Manastash! How's it going?

[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.