It was a chore just getting to the areas.
We cut our way out last year and had to cut our way in
The deadfall is a PITA
Personally, I'd had Nick out there doing the cutting. ??
Probably even by today there are more trees down.
And from what we saw, there is even better elk areas further with no road access, even horse access would not be advised.
Sometimes you just gotta let some things go and do what Deertick said 'hunt smarter not harder'.
A little backstory.
We call this area ODH [One Day Hunt]. For the past 2 years, Deertick has hunted this spot... TWICE and shot a bull each time on the first day out.
Both hose hunts were rifle season so we decided to scout it for archery. The blowdown will definitely be more challenging for archery gear, as our priority tactic will be to bring the elk to us/locate bugle since we cant move fast or quietly in the blowdown.
As of this weekend, we know we cant hunt more than 1/2 mile from some form of trail.
t-roy, I've been bowhunting the same mountain range as cnelk and deertick are scouting for 30+ yrs. Every forest has downfall, but unless you see it first hand, you can't believe how bad its gotten in the last 3-4 yrs. As I've said many times, it's like watching a dear old friend die a slow, lingering death.
Not too many years ago, you could drive Wyo Highway 130 or 230 across the Snowies and it was a beautiful green vista. Then the beetles hit in force. Within a year, it became visual the toll they were taking. You could drive over the range and half the ridges were a deep rust color from the dead needles. A couple years later, it didn't look so bad, since the dead needles had fallen off the trees. Gray doesn't stand out as much against green as rust does. A year or so later, the trees started coming down...in droves.
I don't have photos like Brad does, but I'll give you a couple examples.
There's a forest service road that up till a few years ago, you could drive a pickup to where it ends. This road leads to the top of my favorite hunting area, although I park my 4 wheeler 1/2 mi from the top and walk in from there. For the past 3yrs, I've had to cut downed trees for 1/2 day just to get to where I park. On avg, I have to cut through newly downed tree(s) at least 5-6 mornings as I'm going in to hunt during the season. I'm going next week to do it again. Hard to tell what's fallen since last year, but I know it won't be fun. There's some rifle hunters that continue on from where I stop to clear the road, all the way to the end. Last year, they gave up. The top end is now impassable. I know it's only a matter of time till I can't keep up with all the downed timber. I just hope this isn't the year.
Even more telling is getting down to where I hang my treestand. I've been hanging my stand in the same tree for over 20 yrs now. Used to be, I just followed a series of game trails right down to where I hang my stand. No more. Now I have to cut my way down to the stand.
hillbender, I have to question your plan of following game trails. As with those leading down to my treestand, there are trails I've used for many years that are no longer negotiable. Granted, elk make adjustments, but those adjustment to their travels are occurring almost daily. If I'm in my truck, I don't go anywhere without my chainsaw. If I'm on my 4 wheeler, I don't go anywhere without my handsaw and axe. Anyone that does otherwise is certainly asking for trouble.
Bottom line is, the elk are still there just being elk. They've adjusted, we just need to do the same.
yeah its my property, and your property and anyone else that pays for public land :)
