Thanks for the reply. Not really worried about wolves or bears....just worried about their affect on the elk/deer. wolves kill them all winter and bears get them in the spring. not good. So that area is pretty overrun? thats too bad. Before he passed, grandpa did say he saw more outfitters in he region than he did in the 70's and 80's. I still want to do that hunt, just to see the country, experience the land, and to hunt the areas my grandfather once did. Maybe I am too sentimental......We too considered getting off the roads completely and setting up a camp a few miles back. Grizzlys make that more time consuming and difficult......but still doable.
as for trophy potential, I am just getting back into western hunting from a 10 year period of not going due to college, work, family, and ect. I have only shot 1 elk, and that was a cow in the Bighorns by Burgess junction. This would be my first bow hunt. we would like to go on a bow elk hunt before we burn our points on a better. Maybe send in for an easier to get tag as an option 2??? we also considered Idaho or Colorado OTC. But I love Wyoming..........would rather hunt here.
I am relatively familiar with the black hills area as well. I just didnt think the elk pop was very large and the land not as big. My family also used to deer hunt for many years south of sundance on the dillon ranch, on 116 towads upton. That deer season was in Nov. if I remember correctly, so they used to do early elk hunts and hunted deer later. I dont know how they made 2 trips to WY from WI every year, or most years at least. I can barely afford 1 trip! I know there is elk on mt. Inyancara, as well as up in the Bear Lodge area north of sundance. I guess i never considered those areas, they dont get good pub or ratings. Wish we could still hunt at dillons, but its leased to outfitters, which prices me out. I am a DIY guy. Maybe it would be worth adding that unit as a second choice???? if you dont want to put too much info out on here, you could PM me. I think there are 3 units in that area, without looking on WGFD website. 116,117.....and unit 1???
I also mule deer hunted in the desert area by the powder river which is unit 2 for elk. we have seen sign and a energy comany trucker we talked to had seen a good herd with a good bull in the area before......but I dont think there are tons of elk around there, but it would be an option i guess.
any suggestions guys/gals? we could happily tag a 320" bull...........to be honest, I will be shooting any legal bull on m first DIY elk hunt. So we would like to hunt somewhere before we draw a greys river tag or a different tag in a better unit. Would it be possible to get a 1,2,116,117 tag as a 2nd option? or are the odds impossible? would it be worth my time doing a DIY archery hunt in those areas? Is access possible? I would prefer to avoid tresspass fees and such if possible.
Thanks again guys. I am only 31, but it kills me that I misssed so many years of these hunts. I have the itch to really get back into them hardcore. I missed so many opportunities......not any more!
Thanks for the help.
Luke
