Firehole Hunter
Lil-Rokslider
Trying to decide when to move on from an area that the first year I hunted it (2018) I practically had elk running me over on opening morning. I saw 2 shooters and over twenty cows. Another hunter in my group saw more in the same spot the following year on opening day and no one else ever saw anything more that year, then we skipped 2020. Last year I never saw an elk and saw very little sign of elk in the area except a small heard that apparently had a shooter in it but a hunter from another camp missed it. I know the area very well but there isn't a lot of dark timber nearby. Elevation ranges between 8500 to 10500 and mainly north-facing country. The area that I know really well is about 15 square miles, but I have another area of about 12 square miles nearby that I am somewhat familiar.
So do I stick with this area or go to a totally new unit. I can get bull tags pretty easy for 1st rifle but not cows without a preference point. Last year the area was crawling with hunters infers rifle, about 8-10 camps in the area, but no one shot anything other than the one guy who missed. Obviously, that many hunters spread out farther than the 25 square miles I am assuming, but really don't know. I am pretty much hanging in there this year but no elk in camp again means I'm outta there, don't you agree?
So do I stick with this area or go to a totally new unit. I can get bull tags pretty easy for 1st rifle but not cows without a preference point. Last year the area was crawling with hunters infers rifle, about 8-10 camps in the area, but no one shot anything other than the one guy who missed. Obviously, that many hunters spread out farther than the 25 square miles I am assuming, but really don't know. I am pretty much hanging in there this year but no elk in camp again means I'm outta there, don't you agree?