leftyhunter
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I took my son to his first elk hunt at the Goshute reservationb in Ibapah Ut which is near Wendover NV. The reservation is 320k acres and features the Deep Creek Mtn range which rises up to 10k ft and is very steep. I purchased a cow tag for $1k which also covered 4 days of lodging , a guide and 3 home cooked meals. I figured thats a good deal vs say geting an OTC tag in Colo and driving at least 18 hrs to Durango ( I live in LA) and not knowing where to go since I live too far to scout plus there would be a lot of competion. Nothing wrong with hunting in Colo I have hunted there and slain a few mighty doves but economics is economics.
The reservation is unique in hunting elk vs hunting on state lands private or public since they allow rifle hunts for bulls during the rut. They have had bulls up to 400bci taken. A bull hunt is $10,500 and may go up next year. I did see a few bulls one of them was very large but then again I saw them at quite a distance.
I relized the importance of good optics. Our guide had a Swarski (sp?) spotting scope whih worked very well. I underestand that there are now HD scopes that cost 5k but they are worth it. The basic technique is spot and stalk. The guide was not enthusiastic about hunting the dark timber . One could argue that do to safety concerns dark timber hunting might not be desirable. The guide did not have chains but did provide a 4wd pick-up. Bringing chains to the hunt might be a good move.
A major problem was the weather. Highs were in the high 40's and lows were 18f. The problem was due to previous snows that had melted somewhat the elk already had an extra layer of fat so by early morning they would bed down in the dark timber to stay cool. The other problem was a full moon so the elk would feed at night.
The guide really wanted my son Brandon to get his first elk and brought in his younger brother who was in better shape to accompany my son who was able to scramble up the steep mtns to finf elk. On the last day my guide did locate a large heard of cows and after a tough hike my son and the younger guide were able to get within approx 300 yds of the elk. The heard was in a meadow and there was no cover to get closer. My son used his .270 win which at the range he had tight groups of an inch high at 100 yds. Not good enough at best he might of wounded a cow but the cow made it over a far mtn and the guide could not track it plus there was no blood trail. I know elk have survived bullet wounds I hope this one did.
I dont know when I can hunt with my son next year or not since he has enlisted in the USMC and of course his time will not be his own. If I do get the opportunity to take him back to the Goshute reservation I will but I will give my son a new rifle most likely a 300 win mag with a damm good scope. All in all I enjoyed my hunt and I thing the Goshute reserfvation is a good deal. I would argue that a guided hunt makes sense for novice elk hunters. I will also try to get into better shape for although some elk are harvested there by road hunting in common with other guided hunts not all are and being in good shape makes a difference although it is easier said then done.
Leftyhunter
The reservation is unique in hunting elk vs hunting on state lands private or public since they allow rifle hunts for bulls during the rut. They have had bulls up to 400bci taken. A bull hunt is $10,500 and may go up next year. I did see a few bulls one of them was very large but then again I saw them at quite a distance.
I relized the importance of good optics. Our guide had a Swarski (sp?) spotting scope whih worked very well. I underestand that there are now HD scopes that cost 5k but they are worth it. The basic technique is spot and stalk. The guide was not enthusiastic about hunting the dark timber . One could argue that do to safety concerns dark timber hunting might not be desirable. The guide did not have chains but did provide a 4wd pick-up. Bringing chains to the hunt might be a good move.
A major problem was the weather. Highs were in the high 40's and lows were 18f. The problem was due to previous snows that had melted somewhat the elk already had an extra layer of fat so by early morning they would bed down in the dark timber to stay cool. The other problem was a full moon so the elk would feed at night.
The guide really wanted my son Brandon to get his first elk and brought in his younger brother who was in better shape to accompany my son who was able to scramble up the steep mtns to finf elk. On the last day my guide did locate a large heard of cows and after a tough hike my son and the younger guide were able to get within approx 300 yds of the elk. The heard was in a meadow and there was no cover to get closer. My son used his .270 win which at the range he had tight groups of an inch high at 100 yds. Not good enough at best he might of wounded a cow but the cow made it over a far mtn and the guide could not track it plus there was no blood trail. I know elk have survived bullet wounds I hope this one did.
I dont know when I can hunt with my son next year or not since he has enlisted in the USMC and of course his time will not be his own. If I do get the opportunity to take him back to the Goshute reservation I will but I will give my son a new rifle most likely a 300 win mag with a damm good scope. All in all I enjoyed my hunt and I thing the Goshute reserfvation is a good deal. I would argue that a guided hunt makes sense for novice elk hunters. I will also try to get into better shape for although some elk are harvested there by road hunting in common with other guided hunts not all are and being in good shape makes a difference although it is easier said then done.
Leftyhunter
