Unit 30 Elk - Salmon/Leadore

[ELKRIDGESS]

My 13 yr old son and I both drew bull tags for this area this year. I am deployed overseas and will be getting home just a couple weeks before this hunt opens. I hunted 30a for years, with some success and have spent some time in unit 30, but have not been up there for 3+ years. Heard the wolves are thick up there, and was wondering if anyone had any general info on the elk population status, and if a 330 bull is a reasonable goal? Historically it has been a great hunt, the last 3 years have good success numbers, but I notice last year dropped off. Weather? Wolves?
Thanks in advance for any responses...

 

[idhunters]

Thanks for your service. My in-laws live up there and it is being impacted by wolves. Cow tags have been cut significantly. Wolves are on both sides of the border.

But, you have the tag, with your boy. You should experience great scenery, reasonable numbers of other hunters and access to loads of public land. And there are still some bulls around. As I'm sure you know, weather helps. I have heard some of the elk are staying down low.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[DIY]

Actually this is a very good hunt, I would not worry to much about the wolves. There is some wolf activity in the area, but not enough to mess up your hunt. This hunt is very dependant on the weather, since most of the elk spend the summer and fall on the Montana side of the boarder. The more snow the better, but from what I have seen the colder the better. A 330 bull is not out of the question, but to kill one will take a lot of work, I have seen a 330+ bull every year, and some will go a lot better than that. But a nice 300 type of bull is something that should be considered depending on the how much time a person has and the weather. Again, weather, weather, weather.

Semper Fi

 

[ELKRIDGESS]

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. Counting the days.....

 

[idhunters]

Well let us know how the hunt goes.

Historically, this has been a stellar hunt, one of the better ones.

But, no one can question that the elk populations on both sides of the border in that area has been drastically impacted by the wolves.

Given that it has been a controlled hunt and highly managed, you will probably still have a good hunt.

Have fun!