Best way to get a trophy elk

[Cow Town Bill]

I really want to get a trophy elk---by trophy elk I mean at least a SCI silver medal. I'm getting up in age and don't have years on end to try this and that. I'm about a level 10 which might get me Suffield area tag but that doesn't necessarily get me a trophy---not sure what the odds are but I doubt they are 50-50.
I am looking at Montana, New Mexico and Arizona which are pricey if you are looking at a land owner tag rather than the iffy draw system. But maybe the price is worth it for me as this will likely be my last go at a big trophy elk.
I'm sure there are other members who have faced this challenge. I would like to hear your comments and don't hesitate to recommend specific outfitters.
Last year I followed up on a members suggestion and it got me a SCI gold medal antelope---my previous four antelope outfitters were long on promise but short on delivery. You gotta love the experience and dedication our members have.
Thanks everyone.

[Lefty-Canuck]

What size of elk qualifies for a silver metal?

LC

[BuckHunterBowen]

Your priority should get you a tag in the zones around wainwright but permission will most likely give you trouble. Hasn't for me in these zones but have heard people having problems. This isn't a done deal trophy tag but I have seen four elk this year over 350 one pushing 400.

Another option for a cheaper hunt would be looking into muzzleloader draws. I've met a few people that have had good success on great bulls on a fairly short draw wait time.
Good luck. If you have any questions send me a pm.

[Fletch10]

X 2 on the muzzleloader hunts....more chance at success in New Mexico and those areas to get drawn on a muzzleloader hunt and there are some huge elk down there! I saw some last November but didn't get to close the deal when I was in New Mexico.

You just have to decide quick on those areas as some of the draw application periods are open already and close in March

[justforkicks]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

What size of elk qualifies for a silver metal?

LC

http://member.scifirstforhunters.org...w_minimums.cfm

its all right there, filter at the top for north america then find your species that you were wondering about. In this case it is rocky mountain elk, either typical or non typical

[Roughneck Country]

If you are serious about it I would do the NM or AZ hunt, populations down there ar managed for trophy quality and you will likly have the opportunity to look over several bulls in the silver or gold metal range.

[waterfowler1969]

Originally Posted by Roughneck Country

If you are serious about it I would do the NM or AZ hunt, populations down there ar managed for trophy quality and you will likly have the opportunity to look over several bulls in the silver or gold metal range.

AZ is a long wait time. NM is the place if you want to spent a bunch of money. Silver it has to be a 310" and gold is 347". I see it he can do this on a general tag in Alberta(silver). With the priority he has in AB he could pretty easy kill a bull that will net as a gold bull. Just have to figure it out and draw a tag here and make your dreams a reality.

[muzzy]

New Mexico either Gila Wilderness units in 16 or Valle Vidal ( not sure on spelling) Lots of silver/gold animals

[dshaw]

Originally Posted by waterfowler1969

AZ is a long wait time. NM is the place if you want to spent a bunch of money. Silver it has to be a 310" and gold is 347". I see it he can do this on a general tag in Alberta(silver). With the priority he has in AB he could pretty easy kill a bull that will net as a gold bull. Just have to figure it out and draw a tag here and make your dreams a reality.

X2 A net 310 bull would be not a problem here with any southern elk tag on the prairies with your priority. 347" is a little tougher but if you put in the time you could kill one that big no problem in a prairie zone as well. But if your looking to do it in a few days then AZ and NM are your best bets. Wyoming, Utah, Montana and Idaho all have great bulls too if you have the money to spend.

[Roughneck Country]

I'm building priority for a WY wildrness unit. It is almost as long a wait time as some of the draws here in AB. I think it was priority 8 or 9 where i wanted to hunt them but they are pulling out 330 + bulls consistently out of there and on a late season hunt you have a chance at some real monsters.

[Flatlandliver]

If you are a priority 10, I would highly recommend the Suffield hunt. A 350" bull is not uncommon there at all. Early season hunters were turning down bulls of this caliber. No hunt is a slam dunk and you need to do your homework, but there are a ton of resources and experience here on AO and I found members here more than willing to share theirs. Landowner permission and help was outstanding. The last week of the late season I saw 6 bulls taken that were +340". That said after the first week of the late season a lot of us were very concerned about getting skunked. Weather and ice conditions play a huge factor in the late season hunt there. If I was to do it again, I would really consider the early season, just more options for different hunting techniques. The major worry in Sept. is potentially +30C weather.

[Stonegoat]

A hunt in the BC Kootenay region has the potential to yield a 330+ elk. If money was no object then I would consider an Arizona Landowner tag.

[Lr1000]

Originally Posted by dshaw

X2 A net 310 bull would be not a problem here with any southern elk tag on the prairies with your priority. 347" is a little tougher but if you put in the time you could kill one that big no problem in a prairie zone as well. But if your looking to do it in a few days then AZ and NM are your best bets. Wyoming, Utah, Montana and Idaho all have great bulls too if you have the money to spend.

X3. If you have that kind of priority you should have no problem taking a 310 or bigger elk. There's lots of elk this size in general 3 point or larger zones in our province. Gold would be a little tougher however with that priority and lots of time spent scouting and hunting it's very achievable. Good luck.

[Cow Town Bill]

I have got several real good suggestions from AO members.
I just checked and I am at priority 12 which means I should get a tag this year. From the SRD web site for 2012 there were 15 bull tags and 15 cow tags in 151/152 and everyone was successful---WOWEE---.
In 200/202/203/232/234 (Suffield area) there 172 elk taken including 94 bulls for an overall success rate of 30%.
My strategy at the moment is to get an Alberta bull elk---I'll leave Montana, BC, NM, AZ on the back burner.
I'm open for more suggestions on how I can maximize my opportunity here in Alberta---this will be my last chance in Alberta---I want to make the best of it.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by Cow Town Bill

I have got several real good suggestions from AO members.
I just checked and I am at priority 12 which means I should get a tag this year. From the SRD web site for 2012 there were 15 bull tags and 15 cow tags in 151/152 and everyone was successful---WOWEE---.
In 200/202/203/232/234 (Suffield area) there 172 elk taken including 94 bulls for an overall success rate of 30%.
My strategy at the moment is to get an Alberta bull elk---I'll leave Montana, BC, NM, AZ on the back burner.
I'm open for more suggestions on how I can maximize my opportunity here in Alberta---this will be my last chance in Alberta---I want to make the best of it.

The 200's are Wainwright not Suffield....probably just a typo

LC

[Lr1000]

Originally Posted by Cow Town Bill

I have got several real good suggestions from AO members.
I just checked and I am at priority 12 which means I should get a tag this year. From the SRD web site for 2012 there were 15 bull tags and 15 cow tags in 151/152 and everyone was successful---WOWEE---.
In 200/202/203/232/234 (Suffield area) there 172 elk taken including 94 bulls for an overall success rate of 30%.
My strategy at the moment is to get an Alberta bull elk---I'll leave Montana, BC, NM, AZ on the back burner.
I'm open for more suggestions on how I can maximize my opportunity here in Alberta---this will be my last chance in Alberta---I want to make the best of it.

I think you have a good plan there. I would just ask now what the best month to pull ur draw in. I'm always partial to hunting elk in sept. However I've never hunted elk in those zones before.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by Lr1000

I think you have a good plan there. I would just ask now what the best month to pull ur draw in. I'm always partial to hunting elk in sept. However I've never hunted elk in those zones before.

Unless you bow hunt the 200 zones the season start November 1st....to Dec 20th then Jan 1-20. I have heard rumours for bulls the season will change to be shorter and end November 30th.

LC

[waterfowler1969]

Originally Posted by Cow Town Bill

I have got several real good suggestions from AO members.
I just checked and I am at priority 12 which means I should get a tag this year. From the SRD web site for 2012 there were 15 bull tags and 15 cow tags in 151/152 and everyone was successful---WOWEE---.
In 200/202/203/232/234 (Suffield area) there 172 elk taken including 94 bulls for an overall success rate of 30%.
My strategy at the moment is to get an Alberta bull elk---I'll leave Montana, BC, NM, AZ on the back burner.
I'm open for more suggestions on how I can maximize my opportunity here in Alberta---this will be my last chance in Alberta---I want to make the best of it.

Your info is wrong as I know a few guys with bull tags in 151/152 and did not even see an elk. No elk zone is 100%.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by waterfowler1969

Your info is wrong as I know a few guys with bull tags in 151/152 and did not even see an elk. No elk zone is 100%.

He was talking 2012 stats not 2013....maybe things were different in 2012?

LC

[waterfowler1969]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

He was talking 2012 stats not 2013....maybe things were different in 2012?

LC

I am referring the same 2012.

[dmcbride]

Originally Posted by waterfowler1969

I am referring the same 2012.

The Stats do say 100% success for 2012. Maybe someone wasn't truthful on the harvest surveys?

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by dmcbride

The Stats do say 100% success for 2012. Maybe someone wasn't truthful on the harvest surveys?

Might also mean that the survey results aren't 100% accurate as some may already suspect.

LC

[dmcbride]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

Might also mean that the survey results aren't 100% accurate as some may already suspect.

LC

I new they were not 100% but if a few guys out of 15 tags weren't successful that would mean 80% success rate. I wonder if any of the other 12 guys were unsuccessful.

[waterfowler1969]

Originally Posted by dmcbride

I new they were not 100% but if a few guys out of 15 tags weren't successful that would mean 80% success rate. I wonder if any of the other 12 guys were unsuccessful.

Either way I don't buy that either.

[Don K]

I'd look at 416 or 418. Put in the time, there's big bulls.

[Flatlandliver]

151 produced some nice b@c or sci bulls this year, just not sure how the permission goes. Would be very tough to beat the scenery of a YaHa Tinda or Panther hunt. Still would push the 124/144/148/150 Suffield hunt personally if a big bull is the goal. I can't find where I got the info but I think success rate is about 66% there. Tough choice, wish I had to make it again !

[huntin]

Originally Posted by Don K

I'd look at 416 or 418. Put in the time, there's big bulls.

maybe 10 years ago

[LongRangebugler]

I thought suffield was just open for cow elk through draw? I guess not.

[waterfowler1969]

Originally Posted by LongRangebugler

I thought suffield was just open for cow elk through draw? I guess not.

On the base is only cows. Around is for both.

[Ryry4]

Originally Posted by LongRangebugler

I thought suffield was just open for cow elk through draw? I guess not.

You can hunt the base for the cow draw. You can hunt the surrounding areas for bulls if you pull a tag.