So I drew a bull tag I have been wanting for years. It is my main core area, my home unit, westside rosies. The unit is all under 2000ft elevation and most of it is under 1500ft. It has several neighboring units that have much higher elevation and those units are open for most all of the general seasons. The unit I drew the tag for is only open for very little during general seasons and there is no general late seasons. That’s what I drew, the late season, Nov 26 – Dec 15. I coyote hunt, shed hunt, and such up in the area a lot and see the elk populations of the area double or better once it starts snowing up high, so I am hoping for early snows this year. During the warmer months there is a population of resident elk, but not a ton. I know where I can find raghorn young bulls but I have the entire season off so I have a ton of time. There is a herd of 30-45+ that I can find in a certain spot 5 out of 7 days a week or so. Then another herd of 15-20 in another spot just as often. But it is always cows, spikes, and a couple raghorns. With the amount of time I have off, I want to try and find a better bull. I have seen a few absolute beasts in there that time of year but never on purpose and never with the main herds. I have hunted this time of year before but always in areas where its any elk or I have an antlerless permit.
I have heard its better to look at higher elevation than the herds to find mature bulls. I have also heard that its good to scour the timber more.
Any tips on how to locate mature bulls for this kind of hunt?
