Contributors to this thread:
I currently have enough non resident points (19) to draw a unit 40 archery or 2nd season rifle tag. Would anyone have personal experience with outfitters in that unit or other recommendations. Most reviews I have read say don't waste your time with public land in that unit.
Why waste 19 points to hunt private land? The whole point of gathering points for 20 years is to have a kick ass hunt on public land. Do a guided hunt on private in a OTC unit. Then burn your points on a unit you can get into elk on public. I don't know the point requirements for non residents or rifle very well at all. However I can't believe you could not find some awesome public land hunting with that number of points. Good luck on whatever you decided to burn them on.
I've also looked into 40 before and it's because all my hunting partners are older than me and I need help getting an elk out.
I finally killed a bull elk with a rifle this year and it was on private with a friend. We drove within winch distance, drug it up. chained the legs to the bale feeder arms, flipped it aboard, drove to the ranch and used a big tractor to put it in my pickup.
When I got home I hooked the head to a chain and picked it up with my tractor. Then I used that to pull the hide off.
I wish I could reasonably handle a solo hunt but at my age it would be both stupid and dangerous.
I believe it's ones personal decision where or on what they want to burn their points on. I can't imagine thinking that everyone saves points to have a great hunt on public. Thank God!
19 PPs don’t make the bulls any bigger than a 12 PPs unit
I’m glad I wasted 11 points on a private land archery elk hunt in unit 40. Better than waiting 20+ for the NW corner and bigger bulls than using 15 points in unit 61.
I have hunted 40 a good bit on a private ranch. I occasionally drive through the national forest that is not too far away and am always amazed at the number of people camping off the roads on it. Though I haven't ever hunted it, I have friends who have for deer and all say about the same thing; its a reasonable place to hunt deer; but the elk sightings are very few.
I have a lifelong friend that I have hunted with in the past at the ranch. He wanted to take his wife on a fully outfitted hunt in 40.... and chose Biggerstaff Outfitting. Both filled their rifle tags by the second day of the hunt.
I have I think 15 points in the bank and will attempt to draw 40 this year. Given the non-resident allocation is so limited; I know of at least one fellow now that is ahead of me:)
Private in 40 is your best bet. PM sent.
I'm coming behind you not too far and have been watching 40 for a while. I checked out the Biggerstaff website & it hasn't been updated since at least 2018. Not sure why
