FHL December Bull Elk hunt

[PhrogDriver]

I drew up a tag for this december and was looking for help as to what areas are better for Elk hunting. I spent this past Saturday up there looking for upland game and pig, mostly just getting a feel for the area because I had never been there before. I have a friend that has hunted the base plenty that will be going with me but he has never been lucky enough to draw an elk tag. Any help at all would be great.

 

[lmjpsl]

Most areas where elk hunting can occur are closed to the general hunting. You can look at this link and see the areas where elk were taken in the November hunt.

http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums...hunt-Nov-2011.-Bow-shotgun-muzzleloader/page3

 

[solus]

13E and 13W if you can get in there and be careful if it rains those roads get very sticky and you will sink easily

 

[Navy SWO]

In general, the areas that have the elk will be opened to elk tag holders during the elk, subject to military training going on in those areas or adjacent areas. There may be weapons restrictions based on training going on (i.e. area 15 is generally a general weapons area, however during the Oct cow hunt it was limited to muzzle-loader and archery only due to a Marine battalion training in area 16.) If you have a muzzle loader I suggest you bring it as it will increase the number of areas you can hunt. Remember that per DFG regs, you can not use a shotgun with slugs for elk. Several hunters in Oct did not know that and were out of luck for the majority of the open areas. I was able to take a nice cow in an area I essentially had all to myself because only one other hunter brought a muzzleloader.

At the orientation you will get details on where the elk are, where you can hunt, etc. The base will go as far as possible to ensure as many areas are open as they can. If scheduled tranining doesn't happen, they will open closed areas mid day if feasible. The base wants you to have a successful hunt.

The elk are where they are. In Oct they were spread out over several training areas in smaller groups (10 - 20 cows with a bull or two) and seemed to be harder to find than they had been in the past. Talk to the base game wardens, they have lots of knowledge and are very helpful. I will hopefully get around to posting a report from my successful Oct hunt shortly. I saw a nice bull and a large bachelor herd along the river in area 22 (muzzle loader/archery only), so that is a place to start if nothing else. I'll include those pics with my report. Elk were taken in Areas 20, 22 and 25 while I hunted the first weekend.

Good luck!

 

[Live2hunt]

Remember that per DFG regs, you can not use a shotgun with slugs for elk.

First I've heard of that. Is that a newly added regulation? I know a few guys who have taken elk in FHL with slug shotguns in the past.

L2H

 

[Navy SWO]

First I've heard of that. Is that a newly added regulation? I know a few guys who have taken elk in FHL with slug shotguns in the past.

L2H

From Mammal Regs posted on DFG website:

[h=4]"§353. Methods Authorized for Taking Big Game.[/h]

• (a) Except for the provisions of subsections 353(b) through (h), Title 14, CCR, big game (as defined by Section 350, Title 14, CCR) may only be taken by rifles using centerfire cartridges with softnose or expanding projectiles; bow and arrow (see Section 354, Title 14, CCR, for archery equipment regulations); or wheellock, matchlock, flintlock or percussion type, including "in-line" muzzleloading rifles using black powder or equivalent black powder substitute, including pellets, with a single projectile loaded from "projectile" is defined as any bullet, ball, sabot, slug, buckshot or other device which is expelled from a firearm through a barrel by force.
• (b) Shotguns capable of holding not more than three shells firing single slugs may be used for the taking of deer, bear and wild pigs. In areas where the discharge of rifles or shotguns with slugs is prohibited by county ordinance, shotguns capable of holding not more than three shells firing size 0 or 00 buckshot may be used for the taking of deer only.
• (c) Pistols and revolvers using centerfire cartridges with softnose or expanding projectiles may be used to take deer, bear, and wild pigs.
• (d) Pistols and revolvers with minimum barrel lengths of 4 inches, using centerfire cartridges with softnose or expanding projectiles may be used to take elk and bighorn sheep. "

Note that shotguns using slugs are only specifically authorized for deer, pig and bear.

 

[Live2hunt]

Well..........it didn't say it can be use, but it didn't say it cannot be use either. All I know is that FHL allows it, and I have personally witnessed slug shotguns took elk in FHL before. Maybe this needs to be brought up in the orientation and see what the wardens have to say.

 

[Navy SWO]

Well..........it didn't say it can be use, but it didn't say it cannot be use either. All I know is that FHL allows it, and I have personally witnessed slug shotguns took elk in FHL before. Maybe this needs to be brought up in the orientation and see what the wardens have to say.

The regs state which weapons are allowed to take elk. Nothing else is authorized. FHL is not allowing use of shotguns for elk, and it was addressed at the orientation. FHL stated that they were following DFG regs with regard to allowable means of take. There were several hunters for the Oct hunt who brought slug guns for the hunt instead of muzzleloaders. They were out of luck for anything but the rifle areas. I don't know if the regs have changed from the past, but this is what is in force today.

 

[Live2hunt]

The regs state which weapons are allowed to take elk. Nothing else is authorized. FHL is not allowing use of shotguns for elk, and it was addressed at the orientation. FHL stated that they were following DFG regs with regard to allowable means of take. There were several hunters for the Oct hunt who brought slug guns for the hunt instead of muzzleloaders. They were out of luck for anything but the rifle areas. I don't know if the regs have changed from the past, but this is what is in force today.

If that was the case, then I guess it must have changed last year or this year because I was involved in the below hunt back in 2009 and a few elk were taken with slug shotgun.

http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/showthread.php/196104-Elk-its-whats-for-dinner


L2H

 

[lmjpsl]

I was at the November hunt and no slugs were allowed. This information is stated in the orientation.

As Navy SWO stated, bring the weaponry that you can (rifle, muzzleloader and bow). If they are in a bow or muzzleloader area, you might try chasing them into a rifle area where you have better opportunity in shot distance.

 

[XDHUNTER]

Concetrate on 22 and sorounding area caz that is where they are heading for the winter.and if you donate all the scrap intestine and all. i know a guy that can help you.....:lol bashing sign:

 

[acldo6390]

PhrogDriver,
Just helped my buddy fill his bull tag w/muzzle in area 22 in November (XD Hunter is right on). Unfortunately I had to leave the day before he got it but nonetheless the pattern had become clear to us and the bulls were fairly predictable. Most of the bulls are forming some loose groups which vary in size from three to 18 bulls. You will also find several other bulls who have sequestered harems in other areas (10, 13E and 29 last time I was there), dependant upon your method of take it will require some work with the additional eyes from the heard, if you catch them in a rifle zone then your odds go way up. Last year we took a cow in area 22 with a muzzle loader and it was difficult due to the other hunters in the area, fortunately for us a hunter fired on the exact opposite end of a heard we were stalking and drove the heard right into our shooting lane.
I will see you at the orientation on the 21st as it is finally my turn to line up some cross hairs on a bull. I should be up there the next few weekends so I may see you but look forward to harvesting our animals later this month!

 

[LongCaribine]

PhrogDriver,
Just helped my buddy fill his bull tag w/muzzle in area 22 in November (XD Hunter is right on). Unfortunately I had to leave the day before he got it but nonetheless the pattern had become clear to us and the bulls were fairly predictable. Most of the bulls are forming some loose groups which vary in size from three to 18 bulls. You will also find several other bulls who have sequestered harems in other areas (10, 13E and 29 last time I was there), dependant upon your method of take it will require some work with the additional eyes from the heard, if you catch them in a rifle zone then your odds go way up. Last year we took a cow in area 22 with a muzzle loader and it was difficult due to the other hunters in the area, fortunately for us a hunter fired on the exact opposite end of a heard we were stalking and drove the heard right into our shooting lane.
I will see you at the orientation on the 21st as it is finally my turn to line up some cross hairs on a bull. I should be up there the next few weekends so I may see you but look forward to harvesting our animals later this month!

Thanks Helpy Helperman. Good luck. I expect some elk jerky after the new year.

 

[Live2hunt]

.and if you donate all the scrap intestine and all. i know a guy that can help you.....:lol bashing sign:

Yep.......I think I know exactly who you are talking about. He can sure put you on the elk......:bag-on-head:

 

[PhrogDriver]

Thanks for all the Help!

I appreciate all the info. I did get a letter from FHL specifically stating no shotgun slugs this year. The first letter that they sent me when they notified me I drew a tag said to bring shotgun, though, so it does sound like it had been okay in the past.

I would be interested in the guy that could help out if I donated the scraps.

Thanks!

 

[PhrogDriver]

Thanks for all the advice. I got this one on the last day of the hunt. I guess they thought I had given up. They opened all the elk zones to general hunting and I ran into 4 pig hunters right after I shot this guy.

 

[Live2hunt]

Wow!.....I was there on Saturday hoping all the elk hunters would be long done, only to find out there were 4 more guys left. I told the guy in the window to let me know who the remaining elk hunters were so I can help put them on elk so I can have access to the elk areas for pig hunt. We thought we helped skinned the last elk (spike) on Sunday night. They guy at the window said there was one more elk hunter and he wouldn't open elk areas until the radio came in at about 8:30am saying the last elk hunter was tagged out. That's when we all could get into elk areas.

Congrats!


L2H

 

[weekender21]

Congrats, thats a great looking Tule bull.