Myself, my cousin, and my dad have decided to do a Wyoming elk hunt on a general tag this year. We have narrowed the location down to a unit in western Wyoming. This will be an archery hunt in mid-late September, though we may head back out for rifle season if it works.
I've done all of the usual research regarding unit boundaries, motorized trails, nonmotorized trails, water sources, fire history, etc... I'm confident that we can backpack into some great country (this will be a backpack hunt) and get on some elk. One thing I have never figured out how to do is get reliable information regarding the location of outfitter camps in the area. I'd really prefer not to spend 5 hours hiking into a drainage only to find an outfitter camp there. Our hunting days are too valuable to waste much time.
Has anyone found a good way to figure out where historic outfitter camps are located? I have contacted well known outfitters in the area but they will not divulge the location of their camps (understandably). I have had zero luck getting a response from the National Forest district that we'll be hunting regarding any questions, let alone specific information like this. I have had very good luck talking to Wyoming Game Wardens, though I have not spoken with the one in this area. I hate to bother him, though right now would probably be a good time without much hunting going on.
Does anyone have any ideas on other avenues to take? Or, is it even important? Maybe I'm worrying about something that isn't a big deal. I'd love to hear any thoughts on this.
Thanks!
I've done all of the usual research regarding unit boundaries, motorized trails, nonmotorized trails, water sources, fire history, etc... I'm confident that we can backpack into some great country (this will be a backpack hunt) and get on some elk. One thing I have never figured out how to do is get reliable information regarding the location of outfitter camps in the area. I'd really prefer not to spend 5 hours hiking into a drainage only to find an outfitter camp there. Our hunting days are too valuable to waste much time.
Has anyone found a good way to figure out where historic outfitter camps are located? I have contacted well known outfitters in the area but they will not divulge the location of their camps (understandably). I have had zero luck getting a response from the National Forest district that we'll be hunting regarding any questions, let alone specific information like this. I have had very good luck talking to Wyoming Game Wardens, though I have not spoken with the one in this area. I hate to bother him, though right now would probably be a good time without much hunting going on.
Does anyone have any ideas on other avenues to take? Or, is it even important? Maybe I'm worrying about something that isn't a big deal. I'd love to hear any thoughts on this.
Thanks!