Just got back from 10 days in the woods. I would say elk woods, but since I never saw a wapiti, I will just leave it at 'woods'. It snowed on Sept 4th

and the weather was snow/rain for a couple of days, but there was no sign of elk, so I regrouped and moved to another spot.

Rapid Creek is aptly named; good thing they didn't name it Elk Creek. Great hiking, however.

I spent some quality time sneaking around, but to no avail; again, there was very little elk sign, and nothing fresh, so after a couple more days of futility, I moved again.

Sucker Creek was appropriately named for a sucker like me to believe that there might be an elk in the country.

The area around here was rich with elk sign; too bad it was all a week or more old. But it was obvious that they were thick just a few days before I got there

This trail was typical.
I found some old cabins in the forest; it would be interesting to know the stories that could be told about the residents when these old buildings were occupied by humans.

Pine squirrels were my constant companions, often berating me for being in their forest. I didn't drop the string on any of them, as tempting as it was from time to time.

In fact, no animals were harmed during this time alone in the forest. Only the occasional stump got whacked.

Although no blood was shed, it was still a good time, and a mind clearing escapade. Time spent hunting is never wasted.

Hey Great story and Pics... Same story here I'll post story/pics soon...
Loved the waterfall

Beautiful photos! A bad day huntin' is better than a good day at work! Thanks for sharing. Mike

I have hunted the Bighorns many times.  Which part are you hunting?

Sherpa,

What areas of the bighorns have you hunted.

Centaur- Were some of those spots by chance up redgrade way?

I did 4 days of similar walking in Oregon Wilderness. No Wapiti for me either. Nice spot you had to walk though. I wish it would have snowed. It was almost 80 during the day.

Red Grade for some of it, off Black Mt. road for the last part. I think the elk have quit the country around Red Grade.  

QuoteOriginally posted by centaur:
Time spent hunting is never wasted.

How very true indeed.  Thanks for taking us along!
 

I grew up on Red Grade and only wasted one year hunting it. Although alot of times when I've gone up to visit my parents in the last couple of years I knowticed I've been seeing more and more elk during the summer and late fall/winter not far from the house.
I bought an extra cow calf tag for the unit this year and am glad I did. I don't think I'm going to be back in the country in time to hunt my unit that I hunt normally hunt. Keep me posted, you've still got a while to hunt.

Jake,
I think you hit it. Those elk hit the private ground pretty quick around Red Grade, and the Forest empties out. Sure would like to hunt that big wide canyon behind the Orvis place; it looks like elk heaven.

In the past 15 years I have spent 6 seasons hunting the area between the Cloud Peak Wilderness and the Bud Love Winter Range.  Pretty much most of that area that lies in unit 36 that lies outside of the wilderness.  I know it fairly well by now.  It is not a sure thing for a non resident to draw a tag there anymore.  Also have hunted a couple of times farther South around Barnum in unit 34 on private land that is no longer available to me.

Yes Pat they have figured out the private land. I know that in the 2006 season is about when we knowticed in our unit(41) that by the middle of september we were wasting our time up high, the elk have been in the sage brush down low by then. You should be hunting closer to your house by the "Big Burn on the border" if you catch me.
I'm stuck back in Dubai again,Just in time when I was ready to go hunt, got sent sept.4th. I'm telling you my luck couldn't have been any better!!!!!!!!

For area 37 off Black Mnt Road look for a road that leads to a mine on your BHNFS map. There was lawys elk in there. Around Reg Grade Road you will find few elk. Most elk around that part will head off the face ASAP when bow season opens.I wish I could remember the name of the mine but it has been 6 years since I lived in Sheridan. Put in for area 40 and hunt Grainery Ridge. You'll find that better hunting.....at least until the snow hits!

Wapiti,
I know the area you are talking about. That mine road was a highway for 4 wheelers while I was in the area.
Next year area 37 won't be on my A list of choices to hunt. I can't seem to draw 35, so I probably will look at 38 or maybe 36. I used to hunt 67 for years before the grizzlies became somewhat of a problem, and I really love the area around Dubois, but I also got snowed in there twice in the middle of September. I also really like area 22, but it is almost impossible to draw a bull tag there. Decisions, decisions.

Pat,

Old peacekeepers must be having elk problems this year!  Tom & I actually got into some elk this year, but none of them agreed to being made into steaks.  I had three close calls and Tom let a spike go because we were so far back in the Hoback we would have been days getting him out.  The G&F really screwed up the best part of elk bow season with a rifle deer season so we went a week earlier this year and the elk were more cooperative.

Dave

Dave,
Next time I'm in Casper, I should get your brother to buy me a hamburger, so we would know what meat tastes like. Sorry you guys struck out. As for me, I think it is time to go play with whitetails. Hope you do better back in Michigan.

I guess there's a reason 37 tags are easy to get...I'm taking my son to 38 whenever he can draw, hopefully in a year or two he'll have enough points.  Sorry you didn't get into animals, but being in the Horns NEVER sucks..

-Mike

Nice pics, thanks for sharing.  Sounds like my time int he elk woods this year!
Mike

Misery loves company, I just got home from a four day hunt with nothing to show either, hope to get out a couple more days before it all ends.
Bill