Tule Elk

[nickman123]

Finally got drawn this year for bull Tule elk. LaPanza period one. It wasn't what I expected. When I didn't get picked in the lottery for one of the "special access" areas, I was kind of expecting a really hard hunt. My dad had a cow tag for the same hunt 12 years ago. On his hunt, all the elk were back in the hills on the West side of the American ranch unit which requires a pretty decent hike to access. Also, the mature bulls were mostly seperated already from the cows and keeping to themselves.

Went out to Carrizo plains with my son a few days before opener so we could look around before hunt started, and was shocked to find that the bulls and cows were all hanging out together right out in the middle of the Monument. They were easy to find, just hard to get close to cause there's almost no cover out there. Ended up hiding behind an old metal water tank on opening morning (only cover we could find), and luckily the whole giant group filed past at about 450 yds. Wasn't an ideal shot cause I had to shoot from my knees off a shooting stick to get over the brush, but figured it was as good as it was going to get. Picked out the biggest looking one in the group and was able to put him down. Never saw any other hunters.

 

[THE ROMAN ARCHER]

Super congrats! Wow u picked out a really nice bull elk, Lucky u! Even with all the odds u pulled it off WTG! That’s going to look nice on the wall, Great pics!….tra

 

[canamrider07]

Looks like a nice size herd. Congratulations, great pictures.

 

[Oldtool]

Wow. Congrats ! Super nice bull and DIY as well. Goes to show it can be done. I’m sitting on 20 points. Probably never draw a bull. But I have looked at that cow tag for a couple years wondering if it’s worth drawing. I always hoped they would increase the bull tags with the population of the the tule elk . But they figured they could make more money with all the share draws instead. I always try those as well. Nice work on your elk . Did you feel a little anxiety about picking that elk tag and wondering if they would be on public or private?

 

[muskeg]

nice

 

[photohunter]

That is a good size herd and a nice tule bull. Big congrats!

 

[nickman123]

Wow. Congrats ! Super nice bull and DIY as well. Goes to show it can be done. I’m sitting on 20 points. Probably never draw a bull. But I have looked at that cow tag for a couple years wondering if it’s worth drawing. I always hoped they would increase the bull tags with the population of the the tule elk . But they figured they could make more money with all the share draws instead. I always try those as well. Nice work on your elk . Did you feel a little anxiety about picking that elk tag and wondering if they would be on public or private?

The LaPanza bull hunt is wierd. There are 6 bull tags each hunt period, and they then hold a secondary lottery two weeks before opener to pick 3 of the 6 who get to hunt in the 3 "special access" areas at Carrizo. I've talked to several guys who have done it and it seems hunting on those areas is basically a slam dunk. There is a decent size herd in each area that gets virtually no pressure. You just cruise in, take your time picking out the biggest, and then shoot it.
When I didn't get drawn for the special access, then I became worried about whether I should have paid for private access or hired a guide. Like I said, my dad's hunt made it seem like it was going to be pretty tough.
If it came to it, I was prepared to basically shoot any branch antlered bull I could find. Thank god it worked out.

By the way, that photo of the herd is only about 1/2 of them. They were strung out too far to all of them in a photo.

 

[Oldtool]

So glad it worked out!!! Those would be all the things I would expect to happen. I’m gonna keep trying for a tandom bull for a few more try’s.

 

[Huntinut]

Hey Nickman, I sent you a private message and would really like to talk to you regards your hunt.

Thanks Andy

 

[ChrisAMX]

The LaPanza bull hunt is wierd. There are 6 bull tags each hunt period, and they then hold a secondary lottery two weeks before opener to pick 3 of the 6 who get to hunt in the 3 "special access" areas at Carrizo. I've talked to several guys who have done it and it seems hunting on those areas is basically a slam dunk. There is a decent size herd in each area that gets virtually no pressure. You just cruise in, take your time picking out the biggest, and then shoot it.
When I didn't get drawn for the special access, then I became worried about whether I should have paid for private access or hired a guide. Like I said, my dad's hunt made it seem like it was going to be pretty tough.
If it came to it, I was prepared to basically shoot any branch antlered bull I could find. Thank god it worked out.

By the way, that photo of the herd is only about 1/2 of them. They were strung out too far to all of them in a photo.

It's like a draw within a draw? I see they have an archery hunt. Do you think bagging one with a bow is possible there?

 

[nickman123]

Yes. For the rifle bull and cow tags, it's a draw within a draw to get access to the 3 restricted areas. During the Zoom orientation, which was a couple weeks prior to the hunt, the biologist literally puts all the bull tag holder names in a hat and draws out 3 of the 6 tags holder names. Seems kind of crazy and I'm not sure what the scientific reasoning is, but it's been that way forever.

Those archery tags you're talking about I believe are brand new for this year. Don't know if they will have the same sort of secondary drawing for the special access areas. You can email the biologist and ask at Brandon.Swanson@wildlife.ca.gov

It looks like the hunt period for the new archery tags is even earlier, in September. Was still pretty warm during my hunt in October. Should be real hot there in September. Elk should be glued to the water tanks. If you were able to setup some kind of blind on the water tanks, might be pretty easy.

 

[ChrisAMX]

Yes. For the rifle bull and cow tags, it's a draw within a draw to get access to the 3 restricted areas. During the Zoom orientation, which was a couple weeks prior to the hunt, the biologist literally puts all the bull tag holder names in a hat and draws out 3 of the 6 tags holder names. Seems kind of crazy and I'm not sure what the scientific reasoning is, but it's been that way forever.

Those archery tags you're talking about I believe are brand new for this year. Don't know if they will have the same sort of secondary drawing for the special access areas. You can email the biologist and ask at Brandon.Swanson@wildlife.ca.gov

It looks like the hunt period for the new archery tags is even earlier, in September. Was still pretty warm during my hunt in October. Should be real hot there in September. Elk should be glued to the water tanks. If you were able to setup some kind of blind on the water tanks, might be pretty easy.

Thanks for info. Ive seen elk while hunting quail off 166. Seen six bulls together in January of 2014. One was outstanding.