Turnbull

[Nape6.5]

My friend has a cow tag that opens on November 12

Just wondering if anyone has been through there recently? Seeing any elk?

Thanks

Will report what we find later tomorrow l.

[robescc]

Your friend shouldn't have a problem finding a cow. There are always elk in the reserve.

[Nape6.5]

Seams like a small area for 6 guys plus hunting parents 

[robescc]

I have never hunted the Turnbull reserve itself but there is lots of nooks and cranies for elk to hide in there. I hunt much smaller tracts of public land in the area and have been successful.

[Rutnbuxnbulls]

I had the archery cow tag this year. Hunted the Helms and NE units which are primitive weapons only. Had a few cows around just nothing close enough to poke.

If he’s in the big area, elk are all over. The modern rifle guys on private push them around a bit and can help keep them on the preserve. Just hunt the fresh sign and push them areas slower. Elk live there year round. They’ll bed in the cattails during the day but late season could be anywhere. Good luck!

[Nape6.5]

Thanks for the information.

If there is a decent group of elk in there tomorrow I’m afraid it may get a bit western. 

[Stein]

It can get western for sure.  I had to duck behind a tree once, a guy had his kid shooting offhand and ripped off 8-10 rounds before they mercifully ran out and had to go back to the truck.  My daughter and I got on the herd and had a great hunt tracking it through the area.  We saw deer and a moose as well as an old homestead site.

If you are in the Helms unit, I feel for you.  I think the rifle guys are usually put in the bigger ones.

[bmc02]

just hunted the turnbull SW unit with my dad in early October for the disability permit. From what we saw and from talking with the couple other hunters in there, it can be awesome area but it is rather small. So if the elk aren't there there is nothing you can really do about it. We missed the first 3 days as we were at our normal ML camp, then my dad wasn't up for much more then just road hunting. So we weren't successful, but we did have an opportunity (I'm trying to forget...).  Lots of moose in there as well, so be on the lookout. It was super hot and dry during our hunt which didn't help. Cover a lot of ground. There are some thick pockets in there where they can hide.

good luck!

[TXDoug]

Hey Nape,
How did it go in there?  My daughter drew a youth cow tag in Turnbull that starts on the 19th, so we'll be in there just after your friend's hunt finishes.  I think we'd go poke around in there even if there weren't elk, just for the experience, but knowing where there might be a herd hanging out could sure increase our odds of harvesting an animal!
Thanks for any intel.
Doug

[andersonjk4]

I have the same tag as the OPs friend.  Hunted hard all day Saturday and most of Sunday and only laid eyes on a bachelor group of bulls.  I did hear some shooting first thing opening morning, so I'm thinking someone got into some.  Most of the sign I found was a little too old.  It looked to me like there were a lot of elk in the unit the week prior (during general modern season). 

[bobdog86]

I shot a cow in there a couple years ago. That’s a bigger flat chunk than one would think. Wasn’t combat at all, animals come on and off the refuge…..and from area to area. Shot mine on the 4th day, walked up on them, heading back out, about 1/2 mile from parking area, before dark. Weren’t there all week. Fun hunt, just hit or miss.

[TXDoug]

To update the group, my daughter hunted this past Saturday (19th).  We made a loop through the southern and middle portions of the SW unit, about 3/4 off road and 1/4 walking the roads.  We moved a little faster than I generally like to, covering ground looking for animals.  Covered about 10 miles total with no animals located.  From what some previous posters and other previous refuge tag holders have shared, the refuge just doesn't hold too many elk when there isn't hunting pressure outside the refuge.  I imagine if we hunted a few more days we might find a herd, but I think the chances of my kiddo getting motivated to get back in there are slim at best.  Regardless, we had a good time exploring a new area and spending a little quality time together!

[andersonjk4]

With this fresh blanket of snow, I would be back out there today or tomorrow.  Fresh snow would sure make finding elk easier.