2 for 1 in Wyoming Elk Unit 100

HuntDad

HuntDad

Member
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I already posted some of this on the Wyoming forum, but figured I would tell more of the story here. This year I got the long awaited news that I had drawn an elk tag in Wyoming Unit 100. While I had hunted antelope in Unit 60 previously, I knew I needed to get to know the Unit a whole lot better. I made a few calls to friends and associates with knowledge of the unit and then made plans for some scouting trips.

We made multiple scouting trips with my boys over July and August. Frankly the first trip we didn't see a ton of elk, but we got to know the roads and overall area. Beautiful country and large skies.
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One of the later scouting trips in August was very productive, both in finding areas holding elk and also in making the acquaintance of a local oil and gas guy. He confirmed much of what we had learned and seen and also gave us a few new areas to check out.

Strange to find elk in the sage and dunes.

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The weekend of the hunt arrived and we started in the general Steamboat area. While we were seeing elk (including finding the deadhead we eventually returned for after getting permission), we were also surrounded by many other hunters and folks on their side by sides enjoying the holiday weekend.

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We decided to head to a different part of the unit hoping to get away from the crowds, and it proved to be a good decision.

The next day after hiking through the dunes, making a great stalk, and passing on a very non-typical 4x6, we decided to look in an area our local contact told us he was seeing some big bulls. We found them right where he said they would be but they were in country where a stalk would prove very difficult. Unlike the 7 foot sage around Steamboat, most of the sage in the area was knee high. After a few blown stalks, I told the boys we needed to find the water they were using. That night after the boys went to sleep I studied onX and Google maps looking for possible water holes. I found some possibilities and after checking them out in the morning, we had our spot.

We sat the water part of Tuesday and Wednesday last week. We quickly figured out they would come to water around 11:00AM and then again between 6:00-7:00PM. Tuesday evening I drove my boys crazy by passing on this bull.

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However, our patience was rewarded on Wednesday when this bull and his cows closed to within 25-30 yards of us and presented me with a shot. High 5's and hugs in the blind followed as we watched him go down quickly.

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After spending the evening/night getting him caped and quartered we got some sleep and then headed back to the Steamboat area to grab the deadhead the boys were determined to collect. The personnel in the Green River Game and Fish office were great with the boys and made things legit with an interstate game tag.

It was an unforgettable experience and adventure with the boys in a surprisingly beautiful place. It even became an unexpected 2 for 1 deal!

antlers.jpg
 
Congratulations again that picture with your bow is a great photo as well as the one with a rain storm in the background.
 
Really enjoyed reading your story. Thanks for sharing.
Hunts with the kids and older dads have a special place in my heart!
Never forget the memories.
 
Very nice! Great bull! Hunting with your boys makes it that much better. Congrats on a great trip and making memories that last a lifetime
 
HuntDad said:
The weekend of the hunt arrived and we started in the general Steamboat area. While we were seeing elk (including finding the deadhead we eventually returned for after getting permission), we were also surrounded by many other hunters and folks on their side by sides enjoying the holiday weekend.

View attachment 157712
View attachment 157711View attachment 157726

We decided to head to a different part of the unit hoping to get away from the crowds, and it proved to be a good decision.

The next day after hiking through the dunes, making a great stalk, and passing on a very non-typical 4x6, we decided to look in an area our local contact told us he was seeing some big bulls. We found them right where he said they would be but they were in country where a stalk would prove very difficult. Unlike the 7 foot sage around Steamboat, most of the sage in the area was knee high. After a few blown stalks, I told the boys we needed to find the water they were using. That night after the boys went to sleep I studied onX and Google maps looking for possible water holes. I found some possibilities and after checking them out in the morning, we had our spot.

We sat the water part of Tuesday and Wednesday last week. We quickly figured out they would come to water around 11:00AM and then again between 6:00-7:00PM. Tuesday evening I drove my boys crazy by passing on this bull.

View attachment 157727

However, our patience was rewarded on Wednesday when this bull and his cows closed to within 25-30 yards of us and presented me with a shot. High 5's and hugs in the blind followed as we watched him go down quickly.

View attachment 157728
View attachment 157729View attachment 157725
View attachment 157730View attachment 157723

After spending the evening/night getting him caped and quartered we got some sleep and then headed back to the Steamboat area to grab the deadhead the boys were determined to collect. The personnel in the Green River Game and Fish office were great with the boys and made things legit with an interstate game tag.

It was an unforgettable experience and adventure with the boys in a surprisingly beautiful place. It even became an unexpected 2 for 1 deal!

View attachment 157731
Click to expand...
Great story and with you two sons it doesn't get any better than that.....
 
Thanks for the kind words about the bull and especially my boys. They are the reason I picked Unit 100. I know the unit has its detractors, but it allowed me to share the experience with them. I will admit it was a much easier pack out this time around than our last elk hunt in 2020.

Next up is a deer hunt in Idaho Unit 29 with my 13 year old. Hopefully we will find him his first buck!

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