FHL Elk Help.

[Guard Dog]

Hi all, They just announced the zones for my Tule Elk hunt on FHL this weekend and of course I've never hunted any of the zones! Open Zones will be 12b,15,16,30,and ASP? what ever that is. I understand that I'll get some general info on these zones during the meeting tomorrow but any extra info from the JHO world is always greatly appreciated! SO have any of you hunted these particular zones and if so do you have any suggestions on areas that I might like to concentrate on? Thanks in advance for any help and be ready for some pictures when I get back next week!

 

[Shot]

Lucky dog! ....make sure you post pics when you get back.

I have seen elk in 15 and 30. Never hunting them there but I have seen them. From what I know the big boys are in think cover. Thats about all I know.

P.S. if you see a old man around the store bragging about how he has gotten many elks from FHL, listen to what he has to say, last 2 years he has helped many hunters on getting their elk from FHL.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[Guard Dog]

Thanks Shot. What store are you refering too? I'll stop in there tomorrow if I get a chance.

 

[Navy Hunter]

Flyboy,

Not as many areas open as they have had in the past, but 12B, 15 and 16 are all good for elk. ASP = Ammo Supply Point, but I'm not sure where that is. 30 is across the road from most of the base and kind of on the periphery of the elk areas. I would concentrate on the three adjoining areas of 12B, 15 and 16. If the bulls are bugling you will be able to figure out where they are pretty quickly. If not, 12B and 16 have rolling hills and some large, flat open valleys - you can glass elk from quite a ways away if you get up high. A lot of times you can locate the larger herds just from driving the roads. 15 has more cover and is not as condusive to glassing as the other two. It's a lot easier for the elk to stay out of sight from the road - getting out and walking should help here.

Jesse has maps of the different training areas here if you don't have them already: http://www.jesseshunting.com/site/fhl.html#maps

I took a spike in area 16 a few years ago (December hunt so the pattern in Sep may be different). I never really had a problem finding the elk, just finding a spike - lots of big bulls, both with the cows and in small bachelor herds. Listen to the DFG guys at your orientation. They want you to take an elk and will give you good gouge for where to concentrate.

Best of luck.

 

[Guard Dog]

Thanks Navy Hunter. I was looking at the maps earlier and found the ASP. It is adjoined to area 30 on the South side. I was really hoping that 25 would be open as my buddy and I were able to find the elk in there pretty easily and another JHO'r was in 25 last week and said he saw a MONSTER! Thanks again for the info on 12b,25 and 26.

 

[spectr17]

Never seen elk in 30. See them a lot in 15, 16 and 25. They hang along the San Antonio River. I have seen them just south of the ASP near Jolon Rd. which is normally a closed area to hunters on normal hunt days.

Make sure you take some calls, we've called them bulls in at all times of the year. One buddy called a bull up to the truck in the spring when we were turkey hunting. The bull's eyes said no way it was a cow but his you know what was driving another thought.

 

[Guard Dog]

Just back from the first weekends hunt and MAN DO I SUCK!!! My buddy and I had a blast but I missed out on getting my Bull a couple of times. Sat morning we went in to 16 and at first light we spotted a monster Black Tail buck and considered putting a stalk on him as I was able to hunt anything that I had a tag for even though I was on the Elk hunt. This buck was a big 4x4 and his rack was easily outside of his ears. After some discussion we decided not to go after him. Soon after we spotted a good size herd of Elk out in a valley and worked our way out to a creek bottom that got us pretty close to them. We set up and started calling but the herd moved away from us. I moved up out of thr creek bottom and pretty soon started hearing something big moving in the creek behind me. I never got a good look at it but Mike saw it and said it was about a 200-250 pound pig! Found out latter that the reason the herd moved away from us was because there was a guy up on the hillside hunting the same herd and had called them up. I was told that this guy was a Primos staff guy and he and his partner took a nice 7x8 Bull that field dressed at about 480 lbs. That evening we went back to the same valley and got up on an overlooking hill that had a water tank at the top. We sat there for about 2 hours without hearing or seeing anything so Mike decided to climb up a little higher on a hill next to us to get a better view, When he was about halfway up a bull bugeled and I could tell he was really close. I grabbed my Hoochie Momma and answered but I never did see the bull. Later Mike came back down the hill and told me that the bull had come up a draw behind me and had been within about 40 yards of me! He was a Huge old bull with 8 points on his left side and his right side was broken off about half way up. Next morning We got back on the same tank and called in a little 4x4 bull from over 500 yards out. He caught me in an awkward position and I couldn't draw on him. Left there pretty pissed off at myself and started driving into 12b. After just a few minutes we spotted a couple of Elk coming over a small hill and decided to go and see where they had turned and gone back to. Cresting the hill I couldn't believe what I saw, there was a herd of about 60 Elk standing down in a little draw and there were a number of really nice bulls. We set up again and made a cople of calls and sure enough the big herd bull starts walking my way. At this point I'm standing behind an Oak tree and just watching him come when I hear a big CRACK, look over to my right and there is a bull looking at me from about 10 yards! He winds me and turns to his right putting a tree between me and him. Oh yeah, just like on TV, I start to draw thinking I'll stick him as he steps out the other side at about 20 yards! NOT!! While I'm drawing back my arrow falls off the rest and spooks him down the hill! I did get a longer shot at him and missed high. That evening it was very slow and we didn't get on any bulls. Next morning we decided to take our chances on getting shot by a Deer hunter and try our luck in 25. We got on a herd within about 10 minutes and started our stalk once again. We set up in a little wooded area about 300 yards from the herd and started our calling, after about 10 minutes Mike spots one that had sneeked in behind us. Because of some overhanging limbs I didn't have a clear shot at him but I did find a little window so I took my chance with a shot. I released and he spun almost simultaniously (SP?) and the arrow just misses hitting home (42 yds). At this point we decided to call it a hunt and head home with my tail between my legs. I will be back over on the 18th and 19th to try and take my vengence! I learned a few things on this hunt, 1.Satalite bulls are much more aggresive than the herd bulls and will always bust you if your not looking for them, 2. I need a better arrow rest ( Whisker Biscuit is on the way ), 3. ELK HUNTING RULES!!!!!!

 

[spectr17]

Great story Flyboy Bowhunter. That's my buddy Jimmy Rizzo thats guiding some of the elk hunters there. You'll be doing darn good if you can call in a bull against him.

 

[blazintowers]

Cool story flyboy......Sounds like you are getting real close. Good luck next week.

 

[BDB]

Great story, good luck on the next hunt

 

[Navy Hunter]

Congrats on a fun weekend. Sounds like you've got FHL elk figured out - now it's time to put an arrow in a nice bull. Good luck!