Wyo elk question

1

1happyshooter

New member
Anybody familiar with elk zone 37? I asked this question on another post and decided just to start my own. I'm taking my nephew (he'll be 13) for a cow elk hunt and I'm trying to find someone who knows a about the area as I want to time the hunt while the elk are still accessible on forest land.
 
Have you ever been elk hunting before? Not trying to be condescending, I'm just trying to figure out what advice needs to be provided and how.

Is this archery or gun? I'm assuming it is gun.

By the time you reply to this post I should have my GPS in my hand so I will be able to give you exact points and locales of interest.

I have hunted that area before, and you should know ahead of time that if it is during gun season that it is going to take some serious work, because elk don't respond favorably to pressure and when it coincides with inclement weather.
 
Yes it's rough country through there. It will be his first big game trip out west. Its rifle. I can get in there before the deer opener. Matter of fact the northern part opens Sept 1, the rest of the zone opens Oct 1, which is still 2 weeks before bucks and bulls seasons open on Oct 15.
 
Black Mountain Road is where you want to go. It should be a right turn off of HWY14. If you have a GPS then you need to find Wolf Creek. Find where Wolf Creek intersects near Black Mountain Road and just to the South should be a trail. You will probably want to park somewhere around there, but you can go East down that road/trail and you will end up in a clearing/pine sappling meadow. Now head down that trail and you will begn to encounter lots of clear cuts as you head down it through the dark timber. At a vertain point you will drop off of the peak when you go down one of the foottrails. If I remember right that foottrail is a mother bear, but it will take you out to a HUGE clearing/sappling meadow where there will be 2-3 rock peaks where you can sit and glass to your heart's content, and if the kid can shoot you may be able to set up on the central rock formation and have your way with the area. If you wish you can even keep heading East down the trail to a more foothill type area.

Now what I have just described is A LOT of country. The end point that I just described of foothills is a 6-7 mile descent and most people horseback down to it. I say most people, because I made the full round trip in one day when I killed a cow and the guys heading to their camp at the bottom of the drainage were wondering where my horse was and they $h!t when I told them that I was on foot.

This is a good area and it what I have given will give you access to a lot of country that nobody else will want to get to. So good luck, and if you have any questions just ask.
 
BigGrizz is right, I grew up in Sheridan, 37 is a tough tag to fill, walker prairie is a good spot bu it's rough getting into, black mountain gets pounded pretty hard, penrose park area above story wy can produce elk as well, it's a good are to have a 4wheeler, this is a much better area for archery, if your going to rifle hunt then maybe look into 38 or 40
 
Originally Posted By: BigGrizzBlack Mountain Road is where you want to go. It should be a right turn off of HWY14. If you have a GPS then you need to find Wolf Creek. Find where Wolf Creek intersects near Black Mountain Road and just to the South should be a trail. You will probably want to park somewhere around there, but you can go East down that road/trail and you will end up in a clearing/pine sappling meadow. Now head down that trail and you will begn to encounter lots of clear cuts as you head down it through the dark timber. At a vertain point you will drop off of the peak when you go down one of the foottrails. If I remember right that foottrail is a mother bear, but it will take you out to a HUGE clearing/sappling meadow where there will be 2-3 rock peaks where you can sit and glass to your heart's content, and if the kid can shoot you may be able to set up on the central rock formation and have your way with the area. If you wish you can even keep heading East down the trail to a more foothill type area.
Now what I have just described is A LOT of country. The end point that I just described of foothills is a 6-7 mile descent and most people horseback down to it. I say most people, because I made the full round trip in one day when I killed a cow and the guys heading to their camp at the bottom of the drainage were wondering where my horse was and they $h!t when I told them that I was on foot.

This is a good area and it what I have given will give you access to a lot of country that nobody else will want to get to. So good luck, and if you have any questions just ask.
Sounds like the way we would horse back I to walker prairie, there's another way to get there if you have a jeep or a four wheeler.
 
Yeah, I think you are right. I remember seeing some 4-wheeler/Two-track trails back in there, but they stopped at a certain point.
 
Originally Posted By: EJ Reichenbach BigGrizz is right, I grew up in Sheridan, 37 is a tough tag to fill, walker prairie is a good spot bu it's rough getting into, black mountain gets pounded pretty hard, penrose park area above story wy can produce elk as well, it's a good are to have a 4wheeler, this is a much better area for archery, if your going to rifle hunt then maybe look into 38 or 40

I understand the deal with other zones. Some don't have reduced cow tags, some seasons don't open until bull/buck season, etc. My hope is to get in while they are accessible on public land as well as before they get scattered over all creation by the bucks/bulls hunters.
He's a good kid that i hope can be successful on this trip and see something besides hunter orange (we have plenty of that here-lol).
Is there a typical date when they get pushed off the mountain by they weather?
 
Be looking for them in the area of Black Mountain Road through the month of Sept. When Oct. comes around they'll be more inclined to descend. Cows aren't as tolerant of deep snow the way bulls can be when they are solitary. They should all begin to really herd up around mid Sept for sure, but again, a lot of it depends on the weather.

Count on snow that high at the end of Sept/beginning of Oct, but it shouldn't be enough to really cause you too much aggravation.

Hunt the timber during the warmth of the day, and clearings during the evening and dusk. Always keep an eye on the small parks as well (Parks are the little clearings in between stand of trees or within those stands, just incase you were confused).
 
Thanks much appreciated.
I am trying to decide whether or not to camp. I prefer the camping experience but it may be a bit much for him so we may get a motel room.
 
Hey BigGrizz and EJ Reichenbach you guys sound like you know your way around a bit. I got an area 23-6 Cow Elk tag. Some friends live in Cody who we stayed with last year when we Deer hunted suggested the area. Said we will stay at a place called "Cottonwood Ranch (I think) recommended going after Thanksgiving even though season opens earlier. Not sure we will hunt the Ranch bu the hunt area is apparently close by. Are you familiar with the terrain and tree/vegetation? It is steep? Guessing there should be good snow after Thanksgiving.

I know I can kill Elk with a .270 and 150 grain Sierra GameKings but I am seriously considering my .338 WinMag with 215 grain Sierra GameKings. Not sure why but maybe because if I don't use my .338 for Elk I am not sure what I am going to use it for. A few years ago I moved down in caliber size for Deer and Pigs. (From the .270 and 150 or 130 grain bullets to the 6mm Remington with 85 grain bullets.

I kill both just fine and it kind of freaks some people out when they are carrying the 300 magnum wazzoo rifle for the tiny CA Deer or 100-200 pound pigs. I have hunted Elk but never Area 23. What say you?
 


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