Help with Elk around Fairview and GP

riden · #1 10-22-2012, 11:26 AM

I feel a little like a dummy asking this, but I am jammed up.

I live in the peace region, the area that has been getting all this snow. We have got 16 inches in my yard right now, I can't believe it. It's supposed to snow all week too.

I am really a moose hunter, our camp is made up of moose hunters. We got one in early season and HAD 3 tags for Nov. I love Nov moose hunts myself, I think it is more fun than early season. Plus I have always loved winter camping. We go in in summer and get firewood done for Nov so it is comfortable.

But there is no hope of a Nov hunt here unless you go by sled now. I don't own one, nobody in my camp does. I doubt you could sled to our camp anyway, some nasty hills close to camp.

I really don't want to just give up. We plan this weekend all year, and right now we are all pretty bummed. So I have the idea of trying an elk hunt, it really is our only hope at this point. To be clear, none in camp have ever hunted elk.

Can anyone suggest a wmu? I would really appreciate any good advice members can give me. I just don't want to give up on this yet. We'll do whatever leg work is necessary on our end, but a couple of good sugggestions would be really appreciated.

Right now, I really don't know where to start.

I am thinking Fairview makes a lot of sense, not sure what WMU's don't have a draw yet. But I suspect, we would travel almost anywhere.

bb356 · #2 10-22-2012, 03:12 PM

359

riden · #3 10-22-2012, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bb356

359

Thanks. I think 359 is draw only though.

The crazy part is we all have really high priority for elk, I think I am a 5. We built it up in case we ever needed it. Little late now.

bb356 · #4 10-22-2012, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riden

Thanks. I think 359 is draw only though.

The crazy part is we all have really high priority for elk, I think I am a 5. We built it up in case we ever needed it. Little late now.

You can buy a general elk tag for 359 ... 3 pt minimum

riden · #5 10-22-2012, 04:11 PM

Thanks

Jamie Black R/T · #6 10-22-2012, 05:06 PM

how do you normally get into camp?

biggmac · #7 10-22-2012, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie Black R/T

how do you normally get into camp?

I would say quad, and usually not this much snow so early is my guess.

riden · #8 10-22-2012, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie Black R/T

how do you normally get into camp?

We quad in towing trailers, no truck access anywhere here.

Depending on what trails we follow togo in (water levels, bridges, and what is frozen) it's 25-40 km.

Elkaholic523 · #9 10-22-2012, 05:14 PM

Unless we get a bunch more snow 16 inches isn't going to stop a quad

riden · #10 10-22-2012, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biggmac

I would say quad, and usually not this much snow so early is my guess.

Usaully I am hoping we get enough snow so the moose stand out and we don't always get it.

I don't think I could tow an empty trailer in my front yard today.

Badgoodguy · #11 10-22-2012, 07:24 PM

If they dont stand out now there not going too LOL

I have cow elk tag but good from Nov 1 to Dec 20 Yahoo

riden · #12 10-22-2012, 07:36 PM

One of my hunting partners sent me this, his son got stuck in the field behind his place.

Bound2Fish · #13 10-22-2012, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bb356

You can buy a general elk tag for 359 ... 3 pt minimum

x2, look around Bonanza, Silver Valley and Blueberry Mountain. Its a good hunting triangle that produces elk.

riden · #14 10-22-2012, 08:10 PM

Would this area be more crown or private land?

bb356 · #15 10-22-2012, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bound2Fish

x2, look around Bonanza, Silver Valley and Blueberry Mountain. Its a good hunting triangle that produces elk.

x a billion !!!

biggmac · #16 10-22-2012, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riden

Would this area be more crown or private land?

Quite a bit of crown I have heard, but also lots of farmland.

riden · #17 10-22-2012, 09:35 PM

I really appreciate the advice so far guys

Jamie · #18 10-22-2012, 09:40 PM

Hope for more snow.. Hope for some BITTER cold weather...

Find a hay stack off of a major river river/creek leading to same river.... Sit down.. Shoot as desired.

I know it's not the back country hunt you want, but sometimes you take what you can get.

Or conversely, you can follow the snow plow around as he cleans the back roads. Not as much fun as the Haystack.

Jamie

riden · #19 10-22-2012, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie

Hope for more snow.. Hope for some BITTER cold weather...

Find a hay stack off of a major river river/creek leading to same river.... Sit down.. Shoot as desired.

I know it's not the back country hunt you want, but sometimes you take what you can get.

Or conversely, you can follow the snow plow around as he cleans the back roads. Not as much fun as the Haystack.

Jamie

Its not, but for some guys who have never hunted elk, a decent plan B for sure. I'd be some honery hanging around the house that weekend.

Anyone know if the Moonshine Lake park will still be open for camping in Nov? It said year round fishing???

marlin4570 · #20 10-23-2012, 09:04 AM

Theres no elk left in 359. Too many hunters!! lol

If you come down to 359 give a PM, seen 2 different herds lastnight.

elkassassin · #21 10-23-2012, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bound2Fish

x2, look around Bonanza, Silver Valley and Blueberry Mountain. Its a good hunting triangle that produces elk.

theres not many elk in this area anymore. I live there and there has been a lot of indians killing everything in sight lately. last week i found and reported 2 dead moose with nothing but the heads cut off. poachers or indians who knows. probably indians tho

marlin4570 · #22 10-23-2012, 10:13 AM

Ive found a few cow and calf heads/hides but meat was taken. They dont seem to bother with elk for some reason.

IR_mike · #23 10-23-2012, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkassassin

theres not many elk in this area anymore. I live there and there has been a lot of indians killing everything in sight lately. last week i found and reported 2 dead moose with nothing but the heads cut off. poachers or indians who knows. probably indians tho

excellent first post.

riden · #24 10-23-2012, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marlin4570

Theres no elk left in 359. Too many hunters!! lol

If you come down to 359 give a PM, seen 2 different herds lastnight.

Thanks

wils0292 · #25 10-23-2012, 11:53 AM

wmu 400

Torkdiesel · #26 10-23-2012, 11:54 AM

Where exactly are you riden ? I'm in G.P. right now and we only have an inch or two of snow at best

riden · #27 10-23-2012, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torkdiesel

Where exactly are you riden ? I'm in G.P. right now and we only have an inch or two of snow at best

I am close to La Crete.

Schools have been shut down 2 days, and I bet will be again tomorrow.

huntinstuff · #28 10-23-2012, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IR_mike

excellent first post.

And last post......for a while anyways....

jaylow? · #29 10-23-2012, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkassassin

theres not many elk in this area anymore. I live there and there has been a lot of indians killing everything in sight lately. last week i found and reported 2 dead moose with nothing but the heads cut off. poachers or indians who knows. probably indians tho

i wonder who this really was or just a new guy swinging for the fence. guess from the mods reaction he ended up nailing her out of the park though ,

stellar first post !!

countrygirl · #30 10-23-2012, 02:41 PM

I live in 526 and we have the same issue with Elk every year just across the river - I wanna say it's WMU 522 but I'd have to double check on that.. Not sure if you can get general's around there as we draw.

Anyway.. they're generally in herds of roughly 20 head, and are an utter pain in the butt to hunt without a sled... we haven't gotten an Elk in a few years due to the whole "well I could take the shot .. but then how do we get it out" situation. We've all been granted Cow Elk in our draw's for the past 4 or 5 years with no success.

My suggestion is don't give up, but make sure you're confident in your shot if you manage to find any because 'round here, you need to be sure the first shot will take down the Elk - even if it needs a second shot - the first shot needs to count because it's going to take you a while to hike out to him, especially if he runs as per usual before going down. If you simply wound the animal with a minor, non life threatening hit - you won't get your Elk.

This year we're getting creative and have 2 options. A 4x4 truck (no - not a truck with 4WH, but an off road 4x4 truck capable of trudging through about 1 ft of snow if it's relatively packed) or, plastic sled's hooked up to dogs to pack out quarters.

Best of luck!