Free: Contests & Raffles.
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?
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!
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.