Hunting the Fall River Unit, any info would help

[sirmissalot]

I seen quite a few elk in fall river on the south end. Had to hunt there before because it was state land and the only thing open. Scouted it before the season opened saw 2 herds and a lot of sign. The gates were locked so we biked in, found elk but then moved onto greener pastures since it rained and the rest the woods opened up. All of the area I saw in this small area was great, ranged from big tall mature timber to reprod to nice clear cuts.

Lincoln is a tough one to go for elk in IMHO, but if you scout and find a herd, thats all you need.

[Lcl 66 Tinner]

Fill me in, what does IMHO mean?

[BowBender87]

In My Humble Opinion

[blackveltbowhunter]

Every elk hunter in the state should be thankful the elk from gmu 501 are not allowed to propogate. If they were our already poor odds of tagging an elk would drop to near zero.

what ?
I see these Elk on private land a lot, also with the road closures and creek flowing over one good access point, if you can find these elk, they usually move on to another patch of private land.
There are a few that get harvested every year, but I suspect they are by locals with access.
I just wish the large DNR block would keep the roads closed year-round, lots of traffic come season and the locals just ride around the gates anyhow.
With 3pt or antlerless for all user groups they get hit pretty hard, plus when seen, the cell phones start ringing, I have seen a few in the back of truck while dropping my kids off at school, or picking them up.
And hear stories at the local store.
It helps to know someone.

   I agree with you Stik..... What I was saying is these elk are hunted HARD. The mere fact I still find elk in there after some of the slaughterfests during rifle season sometimes seems amazing. I guess what I was saying is these elk get smart fast or die. I have watched them sneak instead of spook, hide instead of run. Often acting like a cagey buck instead of your typical elk behavior, sure they are not super elk. But the ones that survive the onslaught I respect em.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I agree with you Stik..... What I was saying is these elk are hunted HARD. The mere fact I still find elk in there after some of the slaughterfests during rifle season sometimes seems amazing. I guess what I was saying is these elk get smart fast or die. I have watched them sneak instead of spook, hide instead of run. Often acting like a cagey buck instead of your typical elk behavior, sure they are not super elk. But the ones that survive the onslaught I respect em.

what I see them do is hide behind the fire station until someone pushes them, then they hide until nightfall, then head for Patton's Ranch, but that is just one herd, I am sure there are a few more with a wise old lead cow that knows where to hide, and where to run !

[blackveltbowhunter]

  Ya those ones do. Theres plenty of others in spots that are plenty accessible to the public.

[Lcl 66 Tinner]

So are the elk that hang out behind the fire station on LCR the same as the ones that go to Pattons place, because I"ve seen them in both places and on Stearns too. Didn't realize that was the same herd, thought there was a couple of small ones. Thats a pretty big area to travel, to go from LCR over Ingalls and to BCR.

[bobcat]

That's not very far at all for an elk.

[Lcl 66 Tinner]

Yeah its not that far when i look at the map, but you still think thats only one herd?

[Alan K]

Every elk hunter in the state should be thankful the elk from gmu 501 are not allowed to propogate. If they were our already poor odds of tagging an elk would drop to near zero. How there are any elk left in this gmu is a testament to their resilience and smarts. Essentially the season is year round as poaching is rampant and the regulated season is the most liberal for nearly all weapon types.

Ain't that the truth! There are still elk around and you can find them if you put the work in, but seemingly everywhere around there has more elk, and I'd bet it's in large part due to the reasons you mentioned!

[deerhunter_98520]

ive hunted this unit my whole life...theres tons of elk...the problem people are having is they wont stay out of their rig long enough to find them...unless there standing in the middle of the clear cut or in the middle of the road they say theres no elk...thats fine with me...i hit the timber/reprod and find the elk...wear out a pair of boots...find a spot you think most people wont go and just go for it..thats where they'll be

[madmack76]

there are 3 herds  and several small branches off the herd those three are not the same herd

[Alan K]

ive hunted this unit my whole life...theres tons of elk...the problem people are having is they wont stay out of their rig long enough to find them...unless there standing in the middle of the clear cut or in the middle of the road they say theres no elk...thats fine with me...i hit the timber/reprod and find the elk...wear out a pair of boots...find a spot you think most people wont go and just go for it..thats where they'll be

I think people got side tracked and are talking about not many elk being in the Lincoln unit - I know I was.  I think you're talking about Fall River? If you're talking about Lincoln, and believe there are tons of elk there I wonder how many you would say are in Winston or even Ryderwood! 

[deerhunter_98520]

ive hunted this unit my whole life...theres tons of elk...the problem people are having is they wont stay out of their rig long enough to find them...unless there standing in the middle of the clear cut or in the middle of the road they say theres no elk...thats fine with me...i hit the timber/reprod and find the elk...wear out a pair of boots...find a spot you think most people wont go and just go for it..thats where they'll be

I think people got side tracked and are talking about not many elk being in the Lincoln unit - I know I was.  I think you're talking about Fall River? If you're talking about Lincoln, and believe there are tons of elk there I wonder how many you would say are in Winston or even Ryderwood! 

im talkin about fall river  ive never hunted lincoln so i wouldnt know 

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I was talking about Lincoln myself, only been in Fall River a couple dozen times, but have spent 100's of days in Lincoln.
The reason I think there is not very many Elk, and that it is/was the same herd is due to my spring search for Turkeys.
and the year I was drawn for bear in Lincoln.
I have been behind a herd as it walked from Deep Creek all the way to Teague Road (Lincoln Creek)
and have seen them a few times on my travels in area, (I drive "the loop" quite a bit) and usually only in one spot at a time.
but really have seen more Turkeys in unit, and they are pretty few and far between.
Lots of Elk sign in the spring, but it dries up pretty fast as soon as they open the gates.