Wife Drew Grizzly Island Elk Tag

[Calif_Mike]

Sent you an email Chris.

 

[ABSHUNTS]

Chris - I just returned from my scouting trip to Grizzly Island. I have to say, it was an eye opener. First, the good news. Right behind the hunters camping spot, in the pheasant fields, I saw a herd of bulls, 35 in all. Some were absolute giants. I haven't seen that many antlers since...well ever. It was awesome. What a sight. The bad news, I never saw another elk all day until just before sunset. I keep myself in good shape and I walked, and jogged, and glassed, from every levi, and trail, from every parking spot on the place and never saw squat. Finally, after I was tired and really didn't want to make another two mile trek, I finally found a cow. It was about four in the afternoon and she was up grazing. As I closed within about three hundred yards I started seeing others bedded near by. In the end, I saw about twenty in that little herd, all cows and calves, save one little spike.
I say all this, not to discourage you or your wife, but only that it opened my eyes that this might not be the "shooting carp in a barrel" hunt I thought it would be. I'm sure there are other little herds, like the one I saw, else where on the reserve, but I really thought it would be easier to see them. Just be prepared to do some walking and glassing and most of all, have your wife practice shooting off full length shooting sticks of some sort. I put myself through all kinds of scenarios on how I would shoot one of the cows I saw and they pretty much all were shooting from a standing position, the tules are just to high. The chances of success are still very high on this hunt, but it might take a bit more effort than I thought. I just wish I knew where all those elk, that I know are there, were hiding all day.

 

[brushstomper]

Great report ABSHUNTS, thanks for the update!

 

[tdog]

ive been out there checking the elk every other weekend and there are surly a lot of bulls. in the beginning i seen a group of 40 bulls. now they have separated up in smaller groups. theirs 3 big bulls hanging out in between 3 and 4, all worthy of putting on the wall. seen two groups of about a dozen by the check station. most of the big groups of cows have been in the blind area and next to reef road. others had been seen in and around parking lot 5 on both sides of the road. couldn't tell whats on the other side of the refuge since the road is closed to drive on but im sure it will be open for the hunt.

 

[JaegerMeister]

Hey guys. Thank you for the reports. Its a little discouraging that the groups of elk haven't been present that are normally associated with Grizzly Island, but hopefully as we go into the fall the rut will kick off and bring more groups onto the island. Thank you for your reports, I really appreciate it!

-Chris

 

[Farallon]

Perhaps a moderator could link the butchers and game processors thread from this site?

 

[tdog]

View attachment 88472 these guys are at parking lot 3 seen today

 

[JaegerMeister]

View attachment 88472 these guys are at parking lot 3 seen today

Tdog,

Thank you very much for posting these pictures of the elk! I was just talking to my wife when I pulled up the pictures and she become very excited! We'll make a run to the island to scout as soon as we can!

Thanks again!,

Chris

 

[ABSHUNTS]

The bulls are in full run now and should still be when you get there. I hunted with Planetcat and his son, saw lots of elk, and tagged out first day. Just be patient. You don't have to try a stalk on the first group you see if they aren't in a good position. You will see others. Find a group (herd) in a good position and you will be able to get within a couple hundred yards no problem. They were in little herds all over the refuge, some as many as twenty or so. Just relax and have a good time. Her opportunity will come. As far as shooting sticks, I used a bipod mounted on the gun. I shot from both sitting and prone off the bipod.