Observatory Bull Tag!

[kirkl]

You let me know when your coming this way and well take a ride.

[Cougeyes]

For those of you that hunt the L.T. Murray area.....not that it'll matter much come spike season b/c they wont be where I saw them but around Tamarack springs i've been seeing a herd of about 30 elk with 6-7 spikes in it.

[TheKid#10]

Any recent sightings of branch bulls in the Observatory area? Need to find one for the old man. Is bribing with all you can drink beer and eat backstrap illegal?   

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I am a Traditional Archer that has been hunting the Manastash since '88 and got drawn this year for an any elk permit,   Yahooo!! I have been up there a few times this year looking around and have seen a few nice bulls, but most branched 5x only 2 bigger. my advice is to go over by Frost Mountain and get up on top at the "lookout" and spend some time glassing. Most bigger bulls I have seen have been away from the road and in the thick stuff, Case Knife Canyon or back by Quartz Creek. I don't know his physical condition so I would suggest dropping him off up on a trailhead like Gooseberry Flats and picking him up at Taneum Junction. I like using these trails to get away from the roads. there are several other trails with various degrees of difficulties and if you drop off at top it is (mostly) down hill. The elk I see in the area move around a lot, but seem to stick around major drainage's only different feeder streams. There is also a gated road just up hill from Gooseberry Flats that has been really good to me, if you get in there first and better about 2 miles in after the Gnat Flat trail crosses it. I will let you know how I did on the 23rd of Sept.

[TheKid#10]

Thanks Stik, I will let you know what I see as well for your bow tag.

KID

[TeacherMan]

I read on hear somewhere that there are alot of cattle in that unit still is this true? I knwo that they will spook the elk out of the area. The day the cattle get pulled the elk will be back. OCt24 - Nov2 I will be there  i cant wait any longer...

[andrew_12gauge]

i was just up there for my dads sheep hunt, we didnt see any cattle up on the umptanum but maybe over closer to e-burg

[missinmt]

I live a driver/three wood from one of the LT Murray gates outta Eburg.  No cattle in that country since I have been here (8 years).  New job = no time to hunt this year, but am really familiar with the area.  PM me and I will give you a couple of thoughts.

[TheKid#10]

PM sent, thanks.

[Slenk]

Cattle are on the South side of 340 unit. They will probably be out of there around Oct 1st.or so.
Slenk

[TheKid#10]

Thanks Slenk.

[huntingnut]

My brother talked to the gal from DNR, the cattle are only in the souther portion of the Manashtash unit and are to be out by Oct 15th. Most ranchers get them out the first week of Oct. We where scouting the Manashtash ridge from Bald Mountain to the Observatory and there where a lot of cattle in there with little elk sign. We hunted that section during modern rifle for the last 30 years, 15 myself, and have never seen any cattle in there during the season. There is a small local herd in there, but most of what you will see is migrating herds.