Hi all, we've hunted doe/fawn deer and antelope in WY before, but never elk. We are looking at putting in the draw for cow elk in one of the units west of the big horns. I have studied the area on google earth, but I have no idea of elk patterns. Can someone point me to the best unit in this area for draw odds as well as likelihood of success? Also, two of my friends are lazy and don't want to have to work for a cow. Do the elk come down out of the forest into the irrigated fields, and, if so, what time of year would be best to catch them doing this.
Wyoming cow elk west of bighorns
- Thread starter Watts
- Start date
Manualman
Active Member
Hilltop
Veteran member
Watts,
Many people who haven't hunted elk think of cow elk like they would an eastern whitetail doe hunt. This isn't the case on public land hunts. If you guys are looking for an easy hunt I would take go-deep's advice and book a private land cow elk hunt where the guides will do the work for you. Even then, the word lazy and elk don't belong in the same sentence. They are typically tough animals to hunt that require work to be successful. As far as areas- I don't have any advice west of the bighorns but i think an area 7, private ground, guided cow elk hunt would be on the easier end of the spectrum. Area 108 in the southern end would also offer an easier hunt if booking with an outfitter.
Maybe the best option is to take your less than motivated friends on an antelope hunt and find some go getters to accompany you on an elk hunt.
Many people who haven't hunted elk think of cow elk like they would an eastern whitetail doe hunt. This isn't the case on public land hunts. If you guys are looking for an easy hunt I would take go-deep's advice and book a private land cow elk hunt where the guides will do the work for you. Even then, the word lazy and elk don't belong in the same sentence. They are typically tough animals to hunt that require work to be successful. As far as areas- I don't have any advice west of the bighorns but i think an area 7, private ground, guided cow elk hunt would be on the easier end of the spectrum. Area 108 in the southern end would also offer an easier hunt if booking with an outfitter.
Maybe the best option is to take your less than motivated friends on an antelope hunt and find some go getters to accompany you on an elk hunt.
dan maule
Veteran member
Bonecollector
Veteran member
I assume this is for 2017 as the tags have been sold out for quite some time and you are talking about putting in for the draw....?
None the less, good luck.
None the less, good luck.
NE69
Active Member
Backup plan is doe/fawn deer and/or antelope in the same general area. We are all going to put in the drawing for all three animals and see what happens. I just posted a question about irrigated lands in the deer section of the forum. If anyone here has any experience with this, I would appreciate if you could respond to that posting.