Prescott GMU 149 Cow Permit

[GameHunter1959]

Hope everyone is staying healthy and looking forward to getting after it this hunting season.

I have hunted Deer in Prescott GMU 149 for the past 7 seasons. Every year I am greeted by Elk at some point during my hunts. Sometimes just a lone Big Bull. Other times I've watched a herd of 10-20 animals. I decided this season I would apply for a Cow permit in an attempt to take advantage of my knowledge. The big issue with these Elk is how transient they are. One day you will see them on one hillside, and the next day they are across the road 2-3 miles from where I seen them the day before. They don't seem to pattern like most Elk herds, where they are on the same hillside, same time, etc. but I know they are always around. The land they end up on is posted; however I have been told that if I were to ever draw an elk permit that they would possibly let me on their ground to hunt. They want the Elk managed to reduce absorbing agricultural damages.

My first strategy is to try and locate a Cow on the ground I know best and have permission to hunt.

My second strategy is to try and gain access to the 2-3 posted areas where I tend to see them the most.

My third strategy is to reach out to the HuntWa Forum to gain some knowledge about other areas within the GMU. Specifically the Simplot and Boise Cascade Tree Farms, which are located just outside of Burbank (Westside of the GMU). I am pretty sure I know exactly where this area is located; however I have never driven any roads or scouted it. I read some older HuntWa posts that stated its mostly a Big Bull area. The Go Hunt tool on the WSDFW website states that "No Scouting Permitted) prior to the season opening.

Can the HuntWa Forum please offer some insight, regarding the Tree Farms?

I am also open to hunting anywhere within the GMU; however I don't know where any other Elk are located, as this is a very specific permit to likely be filled in one of the specific areas I mentioned.

Thanks Everyone!
Be safe out there and good luck hunting this 2020-2021 season.

[92xj]

Tree farms are now circles of corn....
As in, no more tree farms.
Though the elk were still roaming around the area during waterfowl season.  I would avoid your third strategy at all cost.

[GameHunter1959]

Tree farms are now circles of corn....
As in, no more tree farms.
Though the elk were still roaming around the area during waterfowl season.  I would avoid your third strategy at all cost.

Please tell me why NOT to hunt there? PM me please

[Kazekurt]

Simplot does not allow any driving around on their farm unless you have ag access.  You have to walk from the designated parking areas and I do mean walk(no bikes). I work on the farm a lot in the fall and predicting where the elk will be is extremely tough and they don’t linger long after the sun comes up.  As far as the tree farm, they were cutting most of the trees down when I was working there last fall.

[92xj]

Tree farms are now circles of corn....
As in, no more tree farms.
Though the elk were still roaming around the area during waterfowl season.  I would avoid your third strategy at all cost.

Please tell me why NOT to hunt there? PM me please

The reason why not to hunt the tree farms is because the tree farms are not there anymore.  They have all been sold, cut down and turned into circle fields.

[JJB11B]

Tree farms are now circles of corn....
As in, no more tree farms.
Though the elk were still roaming around the area during waterfowl season.  I would avoid your third strategy at all cost.

Please tell me why NOT to hunt there? PM me please

The reason why not to hunt the tree farms is because the tree farms are not there anymore.  They have all been sold, cut down and turned into circle fields.

the herd last I saw it was hanging around near the millet ponds

[92xj]

Tree farms are now circles of corn....
As in, no more tree farms.
Though the elk were still roaming around the area during waterfowl season.  I would avoid your third strategy at all cost.

Please tell me why NOT to hunt there? PM me please

The reason why not to hunt the tree farms is because the tree farms are not there anymore.  They have all been sold, cut down and turned into circle fields.

the herd last I saw it was hanging around near the millet ponds

Yep,
Which is no elk hunting on refuge land.

[GameHunter1959]

Tree farms are now circles of corn....
As in, no more tree farms.
Though the elk were still roaming around the area during waterfowl season.  I would avoid your third strategy at all cost.

Please tell me why NOT to hunt there? PM me please

The reason why not to hunt the tree farms is because the tree farms are not there anymore.  They have all been sold, cut down and turned into circle fields.

the herd last I saw it was hanging around near the millet ponds

Yep,
Which is no elk hunting on refuge land.

Sounds like you know what’s going on around there. If I park and walk out on the Feel Free to Hunt ground and hunt the CRP ground; is it likely elk will move thru there or are they pretty much huddled up on the Refuge ground and fat chance?

Thanks for the insight. I have 2 other areas that have herds on them if 15-20 animals in each herd. I know I can get permission to hunt one of them and think I can probably get permission to hunt the other. Thought I would learn as much as I can about this herd, access points, etc. as a Plan C so to speak. I know most don’t fill this permit, but that’s because it’s very specific to couple of areas that host elk. 3 that I know of. If you know of any other areas I would gladly like to know and see if it’s the 2 areas I already know or different. Send it in a private message; if willing. I’ll gladly send some elk meat your way.

Thanks Bro!

[Maverick]

Simplot does not allow any driving around on their farm unless you have ag access.  You have to walk from the designated parking areas and I do mean walk(no bikes). I work on the farm a lot in the fall and predicting where the elk will be is extremely tough and they don’t linger long after the sun comes up.  As far as the tree farm, they were cutting most of the trees down when I was working there last fall.

Wow Ive never heard you couldnt ride a bicycle from the parking lots out there.