Unit 38 Archery Elk

[Zim]

Curious if anyone here has bowhunted elk in unit 38. Been searching through archives and seen some good comments, then a few that say they ran into a lot of other hunters. One in our party is one point below max, so this looks to be one of our few options if we want to draw this year.

 

[jenbickel]

Yes, there are tons of people that hunt 38. You won't just run in to elk hunters either. You have mule deer hunting, sage grouse and bear season all at the same time.

 

[Zim]

Do you know if there is some high country we could backpack up into to get away from at least the grouse hunters? I'm also curious if the NR archery deer permits there are by draw only, or if there are leftovers (in case we fill elk tags early). Thanks.

 

[huskyhunter]

That is region Y you would be hunting in, and last year the tags sold out sortly after the leftover list came out. In 2011 there were tags available throughout the season, but they reduced the number of tags from 2011 to 2012.

 

[BobcatJerry]

Just a heads up, last year there was no archery hunting in 38 unless you had a type 9 license. Pretty sure. I about applied for unit 40 type 1 special wanting to archery hunt early, odds were 75% in random draw if I didn't get my first choice, but archery with type 1 wasn't offered last year, so I changed it. I want the type one so I can go back with a rifle if I so desire especially if I burn my points on first choice.

 

[WapitiBob]

I looked at 38 pretty hard but decided I wanted to bust one with the 7STW if I couldn't get it done with the bow so I went to another unit.
In 38, most of the roads are on top and you'll probably be packing down into the main drainages where you can then get under them with the thermals in your face.
If you've added the topo server to your google earth you can find the roadless areas up in the nw quarter of the unit where packing in is the way to go.
here is a link to the online FS maps for Wyoming.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/recreation/map/wyoming/html-current/080708/hi-speed map/wyoming-hi-speed-index.shtml

 

[birdhunter]

The type 9 tags for archery only usually have a season that goes from sept 1-15th. Then they usually let the general archery tag holders hunt the 2nd half of the month. They might have changed that in that unit, I'm not sure. There are a ton of people that hunt the big horns. Lots of them go upin hunting parties and if they are unsuccessful drawing an elk, they will grouse hunt or deer hunt. Lots of atv trails and lots of people using them. Your best bet is to hike a long ways off the beaten path. Even then, sometimes you will run into lots of people.

 

[jenbickel]

The 38 type 9 season is sept 1-30. It is not a general unit, it's a limited draw.
If you walk far enough, you can get away from the all the other hunters.

 

[buckbull]

There is no wilderness areas and there is a ton of road access. My limited exposure to the area though is that most of the hunters just drive the roads on their ATVs. And there is a LOT of these folks, however, when I went about a half mile off the road, never encountered anybody. Like Jen said, its limited entry draw for elk, you just have to contend with all the deer hunters.

 

[birdhunter]

Sorry Jen, I meant general archery as in those that buy an archery tag, not put in for the type 9. Other areas around the state have a season from sept. 1-15th for type 9 then sept 16-30th for the general archery tag holders. I thought area 38 use to be that way.

 

[Zim]

I am far from wild about this hunt, but I got enough input from Bowsite guys who drew it last year, that I don't feel it is a total reach to spend my points there. So it looks like we will go for it before they raise the fees next year.

 

[Fink]

Zim, the bill to raise fees was shot down today. No tag increases coming next year..

 

[Zim]

Ya I just heard. That's very good. Curious what the reason was. Maybe what happened in Montana.

 

[cwoodburn]

38 type 9 - if you put your boots and pack on you can get away from people. There's some steep country. We ran into 1 hunter and a lot of cows. Saw some bulls, passed on a few bulls. Good unit...

 

[j50wells]

I live in Denver. I've spent a lot of time in unit 38 during bow season. If you look hard you'll find that there are some honey holes that many hunters do not know about. I know of a rugged basin in the unit that is full of elk. I've been to this basin some thirty times in the last ten years and I have failed to enter the basin yet without running into elk. The elk up there are very vocal. Bulls bugle all morning long, sometimes I'll hear four of five of them screaming.
However, there are units that are much better than 38. 38 is close to Denver. In addition the rifle tags are sold over the counter for this unit. While the elk populations are strong, the bull to cow ratio is not as high as other units. The elk are also smarter in this unit because they get jumped four or five times a day during elk seasons. They've all seen death and carnage and so have become habitually skittish. They will stay in the timber and brush more often than in other units. But, for the hunter who is willing to scout and go into rough country, he will find elk in good numbers.

 

[buckbull]

I live in Denver. I've spent a lot of time in unit 38 during bow season. If you look hard you'll find that there are some honey holes that many hunters do not know about. I know of a rugged basin in the unit that is full of elk. I've been to this basin some thirty times in the last ten years and I have failed to enter the basin yet without running into elk. The elk up there are very vocal. Bulls bugle all morning long, sometimes I'll hear four of five of them screaming.
However, there are units that are much better than 38. 38 is close to Denver. In addition the rifle tags are sold over the counter for this unit. While the elk populations are strong, the bull to cow ratio is not as high as other units. The elk are also smarter in this unit because they get jumped four or five times a day during elk seasons. They've all seen death and carnage and so have become habitually skittish. They will stay in the timber and brush more often than in other units. But, for the hunter who is willing to scout and go into rough country, he will find elk in good numbers.

The thread is unit 38 Wyoming, and it appears you are discussing Colorado???? 38 is about as far from Denver can be without leaving wyoming.