Angry Panda said:

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Similar story. Landowner will be with us and helping us out, so I'll call it semi-guided. When we're not hunting, we'll be two extra sets of hands around the ranch while we're there. Might make it up into the mountains for a day trip too if we tag out early.

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Very similar. Did you guys have points to draw 29 or did you go special draw? Another reason I like the way this worked out is that we drew unit 15 as a second choice so we gained a preference point. We'll be hunting east of Sheridan starting Oct. 7th.

Water Turkey07 said:

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Angry Panda said:

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Similar story. Landowner will be with us and helping us out, so I'll call it semi-guided. When we're not hunting, we'll be two extra sets of hands around the ranch while we're there. Might make it up into the mountains for a day trip too if we tag out early.

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Very similar. Did you guys have points to draw 29 or did you go special draw? Another reason I like the way this worked out is that we drew unit 15 as a second choice so we gained a preference point. We'll be hunting east of Sheridan starting Oct. 7th.

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Didn't need pref points for 29 because we applied for Type 2 licenses - valid on private land only. Odds were virtually 100% even with no points. Didn't think to make it my second choice though in order to pick up a pref point. We'll be hunting outside of Douglas the week after y'all.

Ahh, gotcha.

On another OnXmaps related note, now that I know where I'm hunting this year I'm really wishing I would have bucked up and paid for the elite membership because now all I want to do is research next years and future years hunts, but the only state I can look at is Wyoming.

Asking this here because you guys are most likely to have what I'm looking for:

Does anyone have a 2-person backpacking tent they'd want to part with? My next AZ hunt in January will be backpacking in rather than truck camping, and I'd like to save some money over a new tent if I can (at least until I figure out what tent features/faults I like or don't like).

Beggars can't be choosers, but I'd prefer if the total tent pack weight was around 4.5 lbs or less...


OR, aside from that: Does anyone have any recs on a good backpacking tent? If buying new, I'd like to keep the budget in the $300 or so range.

Rokslide will offer more options than here, but I'd love to hear what you ultimately decide on for gear.

Yeah, Rokslide will be my next stop. I thought about making a WTB post in the Classifieds and see what turns up. I just figured if one of my fellow Ags had one that would be nice as well.

Either way, I'll let you know if I decide on something. I'm currently looking at two offerings from Cabelas:

Cabela's XPG Trek 2-Person Tent - $199

Cabela's XPG Ultralight 2-Person Tent - $299

Got both my deer (draw) and elk (OTC) tags in the mail from Colorado the last couple days.

Nice. It's getting closer!

It is! Headed to the desert this weekend to check my game cam and put out a couple more.

I was just asked to register for a conference in Denver in mid-July and then another conference in Garden City, KS about 6 days later. I think maybe I'll drive out, then spend 4-5 days in the mountains, and then drive back to GC. Seems like a good way to kill a few days. Except that I'm real fat and I'll probably die. But it'll at least be a pretty place to die.

As Ursus said, I'm a research junky.

http://m.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/camping-and-hiking/best-ultralight-tent

Take a look at this before you get too far. I tend to start with outdoor gear lab. Googling backpack tent will get you similar opinions usually with similar preference, but never the same. That usually gets me to a starting list of 5-10 based on price and my wants.

Big Agnes Seedhouse 2p are pretty solid if you can find them, but you need to be fairly cozy with whoever you're sharing with. No experience with it personally, but people seem to also like the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 as well. Both are around $350, but can usually find them on a sale if you're patient. REI Half dome is slightly heavier than you want, but quite a bit cheaper and they're a really solid option for the money.


Used on Rokslide is a great option. Or craigslist depending upon where you live....I've got a buddy that has that Cabelas Ultralight tent and he seems happy with it. Seems like a nice tent.

Thanks. I'll check that out.

Thanks. The 2-person is actually just for me. I want enough room to keep my pack/bow inside with me.

Gotcha...A small 1p with a decent vestibule would also be a good option. I switched to a cheap Eureka Spitfire 1p, and the vestibule has enough room to slip my bow and a pack in. I personally don't sleep with my pack in/around the tent but can see why some do...

If you're interested in tarps, Jimmy Tarps off Ebay are a cheaper option that seem to have a good "cult" following for the price

https://seekoutside.com/silvertip/

stdeb11 said:

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REI Half dome

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Actually, this might work really well. Especially at this price:

https://www.rei.com/product/878519/rei-co-op-half-dome-2-tent

Ugh... and just like that my hopes are dashed. Now I have another meeting back in the Capitol right in the middle of those two...

I learned how to post videos from my phone, so I thought ya'll might enjoy a clip of this deer to help get you fired up for the season. I passed on him figuring he needed another year to grow.



OK, not really. This joker came down out of the mountains from who knows where about 3 weeks after the rifle season closed. He ate and chased does out there every evening for a couple of weeks. Nearly everyone in town had a picture of him. After the rut, he disappeared. Everyone likes to believe he made it through the winter though

Edit to say Area 145 in Western Wyoming if anyone wants to go track him down this Fall.

You have my attention...

Muley Horny

You're in Montana by the Bob, correct? Do you rifle hunt or just bow like most of these sophisticates?

I know you chase elk, but looks like mule deer too. Do the seasons overlap? Spill it!

Quote:

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Area 145 in Western Wyoming if anyone wants to go track him down this Fall.

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Also, I'm pretty sure he's moved back to Texas now. ...cowboy, not the mule deer.

Upon 2nd glance, I had that mule deer on my hill country game camera last week. Still needs another year.

I lived in western Wyoming. I've made several trips to the Bob chasing elk which is awesome. I have also hunted Eastern Idaho quite a bit. Wyoming (at least around where I lived) deer and elk open on September 1st for archery. Rifle deer on September 15th and rifle elk on October first. It was great as a resident because I could get OTC deer, elk and bear tags and have the woods mostly to myself until the rifle seasons started opening.

But alas, Sean is correct...I have relocated from paradise to the Austin area in pursuit of improved employment, more abundant educational opportunities for my kids and more abundant shopping opportunities for my wife.

I still plan to hunt out West every year, but for WY I'm going to have to figure out how to do it as a non-resident.

Swapped my card, set 2 more cams and I'm gtfo before Heisenberg and his cronies show up.

I started checking out the pics on the display screen on my "Apeman" camera until I noticed there were over 7,000. I had it set on PIR for 30sec with a 3 pic burst bc I didn't think I'd get many. Pretty sure I had deer in those first few pics I reviewed. I'm sure there's a lotta trash.

Saw this dude hiking in at 10:48 mtn time.

I tickled his belly and sent him on his way.

Good looking bullsnake to share the trail with

Big daddy.

I think tonight we find out if I get to drag my brother or sweet sister-in-law on an Arkansas elk hunt.

Did anyone see the Texas Elk articles in the last couple RMEF Bugle magazines. I think there were two different ones.

1) An opinion piece chastising the listing of Elk as a non native and non managed species. The summary was essentially elk traditionally had a native range in Texas. Texas is lucky to have an breeding elk population even if they came from New Mexico and Oklahoma or high fence escapes. RMEF as well as other states are spending lots of money and effort to try and do what we have naturally occurring in order to restore things before man screwed it up and maybe get to hunt them. Texas (due to politics and angry farmers / ranchers) is on pace to F up a good thing.

2) A story of a 400" elk hunt in the Davis Mountains (I thought this was your story Doc, until the guy actually hunted hard for it )

Thoughts? It seems like the lack of public land is going to impede this along with the legislature only catering to the deepest pockets instead of the public good.

I think RMEF has done some good work but that arrogant attitude is one reason I Prob wont join again.

I do know this... They are the NRA on speed when it comes to funds solicitation.

I haven't read it yet, but do you disagree? Texas, does in fact, F up most things due to politics and greed. It's one of the big reasons that I'll never move back, and one of the reasons that people like agingcowboy (pour one out for my homeys hunting future) make plans to drive 20 hours to hunt instead of hunting at home.

I think the TPWD staff probably does a great job given the Cross they are forced to carry, but it's a helluva burden.

Eh, I hope to see some discussion before I and hopefully Schmellba get on our soap boxes. Ursus, Log, AgEng, I'm looking at you.

I think the biggest challenge is the lack of public land. It looks like every place that's ever successfully reintroduced a species did it on public land to buffer and control ground zero and poaching. Then again, why would the state pump money to restock elk on private land that doesn't benefit all? However, It's obviously working where the ranchers out west want elk and are working together.

Maybe this is one instance where large privately managed property might be an advantage. Then again, we've seen what family can do to large ranchers and agreements once the patriarch dies.

I read both articles and remember wanting g to post here about them. Never did. I don't remember them being unfair towards Texas, but it's been awhile. Plus I'm starting to get pretty conditioned to the western hunters I listen to poke fun at Texas, so I probably just ignored it. I'll have to reread and look forward to the discussion here.

I haven't read any scientific articles on the matter, but to me it seems historically elk were native to Texas. The fact that they were gone for a time or that the current population may have come from elsewhere doesn't trump the fact that there is a breeding population of elk in Texas now inhabiting their previously native range. It should be treated like any other native Texas wildlife population and be managed accordingly, in my opinion. How is the story of elk in Texas any different than that of the desert bighorn population? Yet, bighorns are recognized and managed very differently. I'd be interested to hear Ursus opine on the matter. He is probably in possession of facts where I am making assumptions.

Also, I'm a RMEF member. I went to their central Texas banquet last night, in fact. It was a very different experience than what I was used to in Wyoming. That being said, some of the dollars raised at those banquets are spent locally and they have relationships with local 4H groups as well. They aren't perfect as an organization, but I think it's a worthy cause so I continue to donate.

This is an interesting quandary of science at the time, and an unfortunate use of a push by special interests.

Coming into the '97 legislative session, elk were still a game species and under the purview of TPWD. About this time elk were starting to become popular in the Hill Country for game ranches, and they didn't like being told what to do with their elk, soooo, let's get them classified as "exotics". That puts them under the Department of Agriculture instead, and you get more flexibility to move them around. But also gets them technically reclassified as "livestock", and why Texas elk can't be book listed.

How TPWD went with elk were only historically found in the Guadlupes, I don't know. I was taught, and have always taught that elk were found throughout most of Texas until you get into deep East Texas. So keep in mind this would be consistent with the Rocky Mountain elk that up until "recently" (ie spread of white man) was mostly a plains species. I work with an archeologist quite a bit, and there have been several bits and pieces of elk found in Dallas County. I doubt that came from the Guadlupes.

Now we has to deal with the issue of the Merriam elk. People either really believe in them or they don't.....genetically, they aren't different from what is found in the southern Rockies. May be simply a matter of you have pockets of great nutrition, genetics and age that allowed for a large number of larger individuals. For a long time, a LOT of credence was given to the 1905 Bailey survey (awesome to read about). But you have to keep in mind this was a MAJOR leap by modern standards, not even really in place 20 years ago (aka 1997). Bailey didn't actually find any elk in the Guadalupes in 1905. He looked at a SINGLE skull from an old bull from just across the border in NM from habitat that "looked" likes the Guadlupes. Hell, most of us could walk it in a short time, so not much of a stretch. But that is effectively how we got to Merriams being in the Guadalupe Mountains.....for consistency purposes. In the past I have talked on here about the Merriams being In the Transpecos, but have adjusted my view on the matter in light of more/better information coming out the last few years.

Enter the desert bighorn. No doubt they were in West Texas, and between hunting and disease, they went the way of the dodo bird. So let's reintroduce a species that is eaten by everything, and seemingly susceptible to everything.....AND comes with a VERY WELL FUNDED cheerleading crowd. So how convenient that the elk got reclassified statewide. TPWD had the mandate to repopulate bighorns, and the elk were doing much better to the point of POTENTIALLY out compete the bighorns. I want to point out, the reintroduced desert bighorns aren't strictly the ones that were found in the Transpecos either.....but they have a very vocal special interest (not saying this is a bad things).

Keep in mind, when things don't make sense on the surface, there's usually way more at play than biology. And keep in mind, genetics have come a LONG way since 2007, and lots of information has changed. Now whether TPWD and special interest groups will change due to new info is an interesting quandary.