What should I expect?

[CackleBird98]

Drew a bethel bull elk tag, haven't really hunted the unit, my dad drew the tag 15 years ago when I was a little tyke, but I personally don't remember anything about the unit.  I'm planning on doing plenty of scouting, but I'm wondering what I should expect for size?  Should I take the first decent bull I find?  Or hold off for a brute?  What size class should I realistically expect to find in there?

[elkrack]

Meh 370” + or -   

[Cougartail]

Drew a bethel bull elk tag, haven't really hunted the unit, my dad drew the tag 15 years ago when I was a little tyke, but I personally don't remember anything about the unit.  I'm planning on doing plenty of scouting, but I'm wondering what I should expect for size?  Should I take the first decent bull I find?  Or hold off for a brute?  What size class should I realistically expect to find in there?

Be hopeful you even see a bull. I've run that country for 40 plus years and haven't seen it so devoid of big bulls. If I do see one out jeeping I'll hook you up.

[vandeman17]

Drew a bethel bull elk tag, haven't really hunted the unit, my dad drew the tag 15 years ago when I was a little tyke, but I personally don't remember anything about the unit.  I'm planning on doing plenty of scouting, but I'm wondering what I should expect for size?  Should I take the first decent bull I find?  Or hold off for a brute?  What size class should I realistically expect to find in there?

Honestly, nobody can answer that because we don't know what you expect from the hunt. I had the archery tag like 5 years ago and went in ready to kill the first branched bull I saw. Are there big bulls in there, you bet there are. Is this a "quality" unit that you should be passing up on decent bulls, probably not but again, its what you want from the hunt that should dictate that decision.

[Mtnwalker]

We are talking the 10/26 rifle hunt right? I had that tag in 2015 and killed the first branched bull I saw and he wasn’t branched by much. Pretty sure I’d do the same thing if I drew again, but I really like eating elk.  I scouted hard all summer and there are good bulls in the unit but it’s not the easiest hunt to kill one on. Just depends on what you’re wanting to get out of it and how willing to eat a tag you are. The gen season guys will be rolling in pretty heavy during your hunt, tons of camps going up. Luckily for you there are about 1/6th the tags as when I drew it. Good luck and have fun!

[CackleBird98]

We are talking the 10/26 rifle hunt right? I had that tag in 2015 and killed the first branched bull I saw and he wasn’t branched by much. Pretty sure I’d do the same thing if I drew again, but I really like eating elk.  I scouted hard all summer and there are good bulls in the unit but it’s not the easiest hunt to kill one on. Just depends on what you’re wanting to get out of it and how willing to eat a tag you are. The gen season guys will be rolling in pretty heavy during your hunt, tons of camps going up. Luckily for you there are about 1/6th the tags as when I drew it. Good luck and have fun!

Yeah, starts 10/26.  Yeah, not really wanting to eat the tag, but also don't wanna kill a dink, this'll be my first branch bull tho, so I don't wanna set the bar too high, just wanting to kinda have an idea what to expect

[Buckjunkie]

September scouting trips should tell you what is there, but things will be a lot different during your season. Scout the week before the hunt. Kill the best bull you can find scouting and be satisfied. Moisture and feed change from year to year so past experiences may not be a good predictor. It’s always a gamble applying before you know how the horn growth is going to be over the summer.

[vandeman17]

September scouting trips should tell you what is there, but things will be a lot different during your season. Scout the week before the hunt. Kill the best bull you can find scouting and be satisfied. Moisture and feed change from year to year so past experiences may not be a good predictor. It’s always a gamble applying before you know how the horn growth is going to be over the summer.

I will also add that in summer scouting, use it as time to learn the roads, drainages and terrain. Don't put too much into where you see elk or bulls since they will almost certainly be somewhere else after the rut, archery hunters and the likes.

[liljozie495]

I had a archery tag in there 4 years ago, I hunted the south side of the unit mostly in the steep thicker timber was where I found/herd most of the bulls... BUT that being said it was during the rut when I had it. Could maybe cross your fingers for some weather and hope some bumping bulls drop down or across bethel ridge road ?. I will have to find my map and get the roads I had my cameras close to. Had a lot of bulls on cam through out the summer etc. but honestly if it’s something you want to shoot... then shoot it  anymore these days can’t set the bar too high in a lot of units in this miss managed state anymore.