Elk hunting in the GMU 340

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Thats why i gave up hunting there cause everyone talks about how good it used to be.

I quit hunting there because I got tired of not being able to stick an arrow into one of the MANY branched bulls I got into EVERY year !
I really don't understand how you could not find an elk in the unit, granted I do not see as many spikes as we used to, but there are plenty of elk, if you just spend some time out of camp, and out of your truck.
the year before last, I was trying to fill my "Any Elk Permit", on a beautiful 6X7, when I and he, plus 3 other bulls, and 24 cows froze and watched/listened to a truck drive past us with the radio playing, and the guys in the truck talking, drive to end of road, turn around and drive out.
They never saw any of us ! 
We went back up there to visit some friends that camp at Gooseberry flat during modern, couple inches of snow on the ground, and not a boot print off the road !

[SirSpencer]

I tagged out early this year in the 340. My dad and our normal hunting buddies spend the modern season up there and didn't get anything. I think in total they saw about 24 cows, not a single bull was spotted, buy us. So it must just be a bad year for elk in the area.

[demontang]

Man I think people are just in the wrong spot. I saw a very nice branched bull and cow/ spikes in that unit during mod deer season. I got with in 50 yds of 10 cows one had a broken leg from what appeared to be a arrow wound.

[deadwoodbuck]

hunted muzzy season...scouted weeks before and saw a one big bull, one cow and a spike.  at 1500yards the spike saw us and turned and ran full speed away...binoculars can be scary to elk.  day before opening we ran into a cow that suprised her and us.  then the week of spend most of every day way off road in joe watt, robinson canyon area, observation hill area, down in the aspens, along the creek beds, next to deep water pools, thick in the trees, in the meadows all far from roads...nothing.  grass growing through the game trails, track whats that, grey scat not black scat, what are rub marks.  everybody we ran into said to make sure and bring the kill around their camp so they could see what they looked like.  10 full days in 85F weather, clear skies, nice moon...sure needed my night vision goggles cause that was going to be the only way to get one.  to hot, damn sheep, campers on quads...go figure could not even fill the LONG AWAITED cow tag.  but the crown royal was good

[Killmore]

Nice pic Jeepasaurusrex, I agree about Shale Rock road. Thurman, is that you? I agree that the weather has been a factor, but I guess I'm wondering if the game dept knows more considering that they cut the cow tags from 250 to 100?

[fishwhackin]

Appeared to be an Arrow wound?  How do you determine this?  Would just like this information to make me a better woodsman!

[jeepasaurusrex]

I was looking over the area with Google maps, and I seen some interesting marks on the ground along Shell Rock Rd. Anyone have a clue what they are?

[elkcane]

6 of us hunting in 342 for a week and one guy saw same 4 cows and 5x5. I hunted all week except for hangover day, and saw no elk either. I agree this area seemed worse as far as local elk this year than in past. But like was mentioned weather seems to determine this areas animals. Last year we had cold and snow, lots of animals. tag soup this year, elk camping was good tho..lol

[tip]

Not a good year in the 340 this year... but that's elk hunting.  Last year was insane, tons of elk everywhere.  Weather played a big part in it - last year i froze my nuts off... this year I was sweating my ass off!!!  3 of us hunted hard everyday, saw some elk, lots of deer - still eating tag soup.  Had a hell of a time though!

[demontang]

Cause there was no exit and it was low enough that if a bullet had hit it I'm sure that it would have gone out the other side. The wound look like it had something sticking out of it and was very small and round like a broken arrow shaft.

[coachcw]

He would have known if it was a gunshot wound , cause its leg woulda been dangling along for the ride . Elk can get some crazy wounds on there own , I'd like to think it was a wounded elk and not point fingers .

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Man I think people are just in the wrong spot.

+1
How come nobody has mentioned hunting South Fork Meadows (Taneum Creek) or any trail around Frost Meadows. Frost Mountain Look-out, Manastash Lake, Shoestring Lake, Hereaford Meadows. or taking Taneum Lake trail and dropping of the side of the hill into Case Knife Canyon ?
I see references to roads, but what about the trails ? 
If you are not seeing fresh sign, they dont just pack up and leave, they just hide !
They are in the areas that dont have roads, try walking a motocycle or 4X4 trail until you find a good game trail that crosses, then see were that leads !
With the days as short as they are, there is no reason to be in your truck or camp during daylight hours. (like 99% of the hunters you see)
Of course you dont see the ones actually hunting, unless your one of them. 

[elkfins]

There were plenty of elk in the Shadow Creek area.  Spent the week there and saw plenty of big bulls, raghorns and cows/calves... no spikes walked in front of me tho.  Got off the roads into the deepest darkest spots I could find.  The elk are there... they just ain't stupid and won't leave the brush.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

There were plenty of elk in the Shadow Creek area.  Spent the week there and saw plenty of big bulls, raghorns and cows/calves... no spikes walked in front of me tho.  Got off the roads into the deepest darkest spots I could find.  The elk are there... they just ain't stupid and won't leave the brush.

Damn, thats my "Honey Hole" !!!, we camp on the 127 and chase them around those clusters of dog-hair on top, or follow the abandoned road in the bottom.

[EDT]

That last pic looks like someone "zipped up" the terrain.  Bulldozer tracks are all I can think of.