South Dakota elk tag, to guide?

[Jbills]

DIY!!

 

[rookie88]

Anyone pulled a SD elk tag on here?

I got very very lucky this year and pulled a tag.


Trying to figure out if I should DIY or use a guide for the first time? Curious other folks experience out there, DM's preferred.

Major points of consideration:

• Almost certain this is a once in a life time hunt for me in SD and I want to get all I can out of the hunt. Want a respectable bull is the goal, no rags or small 5x5 with this tag min.
• Killed two cow elk but never a bull. Elk knowledge isn't as high as many on here and would say I'm at the very early years of elk learning
• Have a flexible work schedule that'll allow 2 weeks of hunting pretty safely. Plus extra weekends if needed
• Don't know this area of the hills well, but scouting isn't super hard at 4.5 hrs away
• Guide fees estimated at $6k for a couple days of guiding

What unit are you hunting?

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

What unit are you hunting?

We don't mention units on this forum to keep the Google searches down on specific units.

 

[warmer]

We don't mention units on this forum to keep the Google searches down on specific units.

HA!

 

[tswedlund]

We don't mention units on this forum to keep the Google searches down on specific units.

pm me the unit see if i can help. archery or rifle

 

[dcreiss]

PM me, I may be able to assist.

DR

 

[beaglegun]

what unit? send me a pm as ive been apart of quite few out there. and i dont charge.

This is a no brainer!

 

[SD_Bowhunter]

I assume it’s for the Black Hills? If it’s anything like the WY side, you won’t have an issue filling that tag. Every time I go there I always find elk and whitetails.

I am having trouble finding elk by the Wyoming border on the South Dakota side. Everywhere I go there is cattle or trail cameras on the water holes

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

I am having trouble finding elk by the Wyoming border on the South Dakota side. Everywhere I go there is cattle or trail cameras on the water holes

keep checking around. It's been a wetter year so they might not be so water focused right now.

Check dark shaded areas this time of year

 

[Rack Daniels]

keep checking around. It's been a wetter year so they might not be so water focused right now.

Check dark shaded areas this time of year

You get one last year?