archery gear would very tough.

 

[CRIT'R GIT'R]

I would stick with the area that I know and could scout the most. Thats the nice thing abouy being able to put five choices down for the draw. Put your southern units in for the first three and a couple easier to draw units on your last two. You might hit the lottery and pull Pioche, but I bet you wont be disappointed even if you got your last choice. And if you are turn it back in, eat the 120 bucks and get your points back. Then you just have to hope the elk gods hook you up with another tag without having to wait 20 years.

 

[hubba20]

I think i forgot to mention before that i am interested in ONLY archery hunts... i know the late rifle hunts can get some monster bulls, but those arent easy tags to get... so im going to focus on archery only...
with that being said, i think you guys are right for the most part. i know the southern areas really well, but i know nothing about the northern states, so i should probably stick with the southern areas... i guess the biggest concern that i have is not being able to draw one of the southern area tags for a LONG time... i know someone who drew after 5 years, and another it took over 13, so i guess it depends... im not affraid to learn a new area but only if its worth burning the points. i dont want to draw like a 72 tag and go up there and regret it. if i do draw a northern tag, i want to be sure beforehand...
Does anyone have any pictures of some bulls that have been killed in the northern areas recently? Just curious to see what the bulls are looking like there....

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I somewhat agree with IKIC, there are plenty of serious bulls in 111-222.....However hunting the late season with archery gear would very tough.

The early hunt for bow is also good in the same areas. The late hunts are for rifle. Agreed that it would be a tough bow hunt but there are some great hunting areas for bow that aren't to bad to get to.

 

[hubba20]

thanks for all the opinions everyone! anyone else got a different idea??

 

[Zim]

Personally I'd stick with early archery to hunt the incredible rut there and avoid busted up racks. I drew 111-222 in 2007 and scored a 350 7/8 P&Y on the 9th day. Had to pass on two 390-400 bulls I had in bow range, but just seeing them was awesome.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

I've been seeing some monster bulls comming out of area 6 lately. The mass on these bulls are unreal. Time length isn't like 111-222 but the mass makes up for it. I would still stay in the area you know. 111-222 is proven to produce great bulls.

 

[shedhead]

I drew an archery tag for 72,74 two years ago. You will have to scout and hunt hard to turn up a 370+ bull, only saw 2 or 3 in 17 days being over there. Good units, tons of elk and a blast to hunt, but lots of 300-310 bulls and not many above that. I know of one 400 killed on the early rifle that year.