Wow.....I drew the OIL North Dakota Elk Tag.

[JBone Outdoors]

I don't want to go to bed because I feel like I am dreaming.

I drew a highly coveted North Dakota OIL Any Elk tag....unit E4 which borders Teddy Roosevelt State Park. We have about 8k people apply for around 95 bull tags in units E3/E4 so odds are extremely slim. People put in for the big 3 draw their whole life without drawing so I want to do it justice! I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. I have from 9/3-12/31 to fill my tag so glad I saved all my vacation up to this point. Unit E4 opens up to unit E3 interchangeably after the first weekend. I can hunt with bow or gun as well.

Now the real preparation and work begins! I am going to give this everything I have, we have some beautiful country to hunt elk in and I never would have expected to get this tag let alone as my first elk hunting opportunity.

I have a solid plan laid out already but if anyone has any knowledge or advice please slide into those DMs!

I will update this thread with my hunt as we near showtime.

Cheers!

Also: My brother drew a ND Any-Moose tag in unit M6 as well. What a crazy day this has been for my circle, going to be a very busy fall.

That’s a pretty good haul! Good luck to you both

 

[NDGuy]

I acquired private access on 2 separate sections. One right off the TR Park the other further west of Medora and both historically hold elk.

Planning on taking a late summer scouting trip as well as the weekend prior to season opening.

 

[NoKidsAfter40]

I don't want to go to bed because I feel like I am dreaming.

I drew a highly coveted North Dakota OIL Any Elk tag....unit E4 which borders Teddy Roosevelt State Park. We have about 8k people apply for around 95 bull tags in units E3/E4 so odds are extremely slim. People put in for the big 3 draw their whole life without drawing so I want to do it justice! I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. I have from 9/3-12/31 to fill my tag so glad I saved all my vacation up to this point. Unit E4 opens up to unit E3 interchangeably after the first weekend. I can hunt with bow or gun as well.

Now the real preparation and work begins! I am going to give this everything I have, we have some beautiful country to hunt elk in and I never would have expected to get this tag let alone as my first elk hunting opportunity.

I have a solid plan laid out already but if anyone has any knowledge or advice please slide into those DMs!

I will update this thread with my hunt as we near showtime.

Cheers!

Also: My brother drew a ND Any-Moose tag in unit M6 as well. What a crazy day this has been for my circle, going to be a very busy fall.

Congrats! Can’t wait to see pics.

 

[NDGuy]

Acquired access on a number of private spots so feeling really good heading into the season. Planning on making a weekend trip 7/24 to just get a lay of the land and see what I am working with. Then one or two more scouting trips before season opens 9/3. I am hoping the elk will be hugging the park and river with how dry it's been in ND this year.

Got my Tikka 30-06 zeroed using Berger 168 VLDs and a Nightforce SHV 4-14X50 F1 getting 3/4" groups out of it.

 

[Flatbrimmer]

That’s awesome congrats! I’m tuned in

 

[brockel]

Acquired access on a number of private spots so feeling really good heading into the season. Planning on making a weekend trip 7/24 to just get a lay of the land and see what I am working with. Then one or two more scouting trips before season opens 9/3. I am hoping the elk will be hugging the park and river with how dry it's been in ND this year.

Got my Tikka 30-06 zeroed using Berger 168 VLDs and a Nightforce SHV 4-14X50 F1 getting 3/4" groups out of it.

Driving through that area actually looks like some good feed around there this year. That area has had quite a few rain storms go through

 

[Firehawk54]

Cogratulations! That sounds like a great tag.

 

[NDGuy]

Driving through that area actually looks like some good feed around there this year. That area has had quite a few rain storms go through

Yep my main target A has food plots and crop just to the north of it off the river so hoping the dryness and water keeps them tight to the river and work there way through me.

 

[NDGuy]

Scouted for the first time last weekend. Acquired access on a few private chunks, hopefully will payoff the longer season goes if I struggle to get a bull opening week. Found 4 different groups of cows in 3 locations. Lots of potential and some great spots for glassing. Glad that the research and networking helped me find some solid areas that hold elk. There were some spikes mixed in with the cows as well as a 4 point branch antlered bull. With how dry it has been here it will be interesting to see how much behavior changes before season opens 9/3.

I set out 4 cameras and can't believe my cell cams seem to be working okay as I have gotten some pictures already. No elk just deer but the elk will come! I will be back in 3 weeks to check those areas I found once again and see if the bigger bulls are starting to round up their lady posse. Blew two truck tires and also about stepped on a damn rattlesnake so didn't have a dull moment this weekend haha

 

[NDGuy]

 

[timmy]

That snake might be enough to do me in. That appears to be a big one.

 

[NDGuy]

That snake might be enough to do me in. That appears to be a big one.

Not big enough to take a 9MM Gold Dot to the neck

 

[Pondera]

what elevation are the elk you have found at? Looks like some fun country to hunt in.

 

[TangoND]

Congratulations!! It took 25 years, but I finally drew a cow tag myself this year in E3. Happy hunting!

 

[wrkn2hunt]

I was out scouting a few weeks ago also and found a ton of elk but alot of them were cows and small bulls with a couple of potential mixed in. We set up a few cams also. I had a buddy go out last weekend to scout and he didn't see much but checked the cams and had a ton of elk on cam but no big bulls. One cam came up missing almost two miles from the road. We used old cams so no loss there but still makes a guy mad. We also spoke to some landowners prior to going out and they either say yes or no so I have a feeling we will avoid those areas and stick to mostly public ground anyway.

 

[NDGuy]

Excited my cams picked up some bulls and managed to transfer them with spotty service. Young bulls but still exciting to get them on cams.

Going back scouting this weekend and will check the chips to see what else they picked up but didn't send over!

My brother also found a pretty nice bull moose he might try to shoot with his bow in archery season here.

 

[NDGuy]

 

[NDGuy]

Bulls are movin in! The bottom one unfortunately only got that blurry pic of him running across but he looks like a shooter for sure!

 

[TangoND]

Bulls are movin in! The bottom one unfortunately only got that blurry pic of him running across but he looks like a shooter for sure!

That's awesome man. Hope you get on a great one. Then just go ahead and send his lady my way lol.

 

[Wyhunter]

Beautiful country and looks like your cams are picking up some animals. Good luck on your hunt, ill be following for sure!