getting ready for FHL 444 cow hunt OCT 20-28

[tgthethird]

I think the Juniors need 5 weekends to hunt elk. You cant pull your kids out of school to hunt because Calif ed law will deem them truant. I pulled my son out for a week trip to Washington to hunt elk and blacktail. I had all his teachers give him his work for the week which he completed however the principle reported him as truant. Maybe dfg elk can help with this.

 

[meatwad]

I know the hunt is over but I wish I was back in the woods this week. I know most of the guys at fhl road hunt and a lot of them are successful but I enjoy to hunt on foot. I first started to deer hunt back in Tennessee (the place I call home) and I could never stay in my stand I would for the first hour after daylight and the last hour before sunset but the rest of the time I would be stalking through the woods. I have taken about 30 or so whitetail deer in my life and half were while stalking. So for thus elk hunt I tried to employ the same techniques but quickly learned that a herd animal acts very different from individual or small group. The first two days of this hunt were a learning experience, then I was able to pattern and anticipate what the elk would do when I found them. I think if the more traveled elk zones were open we would have been successful, but we worked with what we got and had fun, but we were still a little depressed at the end.

My wife later told me that was one of the best little vacations in a while. We have not hunted together like that in a couple of years. I will say if my wife did not enjoy hunting like me she would have left me long ago. I get a little obsessed with hunting and fishing. Now I have to try any figure out when I can hunt elk again, it might not be for sometime. I will be stationed in mayport florida next and there are no elk there.

My next hunt will be coming up soon for turkey at fhl, followed by white tail hunting in Tennessee during Christmas time.

Does anyone know if anymore bulls were taken this week?

Tom

 

[Live2hunt]

Downtown elk city? Where's that?

I'm helping a first time FHL hunter on the Nov cow hunt. What TA's would you consider the better elk TA's. He'll have rifle and muzzleloader.

You and I went into downtown elk city when we were trying to fill your cow tag a few years ago and were surrounded by elks all around. I watched ya came eyeball to eyeball 15 yards with a bull.

 

[Live2hunt]

It's tough for kids because they have to worry about going to school and keeping their head on straight for their future. I hear yah though that if you put the time in your odds are real good especially at a base full of elk. Hunting is hunting not necessarily killing, but the kids are the future and we have to keep there heads up high. Luckily the ones I know that were on the hunt have been successful in the past for pigs or deer but and elk is just such a wow factor when you walk up on these giants guys laying on the ground and think wow I just did that. Good luck to the next hunters.

I was disappointed that the base mix the junior hunt with the adult. Disappointed that the tags were sold as a rifle hunt but the areas was restricted to muzzleloader. I understand that certain TAs are always restricted to archery, shotgun, and muzzleloader only and rifle should not be use in those TAs. TAs 12B, 22, and 20 that were never open for any hunting were opened for muzzleloader, I can understand the exception. What I don't understand is that TAs like 9, 10, 13W, 15, 16, 19, 24, and 25 that have been and can be open for rifle, why did they open them and restricted the areas to muzzleloader for elk? Some of the elk hunters were surprised with the muzzleloader restriction in orientation and didn't bring a muzzleloader. If I was in there situation, I would have asked for a refund, preference points back, give my tag to the warden, and walk out.

 

[ltdann]

You and I went into downtown elk city when we were trying to fill your cow tag a few years ago and were surrounded by elks all around. I watched ya came eyeball to eyeball 15 yards with a bull.

Oh...THAT elk city! That was fun, wasn't it? Damn shame it wasn't a bull hunt. That was the only time I've EVER painted my hands and face.

 

[acldo6390]

Sounded like a tough go... Got my Bull last year on Christmas Eve in area 24 after missing one in area 22 in the first twenty minutes of the hunt. Just prior to my hunt I helped a good friend fill his muzzleloader tag and that bull was taken in area 22, the year prior I helped another buddy out on a cow hunt and we were lucky to catch a large group milling about in area 22 and he nailed her at 40 yards, when you factor in the extra eyes that usually accompany the cows your getting a tough hunt! We struggled and it took three days to tag out. Now I leave on Tuesday to help another buddy with his cow hunt (the hunt has been delayed to start till the Wednesday before Thanksgiving so that has caused some serious rearangement of schedules). Please understand that the training that takes place needs to happen and our hunt is secondary and rightfully so. It is difficult to shell out the money, expect to use one type of weapon then be limited due to the closure of zones. Regardless, I am sorry for those that did not tag out but I look at it as one of those opportunities to hunt for an animal that most people in our state do not even realize is available. After reading this thread I am truly grateful for my "luck" and for those that still have a future hunt on FHL I wish you the best and if you wish I can e-mail or pass along any of the limited knowledge I have gained over the past three seasons of hunting in that area. Cheers and happy holidays!
Mark

 

[jerryt]

I've heard that DFG is giving the Juniors that did not fill their tags another opportunity to come hunt the week after Christmas.

 

[acldo6390]

If they do that then good on them. Sounds like a great idea.

 

[tgthethird]

Jerryt you are correct, My friend was contacted by FHL and informed that his son could come back and hunt Dec 26th til Jan1st

 

[Live2hunt]

I've heard that DFG is giving the Juniors that did not fill their tags another opportunity to come hunt the week after Christmas.

We're gonna make it happen this time.

 

[jerryt]

I'm going to try and be there to watch it happen.

 

[Live2hunt]

I'm going to try and be there to watch it happen.

Sounds great. See you then.

 

[Mel Carter]

Good luck to all you guys with upcoming hunts. It will be cool to see the look on those juniors faces sitting next to a big elk.

 

[meatwad]

Ok here we go, starting this bad boy back up.... yes really....We are going to have a second hunt due to the limitations put on our hunt. We have been talking with Fish and Game about the hunt and some strings were pulled and we are being invited back down from Jan 2-8 for our Hunt. My wife and I are so excited that we get to hunt together again for elk. As it stands My wife son and I will be in Tennessee from the 18th to the 28th of December for visiting family and Hunting the family farm for White Tails, then come back to Monterey to relax for a few days then back out in the woods for round 2 of our Elk hunt. This is the best Christmas present ever!

 

[Mel Carter]

Wow!! That is way cool, good for DFG for making things happen.

 

[sickguy]

For many, getting drawn for a tule elk tag is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This year the elk hunters got a bit of a raw deal. I'm glad they're giving tag holders a better chance to harvest an animal. Meatwad, good luck to you and your wife.

 

[meatwad]

Be sure to check out my newest thread just started it tonight. Our second elk hunt begins tomorrow morning Jan 2-8. I will post updates everyday after hunting.

http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums...-are-back-for-round-2-Elk-hunting-FHL-Jan-2-8