Wyoming desert elk

[BrentD]

Is it too early to start planning and scheming for next fall? I don't have a tag yet, but the odds in Wyoming are pretty good. I feel that we will almost certainly pull tags for areas 27/27.

I've hunting elk number of times in New Mexico, Arizona, and Wyoming. And every time, I have always headed for the highest ground in the unit. But this pair of units is unusual in that 2 has quite a bit of low-land flats and area 25 is basically all low grassland/desert off the SE end of the Wind River Range.

The tags will be for the first two weeks of October and success rates seem pretty decent in these areas. Maybe everyone shoots their animals in the limited high country, but the biologist for the unit assures me there are desert elk populations that are resident in the lower regions at this time of year.

I wondering if any folks here have hunted elk in this type of country so early in the season and if so, what do you look for in the way of elk habitat and landscape structure?

 

[375H&H]

Mulecreek should chime in on this and he is a dear friend of mine that gives good advice.

 

[Nick87]

Looking forward to seeing how your hunt goes, always been intrigued by elk hunting in that area.

 

[WapitiBob]

When I looked pvt access was highly recommended and one guy was reasonable after the first week. That was several years ago.

 

[elkocd]

Be prepared to hike some miles around private if you're looking at 25. Unless there is some weather you won't find many elk in the low country in 27 and the high country is too thick to rifle hunt for me. No glassing. Do you guys have more than 5 points? I drew that tag once with 2 points, which is about what it's worth. Now that it will be 5+ points there are better options if you're looking for a 300+" bull IMHO. Good luck. I wouldn't pass up legal bulls.

 

[BrentD]

Elkocd, we have 5.5 points between us. I'll probably pass up small bulls because I've shot small bulls. I'm a known killer of babies. One day, I hope to break that trend, maybe this year. Mark may take any legal bull, but I doubt he will decide until he is looking at one with his rifle in hand.

There may be better options, but that is not entirely clear to me. Every person with a tag application in, tried to find the best option for his criteria and yet, all units sell out, I'm sure.

The possibility of hunting low-elevation elk is attractive in that my shooting partner sometimes suffers from altitude sickness and neither of us live at a high elevation, which adds to the challenge regardless of what sort of physical condition we are in.

I've hunted the other end of the Winds many times, the Aborsorkas in the Wilderness area, Grey's Ridge and other great places, but all have been nose-bleed high. Maybe this time, we will get lucky in the low lands.

Many years ago, I killed my first elk in New Mexico hunting the Humphery State Wilderness (think that's the name). It was mostly under 8k and one of the easiest, most productive hunts I've ever been on. But how we drew those tags, I'll never know. I'd love to hunt there again during Thanksgiving, like we did back in the mid 90s.

 

[Deleted member 18333]

Wish I could help you out but I don't have any elk hunting time in either unit. That being said, if I had the tag and did not have or want private land access, I would start my scouting time in the southeast boot heel portion of area 25. The elk in 100 and 118 thrive in that high desert country, no reason to think they wont like it in 25 as well. I took a cow in area 100 that was only a couple miles south of the 25 border. Looked over a dozen bulls before I found a cow. Approach it like an antelope hunt. Cover ground, glassing until you find the elk. I would get up on Cyclone rim and glass the draws off of it. Good luck. Looking forward to the story next year.

 

[BrentD]

How important is proximity to water for elk in this type of country? I would imagine that they tank up just before dawn and then head somewhere to bed. So, water and a NorthEast facing slope with cover near by (how near?) might be a good combination to focus on? I am just speculating, but seems reasonable, no?

 

[Deleted member 18333]

Focusing on known water sources is not a bad idea. Keep in mind, there is more water in that desert than you would think and not always in obvious locations. You will find elk in areas that you would swear there is no water for 20 miles. But they are drinking something.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Unlike deer that can get enough moisture from the forage they eat elk and antelope have to go to water every day due to their different digestive system. If you can locate water, especially in out of the way places where you'll be hunting, you'll find elk in close by areas.

 

[elkocd]

BrentD, Sounds like you have a plan. I've spent time in that unit. We killed a couple of the best bulls out of there according to the game and fish checkers. I'll leave it at this... it's not a great area for good bulls... the ones that are there take some serious work. I'm not going to tell you where they are, but I will say if you're expecting a unit 100 like hunt for a 300" bull I'm afraid you're going to go home dissapointed. The areas you mentioned have better bulls so if you didn't kill one better there then well... Best of luck! I think you may have got Eastmaned

 

[BrentD]

Not much of a an yet, except to have fun. We aren't expecting to have unit 100 hunt at all, but we would like to try some different country.

With just a little luck, I'll get to spend a few days there in July. Not sure what I can learn then other than the lay of the land, but it will all be good.

"I think you may have got Eastmaned" doesn't compute.

.

 

[ccc23454]

I think you may have got Eastmaned

Thats funny! and i tend to agree. I have never hunted area, camped there few times and drive thru it a lot on my way to what i consider way better areas. good luck and dont get discoraged, scouting will be key but you got to pay your dues there.