Planning an elk trip in Wyoming

[Bambito]

My dad is getting older by the day and we both want to elk hunt in Wyoming. We have decided its time to quit talking about it and do it. We r planning on fall of 2016. What are some of the things we should be doing right now? I have started to look at outfitters and for our first time we only want to hunt for cows. (We aren't made of money.) should we start applying for preference points. If I read it correctly we can do that in July? Any insight and information on outfitters would be great. Also any info on what part of the state has more elk then others would also be great! Thanks so much!

[NoWiser]

Buy a preference point this summer and you should have a decent shot at drawing a general tag next year. Otherwise, many areas will have leftover reduced price cow tags for sale come summer.

There are elk in the north, south, east, and west part of the state. I'm a DIY guy so I can't really help you with outfitters but if you find a good, reputable one I'm sure they could help you figure out when and where to apply for. Cow tags should be easier to draw than a bull tag so you should have quite a few options. Some may not even require the use of your preference point, which you should invest in no matter what this summer, in my opinion.

Good luck, let us know how it goes!!

[Scoot]

Good advice from NoWiser. Here's what I suggest-- buy pref points now (this Summer) and next year, so you apply with two PPs in 2016. Here's the key-- you'll have to find an area you can draw a bull tag in the future (you'll want to go back and hunt for bulls after you do the cow hunt- I can almost guarantee it!) Then, in 2016, apply for the unit as a first choice any elk tag and 2nd choice cow tag. Most likely you'll not draw the any elk tag and you'll draw the cow tag as your 2nd choice. Given that the cow tag isn't your first choice, you'll keep your preference points and after a couple more years will hopefully draw a decent tag with 3-5 points. Good luck!

[Bambito]

Thanks guys! You answered a lot of questions for me. One question though, if we are gonna go through an outfitter and just want to hunt cows do we need to pick an outfitter now so we can apply for preference points in his area?

[NoWiser]

Bambito,

Preference points are not area specific. I believe they go on sale in June or July through September.

As Scoot said, you may or may not even need a preference point for a cow tag in their area. But, you want to get them anyways because you will be back!

[Archerysniper]

Have you considered Montana for a Elk hunt. This will be my first trip there elk and deer hunting,some zones are 100% draw for bulls you just have to apply for that zone. This years deadline was March 15th you can also get over counter tags for some zones. The general elk and deer tag was $1002 this year when I purchased mine.

[Bambito]

Archery sniper... I guess we kind of looked at Montana but thought Wyoming would be a little better. Whereabouts are you going in Montana? Are you going through an outfitter or hunting public? This is all new to us so all the info. I can get would be greatly appreciated. I might have a lot of dumb questions so sorry. Here's probably one. My dad has a 300 but what would be the smallest caliber you would use out there? I am gonna need a new gun. That's my excuse to the wife! Hehe! I think my best bet is to start emailing some of the outfitters that we are interested in.

[TattooedHunter]

Depends on how good of a shot you are and to what distance. I've heard anything from .243 on up.

Personally, I'd take my .308win, and bring my .300wsm as backup (just in case I drop the 308 off a cliff or something, lol). Mainly because I shoot that one more accurately at the moment.

[Scoot]

Bambito, I'm a DIY guy, so keep that in mind when I offer this advice: go on your own and not through an outfitter! You already mentioned concerns about money and that's even more reason to skip an outfitter. I've bowhunted elk four times since '07 and shot three elk: a 6x6, 6x7, and goofy horned 5x2. If I can do it, so can you. Save the excessively large outfitter fees and find a honey hole on public land. There are tons and tons of great spots if you're willing to research, snoop, and burn some boot leather. WY is a good option, but so is MT. CO and ID offer some very good OTC opportunities too.

Don't be afraid to ask questions as a newbie- we were all total newbies at one time!

[Bambito]

Scoot....Thanks for the advice. My only concern with hunting public land is running in to a lot of other hunters. I am from south central Minnesota and the state land around here is like an interstate. I don't want to be hunting right along side other people. (I hate that). But I also know there is a whole lot of public land in them states. Any advice on whereabouts a couple of guys could go and not see a whole lot of hunters and get a crack at a cow or two??

[Scoot]

I won't give you locations or even unit numbers- I don't want to be to blame if I give you some spots and they are a bust. However, if you're after a cow, you should be able to go to a ton of units in WY or MT and find one to shoot on public land. There is a ton of information on the G&F websites. If you look in MT and look at the elk density maps you can get some great info. Also, when you get there if you tell other hunters you're looking for a cow, you'll likely get some help from bull hunters.

If you find an area with a good density of elk in a place that has a lot of public land, you'll be set. If you can combine that with places that allow you to get a long way from motorized vehicle trails, that's where you should go. The further the better. The rougher the terrain, the better. If it'll keep hunters out, it's likely to keep the elk contained due to lack of pressure. That's the recipe I've used and I've been pleased with the results.

That approach requires snooping, digging, research, calling game wardens and big game biologists, etc. to help find good areas. If you aren't interested in doing this sort of thing, I'd think about an outfitter. If you enjoy the digging and researching and putting bits and pieces of information together to try make a gameplan that'll work for you, then give it a try. It's not nearly as much rocket science or luck as some people seem to think it is (usually). Personally, I take a level of satisfaction from doing it DIY that I personally couldn't if I went through an outfitter. That may not be the case for you, but it is for me.

[candiru]

I don't know exactly where, but I knew a guy that went to CO on a cow hunt with an outfitter and the price was pretty reasonable. It was late season - mid Nov. They both got animals and it sounded like they had a good success rate.

[MontanaMax]

Montana is a great place if you want to hunt cows with a chance at a good bull. I've been successful 14 years in a row with taking a cow or bull and even taking a second cow on a "B" tag, all on public land or private in block management. I used to carry a 30.06 but now carry a .270 with 130 boat tail premium shells. The lighter rifle makes all the difference by the end of the day. Opening weekend with rifle is a zoo, subsequent weekends have moderate pressure, but you will be essentially alone in between. We camp in the field opening weekend but in motels nearby later in the season. If we don't fill opening weekend we wait until heavy snow hits the high country (I know, a problem for those living 900 miles away) Without giving up my spots, look on drawing success results for districts and try those districts with lots of cow tags (250-350)and high success drawing rates (85% plus) This means lots of elk and fewer hunters. Then get good maps and aerial photos of possible districts. Your looking for lots of open country up high (lots of grass) with limited cover, and most importantly, few year round springs or creeks. Using this information is the key to elk hunting: not finding where to hunt but eliminating 95% or more of the district where you shouldn't hunt.

This should work in Wyo too, Colorado has too many people, Idaho too many trees.

[Bambito]

Scoot.... No problem at all I don't want to take any spots from you. I do like the researching part of it and I feel it would be way more awarding for us to do it on our own. I am gonna take all this info and start digging. Thanks guys and I know I will have lots more questions!