elk hunt

[Cahunter]

What zone do you all put in for in california?? For years I put in for the Del Norte bull hunt, but at the mule deer dinner I saw a vidio of Grizzly Island and there where some huge bulls there so I was thinking about that hunt. Has anyone hunted Grizzly Island before, or Del Norte. If so what are your thoughts?

 

[Speckmisser]

Ca,

I haven't hunted elk at Grizzly before, but I have done a lot of duck hunting there and you can see those elk on a regular basis. There are, truly, some hosses out there. I had a group of five nice bulls (they all look HUGE to a deer hunter) actually swim right by my decoys one morning.

The success ratio is probably second to none in the CA system, too. Unfortunately, the odds of getting drawn for a bull tag at Grizzly are pretty slim. Last year they only gave out two bull tags in the regular draw. Even with the point system, it's gonna be a tough draw. I put in every year for cow elk, since the odds are significantly better. Haven't been able to pull one of those tags yet either.

I know nothing at all about the Del Norte hunt, so I can't compare the two. Statistically, though, your odds are much higher of getting drawn for the Del Norte hunt than for Grizzly. I also think Del Norte is Roosevelt Elk, while Grizzly is definitely Tule Elk. Don't know if that really matters to you, but there ya go.

Good luck in the draw.

 

[Mattk53]

CAHunter,

I to put in For DN last year, This year I'm also looking at Klamath and Big Lagoon, for two reasons I want a Roosevelt, and I live In Humboldt County so it's close.
I to came here looking for Info on these areas so any would be appreciated. (Public land, outfitters, terrain, etc.)

Speckmisser,
The single reason I personally wouldn't put in for a cow is the CA points are for species not gender. I want a big bull and don't want to use my points on a cow. If I had a family to feed it might me different but being a single guy I'm holding out for my trophy.

Best of luck guys and keep me informed on your choices. Also anyone with any info on the Roosevelt areas, I would appreciate any info for this fellow elk hunter.

Matt
Mattk53@aol.com

 

[Speckmisser]

Hey Matt,

Yeah, I know what you mean about the points not being gender specific.

I'd like to get a nice bull, but I'll leave that to Colorado or Oregon. For CA elk, I'd be happy just putting meat in the freezer.

Grizzly Island is just over an hour and a half from my home, and I know the place well. Draw odds for a cow elk range all the way from a little over 100:1 down to 20:1, which means it's a reasonable likelihood that the point system will have me in the field within a few years.

Unfortunately, for bull elk, the draw odds are something in the neighborhood of 1500:1 in the first period and almost 700:1 in the second, which means that even with the point system your odds are real slim of ever getting a bull tag.

After my Colorado hunt this year, and if I get a chance to do archery hunts in Oregon, I may stop putting in for CA elk altogether... or maybe just start doing one of the daydream drawings.

 

[cincoflatspirate]

I think if only one tag is available you can't use your bonus point.(random draw)

 

[wmidbrook]

I've put in for Independence bull and the Marbles before. I'm going to go for the Owens archery tags from here on out though...may never draw, but someone has to.

 

[nextrodeo]

Drew an antlerless tag in the owens after years of trying to draw a bull tag. Two things I would have done differant. I would have used my bow, and the game warden said if the herd spooks and lights out , they will be out on the flat desert and nobody has ever got one if they get out on there. Well I am hear to say that you can crawl right into, past and through them. I had huge 7 point bulls, eyes closed, sound asleep at20 yards to take my animal. Its an awsome hunt. The best part of talking to the wardens is that they know the game, but they dont know how well you can sneak.

 

[snoopdogg]

Good info Nextrodeo. The odds for those lone bull tags kill me.

 

[Cda55]

I to am putting in for Grizzly Island. Might get drawn in about 20 years.

 

[Dan Moss]

I hunted the tinemaha period 3 last year. My partner and I managed to take our two bulls. However I noticed this year that there is only the period 1 hunt. I believe this is due to the lack of a boundary change in that zone. The animals here tend to stay out of the hunt zone. The biologist stated last year unless there was a boundary change or some fencing in place to keep the animals in the hunt area that they may not have the hunt. We were extremely lucky to find the two bulls together in the hunt area and manage to hammer both at the same time. I may try for the archery hunt this year. Have to see what happens.

 

[Mel Carter]

I put in for the North Eastern Archery hunt, it's an either sex hunt. I put my 2 boys in for the FHL hunt. Lets see what happens.

Mel