Another EK Elk Hunt Down the Tubes

[Bugle M In]

How much I would enjoy sharing pics and a success story from our recent EK Elk Hunt.
But, that's not to be.
This is by far the longest dry spell I have had now, but this year was in my opinion brutal and I am
concerned for a bleak future still to come.
I am not saying that the past few years, that I didn't have chance here or there, and even may have
screwed up on those hunts at times, but after this season, something is going to have to change.

I thought over the next little while, I would share some of my past experiences, how I succeeded, how
I felt I screwed up, and all the stuff in between.

I thought I would also share what I am seeing as far as the bad, the good and the odd, as it pertains
to the wildlife in the area, in regards to years ago, the changes over the years and the now.

All I can say is (and I don't say this lightly), but I suspect some major overhaul to the R4 elk hunting
soon, at least in some MU's.
Ans I am going to talk about all that, and my thoughts on what I see is "not working" and is going wrong, and some of the "odd" stuff that is being created due to all the changes in the area.

So, give me some time to put my thoughts together here, to collect some photos to share as well.
I will try to give some of you here "the ways I have hunted" that have created success", and what didn't,
and what I look for and where etc.
But there will be some real concerns contributed to the thread as well, and something we all have to think to "as why it is so bad" right now??!

But, one thing I will not blame, is "over hunting"!, at least not in the past 15 years around there.
Not like it was years ago, in the 70's and 80's and slowly trickling out in the late 90's/ early 2000's.

Ironically, I spoke to a local as I was packing up, also going in on mountain bike for the day.
He also understood the lack of game, especially elk, in the area.
But at one point is said, well it's due to overhunting....???
"That why the locals have nicknamed the it "Shot to Shit EK""!!!?????

Sorry, I see no evidence of that.
The road hunting is limited, the access restricted, antler size restriction and virtually no cow LEH to speak of!!, and depending on which one I just listed, have been in effect for atleast 15 years already and much longer for others

This isn't a "Hunting/Hunter" issue we are facing, IMO.
This is much bigger then that, nor is it just Preds.
We have some serious thinking to do going forward.
Really, if nothing happens soon, we may not have the opportunities to hunt elk in some of these areas
that once had several elk in every scree slope you passed!

Right now I am trying to get in contact with the GO of the area, as he and his outfit wasn't even in
operation this year, from the best I can tell.
(so, not sure if it was a personal issue that he wasn't around?).
All I know is, even in the past 3 seasons, he only took 2 bulls from mu understanding.

So, again, more to come, and more for me to share over the coming days and weeks.

[rageous]

I hear ya, oddly I’ve seen an increase in elk in my area.

[Kootenaykid85]

I’m gunna take a wild guess that u were up the galbraith, if that was the case then over hunting is defiantly a issue. The previous outfitter killed way to many elk. Grizzly bears eat them like sunflower seeds up there and the few that are left have adapted and live high and free

[Bugle M In]

I’m gunna take a wild guess that u were up the galbraith, if that was the case then over hunting is defiantly a issue. The previous outfitter killed way to many elk. Grizzly bears eat them like sunflower seeds up there and the few that are left have adapted and live high and free

I know, some folks are going to try and figure out where I hunt, and some may even get it right, but I hope all of you here can respect that I didn't start this thread to "guess that tune", but to rather hear/share in my concerns.
The pictures are for visual stimulation (some hate reading without pics!), but also to prove I am not bs'ing.

But I knew from the onset, I might be giving away my area to a degree, but, honestly, there isn't much to give away up there any longer.

[masoncade1992]

I’m gunna take a wild guess that u were up the galbraith, if that was the case then over hunting is defiantly a issue. The previous outfitter killed way to many elk. Grizzly bears eat them like sunflower seeds up there and the few that are left have adapted and live high and free

No offence, but kind of a dick move to spell out someone's possible area on an open forum. I think a PM would have been much more appreciated by the OP.

[Bugle M In]

No offence, but kind of a dick move to spell out someone's possible area on an open forum. I think a PM would have been much more appreciated by the OP.

It's okay,
I leave myself "open" to folks guessing where I hunt, so that's on me, as I am choosing to show my concerns.
But yes, if you have a question, pm is a better way to get an answer.

[Rackmastr]

No offence, but kind of a dick move to spell out someone's possible area on an open forum. I think a PM would have been much more appreciated by the OP.

"No offence but kinda a dick move" hahahhaa. But no offence right???

Im sure no one is super excited to go check out a spot with no elk haha.

[Bugle M In]

I’m gunna take a wild guess that u were up the galbraith, if that was the case then over hunting is defiantly a issue. The previous outfitter killed way to many elk. Grizzly bears eat them like sunflower seeds up there and the few that are left have adapted and live high and free

Oh yes, you wanted to "take a guess" on the area.
Answer: NOPE, wrong, not even close.

[Kootenaykid85]

Oh yes, you wanted to "take a guess" on the area.
Answer: NOPE, wrong, not even close.

yup I was, but didnt see any pictures yet.

[Bugle M In]

Okay, here is 1 image, before the snow started to fall the next day.
This photo is taken appr. 30 km "beyond the vehicle hunting restriction", which, has been in place for probably 40 years now,
and probably longer.
To "protect our wildlife sanctuaries"!
To give them an area where they will not be disturbed!
Well, that is, at least by most hunters, other then on horses or possibly a few locals, who could bring up their gear in the summer with vehicle, and then at the time of the start of hunting season, mountain bike in, hunt, and then later after the season, retrieve their gear.
Rarely does that happen!, and if it has, the few times it did, it was someone who held a goat LEH.(not really for elk)
So, has it helped??
Well, it has I suppose in regards to protecting the habitat from damage due to ORV's etc, especially when you think that at the
time these closures were put into place, atv's etc, didn't exist!.
So, even though this was put in place to "preserve game", it actually had the unintended action of saving it from further human damage.
That being said, all our new "eco tourists" can drive up there, hike around up there, build huts up there, and even fly around
heli's for sight seeing trips.
Not sure about snowmobilers?, but as you can see, why not!!??, its beautiful country side.

I guess what I am saying is, "Road Closures DO NOT in themselves, GROW Game!"

One other thing, if you look at the photo (below), you can see we are way up!, there are some Scree Slopes in the area, BUT,
if you look hard enough, a ton of logging has happened up there as well.
Due to low snow levels for years, snow slides just don't happen as commonly nor frequently enough anymore in the area to create "new growth" for the elk, which they love so much.
So, you would think all this logging over the past 20 years, up in this high country (and I can assure you, its everywhere up there), has not given birth to "more game" in there.
BUT, for those of concerned about MD in the EK, here is another thing I saw.
Beyond the last MD sign we saw, just beyond where this photo was taken, low and behold, what did we see???
A WT Doe!, not a MD!.
Lets put it this way, just above where she was feeding, is a slight scree slope, and no, there is no subalpine here (like you would see with hunters of successful bighorn sheep photos, that grassy green landscape).
Above that is shear "rock face", not even habitable for a mountain goat.
So, if there is truth to WT's being more aggressive then MD in overtaking/claiming territory, then this is one example of it
happening, and why some here say MD are declining in the EK!
Now, is this WT here because they have "logged the shit" out of the area???
They were never up there that high years ago, and clearcuts are the only thing that has changed this particular landscape in years!.
That's my take on the issue.
Good point is: Probably most likely due to the large overnight dump of snow, we noticed way more MD and sign, down lower,
then we have seen in years!!!
So maybe there is a chance for them yet??, but they will have to outcompete WT to make that happen, and WT's seem to take to all these high clearcuts.