There is not waiting period for elk in California, you can apply every year. My partner and I were lucky enough to draw the Bishop Bull hunt back in '96, what a great hunt. Both of us took nice bulls.
I'm looking forward to my Cow Elk hunt. I'll be trying for a bull in coming years. My luck has been good thus far, knock on wood. I hace access to some ranches for the La Panza hunts. I may be trying for that next.
A buddy of mine got pulled this year. I'm not sure what the area is, but it's in southern SLO county and it's for the first hunt period. Get this, this is the first year he's ever applied! He's caught between telling everyone in his excitement and keeping his mouth shut so as not to tick off the guys who haven't been drawn in 20 years of applying. All I know is I'm happy as hell for him (and for me when I get some steaks).
Coachdog: I'm sort of in the same boat as your bud.. My Elk tag was the second time I applied and I got an Xzone tag this year with my first app for an X zone.
Coachdog: I know exactly how your buddy feels. The very first year I applied for an Elk tag in Ca I got drawn. Their where only two tags available for the hunt, my hunting partner and I put in as a party with me as the party leader and we drew the two tags. I was quite happy at the time, but sense it was the first year that I had appied, I did not really comprehend how truly lucky I was.
One day when we where out scouting for the hunt, a state trooper stopped by to see what we where up too. We told him that we where scouting for elk, we had been drawn for the elk hunt. Now up to this point he had been quite nice and was giving use quite a bit of good information. Then he said he had been applying for these tags for 20 plus years and had never been drawn. Well, dumb me says this was the first elk tag I had every applied for, and got drawn! As you can guess that was the end of any more infromation from Mr. Trooper.
It was a great hunt, both me and my partner took real nice bulls definitely a hunt I will never forget. Tell your buddy to have a great time and enjoy the experiance to the fullest.
I am Coach Dogs buddy, yep the one w/ the period 1 bull tag. Uh- huh, first timer. I tried to get Coach Dog to help out building a shrine to the "Mighty Elk Hunter", but he mumbled something about archery and foam deer and neglected to even light a candle in my presence. So, this is the deal. Bob Stafford (DFG biologist) has not gotten in touch w/ me as yet...can anyone tell me what the "ball park experience" is like (Prohunter).... Coach Dog, call me... can you believe that Rick got pulled for the Hunter Ligget Junior Hunt!!! Mo' Meat!!.
P.s. I am not giving you any, build me a shrine and we will talk.
The DFG should send you a list of where you can hunt private and public. Public is mostly the carrizo plains. I did not really see any big bulls out there. The best bet is private land. Try to get permission. You may have to pay a trespass fee. I hunted on a private ranch and they charged me $500.00. I sold my motorcycle to go. I killed a 9x5 bull elk. I saw and still see some HUGE elk out on Pozo road just past the old Pozo bar. You can try talking to land owners there. Good luck most of them like the elk, but I heard a few want them out. I will help you anyway I can. I think the rut is on with the first season if my memory is not to far gone.
check this link out for more info and picture: http://www.jesseshuntingpage.com/cgi-bin/i...=45&topic=7
I already have heard that I might have to do business w/ the privates.....I am hearing 2500-5000 (USD). In all honesty, my pockets are not that deep at this stage in my life (just bought home/wife pregnant w/ 2nd rug rat) so I could easily be relegated to the Carrizo....or to put it bluntly, WILL be relegated to the Carrizo.
I am a thorough guy and I will do my homework and whatever, if anything, the public has to offer will have to do. As far as I am concerned, just being in the game is good enough....It's exciting stuff either way you slice. I appreciate the back up brother....if you ever have the wish for some waterfowl or quail, I am your guy. Just ask.
Scott,
I would call DFG and talk to the person in charge of the elk program. He sent me in the right direction. Another long shot I would try would be to walk in behind the private land where I told you the elk are at behind Poso bar. Once in awhile they do wonder off to public ground. Before you get to the bar on POZO road turn in at the ranger station. I think that is high mountain campground. If you like walking you should be able to get in behind all that land and be on public ground.
Happy Scounting,
Phillip
I broke out the topos of the area and kind of came to the same opinion, hmmmm. Well I think everybody knows that w/ out the zillion dollar trespass fees pulling this one off is going to a act of god.
I am not intimidated yet, but I am concerned.
Nothing in life is gauranteed, except death and taxes.
my hunting budies have been telling me to register with this site for a while now and i've finally gotten around to it. i put in for an antelerless elk tag in la panza this year, figured i might have better odds than putting in for the bull. needless to say i was got a tag. i was wondering if anyone has any info about private land access for the cows. i've talked to one of the ranch owners in that area and he said it is mostly bulls on his land, and he wasn't very receptive about letting me hunt for a cow there. i've seen cows on some other ranches out there also. only seen the herd on the public land once and a friend of mine saw them there once. just wandering if anyone knows if ranch owners are any more receptive for someone who has a cow tag? i'm still waiting for my information for dfg, so that might shed a little light on the situation also. any help would be appreciated.
huntsndives, Welcome to Jesse's the best place on the web. Glad to see you took your buddys advise and climbed aboard. Gota a lot of great peeps on the forum and full of greart info on all kinds of stuff, so take off your shoes, pull up a chair and stay awhile. Good luck on your Elk hunt, hope you get your tag.
I got off the phone w/ Bob Stafford, DFG biologist for the Elk....yesterday. He said that the cows are a tough pull with about 30 % success. The bull tag is about 50%. This is on public land. He said the majority of the herd is sitting on a ranch called the American. If you have about 3000.00 you can easily get access and dump one on private. Bulls cost around 5000.00.
Needless to say, you will see me on the public!
Deckhand,
So this is where you've been hangin' out lately? Good to see you around. It's been awhile. Do you mean Rico pulled for a junior Elk hunt? Looks like the old Bender freezer's gonna be chock full o' meat. Let me know offline or email what the dates are for your hunt again, I've got to start training (insert fork, make sawing motion with knife…). No seriously, I feel like hiking some hills. Later
You guys who drew carrizo tags should definitely stop by the nature center on the carrizo when you go scout. The BLM people are really cool to hunters and shoud be able to give you a few hints as to where the elk show up on public land. Anyway, good luck!
there are alot of deer on public property. 5 out of 6 trips i have seen elk. on the last trip i called four elk in using a coyote call beleive it or not. they came in within 150 yards and just sat there for almost an hour. must have no hunting pressure.
I was hunting deer in Carrizo earlier this week and ran across quite a few elk on public land (no deer unfortunately). My partner and I were able to get within 150-300 yards of a good number of them (cows and bulls), however after a little hunt pressure from period 1 hunters, I suspect they will flee to the private land. I hope not though, because I have a period 2 tag.
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