This is my first post on here and was wondering if anyone on here drew a S.D. UNIT H2 BULL Tag or has anyone in the past had the tag after 13 yrs I drew one looks like it will be a solo hunt for me I have some good info just looking to see if anybody has some to share I would share some to looks like the best info is to get out in the back country a few miles my unit is Hill City west to Wyoming South boarder is Hwy 16 and North to Spearfish its a big unit with lots of public any info would be greatly appreciated.
S.d. Unit h2 any elk tag
- Thread starter SDARCHER
- Start date
Musket Man
Veteran member
Havent been in that part of SD much but sounds like an awesome hunt in some beautiful country! good luck! 36
birdhunter
Active Member
I am from NE Wyoming. We hunt the WY side of your unit all the time. I would go up and check out the summit ridge area. Lots and lots of big bulls there. There is a guzzler water hole off boles canyon road. Its in SD and we have put trail cams there to see whats in the area. Some monster bulls came in to drink. Lots of water guzzlers up there that always have elk coming in. Six mile road area will have lots of elk. Same basic area as summit ridge.
I've seen bulls around Bear Mountain Look Out north of Custer durring deer season. Several years ago there was a burn and the country is pretty open but is coming back. Plenty of elk sign when were out there. I havent put in for my 15 years or slipped a $100 in my envelope LOL so i havent gotten my tag yet. We did a late season muzzelloader hunt and bumped a huge herd on Newton Fork Road but that was the first time i had ever seen them up there. Along Ditch Creek RD brings you up to the area. Hope this helps.
birdhunter
Active Member
You may want to also check out your NW most boundary. Moskee area in Wyoming is a very good trophy unit and the elk always cross over into SD. This would be the tinton road area in and around trailshead on hwy 85 just south of spearfish or north of Newcastle, wy. I would say this area would be your best bet for a really big trophy bull. A lot of people from WY hunt area 1 and I would say the bulls range from 330 to 360 on average with 380+ as a big bull.
Just got back from my first scouting trip seen some good sign I found the water holes Birdhunter spoke of I traveled the Thompson Kinney Divide and walked out to a ridge and glassed 4 cows I have another trip planned the weekend of August 16th I'm going to get my trail cams out also checked out the bear mountain area which looked promising the Lady in the look out tower was very helpful aswell. I'm also going to check up north by the Wyoming border on my next trip I will report back with what I've found hopefully have some pics to share at the of August.
birdhunter
Active Member
I just did some scouting myself this last weekend. Way more water this year than last year. There are wallows everywhere!!! Drove to my campsite and set up some trail cams around the area. Rode the atv with the wife and on the way back to the campsite saw about 70 head of elk 100 yards away from camp. Can't wait to go back up to set up camp in 2 weeks and see what is on the cameras. Good luck sdarcher.
Thanks birdhunter I'm heading out the night of the 15th I've another lead I need to check out just west a little ways of Summit Ridge an older gent told me he had my tag 2 years ago and found a honey hole had a 40 yrd shot and didn't take it cuz he couldn't make the shot nut seen elk every day.
birdhunter
Active Member
Be careful where you go West of Summit Ridge!! Most land west of there is in Wyoming. We find a lot of SD residents hunting in Wyoming and the game warden patrols that area a lot because of it. Its fairly easy to tell where the boundary is. It is fenced off the whole way. You shouldn't have any problems. When it starts to get pretty rugged and steep, you are probably in Wyo.
Birdhunter I meant east of summit ridge is where the gent had his encounter and whear the spring is located he spoke of I walked over to the fence and seen it was marked really well I don't plan on crossing that Im not one for trouble looks like I'll be heading out friday in the early AM.
birdhunter
Active Member
I have seen a monster a couple years back while driving down 6 mile road, which is east of summit ridge. There are some huge elk in that area. Have fun and best of luck to you.
Ilovethewest
Active Member
birdhunter
Active Member
My trail cams are placed in places I usually wouldn't put them. But the rain has made it very difficult to find trails since the grass is so high!!! Not complaining, the elk should be nice and fat this year. I cant wait until hunting season. I love the west, you will be hunting elk sooner than it seems. You are always welcome at my camp and hopefully I can make it out to yours this fall.
BrettKoenecke
Member
- Jun 28, 2013
- 137
- 5
Sounds like alot of great info. I've heard lots of talk about the area around Signal Hill, north of Jewel Cave. Nothing really specific though
birdhunter
Active Member
Signal mtn is just east of summit ridge. That whole area is great for elk hunting. Always see some monster mulies as well.