Has anyone been on the grizzly island hunts? If so please tell. I'm running out of options now lol. Del norte is just to far this year. Vacation time is running low already. Besides I've always wondered what it was like there? Thanks wavesfr
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I haven't been on one, but I've read some descriptions. The success rates are good, but I have heard that the elk often move to private hunting club land once they figure out what's going on. I applied for a cow tag last year and am going to do so again. The odds are at least reasonable on the cow and spike hunts. If you draw a bull tag, well, with luck like that be sure to buy a lottery ticket too.
Speckmisser
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I've put in for the Grizzly Island hunts every year, with no luck. Someone on this list was talking about their trip there, though, but I can't recall who it was.
I have duck hunted Grizzly a LOT, though, and once I found out where to look I've watched the elk every season. I did hear that they like to head onto private land once the hunts start, but there's still about a 100% success rate. It sounds like a "shopping trip" hunt, but I think the folks who've actually done it might disagree. Or not.
The only thing I CAN guarantee if you make the hunt... bring DEET and a bugsuit! Early season out there breeds HUGE mosquitos, and a ton of them. They literally turned my yellow lab black last time I was there before the frost.
At any rate, I think I'm in for the 2nd period cow tags. 35 - 1 odds aren't all that bad are they?
I have duck hunted Grizzly a LOT, though, and once I found out where to look I've watched the elk every season. I did hear that they like to head onto private land once the hunts start, but there's still about a 100% success rate. It sounds like a "shopping trip" hunt, but I think the folks who've actually done it might disagree. Or not.
The only thing I CAN guarantee if you make the hunt... bring DEET and a bugsuit! Early season out there breeds HUGE mosquitos, and a ton of them. They literally turned my yellow lab black last time I was there before the frost.
At any rate, I think I'm in for the 2nd period cow tags. 35 - 1 odds aren't all that bad are they?
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Specmisser: 35-1 is a little better that Little Dry Creek during duck season!
When I lived in Fairfield, my older brother (who lived in So Calif.) got drawn for a cow tag and a couple years later got a bull tag! Jerk. Anyway, I used to hunt Grizzly a lot, and my dogs would sometimes "bring" me an elk...a PO'ed bull being herded by two shorthairs is not a sight you want to see when you have #6 shot, especially when it pops up over one of the levees unexpectedly!
I don't know how it has been in recent years, but back then you hahd a whole lot of anti-hunters blocking the road in, police and game wardens everywhere, and you had to dress your kill behind a screen of tarps, etc. in a certain place so that the mess couldn't be filmed by the antis. They picked up your kill in the field with a truck and winch. His elk involved crawling on hands and knees through the brush and tules to get close enough for a shot, which still ended up being a good distance.
They even had one anti who tried to scuba dive through the slough to get on the island so he could either disrupt the hunt or film it.
But he got a heckuva nice bull! And I enjoyed going with him since I knew the Island. I keep putting in...
I don't know how it has been in recent years, but back then you hahd a whole lot of anti-hunters blocking the road in, police and game wardens everywhere, and you had to dress your kill behind a screen of tarps, etc. in a certain place so that the mess couldn't be filmed by the antis. They picked up your kill in the field with a truck and winch. His elk involved crawling on hands and knees through the brush and tules to get close enough for a shot, which still ended up being a good distance.
They even had one anti who tried to scuba dive through the slough to get on the island so he could either disrupt the hunt or film it.
But he got a heckuva nice bull! And I enjoyed going with him since I knew the Island. I keep putting in...
I haven't been on the hunt, but I have worked it. It is a pretty good hunt and you sometime do have to work for the animals. If they do go over to the private clubs then you have to beat the tules and check out of the way areas to get a shot. Most people sit on the boundary of the private clubs then watch the elk watching them. Then there are other times when you walk out of camp and shoot your animal. It all depends on when you go.
Bigolwiggler
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Well I got drawn fo a spike hunt about 6-7 years ago. have been putting in for it for about 15 yrs.
To make a long story short. I could have got a spike the 1st day , but having to work that after noon , I figgered Id not have the time to dress and bring him down to the locker before I had to go to work .
I figureed that early the next mornin I'd know exacly where to find him .
WRONG. Like it was stated on an earlier post , the main herd , along with all the spikes moved onto private property. I could have shot a bull or a cow each day of the hunt. But the spikes wouldnt move .
Being a local boy , I know a member of a duck club right next to the property that held the elk herd. Made a few phone calls and .........yeehawww... got me a spike .
I would recomend putting in for the spike hunt only during the 1st period. With a little effort , a bull or cow tag could be filled during any period.
To make a long story short. I could have got a spike the 1st day , but having to work that after noon , I figgered Id not have the time to dress and bring him down to the locker before I had to go to work .
I figureed that early the next mornin I'd know exacly where to find him .
WRONG. Like it was stated on an earlier post , the main herd , along with all the spikes moved onto private property. I could have shot a bull or a cow each day of the hunt. But the spikes wouldnt move .
Being a local boy , I know a member of a duck club right next to the property that held the elk herd. Made a few phone calls and .........yeehawww... got me a spike .
I would recomend putting in for the spike hunt only during the 1st period. With a little effort , a bull or cow tag could be filled during any period.
