Bighorn mountains in WY

[tonymoe]

Anyone here ever hunted the bighorn mountains for elk? I remember hearing it was backcountry friendly. I always wanted to check it out, thought I'd see if anyone has been there.
Rhanks

[lemondog]

Yup....unit 37 archery. Can't hunt any of the wilderness area without a guide but if you like to hike and hunt hard it can be good...Very cool place.

[longrange7mm]

What area are you looking in to? I have hunted the west side of the big horns a lot..

[tonymoe]

I'm fully aware of the guide situation I've hunted in Wyoming in the past. I don't know what unit I was thinking of I just know my partner and I have been wanting to get there for the last couple of years.
We were definitely planning on a backcountry style of hunt.

[6x6in6]

38, 39 and 40 over the years for me.
39 more than any of them.  Haven't hunted any of them since 2001.

[tonymoe]

We definatley dont mind hiking or hunting hard. Have any if you gotten in a few miles and bivy'd out? If so, how's the hunting pressure? I know the further you get, the less people there is. I'm not looking for any GPS coordinates, I'm just trying to get a little insight on the area.

[ridgefire]

6X6 how was the unit 40 hunt.. put in for there as first choice a couple years ago. Did not draw and been buying points since. Was going to concentrate on the cedar canyon area up there out of greybull

[longrange7mm]

Any where in 40&41 your going to be hard pressed to "get away" the locals that hunt all have horses and they pound that country the ones that dont we call the rat pack and they burn over 1000 gallons of fuel i bet  . What Cedar Creek are you referring to there is on that runs into shell crk and one that runs into beaver crk one is good the other is not. as mentioned you wont be alone we call it the firing squad when we hunt up there. From oct 15 to nov 4 the elk pretty much run through the areas scared getting hammered around every point and saddle they go across.. Your best bet on hunting these areas is finding the steepest canyons and glassing the mahogany as far from any roads/four wheeler trails you can get. I wouldnt waste more than 2 points on any area besides 45 or 39 on the big horns 38 is great weather permitting and with the early snows we had this year there is going to be alot of dissapointed hunters that wasted good pts for that area those elk will be in 39, 40, 41, and 37 down on the golf course  the avarage mature bull that is pulled off the big horns is 280-310 and an exceptional bull will be in the 330-350 range and there is not alot of those that are brought out every year... a guy that hunts hard but doesnt know the patterns of the elk probly will only get a running shot if he happens to be in the right place at the right time and if you ask around town the locals are going to send you to upper Ceder crk in 40 and antelope butte in 41 both the elk will run through opening day and not be seen again!! My dad and I used to have an awesome spot in 41 that we found along time ago we would kill elk in there every year it held good bulls and good bucks until 2 years ago someone found our truck parked at the bottom and followed us in last year my dad said he didnt even bother there was 6 cars parked at the only access point and this year I know of atleast 15 more that are planning on going in with horses like we did I will never waste my time on the big horns for elk again... Deer thats another story still lots of untouched honey holes.. My little sisters still put in for 40 because its close to the house "greybull" and no grizzlies to worry about

[tonymoe]

That was uplifting.... Haha, just kiddin, I appreciate any info. I figured some of you guys had hunted it, so I thought I'd ask

Thanks again

[longrange7mm]

HAHA dont get me wrong if you really want to come hunt the big horns than by all means Draw it and send me a PM but I hate to see a guy come for a wy elk experience and get a hand bag full of dis-appointment

[Bigshooter]

How good is unit 45?  Do you think it is worth max pts?

[longrange7mm]

Its a good area My friends that horseback it do well every year.. Bigger bulls and less people but the elk seem to head for private property down low with any weather.. If I had Max I would try to draw area 7 if you dont want to deal with the grizzlies   

[Bigshooter]

Its a good area My friends that horseback it do well every year.. Bigger bulls and less people but the elk seem to head for private property down low with any weather.. If I had Max I would try to draw area 7 if you dont want to deal with the grizzlies   

Grizzlies don't bother me.  Units with a lot of private property bother me.  I have heard unit 7 is a tough hunt during the rifle season on public land.

[longrange7mm]

yea you would want to archery hunt if you could but theirs alot of big bulls that come outta there in rifle season too because the elk dont have the wolves.. If you dont mind bears than any limited tag around the park is going to be your best Wy elk experience IMO.. and most the limited areas are hunt able on foot if your in good shape.. And most the big ranches are part of the HMA private property public hunting program I would just avoid 61 early hunt  thats all wilderness after this year and you would either need to have a buddy thats a resident or hire a guide