Hunting Partner Dilemma

[jtm307]

Here's my situtation: I had arranged to be a resident guide for a non-resident into the wilderness area in WY elk area 98. I have a limited quota tag for the area, and the rifle season starts September 20. I haven't heard from him since late May so it's getting more likely, in my mind, I'll either have to go solo or find a new hunting partner. I don't mind going solo, but I'm a relatively new hunter and I've spent almost zero time in grizzly country, so I'm trying to think of ways to minimize risk and give my wife peace of mind. My plan is to scout for two full days in some areas recommended by a G&F biologist and hunt for 3 days, camping at the Big Sandy trailhead each night. I'm open to any tips (for both safety and success), but here are some specific questions I have:

1) How many grizzlies are there in the area? I talked to a biologist in the area, and he just said be aware of my surroundings and follow good food storage practice, and I'll be fine. Some others who hunt near Dubois have made it sound like they're everywhere. Are they projecting their experience of Dubois onto the area I'm hunting, which is much farther south?

2) Should I be concerned about hiking in the dark? If I'm solo, I was thinking not hiking in the dark would minimize grizzly risk, but how much will that hurt my chances of harvesting an elk? Should it even be a concern?

3) I've heard rumors of there being elk in the prairie in this area. Is it worth it to hunt the prairie?

I welcome advice, general or specific. I don't have an adequate sidearm, so when I'm scouting and packing meat, my plan was to carry a 12 gauge with slugs and 00 buckshot. I'll have bear spray the whole time. My hunting friends have strict schedules so finding a 'plan B' hunting partner is unlikely.

 

[colohunter]

Sat Phones and/or The Spot device go a long way toward keeping the family comfortable back at home. As far as grizzly country concerns, I cannot help you there. Never hunted in grizzly country. I'd probably tend toward the biologists word over anyone throwing out stories of their midnight bear encounters though.

 

[Fink]

Good luck. I can't help you out, but can certainly sympathize with your situation. Both my partners backed out on me over the weekend, and I leave for my trip in 2 weeks. I went out and bought a SPOT Gen 3.. It'll make my wife feel a little better, but not much.
Best of luck!

 

[gladen8]

Bears are not that thick down there (yet) but you could happen into one. Just carry bear spray and be food-wise at camp. You can find some elk on the prairies but mostly private land until snows push them down. IMO, you are better off in the wilderness or closer to it. If you don't want to hike in the dark, pack your camp in so you are already there. However, it would not stop me from hiking into your area in the dark. Just be aware. Dubois is a total different story and 69, 95, 96, 97 and north of there are more problematic.

 

[NDHunter]

Man, why is it SO flippin hard to find a good hunting partner?

 

[ivorytip]

Good luck. I can't help you out, but can certainly sympathize with your situation. Both my partners backed out on me over the weekend, and I leave for my trip in 2 weeks. I went out and bought a SPOT Gen 3.. It'll make my wife feel a little better, but not much.
Best of luck!

I got your back Fink. ill play grizz patrol while you sleep

 

[missjordan]

Very sorry to hear about your situation, we planned a archery elk hunt with a co worker to the Missouri breaks a few years ago and it was a less than spectacular trip. Wouldn't pay for any fuel and was extremely greedy with food and purchased supplies that was left over from the trip. I think when the trip was all said and done he didn't expect the trip to be that big of a financial burden, plus we hiked his butt off that towards the end of the week he quit hunting overall. Think I'd rather go by myself than want to deal with that again so I wouldn't be too hard on yourself about your partner bailing, because if he chose to go he really could be a pain to deal with. It is super hard to find a good person to hunt with!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[greentimber]

Yep. Better that he quit before than during.

 

[jtm307]

He didn't bail per se, but I suspect he decided he doesn't need a resident guide into the wilderness area and for whatever reason, hasn't informed me. My hunt is far from ruined, but I'm being forced into my first solo elk hunt in an area I would not have chosen to do my first solo elk hunt. I get to hunt during the rut with a rifle so it's not THAT bad... ;-)

 

[hoshour]

Tough situation, and I sympathize with you. I have yet to find a hunting partner for hunting CO, WY and MT.

My question is, how are you going to get an elk out of the wilderness by yourself? Do you have horses?

 

[jtm307]

On my back. I'll bone everything out and take my time. It'll be work, but it's the kind of work that makes one happy.

 

[mntnguide]

Taking your time in early september isnt always something you can do...Meat will spoil quickly, and its a minimum of 3-4 full trips for yourself. Not to mention, in grizzly country, the clock is always ticking faster. You may want to look into options for help when it comes to getting a bull out. Leaving meat on the ground for 24 hours is just asking for you to make it back there with a bear on it. Especially being rifle season. I know where i hunt, if i blast off a rifle, a bear will be around in a matter of an hour or so...so just take that into thought, you dont have a bunch of time when you are in bear country along with possible warm weather

 

[birdhunter]

My uncle and his son in law hunt that area almost every year. They have yet to run into a grizzly. They say they are in the area however. They hike above the big sandy lake and as high as they can get to the tree line early in the season. One day its good but if the snow starts to fly, think about heading lower. They say it don't stop sometimes and every year someone has to get rescued from deep snow. They usually take horses because it is really rough country in a lot of places but the wind river range is all around pretty rough terrain. You may want to stop at the big sandy lodge on your way up. See what it will cost to rent a horse or have them pack an elk out for you if you may have trouble getting one out. Im planning a moose hunt their in a few years around that area or north of pinedale. haven't decided which area yet. I stopped looking for hunting partners. They never seemed to want to work as hard or are on the same page as you are. My wife is my hunting partner now. Good luck and hope you have a blast.

 

[CrossCreeks]

Great Hunting partners are like Dogs, Guns and Wives, ( not in that order ) everyone deserves a great one once in a life time.
I also agree if I would be concerned about getting an Elk out in early Sept. by myself without spoilage !

 

[25contender]

I don't know what the water situation will be where you hunt but it can be your friend for storing meat. For a bull fully boned out will take you three or 4 trips to the truck a cow two trips. Have a few coolers with Ice in your truck to start with. If there is a mountain stream close to where you are hunting you can cache the boned out meat in bags there in the creek. I dam the creek up a little and put the bags in the deepest spot. I have been doing this for 25+ years and it works. Make sure you let the meat air cool after you bone it. You dont want 70lbs of hot meat in a bag in your pack it will start to go bad. after it air cools then pack it to the creek. it might take a few trips. Then from the creek to the coolers with ice in your truck. I have never lost any meat doing this and I have done many solo pack outs from 3+ miles.


Meat air cooling



In the creek

 

[Horsenhike]

I think this goes on the "A good problem to have" list.

Very thankful to have a wife who is as hard a worker and as enthusiastic about hunting as I am.

 

[jtm307]

I'm not too concerned about meat spoilage. It'll be below freezing at night. I'll hang the quarters in a tree by night and in a creek in bags by day. There's a lot of cold water where I'm going. I know of guys who've packed out elk solo in 80 degree weather without spoilage.

 

[Fink]

I got your back Fink. ill play grizz patrol while you sleep

hahahahaa, will you also sing me a lullaby? Sometimes I have difficulty falling asleep!

 

[jtm307]

If I use a SPOT messenger, can I pay the subscription for a month or do I have to buy a full year's subscription? The website is not abundantly clear.

 

[jtm307]

So I discovered today that I had been sending messages to the wrong email address. So if the plan goes south, it's on me. Emailed him right away. Fingers crossed, hoping the original plan is still intact. I could direct many expletives toward a mirror that would not be appropriate for this forum. :|