Norway Pass archery bull help!!!

[Jack-Fir]

Pm me, you will have a blast up there

[andrew_in_idaho]

It sounds like if there's 3 permits, all 3 permit holders are huntwa members.

That's cool...I hope you guys share your stories and pictures with the forum. Good luck to all.

Is there another thread or are you telling us you drew jackelope because I only see 2 guys saying they have the tag

[sirmissalot]

It's rough country but lots of elk and the Bulls are very vocal, will make for a fun hunt. I'm headed up there now to show my girlfriend the area, she has a rifle cow tag.

[CNELK]

[CNELK]

I'm excited to see what you get! I love that country a lot, postcard views everywhere you look!

[h2ofowlr]

Very nice.  We will be tromping around Oct. 1-7 in that area with some tags to fill.

[SI Eagle]

If you're planning in coming off from the west end Weyco is charging $160 land access fee, and they're only selling 5000 permits.. I have backpacked in there since before the mountain blew, anything off the trail can get very rugged.

You don't need that to access any of the unit. You will be wasting your money. There is no way into that unit through Weyco land. You come off Coldwater Lake or through the monument. No key needed to get in there. It's a fun hunt but if you're not in shape for it it will ruin it for you. Been in there numerous times and know it well but is not the easiest hunt you will ever have. Maybe the most rewarding though.

[Dr. Death]

PM me if interested. Had the tag last year...you'll have a blast but as already stated, get in shape and have guys lined up to help or take them with you.

[Brandobando]

Went on the first scouting trip and saw a herd of 100 with 2 4x4s, 2 3x3s, and a couple smaller Bulls in that herd. Then we found a bachelor herd with a 5x5,5x4, and a 4x4? Is there anyone who thinks I should hunt from the norway pass trail(heavy foot traffic) or just take my chances and hit the hunters trail?

[furbearer365]

There is literally no right or wrong answer!!! Every inch of that area will have elk, its just a matter of preference of what you want to make it.  Foot traffic means nothing back there, there are only a couple of tags and 90% of the "foot traffic" is from bird watchers, hikers, and day campers that wont get off the trail and certainly wont go off trail enough to mess with the elk!!!  I would come in from all 3 access points during your scouting and then just decide what will be easier for you once your bull is down!!  The access point is a mute point until you have an area you want to hunt.  I wouldn't recommend coming in from Norway Head if you plan to hunt Black Mountain!! And I wouldn't come in from Coldwater if you want to hunt around Grizzly!! So, the question I think we need to know from you is where are u planning to actually hunt?  Also, what kind of experience are u looking for?  Are u looking to just fill a tag?  Do you want to put in days of hunting and try for a giant?  How much pain are u willing to endure for the bull you want?

[jackelope]

There is literally no right or wrong answer!!! Every inch of that area will have elk, its just a matter of preference of what you want to make it.  Foot traffic means nothing back there, there are only a couple of tags and 90% of the "foot traffic" is from bird watchers, hikers, and day campers that wont get off the trail and certainly wont go off trail enough to mess with the elk!!!  I would come in from all 3 access points during your scouting and then just decide what will be easier for you once your bull is down!!  The access point is a mute point until you have an area you want to hunt.  I wouldn't recommend coming in from Norway Head if you plan to hunt Black Mountain!! And I wouldn't come in from Coldwater if you want to hunt around Grizzly!! So, the question I think we need to know from you is where are u planning to actually hunt?  Also, what kind of experience are u looking for?  Are u looking to just fill a tag?  Do you want to put in days of hunting and try for a giant?  How much pain are u willing to endure for the bull you want?

Are there giants in there? What kind of bull is considered a giant with that permit?
250" 280" 350" ??

[Labredog]

Had that tag 2 years ago, and a cow tag in there last year. I would consider 250-280 to be on the big end of the scale for the bulls in there the past couple of years. Most of the bulls I encountered were in the 220-250 range and 5X5's. only seen one 6X6 and that was on the wrong side of the trail up by MT Margaret. My hunting partner and I pretty much had the panhandle lake area to ourselves when we were after our bulls, with only 3 permits in that entire elk area you guys are going to go nuts trying to decide which noisy bulls to chase after. If I could do that hunt again I would still go up the hunters trail. With the later season this year you 3 tag holders may get to see a few more of the bigger bulls that do tend to not show themselves until later Sept. This Sept My hunting partner and I drew Peaches archery bull permits, I can only hope we Have as much fun and success as we did in the Margaret. Good Luck and Happy hunting!

[furbearer365]

There is literally no right or wrong answer!!! Every inch of that area will have elk, its just a matter of preference of what you want to make it.  Foot traffic means nothing back there, there are only a couple of tags and 90% of the "foot traffic" is from bird watchers, hikers, and day campers that wont get off the trail and certainly wont go off trail enough to mess with the elk!!!  I would come in from all 3 access points during your scouting and then just decide what will be easier for you once your bull is down!!  The access point is a mute point until you have an area you want to hunt.  I wouldn't recommend coming in from Norway Head if you plan to hunt Black Mountain!! And I wouldn't come in from Coldwater if you want to hunt around Grizzly!! So, the question I think we need to know from you is where are u planning to actually hunt?  Also, what kind of experience are u looking for?  Are u looking to just fill a tag?  Do you want to put in days of hunting and try for a giant?  How much pain are u willing to endure for the bull you want?

Are there giants in there? What kind of bull is considered a giant with that permit?
250" 280" 350" ??

By "giant" im referring to "relative" for that area, just like every other unit!!!  A Margaret giant is not a Blues giant.  By giant im talking 300-320, remember, these are westside Rosies, not the 380-400 Blues bulls you are accustomed to getting pics of Jackelpoe!!      Yes, the bulk are 220-280 5x5s, but if you know where to go, there is a 300 class bull or two to be had!!!  I saw 3 bulls last year that would make the mark, but when hunting by yourself and youre already 9 miles in, tacking on the other couple of miles to get to them just isn't doable!!  But, they are there

[jackelope]

Ok thanks. I was more or less just curious what type of bulls a guy could expect to find in there. It wasn't a challenge or anything. I had a pretty good idea what type Bulls were there. Just wondered what was considered a giant for that hunt. Thanks.

[furbearer365]

Ok thanks. I was more or less just curious what type of bulls a guy could expect to find in there. It wasn't a challenge or anything. I had a pretty good idea what type Bulls were there. Just wondered what was considered a giant for that hunt. Thanks.

    For sure, I got what you were saying!! Ive always had the thought that every unit has it own version of a giant!!! I try not lump elk as a whole because its just not fair to put a Margaret bull in the same category as say, a blues bull, as far as score is considered, its just not comparable!! Or even state to state for that matter, a Washington giant is not a Utah giant!! So basically just referring to what the Margarets version of a giant would be!!  These tag holders should have an absolute blast in there, especially since the tag is later than the general in the Margaret, it should push even more elk back into that country!!!