Grizzly Island

[slowpoke]

I drew a period 3 cow elk tag at Grizzly Island and had a few questions that I am sure DFG will answer eventually, but for some reason I’m a little too excited to be patient! (and they are not answering the phone today)
1. Is there any camping allowed on the Island?
2. Does the closed area stay closed during the elk hunt?
3. Can a four wheeler be used for the recovery?
4. Any suggestions on where to look? I scouted today and found some, but don’t have any idea where they will be when they start to get some pressure.
5. The success rates look very high. Is it a bad idea to pass on a few so I can hunt a little longer?
6. What about using my bow? I could have had some good stocks today, but there will be five other hunters out there during the hunt.
7. Are the hunters assigned zones or is it a free-for-all?
8. Any recommendations on an excellent meat processor in the area?

Any help steering me in the right direction is greatly appreciated.

 

[slowpoke]

Picture from Sunday. I hope they stay there for 2 months

 

[slowpoke]

A picture of three nice bulls in the distance

 

[Pucci]

Congratulaions slow poke. I drew last year for a spike tag and my son drew in 2002 for the one bull tag. Had a great time thats for sure. We did do alot of scouting and that does pay off to a certain point. Once the season starts the animals get real wise and move off to private property because of the presure. You can camp their which I recommend. Fish and game will also go get your animal and bring it to the Elk pin were they will weight it and take samples. Thats where you camp also. Then its all yours to take care of your animal. They also have a hoist for your animal also. You hunt whereever you want and no four wheelers. You park at each check station and go out from their. You haved to walk. Bring your phone has when you score on your animal you call Fish and Game and tell them where you are at and they will come and find you. Its a pretty good deal and lots of fun. Also if the Bull tag guy is not their ask for Mr. Teagle who works for Fish and Game and he will go out and help you find an Elk. Great guy.The best place that we always saw Elk was out of parking lot 10-12. Good luck.

 

[slowpoke]

Pucci,
Thanks for the info. It all sounds perfect. I was only curious about four wheelers to get an elk out, but hey if they will do it for you better yet. Thanks again

 

[DFGELK]

Congratulations on getting drawn. It is a fun hunt, you can camp on the island. There is a eucalyptus grove that we call elk camp and camping is allowed there. It is also where orientation will be given the evening prior to your hunt. We allow people to drive only the main road and park at designated parking lots and you walk out from there. Once you get your animal you can call the wildlife area cell phone and someone will come out with an atv and trailer and help you pick up your animal and take it back to camp. Scouting will help but only as far as getting to know the area. The animals are mainly in the same spots but once hunting starts they change what they do and will leave the area. They usually leave and come back on a daily basis. Some animals do stay on the island. One thing that can make the hunt hard is that it is flat with tall vegetation. There are no good places to glass large areas. You can drive or walk by an elk 20 feet away and never know it. You can definately use a bow and some people have tried that in the past, I believe most ended up switching to a rifle to harvest their animal. Enjoy your hunt and make it last, they are wonderful animals.


Joe

 

[Speckmisser]

Congrats, Slowpoke!

I make my donation every year in hopes of drawing that cow hunt. Every duck season I sit out there and watch those suckers loafing in the closed zone... although I have seen them out and about in the other areas as well.

Can't give you any better info than Joe just did. Ought to be a fun hunt.

By the way, though... if you don't wanna camp, there are hotels in Fairfield that aren't too bad of a drive, although that windy, foggy road to Grizzly Island can sure seem long when you're eager to get out there.

If you do camp, prepare for SERIOUS mosquitos. Get a couple of Thermacells and some good spray.

 

[baboltin]

great pics. thanks for sharing.

 

[slowpoke]

Thanks to everyone for the help and advice. It is really sincerely appreciated. Here are a few pictures from today. Now that I have a feeling for the lay of the land I will leave them alone until it is time to