Max point bull

[Bossbrott]

Well, here I sit with max points for elk considering my options. I'm holding out for a bull tag, as I don't want to pull the trigger on a cow. Grizzly seems like a canned hunt in 100*+ weather, Del Norte is mostly private prop, Mendo is all private, etc. I'm looking for input from those of you who have drawn the coveted bull tags, and would like to hear your opinions, good and bad. My weapon of choice is a rifle, as I don't own a bow or ml. I'm not hung up on species too much, but a tule seems to be a nice trophy, as rosies and Rockies can be hunted further down the road. I've hunted the eastern sierras, and am considering the Owens valley, since I am familiar with the terrain. I'm simply looking for your opinions, and would like to hear your input. Thanks

 

[thewolfman]

I cant help u with tha but would lik to hear it too...so plz sombody do share!!!...

 

[nickman123]

Only advice I have is that if your using max points, put in for a hunt that has more than 1 bull tag. If there is only one tag, preference points aren't even used. Its done by random draw and you have no better chance than someone with zero points.

 

[DFGELK]

Many times each year I receive this question or a version of this question. There are a lot of factors to consider and it really boils down to a couple things. What type of hunt are you looking for? Wilderness, drive up, easy, difficult, high success, low success? What is a "great" hunt for one person may not be for someone else. Grizzly Island is not a canned hunt by any means. The zone is the wildlife area and they can leave at any time. I would not consider it a hard hunt and is not physically demanding. It is flat which has some benefits but at the same time you can not glass from anywhere to see much of the area. A bull could be 10 feet away in some tules but you would never know it. It has very large and healthy elk, but tt is almost impossible to draw and is not a wilderness hunt or anything close to it. Many of the hunts are what the hunter makes out of them. Max points is no guarantee of drawing most of the hunts, it does increase your odds but not always. Some hunts with one tag actually have better odds than hunts with 2 tags. I have seen draw odds actually decrease (for max point holders) when the quota was raised to two from one for the simple fact that more people applied for it thinking max points would help.
The Marble Mountain hunt is a pretty tough hunt, has "good" draw odds for max points (in perspective for CA). It also has some very nice animals that are harvested each year, with roughly a 50% success rate. Having livestock is a big help or being in really good shape and brining a couple friends along. NE is also a good hunt with nice elk but sometimes people have problems finding them. Lake Pillsbury is another option that has really nice bulls, but in no way is a wilderness hunt. You have to look at draw odds, what type of hunt do you really want, access to public vs private ground, guide, timing, size of antlers (if that is important), and your own capabilites. Owens Valley has elk on public ground, ok draw odds, some nice animals. But then the Tinemaha Mountain is a tough hunt for the Owens Valley and you better be prepared to get a few miles off the road and up the mountain. Give me a call if you want and I can try to answer specific questions you may have, but like anyone I have my own personal preferences on hunts but I do realize they are not the same for everyone.

Good Luck

Joe
916 445-9992

 

[DAWG]

Many will die with max CA elk points. Just apply for the one you want and pray. Tule is unique to CA, you can get tags for and hunt rocky mountain and roosevelt in ther states. I'd go tule bull or bust because of that.

 

[Mel Carter]

I just finished my Fort Hunter Liggett elk hunt in December. I seen Elk every day, but not every trip out. There are a lot of elk there, but it is definitely a hunt. Weather plays a big toll on this hunt, it rained almost every day and muddy roads made it hard to get around. I shot my bull in a full out down poor. It was the funnest hunt I have ever hard, but due to the rain it was miserable but a great experience none the less.

 

[CaliDuckPro]

I hunted the NE zone this past year. If you're looking for a great hunt, regardless of species, this is the tag you want. The terrain is highly variable. The zone is huge. And the herd is large, although spread out. It is not a "slam dunk" type hunt. The elk are there. And there are some trophy bulls. But you will work your butt off for them. If you have the time to stay for the duration of the season, I would suggest it. I planned to hunt 10 days... it took me 9. On day 2, I spotted two nice bulls. One being a monster. Never could seal the deal and settled for a 4pt on day 9. If you like high country type hunting, you can hit the Warners. The Devil's Garden holds quite a bit of elk but is challenging, as there aren't many vantage points you can sit and glass from. Some guys took some nice bulls in some areas I hadn't even thought of checking out. As I said, the zone is huge. I believe they issue 15 tags and is probably your best shot at drawing. If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line.

 

[easymoney]

I too have max points, after trying for decades unsuccessfully to get a La Panza Bull tag. It would be a great hunt if drawn (only six tags), it is in my own backyard, there are loads of bulls, mainly on private property where they are not welcome.
This year we were thinking about putting in for that NE tag because of more tags, lots of bulls, along with lots of public land and still in state.
I appreciate the info you guys have given...

Max points is no guarantee of drawing most of the hunts, it does increase your odds but not always.

This one line speaks volumes...

 

[Bossbrott]

I hunted the NE zone with a buddy that drew the tag, the first year it was "huntable". Back then the numbers werent as they are now, and the zone was much smaller. We hunted a strip of public between Goose Valley ranch and Black Ranch I believe, but the landowners had ALL the animals on their property, needless to say, James never pulled the trigger. Kali elk hunts seem to revolve around alot of private, of which im unable to afford a trespass fee for, so a public ground hunt is a must. Hot temps, and "other" hunts have me focussed on late season, Nov/Dec, bull hunts. A trophy is in the eyes of the beholder, so for elk, any bull will do, but a wallhanger is always the objective. Always like hearing of everybodys experiences, as to what they liked, or would do differently.

 

[easymoney]

boss,
That is the same problem I would have with the La Panza tag, if drawn. Lots of private ranches that hate the elk and little public land with few elk. The Carrizo Plain does have them but not like on the adjacent ranches.
The NE tag seemed like a good choice...

 

[Bossbrott]

boss,
That is the same problem I would have with the La Panza tag, if drawn. Lots of private ranches that hate the elk and little public land with few elk. The Carrizo Plain does have them but not like on the adjacent ranches.
The NE tag seemed like a good choice...

Steep odds for the NE tag, like 1/100? Lots of max pt guys looking to kill a KA bull.

 

[CaliDuckPro]

Steep odds for a bull tag, in general. Tons of public ground that the elk frequent in the NE zone. I will admit, it could get warm. The day I killed my bull was the warmest day I was there which was high 80s, low 90s mid day. The rest of the time was decent. I'd do it again in a heart beat if I could. I know a couple max pointers I'm pushing to put in, just so I can tag along.

 

[DAWG]

Plain and simple. If you want to hunt elk, you have to look out of state if you live in CA. Drawing a tag in CA is iffy, ever. It really isn't that cheap compared to a lot of nonresident tags too. Cool if you draw, but nothing you can count on.

 

[DFGELK]

Just so you have a good perspective, more tags does not always equal a better chance to draw. The Northeast bull hunt had around 1.4% chance of being drawn with max points. The two La Panza hunt periods had 6.8 and 9.6% chance for a bull tag with max points. The La Panza does have a lot of private but looking at some telemetry data over the years there are usually elk available on the public. It is a risk because they can obviously leave the public and go to private fairly quick. Every year is a bit different and what you can see from a road is not the extint of what is actually happening with the elk, they move around. Good luck to all in whatever you choose.

Thanks

Joe

 

[Bossbrott]

Just so you have a good perspective, more tags does not always equal a better chance to draw. The Northeast bull hunt had around 1.4% chance of being drawn with max points. The two La Panza hunt periods had 6.8 and 9.6% chance for a bull tag with max points. The La Panza does have a lot of private but looking at some telemetry data over the years there are usually elk available on the public. It is a risk because they can obviously leave the public and go to private fairly quick. Every year is a bit different and what you can see from a road is not the extint of what is actually happening with the elk, they move around. Good luck to all in whatever you choose.

Thanks

Joe

Thanks Joe, any/all info shared from you on the forum is very welcome, thanks.

 

[easymoney]

Just so you have a good perspective, more tags does not always equal a better chance to draw. The Northeast bull hunt had around 1.4% chance of being drawn with max points. The two La Panza hunt periods had 6.8 and 9.6% chance for a bull tag with max points. The La Panza does have a lot of private but looking at some telemetry data over the years there are usually elk available on the public. It is a risk because they can obviously leave the public and go to private fairly quick. Every year is a bit different and what you can see from a road is not the extint of what is actually happening with the elk, they move around. Good luck to all in whatever you choose.

Thanks

Joe​

Thanks Joe, I have put in for this tag for at least three decades and never drawn. Yet, I have heard that some people have drawn more than once in recent times...
I guess I will have to continue my out of state quest, especially if the odds on the NE tag is so steep...

 

[nickman123]

Here's another two cents worth. The NE hunt is good and so is the Marble Mountain hunt. But if you're like me and live in so cal/L.A. area, its about an 11-12 hour drive or more to that part of northern california. Way too long for any sort of weekend hunt or to be able to do any preseason scouting. Thats why I only put in for the elk hunts farther south. If I am every lucky enough to draw, i want to be able to put alot of time into the hunt. Besides, if I want to drive 12 hours, I can go to Colorado where the tags are guaranteed and not that much more expensive.

 

[Hog slayer]

Del Norte, the picture of me on the post is a 325 point record Roosevelt bull that I took on the Simson Timber Company Property. The bull scored 2 in ca and 40th overall in the Boone and Crocket book. Lots of big bulls up there. I am not sure how they run the hunt anymore but the fish and game usually works with the Timber Companies to have free access on the land. Great hunt back in the day some 15 years ago or so. That would be my choice for a Roosevelt Elk.