Manastash! How's it going?

[THunt]

I have a muzzy bull tag and am just wondering how the elk are acting up there.  Are the Bulls bugling?  Seeing many elk?
It's driving me nuts waiting for this hunt.

[TopLevelPredator]

Spent Fri-Mon up there.  So many hunters it's not even funny.  So many dirt bikes riding all the trails it wasn't even funny.    Some say that the timber land closures on the west side brought more guys into Manashtash this year.  Elk were really active first 2 days, had some close calls.  There were no elk hanging in any camp when we left Monday.  My advice is to get creative and try to only use game trails and stay off any bike tracks or even non motorized roads, and hit the darkest timber you can find.  Good luck.

[wall of wood camp]

I know there is one less spike running around in the unit.  Talked to a friend of mine that bow hunts up there and he stuck a Spike last weekend he said the elk weren't very vocal and he was not into them every day like he has been in years past, seemed to be lower than average numbers of elk than years past. He hunts up around the Frost Mountain area so not sure.  I hunt modern firearm in that unit every year and I am already chomping at the bit to go elk hunting.  I didn't draw any special permits this year but am still just as excited to go get out in the woods and search for the elusive critters.   Good luck with your bull tag there are some good ones in that unit I have seen three nice 6 points that I wouldn't hesitate on in the areas I have scouted this summer but then again I'm not very patient if I see horns and they are legal for the tag I have at the time I shoot I haven't developed the patience of a trophy hunter to me they are all trophies.   

[THunt]

Thanks guys.  I figured there would be a lot of bow hunters in there.  I guess we will see what it's like for muzzleloader?  I scouted out a few areas that had some nice Bulls in the summer so hopefully we can make something happen.

[Labs07]

I was up there with my son in law for the opening of Archery.  It was a zoo!  The bulls were talking but there were so many people up there it was not the best time.  I will be up there for muzzle loader with a cow tag so maybe I will see you up there.

[rgcopk9]

I also drew muzzy cow, so I will be joining in the crowd. I'm hoping it calms down when the weekend warriors have to head back to work. Last year it was busy during ML elk, but this year both deer and elk are open at the same time. That could be a blessing or a curse.

[THunt]

Sounds good.  I will be camped up there for the season, and no Im not going to set up a dummy tent.

[Labs07]

We saw a few deer during the Archery Elk season.

[HuntNFish94]

Been hunting manashtash for years and it's progressively getting more and more populated, I'm sure everyone and their mother who owns a quad or a jeep will be up there this year, Hopfully they push elk your way! That's about the only way you see animals during muzzy or modern season up there.

[kirkl]

Not sure why people bitch about quads and jeeps unless there where they shouldn't be. If there on legal roads then who cares. Sounds like the guys bitching about them are to close to the road.

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

I was very disappointed when I drew the tag a few years ago

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[THunt]

The motorized vehicles don't bother me when they are used on the legal roads and trails.

[tgray]

340 cow tags is a joke and not letting the quality bull tag holders have a few days to hunt before the spike and cow hunters is a bigger joke. My buddy had a muzzy tag last year and had 3 days to hunt before the spike and cow hunters. We were in Bulls all 3 days and the 3rd day he passed a 280ish 6 point that I wouldn't have but he wanted a 300+. He ate his tag, never seen another bull after the 3rd day. Good luck hope you get a good one. I would be there 3-4 days before the season starts and know  exactly were you want to be at first light

[Shank]

Maybe im reading this wrong, but are folks upset, that they are choosing to hunt in an area that is open to OHV use? Or upset that OHV use is being done in a wrongful way I.e off trail/closed areas?

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[boneaddict]

The pressure seems unreal this year.   Crazy!

[TopLevelPredator]

"Maybe im reading this wrong, but are folks upset, that they are choosing to hunt in an area that is open to OHV use? Or upset that OHV use is being done in a wrongful way I.e off trail/closed areas?"

It seemed like the trails were being used the right way, it was just the sheer number of ORVs and easy access that seemed to push the elk out pretty quickly.  I don't fault guys for using every advantage available to them, it was just a real eye opener as we had only been there for muzzleloader and modern in times past. 

[jackelope]

Maybe im reading this wrong, but are folks upset, that they are choosing to hunt in an area that is open to OHV use? Or upset that OHV use is being done in a wrongful way I.e off trail/closed areas?

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The 2 times I've hunted in there, there was a couple folks riding motorcycles behind gates where there were clearly no motorized access signs posted. Riding right around us who were walking around the gate. Making roads around the gate. We watched a bob-tailed Toyota truck full of hunters run through the brush and make their own road around a locked gate.  What amazed me more than anything was the fact that they would do it right in front of us as we were standing at the gate getting ready to hike out. These were all during archery season and were bowhunters every time.

[THunt]

Ok I've never been there for bow but have for rifle, and muzzy seasons.  Which season has more people up there?



We are super jacked for the hunt.  My dad and both my sons (13,14) have tags so it should be a blast but a heck of a lot of work if we all kill!!!

[tgray]

Ok I've never been there for bow but have for rifle, and muzzy seasons.  Which season has more people up there?



We are super jacked for the hunt.  My dad and both my sons (13,14) have tags so it should be a blast but a heck of a lot of work if we all kill!!!

seen lots of hunters there last year for muzzy. Off the road a mile or more not too bad.

[Ddouble]

We have 2 muzzy cow tags will be there the whole season

[sled]

We have 4 muzzy cow tags this year, and one other I know of near us.  Last year was tough.  This year will be no different.
The big problem in the area is the cats.  They are taking a huge toll on the elk, and deer.  Hunter numbers have been steady in the area we hunt.
Cow tags are by no means a give me anymore.

[270Shooter]

I really think it should be a limited entry unit, it's too open and the elk that are in there get run out of there within the first couple days because it is such a popular area to hunt. I'm surprised by the number of people archery deer hunting in there even. I had several legal bucks located before the season and I have seen one since the 3rd.

[Labs07]

When we were in there last week it was not that people were using the trails and such the wrong way but it was the sheer numbers of people that threw us!  I don't really care if there are ORV's because it has always been that way and I think that, to some degree, the animals get used to that.  Heck we went into areas that we did not see human tracks but the Elk sign was not as fresh as the sign we saw in areas that were closer to the trails.  It was a bit frustrating that so many people were there.  Maybe if the fire restrictions stay in place during muzzle loader season it will discourage those fair weather hunters.

[ghosthunter]

We have 4 muzzy cow tags this year, and one other I know of near us.  Last year was tough.  This year will be no different.
The big problem in the area is the cats.  They are taking a huge toll on the elk, and deer.  Hunter numbers have been steady in the area we hunt.
Cow tags are by no means a give me anymore.

Does anyone think the huge number of cow tags being given out in most the GMUs around there has anything to do with low success?

I think 400 cow tags in an area is nuts. 

[Chukarhead]

We have 4 muzzy cow tags this year, and one other I know of near us.  Last year was tough.  This year will be no different.
The big problem in the area is the cats.  They are taking a huge toll on the elk, and deer.  Hunter numbers have been steady in the area we hunt.
Cow tags are by no means a give me anymore.

Does anyone think the huge number of cow tags being given out in most the GMUs around there has anything to do with low success?

I think 400 cow tags in an area is nuts. 

Nuts how?  Last year those 400 tags for muzzy season resulted in 23 reported killed cows...and that's a big unit.  My experience hunting last year was that there were plenty of hunters that were happy to drive roads and complain about the heat, the lack of elk, and various conspiracy theories about the lack of elk.  When I got off the road, though, I didn't see many boot prints and I never saw another hunter in the field.  If all those cow tags encourage road hunters to drive around and complain about not seeing elk, I'm OK with it.

[Killmore]

I think it has to do with application money,, but yes I think they give out way to many cow tags. Just because the hunter success rate is so low the game department thinks it means the herd size will be that much bigger next year so they add more tags. I think they could give out 1000 tags and they will kill no more cows then they do now.