Elk hunt 45-1 or 16-2?

[finnman]

I am the guy that does all of the research, plans out hunts, decides dates of departure, what animals, what state, where to camp and where to poop! Basically all my friends let me plan all our hunts.
It is now time to plan an elk hunt for my wife. She has been hunting with me since 1993, she has taken antelope, mule deer, black tail deer, whitetail, shiras moose, but has never taken an elk! Not because we have not tried, it just has not worked out.
So with one less then max points as a non-resident, I have narrowed this down to 45 or 16. I am wanting a hunt with access to public land, some open terrain for glassing, not too many tags, and a decent shot at a bull of any size. She does not care about the size or the rack, I just want it to be a great experience and see some elk, with a shot at a bull.
The other kicker is the rest of my group wants to tag along with cow tags in their pockets.
The plus with 45 is also having a buck deer tag in your pocket. Bad is lots of hunters all over the place, both deer and elk.
Unit 16 has some access to ranches, might be good for cow tags. But has maybe less public land access.

I am basically asking for any ideas as to which unit you would choose and why? I don't want your hunt area or camp spot, just asking for why I should select one area over the other.

My wife has been a real sport over the years, she hunts hard, hates road hunting, and packs out her animals and also refuses to wear makeup while hunting out of our wall tent! I am just wanting best shot for her to take a bull in a great spot in Wyoming.
Thanks for any help offered.

 

[TOPGUN]

I know nothing about unit 16, but I know a lot about unit 45 and I would not waste that many points unless it was for a Type 9 archery tag for September and it's exactly because of the reasons you mentioned when talking about hunting the October rifle season.

 

[jims]

You might take a look at cow and bull tag numbers in 16. There is a bunch of hunting pressure on public land during the first season. Lots of roads on the public land on Shirley Mtn which doesn't help. There is public land in 16 but with so many tags and so much private land available to the elk you can guess where the elk usually end up by the 2nd season. The elk tend to know the fence boundaries and have little reason to wander back onto public land. If you have big $ the Q Ranch would be a great place to hunt but the 2nd season may be super tough.

 

[cmbbulldog]

Im in the same boat and have been researching both of these units as well.

Jim - I have heard second season in 16 can be tough, but the archery hunt can be pretty good. would you agree with that?

Thanks,

 

[OchocoKid]

45 would fit the bill for what you're looking for. I don't think it's as good as it used to be, but it's still good.

Since you have no shot at the best tags as you don't have max points and you don't want to go with an outfitter 45 would be my choice.

I just passed through there a week ago and saw a nice 330 class bull standing out in the open up Ten sleep canyon. bigger than anything I've seen while hunting there but they can be found.


















Stay Thirsty My Friends

 

[Robiland]

I hunted 45 in 2014 and had a blast saw good numbers of elk, killed a 310, 6x6 with the bow. My buddy missed 1 and had alot of close calls. We had a blast. HOWEVER, the last 3 years has gone down hill from what I have heard. I had a friend who hunted it in 2015. He said it was not good. He had come with me and scouted too, on my hunt. Numbers were way down for some reason. Another friend went at it in 2016 and shot a bull, but not what he expected either. Last year, I helped a guy with some areas, (and no he did not pay me for scouting ), his son killed a decent bull. His report back to me said it was fun, but not what he had expected either as far as #'s go.

That makes me hesitant. Not sure what to do. One of my best friends has the points to draw and wants to go back. After these reports, I dont now what to do. We may look into the red desert or something like that. Sorry, wish I could tell you yes or no. I just want to let you know our experiences. Good luck!

 

[finnman]

Many thanks for the replies and information!
When I was moose hunting area 34 in 2013 I saw a few nice bull elk, that area was a little too thick in most areas, hard hunting that timber when doing it as a pair.
Any opinions on 39, 40 or 41? Are they all in the same boat as 45?

 

[TOPGUN]

>Many thanks for the replies and
>information!
>When I was moose hunting area
>34 in 2013 I saw
>a few nice bull elk,
>that area was a little
>too thick in most areas,
>hard hunting that timber when
>doing it as a pair.
>
>Any opinions on 39, 40 or
>41? Are they all in
>the same boat as 45?


I don't know much about 39 since it's on the east side of the mountains, but 40 and 41 are decent. However, IMHO they aren't nearly as good as 45 and I sure wouldn't use 11 PPs to get a tag in either of them.

 

[WapitiBob]

39 is on the West side and the best unit in the Bighorns. I have 11 points and have no reservation burning them on that hunt.
You will get wet and you will need a quad.

 

[TOPGUN]

LAST EDITED ON Dec-23-17 AT 11:56AM (MST)[p]>39 is on the West side
>and the best unit in
>the Bighorns. I have 11
>points and have no reservation
>burning them on that hunt.
>
>You will get wet and you
>will need a quad.


Yep, I don't know why I put the east side when it's way up north to the MT border from 40/41/45 and didn't know it's that good! So is that where you're going to burn your 11 PPs BOB?

 

[WapitiBob]

If I confirmed that, my legions of followers would tank the odds for Joe6Pack hunter and I can't have that on my conscience.

 

[oilcan]

I have hunted unit 39 but it has been about 15 years.
I know if you get weather the Elk move of into Montana so probably best to hunt it early.
The year I hunted I went up the last week hoping to avoid the crowds but we got dumped on and barely made it of the mountain.
We did see elk but couldn't make it happen.
There is some lower country to hunt on the west end of the unit but it is checker boarded.

 

[TOPGUN]

>If I confirmed that, my legions
>of followers would tank the
>odds for Joe6Pack hunter and
>I can't have that on
>my conscience.


LOL! We sure wouldn't want you to have that on your conscience by putting it out on the Forums! I guess you'll have to tell me in a PM since I am out of the elk license application gig.

 

[TOPGUN]

I've only been in that unit one day about 5 or 6 years ago when I was thinking about applying for a Region R deer tag. I went up the main road off of highway 14 along the lake and on into the BLM and like the looks of the country, but didn't get anywhere near the MT border. There really isn't much private land in 39 with the east side being NF and more than half to the west being BLM.

 

[finnman]

>If I confirmed that, my legions
>of followers would tank the
>odds for Joe6Pack hunter and
>I can't have that on
>my conscience.


Lol, I do feel comforted knowing that there are guys on the board with a conscience!
And yes, some of these units are easily sacked with so few non-resident tags.
39 looks desirable for a few reasons, no wilderness and lots of public land. From a little research it's looking better than 45.
I have a quad and live in Western WA so wet and me get along fine.

 

[callsalot]

Last year I had this same question, I'm not a big social media or internet guy but since there were folks on this sight nice enough to help me last year so I wanted to do my part this year in giving any help I can. I spent 8 days hunting elk in 45 last year. I had the type 1 tag but hunted archery. I'm a very experienced DIY archery hunter and passed several bulls during the trip but it snowed the last week of September and the hunting was much more difficult with little bugling and scattered elk. Do to a family emergency I was unable to go back for rifle. I had another friend draw 16 last year and had a similar archery hunt but was able to make it back rifle and took a respectable 300 6x6 opening day. I can't really suggest one over the other but whichever you choose feel free to contact us and we'll do what we can to dial you into the unit so you have some good spots to start with.

Good luck on your decision.

 

[jims]

LAST EDITED ON Dec-30-17 AT 02:00PM (MST)[p]16 can be pretty good during archery but you will still likely be scratching your head watching rutting bulls across the fence on private. The Q is one of the biggest ranches in Wyo and they really watch their borders. There were 3 archery guys a few years ago that got in big trouble when they got caught on the wrong side of the fence! Be sure to have your onxmaps/gps with you and watch every step! Also make sure you know how to use it! The Q owns scattered land all over 16...and they keep buying more and more land.

39 could be ok during archery but as mentioned above the elk tend to head to Montana or migrate to private ground once it snows. 38 is exactly the same way. There are way more elk in 38 but also a lot more hunters. The roads are usually loaded with hunters during archery season. If you are going to bowhunt 39 I would recommend doing it early...but you may be a little early for much rutting activity. The top and west side of 39 is also pretty darn dry. There may not be as many elk there especially in a super warm/dry year. 39 would be a tough rifle hunt because there is usually snow that drives the elk out of the unit or onto private land. If you take a look at the draw odds....there is reason the rifle tags in 38 and 39 are generally an easier draw. After the first fairly decent snow it can be pretty tough...during archery and rifle seasons. There are great bulls available in all those Bighorn units so if you draw get away from the roads and hunt hard! If you can find private land to hunt you may have found a goldmine!

There is usually a reason particular units or seasons are easier to draw than others! You may have to work a lot harder in some units than others to find elk and be successful. Obviously units with lots of public land with elk on that public land through the season are going to be a lot tougher to draw. Units with more wilderness and private land may be easier to draw but you obviously are limited outside the wilderness and on the public side of the fence. You may be able to talk a Wyo res into getting a guides license/accompany you or hire a guide. It's not too fun watching elk across a wilderness boundary...or in unit 16 and other unit's cases across a private fence!

 

[finnman]

Thanks gents! Great thread.
No archery, we had our stuff stolen from the garage about 7 years ago and just decided to stay with rifle hunting.
I have hunted we're public and private land continually intermingle. It's frustrating and also makes my wife anxious, she is always asking me ? public or private? it's now a joke in camp.
So for her sake I would rather hunt an area we can use the XMap and keep legal and enjoy ourselves.
I will check the farmers almanac for weather pattern and see what we have for the Bighorns this fall.
Thanks again!