Wyoming Elk Unit 38 or Unit 40

[Hunteastwest]

I'm in the middle of conducting my hunt research for next year and am looking hard at the Bighorn Mountains, either Unit 38 or 40, type-9 license with a bow. I have some friends that have been there years ago and had good luck, but i don't have any news from the units over the last 4 years. I'm just wondering what to expect with a hunt like this. The units, especially 40, don't seem that large so I'm assuming the hunting pressure is fairly low based on the low type-9 tag numbers.

Does anyone have preference of 38 over 40 (or vice versa?)?

I'm going at this as a DIY endeavor and getting my ducks in a row as the draw for elk is next month!!!

Thanks in advance!

Hunteastwest.

 

[jimss]

You may want to double check how many tags are issued in 38. It can be a pretty busy place..especially during the rut! I glanced at the 2014 regs and there were 250 type 9 tags. You definitely want to beat the snow on that hunt or the elk end up heading out of the area. Also, many of the roads become gumbo when wet. With that said there are giant bulls shot there every year.

 

[Hunteastwest]

Thanks for the info on unit 38. I didn't realize how many tags they dolled out for that unit. Seems like the competition in 38 would be much more than in unit 40. Type 9 elk tag is the route i'd like to go. I think this is what I'll be shooting for once I make my pick of unit.

thanks!

 

[Bowhuntrben]

I'm curious about these units as well. I'm looking at taking my dad out there next year to use his points. I'm looking at the Type 1 rifle tag. As mentioned, it looks like far fewer hunters in Unit 40, but looking at Google Earth, it looks like a lot more open country, so maybe the hunting pressure is just as high where one would be hunting? For that reason I'm leaning towards Unit 38. Unit 40 has a good bit higher success rate, though.
I'm a pretty new elk hunter, so I don't know a lot about where to find elk, so maybe the open country isn't an issue. Has anybody hunted or been to these units during rifle season and know if success would be a possibility in the more open/sage areas, or if hunting would be more restricted to the eastern side of the unit where there is forest?

 

[Triple BB]

I'm not familiar with the draw odds, but you might want to consider 45 if yer sticking with the Big Horns. 45 is as good or better than any of the areas you mentioned. You might've caught Michael Waddell sticking a big bull last season. The episode has aired a number of times recently. I think he was hunting with 7J Outfitters. It was in 45...