Grizzly Island Elk

[Speckmisser]

Anybody here hunted tule elk at Grizzly Island?  I put in every year, and of course haven't been drawn yet, but just wondered about what the hunt is really like.

I'm thinking, if I ever get drawn, about using the muzzle loader.  Seems like with 100% success rates, that shouldn't be an unreasonable idea.  I've seen the elk there, and they seem practically like cattle.  Are most people taking their elk with long range shots?  

As if it matters...may as well buy a lottery ticket too.  But somebody's gotta win, huh?

 

 

[shooter44]

Odds don't look so bad for a cow tag, but applying for a bull is a bit like the lottery.  I've never hunted anything there.  But I did send in an app for a cow tag.  See what happens.

BTW, have you ever hunted anything there?  I read someplace that they have rabbit hunting there (starting tommorow?).  Wondering if it would be a worthwhile day trip.

 

[BigDog]

Not sure what the rabbit season is there but I can tell you that there are rabbits there big time.

 

[Speckmisser]

Shooter,

Grizzly Island is pretty much my regular duck hunt, so I have spent a lot of time there.  The place is crawling with rabbits, so if you enjoy stomping around in the heat for a couple of pounds of coney, it's definitely worthwhile.  I don't know if the mosquitos have come out in force yet, but they are something to consider when you go.

The elk are also pretty easy to find there, at least during the off season.  100% success rate on cows year after year makes me think that they don't hide so well during the hunting season either.  Of course, the best odds I could see of getting a tag were the late cow seasons, where odds approached 20 to 1 or so (not exact numbers).  That's what I put in for.  Bulls are limited to one tag per period, and since I'm applying with my girlfriend as a party, that's out of the question.  No biggie, since you can't eat the horns anyway.  

Good luck with the rabbits if you go.  Let us know how it went, and what you saw.  I've never been there during the summer.

 

[Drake Slayer]

I shot a spike there 6 years ago. Shot him at 220 yds.Was within 15 yds of numerous bulls and cows but the spikes were spooky from being chased by bulls and people.Have applied for a bull tag ever since but no luck.Applied for a cow tag this year and will continue to until drawn. Need some more elk in the freezer. I am going to use my bow if I ever get drawn. You are required to carry a rifle if you elect to archery hunt. I don't know if you need to take a centerfire if you muzzleload hunt. You might want to check it out.

 

[Speckmisser]

Thanks for that info, Drake Slayer.

I think there's an orientation required if you get drawn, so I'll see what happens.  I do plan to carry the -06 along anyway, because if it looks like I won't get a good opportunity with the muzzle loader I can fall back and take a longer shot...  I want a good hunt, but I want to fill my freezer too.  At 277.50 for a tag, I'm bringing home some meat.  

 

[E A Hunt]

As faaaa as those waabitts go. I'm pweeetty sure they arn't huntabel untiwil juwhy fwirst

  Twruwly Youurs
      Elemer Fudd

 

[BigDog]

Wascully wabbits

 

[Quercus kelloggii]

i put in for one of the cow tags also this year.  we'll see how that goes.  wouldn't mind having a nice big ole barbeque come fall...

as for the rabbits, no idea on the populations, but i believe you can only use shotgun.  i have the ultra-accurate high-power air rifle instead of the shotgun.  darn, gonna have to get yet another gun *sigh*.  ;-)

QK

 

[Bigolwiggler]

I drew for a spike in '95. Good eating. Heres the story though.

100% is Not guaranteed !

I began the hunt on a day when I had to be into work for swing shift that night. So I told myself , "self If you dont get one downed by 0900 in the morning, just wait till tomorrow to shoot so I would have time to dress the critter out".  Well at 0910 I had a spike in my crosshairs. I chose to wait till the next day. I figered i'd know right where to go in the morning.

So I show up bright and early to find tha a majority of the herd had moved onto a PRIVATE duck club.This herd included ALL the spikes. I watched all day. They didnt budge.  Note that this is day 2 of a 3 day hunt. I had plenty of time to think that day , and I thought of a guy that is part owner of a duck club that borders the club that held the elk.

That evening I called this guys home ,. His wife said" He is in Utah, " my heart dropped " then she said " he should be back in the wee hour of the morning. I aranged for him to call me as SOON AS he got home. He later called and said he would be out at the club at 1100 am  , and with the permission of the neigboring club , he would , well ....errr uhhhhh.......wander around the club and try to stir up the herd.  True to his word , I watched in my spotting scope as the nervous herd just happened to head back my way as my buddy wandered around them.

To make a long story short , at 2:30 pm I dropped a 421 pound spike elk , in the last hours of the last day of the hunt.

Obvious moral of the story , take the shot while you can, you may not get another.

I came to find out that the elk do this mini migration  onto the same private property almost every season. There are always a few bulls and cows wandering around the public area, but the spikes hang around together, If one goes onto private property , they all do. They tend to camp over there for days or weeks.

Hope this bit of info helps. I wish I would have known this going into the hunt !

Brett.....................
 

 

[Speckmisser]

Hey Brett,

Thanks for that bit of info.  Very useful stuff to know...before you have to learn it the hard way.  Lucky for you, you have "connections".  

 

[Rick]

I've never been drawn, but my fat, ugly (but lucky!) older brother got both a bull and a cow there.  The bull is amagnificent mount.   As posted above, they will tend to move onto the private property around the Island once hunting starts.  They may also bunch up out the open, so a long shot may be required.   I used to live in Fairfield and raised Shorthairs, and hunted Grizzly Island a lot.  My dogs even "herded" a big (angry) bull to me one time while pheasant hunting.  I keep applying and hoping, but so far no luck!