Elk Hunting 2014

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Originally Posted by Irving

How did you have two tags? I'm new to this.

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Irving, if you apply for and draw a cow tag, you can purchase an "over the counter" or online bull tag as an "additional" license. DOW/CPW has allowed this for about 10 years since elk populations have been "over population objectives". I hope, now that populations are reduced, they don't remove this opportunity. I buy a second license because it's cheap insurance to fill the freezer. Invariably, if you only carry a cow tag you'll only see bull elk, and vice versa.

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Originally Posted by DHC

Very nice!

That is the same GMU my son and I are heading next week. We filled our deer tags just a bit North of there this past week. Spoke to the DOW officer about elk success this year and he indicated it was pretty dismal for most hunters due to lack of weather. Hope the snow flies and/or we are able to scare some up as you did.

Nicely done.

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Thanks. Success in the Flat Tops region (and probably most of elk country) is weather dependent in spurring migration. We did have some rain and snow which quieted the forest and made for good hunting, but the snow didn't last and I never found a fresh elk track in the snow. That told me that few elk were in the area. I saw 17 deer, two pair and the rest singles, but haven't drawn a deer license there in two years.

I camp near an outfitter I used to work for so they will pack my game. They had a decent first season but packed little in the second season. Three hunters I met had shot two elk and a deer, none of which were recovered. Pretty pathetic. When one shoots an animal, it dies, and it's your obligation to find and utilize it.

Congrats on the deer and best of luck to you in your elk hunt. An old outfitter friend described second season as the hunting season, third season as the killing season. Go get 'em!

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Originally Posted by Hummer

Irving, if you apply for and draw a cow tag, you can purchase an "over the counter" or online bull tag as an "additional" license. DOW/CPW has allowed this for about 10 years since elk populations have been "over population objectives". I hope, now that populations are reduced, they don't remove this opportunity. I buy a second license because it's cheap insurance to fill the freezer. Invariably, if you only carry a cow tag you'll only see bull elk, and vice versa.

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Makes perfect sense now. Pretty cool that you can pull down two elk. As to your last comment, that was pretty much my experience for my first hunt this year. Saw everything but what I had a tag for.

[QUOTE=Hummer;1753187]Irving, if you apply for and draw a cow tag, you can purchase an "over the counter" or online bull tag as an "additional" license. DOW/CPW has allowed this for about 10 years since elk populations have been "over population objectives". I hope, now that populations are reduced, they don't remove this opportunity. I buy a second license because it's cheap insurance to fill the freezer. Invariably, if you only carry a cow tag you'll only see bull elk, and vice versa.


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Drew for cow tags - only saw deer, bull, or moose
Got a bull tag - only saw deer, cows, or moose
Got both bull/cow tags and we only saw deer and moose
Got deer and cow only saw bull and moose

seeing a trend here. :D

Guess I should have pulled an OTC tag of the opposite. and when we pulled for a moose tag they said HAHAHAHA

I think what you have to do, is every morning, right as you get out of the truck, say out loud, "DANG! Can you believe I forgot my license back at the cabin again?" That will trick the game into walking in front of you. Don't really forget your license though. I did that and it sucked.

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Originally Posted by Irving

I think what you have to do, is every morning, right as you get out of the truck, say out loud, "DANG! Can you believe I forgot my license back at the cabin again?" That will trick the game into walking in front of you. Don't really forget your license though. I did that and it sucked.

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HAHA, my step-dad accidently set off the Jeep alarm waiting for sunrise. After fumbling around, he finally pulled the fuse and stopped the honking. A fox looked at him like, "WTF, shut the hell up you moron!"

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Originally Posted by Irving

I think what you have to do, is every morning, right as you get out of the truck, say out loud, "DANG! Can you believe I forgot my license back at the cabin again?" That will trick the game into walking in front of you. Don't really forget your license though. I did that and it sucked.

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Your reprint was only for OTC right? Had a hunting partner get half way up and realized his was not where he thought it was.

He tried a Walmart and they cannot reprint draw tags.

I called DOW and they told me I could go to a Walmart and get it done. The guy told me that if I had any problems to just call them and they would walk Walmart through it. The DID reprint my draw tag, but it was the day before the season started and I think that had something to do with it.

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Originally Posted by Irving

I called DOW and they told me I could go to a Walmart and get it done. The guy told me that if I had any problems to just call them and they would walk Walmart through it. The DID reprint my draw tag, but it was the day before the season started and I think that had something to do with it.

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I'll be a monkey's uncle.

Sucks they told him they couldn't do it, he missed opening morning. Not that it mattered.

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Originally Posted by Hummer

Irving, if you apply for and draw a cow tag, you can purchase an "over the counter" or online bull tag as an "additional" license. DOW/CPW has allowed this for about 10 years since elk populations have been "over population objectives". I hope, now that populations are reduced, they don't remove this opportunity. I buy a second license because it's cheap insurance to fill the freezer. Invariably, if you only carry a cow tag you'll only see bull elk, and vice versa.

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Originally Posted by fly boy

Drew for cow tags - only saw deer, bull, or moose
Got a bull tag - only saw deer, cows, or moose
Got both bull/cow tags and we only saw deer and moose
Got deer and cow only saw bull and moose

seeing a trend here. :D

Guess I should have pulled an OTC tag of the opposite. and when we pulled for a moose tag they said HAHAHAHA

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You've been there, done that, too. Probably most hunters who've been around a while. The more you work at it the better you can play the game and beat the odds. Preparedness, dedication, luck and skill sometimes comes together marvelously.

This is going to be one of my first years not going. I'm just to busy with school. Wish I could make it work.

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Originally Posted by Irving

Spent the last 9 days hunting in 58 for my first time ever. Learned a lot, saw a lot of animals I hadn't ever seen in the wild before (turkeys, badger, owl, etc). We saw every listed game animal in our unit but a bear or a cat. There was ZERO bugling. I think it was too hot, but I'm new and don't know much. A single spike walked by in the woods and we had cow tags. My hunting partners told me I'll never have a hunt like this again in my life, because we came across exactly zero other hunters in the area we were in. There were a couple on the other side of the road and mountain, but no one else within miles of us.

I could have filled either a doe or buck tag every single day. Due to the zero pressure from hunters, the deer were just cruising around and wouldn't run away unless you spooked them. Excited to try again (and hopefully get deer) next year.

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What part of 58 are you hunting. I too hunt that area for the last several years. We pulled a smaller 5x5 out on Thursday. Of the muzzleloading season. We didn't see any other hunters the whole time either but we hike in to where most wouldn't dream of going.

I don't want to give up my spot because it is looking good for deer next year. We also had to hike in.

No elk, no deer. Damn weather. Plus, new, so I suck.

Two buddies and I hunting private land that previously had yielded one elk in 3rd rifle took four legally in about 3 minutes, about 30 minutes before sunset. One 5x5 and three cows. It was a long, long night and busy next day. The herd ran onto National Forest land where some other hunters fired about shots. Not that herd's day, for sure.

Been really enjoying the 180 lbs of burger and sausage that we got back from the butcher, plus the back straps that I cut and wrapped myself and misc. cuts that I made into jerky. The tenderloins are freaking awesome!

Sorry to brag, but it's been 6 years in the making...and worth every single minute. [Dinner]

Attachment 52331Attachment 52333

Fourth year chasing elk and this cow decided she would be my first. 20 yards, walked right into my crosshairs.

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Originally Posted by bruceleroy

Fourth year chasing elk and this cow decided she would be my first. 20 yards, walked right into my crosshairs.

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Nice work, congrats! Looks like you're doing your own meat cutting. I hope you package the better portions of the hind quarters as steaks. Elk "round" pieces often make better, more tender steak than the backstraps. Many people just grind it for burger or sausage and miss out on good steak. Just remove all fat and any silverskin.

Just got home from my 4th season hunt. I was only up for 2 days but we manage to find 9 cows across a big canyon, I had a few leads on some bulls so I left the cows be. Never did find the bulls but did manage to find this nice buck and his buddy.

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Originally Posted by Lars

Just got home from my 4th season hunt. I was only up for 2 days but we manage to find 9 cows across a big canyon, I had a few leads on some bulls so I left the cows be. Never did find the bulls but did manage to find this nice buck and his buddy.

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Holy Cow! Nice bucks, to say the least.

Not elk hunting, but it reminded me of what happens when you have the chance to shoot an elk lying in the woods.
Wait for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSfaHMm1s9A