ida homer
Well-known member
We have been scouting and hunting the Sawtooth zone for the last few years for elk. It's been somewhat tough sleddin. I'm curious on what decent hunters (you guys) think about this zone? How long have you been hunting it? And herd trends?
We have gotten into elk each year the last few seasons, during both archery and rifle. But they are few and far between. A handful of cows a day, tops. Some days with no sightings. Between 15-20 days of scouting and hunting the last 2 years the only bull we have seen is a raghorn and a spike. I had him in my crosshairs but passed as it was an offhand shot that I wasn't feelin. How many elk do you guys see in a weekend? Bulls?
Now I'm not a naysayer, as I think we have fantastic OTC deer hunting and the elk populations are doing great in parts of our state. I'm not a wolf hater either, as I have witnessed bedded elk in the same drainage as wolves. We're young and blessed with strong backs and legs, we hike hard and have had great success hunting bucks in OTC units. I can't remember a time that we have been beaten up the mountain or had someone that hiked in further than us (not to say it wont happen, damn horse hunters! )
I am a much better deer hunter than elk hunter that's for sure, which is a bummer because elk are my favorite. Is the Sawtooth zone in as bad of shape as the locals and old timers say it is? I went out last night for a short evening scouting trip and saw 4 cows, no bugles and none of the tracks were bull tracks. Am I thinking the grass is greener on the otherside? Do I just need to keep at it and hopefully luck into a draw that has some bulls? Or is it time to switch zones? My rifle tag starts a month from today so it is crunch time to make a decision. Thanks fellas, good luck out there.
We have gotten into elk each year the last few seasons, during both archery and rifle. But they are few and far between. A handful of cows a day, tops. Some days with no sightings. Between 15-20 days of scouting and hunting the last 2 years the only bull we have seen is a raghorn and a spike. I had him in my crosshairs but passed as it was an offhand shot that I wasn't feelin. How many elk do you guys see in a weekend? Bulls?
Now I'm not a naysayer, as I think we have fantastic OTC deer hunting and the elk populations are doing great in parts of our state. I'm not a wolf hater either, as I have witnessed bedded elk in the same drainage as wolves. We're young and blessed with strong backs and legs, we hike hard and have had great success hunting bucks in OTC units. I can't remember a time that we have been beaten up the mountain or had someone that hiked in further than us (not to say it wont happen, damn horse hunters! )
I am a much better deer hunter than elk hunter that's for sure, which is a bummer because elk are my favorite. Is the Sawtooth zone in as bad of shape as the locals and old timers say it is? I went out last night for a short evening scouting trip and saw 4 cows, no bugles and none of the tracks were bull tracks. Am I thinking the grass is greener on the otherside? Do I just need to keep at it and hopefully luck into a draw that has some bulls? Or is it time to switch zones? My rifle tag starts a month from today so it is crunch time to make a decision. Thanks fellas, good luck out there.