Cypress Hills Elk Hunt

[craigbryan]

How did the first week go, heading down for the fourth week just wondering?

[wallslammer]

We filled both our tags. Got a 4x4 on opening morning and a 6x6 on Thursday morning, both outside the park. There were only 8 bulls and 5 cows taken as of Thursday night and Friday morning was socked right in with fog.

[Don K]

Only? That seems pretty good?

[madatter]

Originally Posted by Don K

Only? That seems pretty good?

That's pretty low for the first hunt....or used to be!
Number should be 20+

[buffhunter]

Came home emptyhanded first week. Could have had small bulls or cows but looking for wall-hanger. Snuck within 75 yards of 5 bulls in reesor hills northeast of lake. Biggest 270 maybe. No really big bulls in grayburn herd. Finally saw nice bull with herd of 50 in west end off ranchville road. Horrible country to hunt could not get a read on them. Fog did not help. Hope someone else can nab him, he is 7X7. Pm me if anyone wants low-down. I'm out 10 years down the drain but cool experience knowing could have had success. Get off the roads and walk is my suggestion.

[Dovi]

Thanks buffhunter!

2 us going for the 3rd week. If anyone from the 2nd week has any updates, info, or pictures they would like to share I am a willing audience.

Also if anyone is there next week send me a PM and we could get a beer in Buglers.

[madatter]

Out hunting deer by park this morning and an Elk hunter stopped to chat.
If i heard correctly only 10 animals on 2nd hunt taken so far...

[bwwhunter]

Hey guys I'm headin down for the fourth week was just wondering if anybody had any tips never done much huntin that far south

[bdh]

Originally Posted by bwwhunter

Hey guys I'm headin down for the fourth week was just wondering if anybody had any tips never done much huntin that far south

Bring good boots and a good sled to drag them off the river banks good luck guy

[mulecrazy]

Originally Posted by bdh

Bring good boots and a good sled to drag them off the river banks good luck guy

what river would that be?

[madatter]

Originally Posted by mulecrazy

what river would that be?

I didn't have the Heart to say anything!
Indeed there are some big hills to drag animals off tho!

[Dovi]

Thanks to those whom shared there experience and info from the previous weeks. I will pay it forward as best I can.

We left Thursday afternoon with 2 baldies in the truck, including those we knew of 8 animals that were taken at that point. The majority of these were shot off the south side near the beginning of graburn creek/coulee. They are herded up and quite aware of the situation... out of about 100 animals in the bunch we saw 5 bulls and they never were clear of the herd for a shot.

It was a fun 3 days for us, very cold on the Wednesday which helped me keep motivated to hike the big hills!

Good luck to the week 4 hunters

.

[moose1973]

Originally Posted by craigbryan

How did the first week go, heading down for the fourth week just wondering?

Here is my opening day Cypress Bull. 10 Year wait for a 10 minute hunt.
I would love to see some other pics of elk taken throughout the season.

There he is the night before season opened on the back right. The other bull in centre of frame also was taken by another hunter at the same time.

[Stonegoat]

Nice bull! Unusual how long the G3 is. Almost like it was supposed to be the G4, but no G2 grew in. Regardless, a beauty bull. Congratulations!

[moose1973]

Originally Posted by Stonegoat

Nice bull! Unusual how long the G3 is. Almost like it was supposed to be the G4, but no G2 grew in. Regardless, a beauty bull. Congratulations!

Yah it was kind of a bummer that the eye gaurds were only singles but happy with and was the biggest one I saw down there.

Would love to see more pic's of other bulls taken.....

[6.5 shooter]

Tag soup this year for the wife, all we saw was poop and some hair......
fourth hunt, way to warm and lot's of road hunters and the animals were either in the deep dark timber or in parts unknown. But the CO did say a few animals were taken.

[wildside]

Any updates on conditions? How about word on animals taken so far?

[ishootbambi]

Originally Posted by buffhunter

Came home emptyhanded first week. Could have had small bulls or cows but looking for wall-hanger.

makes me giggle every time i hear that. guys that arent from down south think that because its a park it must be teeming with big tame elk. nuh-uh. the long term average is about one 330ish bull every 3-4 years. there might be 4 or 5, 6 points taken every year with an average score about 270. if you are looking for a trophy elk hunt....this aint it.

[scrapper]

Originally Posted by ishootbambi

makes me giggle every time i hear that. guys that arent from down south think that because its a park it must be teeming with big tame elk. nuh-uh. the long term average is about one 330ish bull every 3-4 years. there might be 4 or 5, 6 points taken every year with an average score about 270. if you are looking for a trophy elk hunt....this aint it.

X2, this is a pretty solid assessment of the Cypress elk herd.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by ishootbambi

makes me giggle every time i hear that. guys that arent from down south think that because its a park it must be teeming with big tame elk. nuh-uh. the long term average is about one 330ish bull every 3-4 years. there might be 4 or 5, 6 points taken every year with an average score about 270. if you are looking for a trophy elk hunt....this aint it.

This is true! Like many of the high priority draw hunts....few are a gimme at a lifelong trophy but some do offer that hope!

LC