What is your plan for for elk do you hunt every year or only when you can draw a tag in a great area? I like to hunt every year so I apply where I have a good chance of drawing. The years I don't draw I get a cow tag for the area we hunt. Lets here everones strategy.
elk strategy
- Thread starter nebugle
- Start date
Musket Man
Veteran member
I can get a tag every year in my home state but its spike only and pretty low success rate and is more scouting for hopefully drawing an any bull tag someday. Idaho I can get a general tag anytime and its 1 of my back pocket hunts if I dont draw anywhere else. WY Im looking at some units that take 3-5 points. NV I could be in for a very long wait but I dont mind having 1 thats a long shot.
gonhunting247
Veteran member
- Jan 21, 2014
- 1,216
- 797
Living in OR you hunt here every year if you want. I just put in for a draw tag and if unsuccessful I get a point, and I go general bow, general bull 1st season or general bull 2nd season depending on what other tags I draw out of state.I treat OR as my opportunity state.(elk meat and hunting w/family) I always put in for UT, NV and put in or pts for WY, CO. This year I added a late season AZ try,and usually I put in for MT special draw when I plan on deer hunting there. ID and NM get used for years when I'm short on hunts or just feeling lucky, so they get skipped a lot. If I ever draw more than 1 or 2 tags in the same year I may be in trouble. Some years like this year when I know I'll be going to AK I just will get pts. I have a good chance to draw UT so it's either points or super hard to draw tags everywhere else. The plan is basically, now that I'm getting points racked up, is to go on 1 or 2 hunts besides OR per year. With any luck those should include more elk hunts in years to come!
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Hilltop
Veteran member
I hunted every other year since moving out of Wyoming up until 8 years ago. That's when I started gaining points for my "once in a lifetime" elk hunt in a blue chip area. I drew my tag this year so I hope it was worth the wait. Next year I will go back to every other year (hopefully) general tag hunting. In off years I drive out to hunt antelope, mule deer, and cow moose when I draw.
I've never been lucky enough to draw an elk permit in Montana. Every year I get a point and hunt in general OTC areas. Trophy quality in general areas is just as good in most permit areas in Montana. I stay away from the breaks because I don't like to see other people when I'm elk hunting. Its hard hunting on public land, but if you're mobile and not afraid to bust your butt, you can kill a bull every year.
kesand72
Active Member
My strategy is to go on 1 out of state big game hunt every year, so elk kinda gets rotated. Since 2011 I've been out after black bear, antelope, and elk, and 2014 will be elk again.
This is in addition to a couple whitetail hunts out of town but in state, as well as Michigan turkey with a fellow electrician I met in Indiana.
This is in addition to a couple whitetail hunts out of town but in state, as well as Michigan turkey with a fellow electrician I met in Indiana.
kesand72
Active Member
25contender
Veteran member
- Mar 20, 2013
- 1,638
- 90
How true about the breaks. Back in the late 80s early 90s a friend and myself would hunt the breaks and we would be one of the few camps for miles. I couldn't wait to go back and bow hunt the breaks every year. Sometime in the 90s there was a big writeup in a magazine I think Field and stream about the breaks and ever since it has been wall to wall hunters. I cant blame them it is a easy hunt as far as the terrain and altitude but the odds of shooting a monster now with all the hunters is pretty tough. Ever since then I have been heading higher and higher in rough country and it has paid off. I quit putting in for LE permits many years ago and still see lots of decent animals. Ready for this year!!
RockChucker30
Active Member
I would personally rather hunt more frequently with less chance of a trophy. I'll go OTC and bank points, but I'm kind of undecided if the points are worth it for an out of stater like me. I think I will increase my chances of getting a good bull more by really learning one unit than by hopping around on LE tags where I'm going in with little scouting.
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Hilltop
Veteran member
Hilltop
Veteran member
You definitely increase your chances by learning an area. You can do both though... I would build points and get cow permits for the area you want to hunt. Hunt cow elk until you draw your permit and you will learn the area very well and keep your freezer full in the mean time. Take a look at area 11 in Wyoming. Doesn't take too many points to draw but the limited quota makes the hunting pressure fairly low. Many huge bulls come out of there every year...
I try to go on an out of state hunt every year. Last year was muley and pronghorn,wyoming. Year before was Colorado archery elk OTC with my grown kids. Before that was prongs with the kids in Wyoming. Before that Wyoming rifle elk and OTC elk in Colorado. I have the most fun when the kids can go but it's pretty hard for kids to get enough time off in todays work society and with their own family pressures. We have just as big a time getting leftover and OTC tags and it does make it easier to schedule hunts. This year I was fortunate to draw a general elk in Wyoming, second choice, and a cow tag. Am still trying to figure out if I should put in for a prong or just buy leftovers and hope the kids can come along for a long weekend. Decisions ,decisions! Anyways lots of options. Good luck to you in whatever you come up with.