Elk diy

[Retterath]

I have finally made my mind up and I’m going to do a DIY instead of getting an outfitter. I’m still young and in good shape. I plan on hunting with a friend that grew up in Sheridan Wyoming so he knows a little bit of the area but was young when he lived there. It seems like it’s hard to draw a tag on the east side of the big horns in units 35, 36, 37, & 38.. am I correct about that? We will both have 1 PP going into the 2015 season. We will be rifle hunting and haven’t elk hunted yet so looking for an area that will have a good number of elk and good chance to draw. We are not after huge bulls, just an average bull. What it looks like most of the best opportunities for a big bull will take a while to draw in a trophy unit. In the Wyoming elk unit map it says that you can’t hunt in a wilderness area without a guide or resident. Is all the stuff on the map that is in green all considered wilderness and stuff I can’t hunt on a DIY hunt? I am not a resident.. We would be staying in a wall tent or maybe backpacking in. I want to try to get in far enough to get away from any other hunters… any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance..

 

[Musket Man]

Most of the "green' is forest service that you can hunt. There is some wilderness in the bighorns. I think its just south of 38? There might be a few units you would have a chance at in the special draw but in the regular draw you will need atleast 3 or 4 points aside from some units that are general units.

 

[Drelk]

With whatever area u decide on. Get a cow tag. Best way to learn an area. Test your gear. Test yourself. And a great way to save your point and determine if the area is suits u.

 

[kiddwinner]

Let me know what u draw and I can help from there!

 

[Retterath]

So i could put in for 38 first choice with one point and most likely not draw and put in for a cow tag second choice are the odds of drawing a cow tag pretty good. Cause I wouldn't mind getting a cow tag and get to know the area for when I draw a bull tag. I suppose that would be an option.

 

[Musket Man]

There are some units you can draw a cow tag 2nd choice. There are cheaper cow/calf tags in some too but be careful with them because alot of them restrict you to hunting only cretin parts of the unit. Go over the draw stats on the WY site and if you have questions about how to read them let me know.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

If you are looking at the elk map in the Wyoming regulations, the "wilderness" is cross-hatched. You can hunt public land outside of that cross-hatched without an outfitter. The outfitter requirement only applies to the area inside the cross-hatched area on the map.

 

[Retterath]

Thanks guys

 

[Topgun 30-06]

So i could put in for 38 first choice with one point and most likely not draw and put in for a cow tag second choice are the odds of drawing a cow tag pretty good. Cause I wouldn't mind getting a cow tag and get to know the area for when I draw a bull tag. I suppose that would be an option.

***That would work! Last year it took <4PPs for a 100% success rate for a 38-1 tag, while the 38-4 cow tag was 100% with 0PPs. There are no reduced price Type 6 cow/calf tags issued for unit 38.

 

[Retterath]

I was looking at unit 39 for elk and read on a post someone was saying it was hard for access. Why is that such a bad thing on the access part 39 is almost all public. Isn't it better to have less access so a person doesn't have to worry about coming up on trucks or 4-wheelers when trying to find elk. I plan on backpacking in with a buddy so can someone explain the access thing to me. I also read on a different site that when it snows in there sometimes people weren't able to get vehicles out and had to leave them in there, is that because of the greasy roads and terrible traction

 

[WapitiBob]

No hard access in 39 if you can walk. It's all downhill from the roads and you'll want to be below them or at least level at sun up.
I take my quad and leave my truck at the blacktop. I was the only guy hunting Antelope in my area this year because of the silted and muddy roads. Nobody with a truck could get more than about 50 yards off the pavement. The quad stayed on top and putted right along.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

WapitiBob is spot on as usual with his comments on 39.