Looking for any info on elk in these zones. Some friends and I are considering these zones for next year and was hoping for some guidance. Thanks
Wyoming Elk area 102/104
- Thread starter mattdeere
- Start date
Topgun 30-06
Banned
I don't really know what you want to know, so I'll just throw out a couple things. Both of the units are under the General tag, which means you may need more than one Preference Point in the draw to get a tag. If you haven't bought any PPs, buy one before time runs out on 9/30 and the PP will be good in the draw next year. It's possible that you may have a lot of competition compared to a Limited Quota unit since the General tag has no limit on number sold to residents. 102 is the bigger of the two units and has more public land even though the southeastern 1/4 is checkerboarded and really not huntable because of access problems. Both units are open from 10/15 to 10/24, which is a pretty short season and that will probably concentrate hunters compared to a longer season or a limited quota unit.
Thanks for the info. I have 5 points now and haven't bought my point this year yet. A couple friends want to hunt so I'm willing to burn my points for them to get them into Elk country. I was thinking about hunting around Commissary or Coantag Creek. I know the Elk are where you find them but would that be a good place to start?
Topgun 30-06
Banned
Sorry, but I'm not familiar with the area you're talking about and can't offer any advice on that. Howver, here is what you need to do if you are going to be so generous with the 6 PPs you'll have next year that would get you into a lot of great LQ units if you used them yourself. Have your buddies both buy a PP before 9/30 and that will give you a total of 8 for a 2.66 average as a party going into the draw. That will definitely get you the General tags with no problem so you can start planning right now on whether to go to one of those units you're looking at right now or another of the many units open under a General tag. You will put in for the General tag in January next year, but you actually have well over a year from now to actually decide where to use those tags in the Fall of 2014. Good luck!
WapitiBob
Veteran member
You could buy a 104 cow tag and hunt this year, giving you some valuable insight before you burn points. You can also get a GEN tag as a 2nd choice in the pricy draw next year. Guaranteed even with zero points.
Topgun 30-06
Banned
There are still 36 cow/calf tags left for this season in 104 after the draw and they are on a first come first served basis, so it's sort of like calling it an OTC until they are gone. You can go into your account and buy them right online just like your PP and you can buy two under the new rules.
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Mattdeere,
I am familiar with the country you are describing. Both are decent general season areas. But since the Commissary ridge area is over 20 miles long, there are lots of areas with elk, and just as many if not more without elk. Elk aren't behind every tree. These units have a strong population (extra cow tags available) and an ample supply of hunters. Success ratios are good for a general season unit, but you won't shoot many elk driving down the road. The country is steep and generally heavily timbered, but with open hillsides as well. Count on having to burn some boot rubber to get back to the elk. Horses are used heavily in these units to access the back country. Coantag creek is a particularly rugged area and many miles long. You pretty much have to backpack into this area, as you are several hours of hiking from any road. Not an area I would recommend for rookies, but you don't mention your experience elk hunting. You also don't mention what you are looking for. If any bull will do, you should be fine in this area, and if you are willing to kill cows so much the better. It isn't considered a trophy area by any means, and certainly not by WY standards. But there is good hunting if you are willing to work.
Good Luck.
llp
I am familiar with the country you are describing. Both are decent general season areas. But since the Commissary ridge area is over 20 miles long, there are lots of areas with elk, and just as many if not more without elk. Elk aren't behind every tree. These units have a strong population (extra cow tags available) and an ample supply of hunters. Success ratios are good for a general season unit, but you won't shoot many elk driving down the road. The country is steep and generally heavily timbered, but with open hillsides as well. Count on having to burn some boot rubber to get back to the elk. Horses are used heavily in these units to access the back country. Coantag creek is a particularly rugged area and many miles long. You pretty much have to backpack into this area, as you are several hours of hiking from any road. Not an area I would recommend for rookies, but you don't mention your experience elk hunting. You also don't mention what you are looking for. If any bull will do, you should be fine in this area, and if you are willing to kill cows so much the better. It isn't considered a trophy area by any means, and certainly not by WY standards. But there is good hunting if you are willing to work.
Good Luck.
llp
llp thanks for the info. I will be in western wyoming in September and I'm hoping to spend a day or so back in there to just get acclimated to the area a little bit. I have a forest service map so that's helped quite a bit. I have 11 moose PP so I'm hoping in a couple of years I can draw that tag. I've hunted elk 3 times. Last year i was in Montana and shot a decent 6 point, so I don't have a ton of experience but I think enough to get it done again. I of course would shoot a real smoker bull but that's not extremely important. If I get an opportunity at a legal bull I'm good with that. After day 3-4 I'm a meat hunter anyway.
Hunted 102 cow tag last year. Never seen a elk. A lot of road hunting goes on there. We hunted hard all over the unit. Seen tracks and a little scat. On top of Indian mountain might be good early in the season. It's a good hike up there for a missouri boy. I hope you do good. We stayed in one of the forest service cabins. That was pretty cool, like stepping back in time.