Nevada 62, 64, 66-68 (early rifle)

[slowpoke]

Is anyone willing to share some helpful insight on where to start in this area? I have maps and am trying to form a game plan for scouting the area over the summer. I have read the information on the Nevada website, the Go Hunt site and have onX. There is a lot of info that would be helpful, like how the hunters after different kinds of game use the area, that cant be known until they are experienced
Thank you

 

[Jake F]

While I don't know the zones you have drawn I do know that every time I have hunted in Nevada being able to see long long distances is always there for one to take advantage of. Get your hands on the best glass you can afford and exercise lots of patience and you'll turn up the critters you're looking for. I fully admit I have a difficult time just sitting and looking especially if I'm not seeing much but it is pretty amazing how a herd of 40 animals can just appear out of nowhere. Good luck on your hunt. Hopefully someone can help you better than me. Maybe give the local fish and game person a call for that unit. That may be a starting point.

 

[slowpoke]

Thank you Jake. I was hoping to get some specific questions to ask the wardens and the biologist before I called them, but maybe have that backwards? I have great binoculars now, but my spotting scope could use an upgrade. I was considering a pair of high power tripod mounted binoculars for this hunt

 

[cali deer hunter]

Do you have an anterless, spike, or bull tag? My girlfriend drew that tag last year for anterless.

You will be amazed at how helpful the biologists are in helping you. I have their emails from last year and their email address I can send you. We hunted the Bull Runs based on the information the biologist provided for a few days. Only saw 4 to 5 bulls and she had a cow tag. All the elk we saw were probably 1500-3000 yards away. We also hunted the Independence Mountains (east side of Red Mountain) west/southwest of Wild Horse Reservoir.

IF you hunt the Bull Runs, we stayed at Wild Horse Crossing Campground off 225 and accessed the Bull Runs off Maggie Summit Road. It's a developed campground and Owyhee is 30 minutes away for fuel, supplies, etc. The bulls we saw were just north of Pennsylvania Hill but south of NF-172 that goes over hill. Lots of hunting pressure around NF-172 and NF-011. Hardly saw anyone when hunting the east side.

You have to be careful with the Bull Runs. Last year some friends of a close friend got stuck after 3+ feet of snow fell and they had to get rescued.

We spend a brief moment at another area before we were drenched and almost snowed in but it showed a lot of potential.

I would say a really good rangefinder too. The elk we saw weren't more than 100-150 yards out of the cover and they were only visible at first light about an hour left of shooting time. I told my girlfriend she would likely have to take a 400-500 yard shot if we saw a cow and looking at the terrain, cover, etc. I think that's an accurate estimate.

I would get a good spotting scope over binoculars.

 

[slowpoke]

Cali Deer, Thank you. I have a bull tag! After 11 years I was wondering if it would ever happen. I have a pair of Leica Geovids so I have the range finder and 10x binoculars. You would suggest a spotting scope over the Swarovski SLC 15x56?

 

[cali deer hunter]

I guess it's preference on binos and spotting scope. I usually glass with binoculars and then detail with spotting scope but everyone is different.

If you PM me your email address, I will send over the biologist's email and contact info.

 

[fishnhunt21]

Swaro 15x56 on a good tri pod and you should be good. Even if you spot them from 1300 yds. away. Your still going to want to get closer for a shot and can use the swaros than up closer to better assess a shooter bull. I run swaro SLC 10x42s on a tri pod and feel they are adequate enough to see everything I need or want too.