Wyoming Elk Hunt

[Colorado Cowboy]

Here is what I don't like about high fenced hunts. Yes, there might be a ton of land that is inside the fence and it may have great elk habitat and the elk don't know any difference but the elk are there and they are not leaving! If you know they are there then it becomes a cat and mouse game. Other non high fenced elk hunts don't guarantee you any thing because the elk could move off at any time.
Have you ever looked at the sci magazine and the advertisers? High fenced hunts will never be in my resume. I would think it would be pretty hard to sleep at night.

When you look at their magazine and see all those freeky whitetails that are farm raised, you really get an idea what SCI is all about.

 

[Musket Man]

I was an SCI member for 1 year and never will be again because of all the high fence hunts in their magazine. No fences for me either!

 

[Topgun 30-06]

"Have you ever looked at the sci magazine and the advertisers? High fenced hunts will never be in my resume. I would think it would be pretty hard to sleep at night."

***SCI "book" is a farce and that's all I'm going to say!

 

[ssliger]

Here is something to ponder. Do you feel there is a difference between high fence and paying mega bucks to have an outfitter have his guides basically live and sleep with a great bull until the hunter arrives. I think they are basically the same situation. No thanks, I'm happy packing out a any elk on my own back. Trophy bull, cows, raghorns they all taste like elk and that to me is what matters.

 

[Musket Man]

To me there is always a difference if there is a fence or no fence but I agree with you on the guys paying big bucks and basically all they do is shoot the animal. Its not for me, even if I had that kinda money to burn! If I can find a mature animal and make a good stalk and take him without him knowing Im there Im happy even if he's not real big thats what gets me excited hunting! Going behind a fence or paying big money for someone else to do everything but shoot it would not be exciting to me at all no matter how big the animal was so I see no point in me doing it.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

I assume you're talking about guys that buy these Governors tags at auction that lets them hunt almost an entire year and they generally hire Mossback (Doyle Moss) as their outfitter. He, in turn, hires a bunch of guys to go out for a finders fee to locate a big buck or bull and then basicly stay on it until the high roller comes and shoots it. It qualifies for B&C because it's considered fair chase with no high fences, but that's about as much of a hunt as shooting one in a pen as far as I'm concerned. That's the way the famous Spider Bull was taken in Utah by Denny Austad a few years ago.

 

[ssliger]

I assume you're talking about guys that buy these Governors tags at auction that lets them hunt almost an entire year and they generally hire Mossback (Doyle Moss) as their outfitter. He, in turn, hires a bunch of guys to go out for a finders fee to locate a big buck or bull and then basicly stay on it until the high roller comes and shoots it. It qualifies for B&C because it's considered fair chase with no high fences, but that's about as much of a hunt as shooting one in a pen as far as I'm concerned. That's the way the famous Spider Bull was taken in Utah by Denny Austad a few years ago.

That's exactly what I'm talking about.

 

[Montana]

I assume you're talking about guys that buy these Governors tags at auction that lets them hunt almost an entire year and they generally hire Mossback (Doyle Moss) as their outfitter. He, in turn, hires a bunch of guys to go out for a finders fee to locate a big buck or bull and then basicly stay on it until the high roller comes and shoots it. It qualifies for B&C because it's considered fair chase with no high fences, but that's about as much of a hunt as shooting one in a pen as far as I'm concerned. That's the way the famous Spider Bull was taken in Utah by Denny Austad a few years ago.

+1 This was my only point. I agree.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Here is something to ponder. Do you feel there is a difference between high fence and paying mega bucks to have an outfitter have his guides basically live and sleep with a great bull until the hunter arrives. I think they are basically the same situation. No thanks, I'm happy packing out a any elk on my own back. Trophy bull, cows, raghorns they all taste like elk and that to me is what matters.

I've been on a few guided hunts and have never seen this situation. Generally the guide knows where the animals are (or where they are supposed to be) and you go looking.

 

[trkytrack2]

Here lies a dilema that a lot of guys face that don't live close enough to the elk to effectively do their own scouting and prepare properly for a DIY hunt. They really want a big bull, but don't realize how difficult it can be to get a really big one say 340 or better. I'll use my uncle for an example...he's always wanted a 350 bull. I've pointed him in the right direction with the "short-list" of operations in various states like Wagonhound listed above. Obviously, he's found them too pricey even though he could afford them if he wanted to. Instead he's been on over 10 elk hunts ranging from $1,500-$4,000 and his biggest bull is a 260. He's spent over $25,000 spread over 30 years hunting elk. I told him to just save up for one premium hunt on a premium top-tier ranch. He's been "over-sold" on all his elk hunts trying to do it on the cheap. That's the problem picking up hunts at a "show"...unless you have first hand knowledge from guys that have hunted there you can fall pray to being oversold on a hunt.

The DIYer is in the same tough boat as a lot of guys are putting faith in saving up points for that special elk hunt. The price can't be beat, but most guys don't realize the risks of putting all your eggs in one basket. A bad drought year, weather, forest fires...not being able to get off work for long enough to properly scout the area before the hunt, or family emergencies can ruin a hunt. Most guys w/ premium tags don't go home with monsters...some even go home with raghorns.

That's a lot for a guy to consider, but if a guy is running out of time to hunt and defintely wants a big elk before they die I always advise them to just pay the money for a premium first-class operation on a ranch that has enough acreage to eliminate any issues.

I'll take ten elk hunts over one "high priced hunt" any day.

 

[CoHiCntry]

I've been on a few guided hunts and have never seen this situation. Generally the guide knows where the animals are (or where they are supposed to be) and you go looking.

I'm no expert on guided hunts (never been on one), but I think what you describe is the way it works 95% of the time. Some guy's have tons of money and will spend whatever it takes to ensure a huge trophy. If that means having the outfitter employ 20 guides to get the job done, then that's what will happen. I love the pictures in trophy magazines of the rich DR. sitting behind his world class animal and 20 guides behind him with the outfitters hat and T-shirts on. Cracks me up!

 

[30Hart]

Of course you would you live in Colorado and can scout. I agree, I'd take the ten too, but I live out west and scout. The above post you referenced refered to the guy living back east somewhere that had to go guided and really wanted a 350 or better bull and was older and was running out of time. In that case better to pay the money since he can afford it and get that big elk instead of trying on the cheap every year and then he wakes up 80 years old and no big elk.

 

[ssliger]

I've been on a few guided hunts and have never seen this situation. Generally the guide knows where the animals are (or where they are supposed to be) and you go looking.

I know that 95% of outfitted hunts are like what you have been on. Have no problem with them. I'm talking about the hunts that get bought at auction by the uber wealthy like the spider bull. There was also a case a few years ago where some guides in Montana had a land owner, who normally allows access across his property, block the access cause they found a 200" ram and were waiting for their hunter to arrive. Guy Eastman actually posted about it on his blog, and then pulled it off.

 

[minn elk chaser]

Have unit 7 tag and will be hunting on private land near Wagonhound ranch so hope some the bulls move back and forth between the ranches. Will post results of hunt when I'm done. Thanks for all your comments.

 

[In God We Trust]

If a guy wants to hunt high fence good for him. Hell, if someone wants to pay Mossback to hire 20 guides and babysit a bull until he can show up and shoot it with his $50,000 dollar tag then fine by me. Those guys have memories from those hunts as well as I do from my 100% DIY public land hunts. The one thing I disagree with is tags going to the rich that have come out of the public tag pool. As you have probably read in other posts I have commented on, public wildlife should not be auctioned off to the rich so the little guy looses opportunity. That is not the way the American hunting system is supposed to work. Raffle tags are one thing because everyone has a fair shake at getting the tag. As far as guided hunts go it is understandable that a guy that lives back east wants to do those. It is pretty hard to scout from NY if you are hunting in Colorado. Good luck to everyone hunting the rest of the fall, guided or not!

 

[25contender]

This is how sorry high fence can be. http://vimeo.com/m/5680646

 

[RICMIC]

I've been on four DIY elk hunts in two states, and knowing what I know now am thankful that they were unsuccessful. The hiking, camping, hunting, part of it was all good, but getting a bull out of the deep mountains means that the hunting stops for everyone until the meat is out. I have started to use an outfitter for elk and managed to work my tail off to be successfull. All were in Wilderness areas and far enough back that I couldn't even get a deer out by myself. Too many people die with their points...get out and hunt before you can't. Carpe Diem

 

[Fink]

All I know is watching these guys pass on 350 class bulls and then harvesting 370 plus is not an indicator of real hunting unless you have drawn some sort premier tag. Yet the right amount of cash makes this a reality.

I hunt a few private farms here in Missouri, and pass on 125-130 inch whitetails all day long. Some years I kill a big buck, most years I don't. But, the hunting seems to be pretty real to me.

Just because a property isn't overrun with hunters, doesn't make it a canned or fake hunt.

 

[Montana]

Dont get me wrong. Im not against that. In fact, I do it too. Heck I'm even paying a fair amount of cash to go on a private land elk hunt.. But all of this is much easier that a public ground hunt. Just as high fence is easier than private ground. But to each is their own... You won't see me, a fellow hunter, judging another hunter for their style of hunting.

 

[Fink]

Dont get me wrong. Im not against that. In fact, I do it too. Heck I'm even paying a fair amount of cash to go on a private land elk hunt.. But all of this is much easier that a public ground hunt. Just as high fence is easier than private ground. But to each is their own... You won't see me, a fellow hunter, judging another hunter for their style of hunting.

I agree, and am with you, I'll never bag on a fellow hunter for doing it their own way.