WY Moose Area 18 Update

[Elkoholic307]

My dad really enjoyed hunting this area in the 1980s and killed a good bull there while he was at it. I would like to follow in his foot steps and get a moose of my own in his old stomping grounds. But, before I use all my points on it, I'd like to know how the population is doing. My dad is concerned as G&F only issues 5 licenses currently. He said the quota used to be much, much larger and there were moose all over the place. That was "back in the good ol' days" though. Some of you general elk hunters that hunt around Dubois might know it better as Area 83. I'm going to be contacting as many people as I can this week but would also sure appreciate any help I could get from this forum. Thank you in advance!

 

[Elkoholic307]

 

[libidilatimmy]

That's a tough call to make. All of the areas in the Togwotee pass region have had serious declines in moose numbers, just look at how many areas they've closed around there in recent years. As a kid, we used to play the "count how many moose you could see" from the highway on trips over the pass and would routinely see 20-30 one way, now you're lucky if you see a few. They're still around, but you'd want to scout hard and put in quite a few miles to find them in order to be successful.

 

[sneakypete]

I think I'd try for the Snowy mountains, though I don't know the unit number I've read it's becoming a great moose unit. I'm sure others will chime in on this unit also.

 

[libidilatimmy]

No doubt the Snowy's and Big Horn's are better areas than the Wind River's now day's, but you won't be able to sniff a chance at drawing a tag in those areas without being in the max point pool. There's still some really good bulls in the Wind River's, they're just way more spread out than they used to be so a tougher hunt should be expected.

 

[30Hart]

+1, I say go hunting instead of waiting for a top point area. My buddy and I just went two for two the last two seasons on Boone and Crockett moose in lower-tier moose areas...the key with moose is having the time available to hunt all three phases of the hunt...good luck!

 

[Elkoholic307]

I think I'd try for the Snowy mountains, though I don't know the unit number I've read it's becoming a great moose unit. I'm sure others will chime in on this unit also.

I wouldn't even consider 18 if I had the points to draw 38.

 

[Hilltop]

No doubt the Snowy's and Big Horn's are better areas than the Wind River's now day's, but you won't be able to sniff a chance at drawing a tag in those areas without being in the max point pool. There's still some really good bulls in the Wind River's, they're just way more spread out than they used to be so a tougher hunt should be expected.

Non-residents drew a Snowy Range tag (area 38 moose) with 16 points last year. Residents still will require max points (19 last year) for many years to come. In my opinion the quality is going down hill because they are offering a few too many bull tags. When they first offered tags here I felt it would be an area the next world record could come out of- now I believe a guy would be doing well to shoot a 45" bull. I have had friends who live in Laramie draw the tag in recent years and they struggled to find a trophy bull.

 

[Elkoholic307]

I have no desire to hunt the Snowies. Point is, if I had max points I wouldn't be looking at anything other than 1 or 42. But, with 14 points, the Bighorns are just a dream. Before I used my points on a lesser area such as 18, I would just like to know if moose even exist there any more. So far, it sounds like the grizz and wolves far outnumber them. I wouldn't be holding out for a trophy either. Just looking to have a fun hunt with my dad and relive some of his memories. Moose sightings would be the goal; not a B&C bull.

 

[libidilatimmy]

Look's like the average day's/harvest in the Fish Creek area was right around 14 per the GF report last year. Everyone was successful that had a tag though. With 14 pts, you might get into the mix in the Gros Ventre area immediately to the West that shows far better harvest stats.

 

[meat hunter]

Seems to be some south of liedy. Would guess they come from the grovaunt (sp). Used to see a lot around lily lake in the draws of the south fork

 

[shootbrownelk]

Seems to be some south of liedy. Would guess they come from the grovaunt (sp). Used to see a lot around lily lake in the draws of the south fork

Lily lake? Isn't that area #17? A buddy had a #15 moose tag back in 1996. We had no problem finding a good bull back then. It may be quite a chore nowadays, seeing as how few tags are issued now compared to the Pre-Wolf saturation of the early to mid-90's.

 

[meat hunter]

Yes it is unit 17. Elk hunted 81 & 83 within the last 5 years, which would be moose 17 & 18, saw moose in both units but more in 17 when we were there. 20 years ago or so there was a resident heard that hung out closer to spread creek in the draws/willow areas year around.

 

[Elkoholic307]

I wanted to apply there but couldn't bring myself to do it when the time came.

 

[WY ME]

I wanted to apply there but couldn't bring myself to do it when the time came.

Good decision.