FHL Gen 3 bull tag!

[Mel Carter]

I have my 300 mag shooting 165 gr Barnes TSX. Do you think 165 gr is enough for Elk or should I move up to 180 gr?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[inchr48]

I'm thinking 165 gr at 300 WM speed in the boiler room, and it's a done deal. I'd only step up to the 180's if they group as well as the 165's.

 

[DFGELK]

Just to clarify, shotgun is not a legal method of take for elk in California. I am working on it and hope to get it changed for next year.

Thanks

Joe

 

[spectr17]

Mel I shot my FHL cow with 165 gr TSX, she went about 40 yds and piled up. Shot was behind the front leg and clipped the heart and took out a lung. She left a pretty good blood trail to follow if it had been thicker cover and we needed to track.

 

[Shoobee]

I am new to the form and i just got Drawn for my first elk too... I can't wait... Any hunting tips for FHL? I got the 444 period 1 antlerless tag.

There are elk trails and elk beds all over FHL. But I have only actually seen elk roaming in T/A #12 and #15 at the Lower Stoney Reservoir. They come down to drink and wallow at the reservoir in #15, then they head back up the hill in #12 where no hunting is allowed.

I was told by the hunting shack attendant that there are elk all over the fort, and the beds and trails are a consistent indication of that too. But a couple of former elk hunters told me that when they hunted elk there, they did not see a single one.

That just means its the same game with elk as with deer, that it all depends on which training areas are opened to hunting at any given time.

If they open #15 for you, then all you need to do is check the reservoir to see if the elk have come down from the hill in #12 yet to water.

The big male harem master there is a 9x8 and his cows number about 15 to 20. There was also an immature 3x3 bull roaming around the fringes of the harem.

With an antlerless tag you should be sure to bag a nice female.

For most elk hunters, the 300 mag is the perfect rifle. In my opinion the 200 grain bullet is the perfect round.

Since they are big targets, and very slow, if you can find them, then it should be a fairly sure shot.

Good luck and good hunting!

 

[TonyS]

I would go with both your rifle and a muzzleloader in the car. That way you have choices. To get stuck in a rifle area with 25 guys would suck. With a MZ you can get into areas that have less pressure. I saw a big cow in 29 in April. Not 60 yds away.

Good luck!

 

[Mel Carter]

Ok, another caliber question. I have a .308 that I still need to sight in with copper. I have a box of 150gr TTSX, should I got to 165gr or 180gr and maybe TSX and stay away from the TTSX?

 

[ltdann]

If 150 shoots well in your rifle, it's fine. I wouldn't go smaller though. The last cow I shot at FHL, folded right up with 150 gr e-tip.

 

[Live2hunt]

Hey Mel,
I got your FHL bull picked out. Hopefully the first and second season guys don't get to him before your season starts.
Here is a little view of him I took yesterday. Is that big enough for ya?

[video=youtube;U4KZeqCzna8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4KZeqCzna8[/video]

 

[ltdann]

where was that? Kinda looks like the river.

 

[Bossbrott]

Now thats what were lookin' for!!!

 

[Live2hunt]

where was that? Kinda looks like the river.

It is not the river. The exact location not to be disclose until Mel's hunt. I promise him that.

 

[XDHUNTER]

:rotflmao:

 

[LongCaribine]

Like Jesse said, they will bend over backwards so that you can fill your tag. What's the Gen 3 tag? Is that archery only? If not, bring every weapon you have because they will open some areas just for archery and some just for muzzleloaders. they also restrict the areas to just elk hunters which is nice because you won't have some pig hunter busting your stalk, just other elk hunters...LOL. Good luck and congratulations. The elk hunts are always fun and I think you can take 2 non-hunters with you.

 

[Mel Carter]

Gen 3 is a rifle tag. L2H, I'll be in touch! Lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[PhrogDriver]

Scouting depends on the training. Getting the Gen 3 hunt is pretty lucky because most all of the areas are open since it is over the holidays. I would concentrate on area 22 to start off, but you need a muzzleloader. The bulls seem to hang out in there but they get pushed around pretty quickly. I saw some very nice bulls in there last year for the first 4 or 5 days and then they were pretty much gone from that area. I got in pretty close but had a misfire on my muzzleloader (.54 hawken with size 11 caps, bought an inline the next day!) The other very good place was area 24 on the south side of Long Valley. A few bulls were taken out of there, including mine. Good Luck!

 

[Mel Carter]

Thanks for the info. Got a pic of your bull? Would like to see it. I'll be picking up a ML just for this hunt.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bubblehide]

Hey Mel,
I got your FHL bull picked out. Hopefully the first and second season guys don't get to him before your season starts.
Here is a little view of him I took yesterday. Is that big enough for ya?

[video=youtube;U4KZeqCzna8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4KZeqCzna8[/video]

We all need friends like you!

 

[PhrogDriver]

I wish I had a better picture for you. I ended up taking him on the very last day of the hunt. I guess all the guys at the office thought I went home so when I called saying I had one down and was wondering if the Game Warden would give me a hand, they sounded real startled and I started wondering if I had slept through the last day of the hunt and had just shot one after the season had ended. I guess they were nervous because they had let hog hunters into the area. I don't know why they were suprised though, I signed out at the office that morning. I was too happy to really care at that point. Ended up being an 7x8 with a hanging weight of 395#.

 

[Mel Carter]

Very cool!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk