Hello Guys & Gals,
I just re-subscribed to EBJ & EHJ after being gone for a few years, but this is my first time using the web site and the Forum. Quite a bit of great information! I'm 58 yrs old, active, and an Illinois whitetail and coyote hunter. My favorite non-resident hunt is elk. I am not interested in hunting in GRIZ country, especially since I hunt solo. I've been on a few guided hunts & was fortunate to have harvested a spike and a 6x6 on guided (RIFLE - Saratoga WY region - Unit 15 + RIFLE - Purcell Wilderness, British Columbia, respectively).
I have also Archery DIYd Wyoming Area 15 / Spring Creek in 2010, west of Saratoga, as well as Rifle DIYd OTC Colorado GMU 14, in 2013, just above Steamboat. Saw a few elk in WY Area 15 - called in a nice bull to 15yds on my third day - but only had a cow tag - bummer. Saw one little bull in CO Area 14. The biggest problem was encountered in CO Area 14, just above Steamboat - 1st day of 2013 OTC Rifle elk. The biologist told me to be sure and get over the first drainage, but there was too much snow, so I perched on a high spot about a mile in, but in the first drainage - saw 21 hunters and one hiker that first day. Good news was that the area is full of moose.
I am partial to the Saratoga WY Area 15, as my wife accompanies me on my trips, but not always on the hunts. It is also fairly accessible, with a little boot leather. I currently have 3 WY elk PPs but hesitant to burn them on an Area 15 DIY ARCHERY. Kind of thinking about a guided hunt some time later to use these and more points I will accumulate. Also planning to apply for Colorado PPs, but have no idea of where to consider going, once I accumulate what is necessary.
I prefer to DIY and am going back for more punishment this year for a solo CO GMU 14 DIY OTC ARCHERY Elk in September. This time, however, I plan on getting in about two miles and starting from there.
My biggest anticipated problem is how to get a September elk out - before spoilage - if I am fortunate enough to arrow one. I know there are horse / packers in the Steamboat area who will rent out, but it takes a deposit and more
logistical planning - I think - than I want to mess with. I have plenty of Alaska Game bags.
I have a 2.5lb 30 degree bag, a 5.5lb tent with good fly, a good pack + a frame pack, a SPOT and a GPS, as well as maps of both CO GMU 14 Steamboat and my WY Area 15 drainages.
I have accessed both the WY and CO hunting web sites of the respective G & F and am reading as much as I can.
I will also be reading your MRS. Any guidance on how or WHERE to get away from the crowds (other than boot leather I already plan to expend - and not hiring horse & a guide) AND get an elk out b4 spoilage in September is much appreciated.
Also wondering if there are other areas I could focus on. HOWEVER, must have decent services in a nearby town for my wife to utilize while I hunt.
Half the fun is in the planning, eh?
I also would like to hunt wolf. Saw a small pack close up on the edge of Yellowstone in 2007 (above Gardiner, MT) but the wolf moratorium was in effect = no tag.
I think that should cover it. That might have been a bit of TMI, but this is supposed to be an introduction of myself, and I noted in the Forum that many veteran posters like to know a bit about the new poster.
Thanks folks.
Stand tall, shoot straight and speak the truth !
Rory
I just re-subscribed to EBJ & EHJ after being gone for a few years, but this is my first time using the web site and the Forum. Quite a bit of great information! I'm 58 yrs old, active, and an Illinois whitetail and coyote hunter. My favorite non-resident hunt is elk. I am not interested in hunting in GRIZ country, especially since I hunt solo. I've been on a few guided hunts & was fortunate to have harvested a spike and a 6x6 on guided (RIFLE - Saratoga WY region - Unit 15 + RIFLE - Purcell Wilderness, British Columbia, respectively).
I have also Archery DIYd Wyoming Area 15 / Spring Creek in 2010, west of Saratoga, as well as Rifle DIYd OTC Colorado GMU 14, in 2013, just above Steamboat. Saw a few elk in WY Area 15 - called in a nice bull to 15yds on my third day - but only had a cow tag - bummer. Saw one little bull in CO Area 14. The biggest problem was encountered in CO Area 14, just above Steamboat - 1st day of 2013 OTC Rifle elk. The biologist told me to be sure and get over the first drainage, but there was too much snow, so I perched on a high spot about a mile in, but in the first drainage - saw 21 hunters and one hiker that first day. Good news was that the area is full of moose.
I am partial to the Saratoga WY Area 15, as my wife accompanies me on my trips, but not always on the hunts. It is also fairly accessible, with a little boot leather. I currently have 3 WY elk PPs but hesitant to burn them on an Area 15 DIY ARCHERY. Kind of thinking about a guided hunt some time later to use these and more points I will accumulate. Also planning to apply for Colorado PPs, but have no idea of where to consider going, once I accumulate what is necessary.
I prefer to DIY and am going back for more punishment this year for a solo CO GMU 14 DIY OTC ARCHERY Elk in September. This time, however, I plan on getting in about two miles and starting from there.
My biggest anticipated problem is how to get a September elk out - before spoilage - if I am fortunate enough to arrow one. I know there are horse / packers in the Steamboat area who will rent out, but it takes a deposit and more
logistical planning - I think - than I want to mess with. I have plenty of Alaska Game bags.
I have a 2.5lb 30 degree bag, a 5.5lb tent with good fly, a good pack + a frame pack, a SPOT and a GPS, as well as maps of both CO GMU 14 Steamboat and my WY Area 15 drainages.
I have accessed both the WY and CO hunting web sites of the respective G & F and am reading as much as I can.
I will also be reading your MRS. Any guidance on how or WHERE to get away from the crowds (other than boot leather I already plan to expend - and not hiring horse & a guide) AND get an elk out b4 spoilage in September is much appreciated.
Also wondering if there are other areas I could focus on. HOWEVER, must have decent services in a nearby town for my wife to utilize while I hunt.
Half the fun is in the planning, eh?
I also would like to hunt wolf. Saw a small pack close up on the edge of Yellowstone in 2007 (above Gardiner, MT) but the wolf moratorium was in effect = no tag.
I think that should cover it. That might have been a bit of TMI, but this is supposed to be an introduction of myself, and I noted in the Forum that many veteran posters like to know a bit about the new poster.
Thanks folks.
Stand tall, shoot straight and speak the truth !
Rory
