Whats it like elk hunting around Lander, WY.?

[Bushman]

I've never been in that area of Wyoming, but a hunting buddy has some contacts out that way and said that we should think about elk hunting there. Another buddy hunts Steamboat Springs, CO. every year and to the best of my knowledge has never gotten an elk where he goes. If I go somewhere, I would like it to have some potential for more than just exercise. What about that Lander area? Thanks.

[GF.]

It depends on how much exercise you're up for....:D

Even when I lived in Laramie, I was still a CO resident, so I hunted just down across the border to save myself a non-res tag, so I can really only speak to CO.

The thing is, those northern units have always had exceptionally good success rates during 3rd season. And back when a guy could get permission to hunt private land, that was no problem. But so much of the private land has been bought up and posted off that you either pay to play, or you stand up high in the snow and glass downhill at Elk you can see but can't do anything about.

So the net is that 3rd season used to be when harvest target numbers got met, and now it's 'refuge season'. Good news for early-season hunters is that if you're willing to go in higher and farther than about 90% of the population is willing to pack an Elk back out, there are good numbers of lightly -pressured animals around. Very good numbers. That's why I gave up CF season Elk hunting; more fun to chase 'em in the rut with ML when hunting time is limited or the bow when I have a few more days....

So if you want to know where to go, the DOW guys are happy to advise you of the units in which the herds are most seriously over target levels and they'll point you to access points as well. Frankly, they'll happily impart more good knowledge than most of the locals would like for a Damn Tourist to have :eek:

So maybe that answers part of your question....

[Bushman]

My response to my buddy when he asked if I wanted to go elk hunting was that I'm not in elk hunting shape this year. His daughter lives out there and she and her husband are mountain climbing instructors and they wouldn't live there if there weren't a bunch of mountains. A Wyoming map is a remnant of my western driving trip and I see Mt. Baldy at 12,103 and Wind River Peak at 13,192 just west of Lander and that has me some worried. Not that I am expecting a pasture, but I am thinking that is a very high mountain range.

GF, my in-law said the same thing about going elk hunting during ML season. I really hate to give up my CF, but guys do real well with those ML in the early season.

[GF.]

Not a lot o' skeeters at 12,000 feet ;)

Good news is that I heard this morning on the radio that interval training works really well, so you don't have to go as long as we always thought - just make sure you mix in some short bursts at 85% of your max heart rate, and you can get better results in half the time.


Seriously, though.... After a couple of seasons bowhunting those buggers, getting to within ML range of an Elk got to be a lot easier than getting to within sight of an Elk whose sex matched the tag in my pocket. My brother has watched mature bulls - including a 6X7 - stroll by within bow range while he crouched behind a rock with a .58 in one hand and a cow tag burning a hole in his heart. He finally gave up and now just bowhunts on an either-sex tag.

It'll never be easy, though. Last time I got out there, I lost 10 pounds in a week, and I'm a guy who's never had ten extra pounds to lose. Following my brother up the trail on opening morning, I think I'd gone 50 feet before I had to beg him to slow down for me!

[Hi Ball]

Bushman for crying out loud, send me a PM and I'll tell you were to go in Colorado and it won't cost you an arm or leg for any Outfitter, you do the hunting and set up your camp on Govn't ground.

The other half the mountain is run by an Outfitter and it costs $7,000 bucks to shoot the same frigging elk out of the same herd that is in this 20 mile area. If you get snowed out, cold and want a hot meal, then you drive off the mountain down the road to town.........takes 15 minutes once in the vehicle ok. ;) :) :)

[Bushman]

Been there done that West of Gunnison, CO. up in the West Elk Wilderness area above Blue Mesa Reservoir. A couple of us stayed with the horses and the majority of the guys stayed at the Cattleman's in Gunnison. Camped at 8,500 and hunted up to 11,000 feet. We could hardly stay home for what little it cost us. Most of the guys would have cow tags, but they didn't care how long it took for me and my buddy to fill our bull tags because they were down at the reservoir catching salmon. Hunt all day and come in to a hot meal of fresh salmon fillets was elk hunting Nirvana.