Unit 316 Early Season Rifle Hunt

[BKhunter50]

Hello Everyone!

Can honestly say this is my first post ever. Been reading everyone elses for years. Time to get off the sideline I guess. I'm new to this Forum, but have been a subscriber to Eastmans for years. I love to hunt elk. I always seem to be the caller instead of the shooter when I go. I guess its because I'm pretty good on the call and enjoy watchig my son and close friends harvest elk ALMOST as much as shooting them myself. We do it DIY using packpacks. Usually do archery hunts, but im open to using the rifle as long as I can get in on some rutt action. In the past we have used Llamas to pack out the meat. I'm turning 50 this year and still feel great. I want to try a different place other than Colorado. I was recently looking at that early rifle hunt in unit 316. Does anyone have ay insite on that hunt? Nonreseidetn draw odds? Quality of the hunt? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks guys.

 

[MTHusker]

I hunt just to the north of 316 in 560, It is rugged beautiful country, elk are there, but would not expect to see them every day. This is grizzly country, so be bear aware. The weather is also something to be very, very aware of, It can be shirt sleeve weather or it could be sub zero, even in September. Do not need to worry about drawing odds, at least the past 5 years or so Montana has had leftover elk tags from March 15th date for a NR. This area in my opinion requires a person with a vast amount of mountain experience and knowledge, good luck with your endeavor.

 

[BKhunter50]

MTHusker - thank you for the reply! How has the winter been this year? I've read that Wyoming and Colorado are getting hit hard. I'm not sure i would put myself in the "vast" catagory when it comes to mountain expereince. I've solo backpack hunted for archery elk twice 5 hours from the trail head and moose hunted the Yukon by myself for 10 days - so im no stranger to adventure, but I certaily have more to learn when it comes to mountain knowledge. As far as the grizzly go, other than making sure my food it up in a tree when im not eating it, being "aware" of my surroundings and packing pepper spray - any other things I need to think about?

 

[MTHusker]

December and first part of January have brought quite a bit on snow, wind and cold, getting a break now in temperatures. My biggest question would be have you visited this country before? I would think it is pretty big country without any real knowledge of it. There are quite a few folks who head up with horses and 4 wheelers, there are a few forest service trails. As far as bears go, there is lots of good material to read on what one should or should not do in bear country. I will reiterate the fact that the weather may be your biggest challenge even in September, be prepared to spend a day or two in your tent, not saying it will, but be prepared One question, I thought to hunt moose in the Yukon as a alien non resident you must have a guide?

 

[BKhunter50]

Thank you. On the moose hunt I flew out of Circle Alaska in a bush plane and was dropped off along a tributary to the Yukon River. I floated the tributary hunting moose and eventually ended up on the Yukon River. I floated down the Yukon River for about 30 miles to a small town where my hunt ended. I harvested a 50" bull on that trip. Glad he fell 20 yards from the river bank because it felt more like 200 yards hauling meat to the raft. It literally took me 10 hours to get the moose meat all loaded up on the raft from the time the moose fell.