Starkey Experimental question

[tramp]

I've been an westside hunter forever......Just how coveted is this elk archery tag? What's been your success and experiences? Would you do it again? Do you think my seven points will get me and my posse in? Thanks for your help.

[eagle_eye]

I hunted in '05 when there was 40 tags. My buddy and brother hunted last year when there was 80 tags. The hunting can be good if you're willing to work. 7 points won't get you in this year. Good chance at next year. I would hunt it again if I had the points. Looks to be another decade for me before I draw the tag again, and, at that point, I may look to Walla Walla unit or Mt. Emily just to see some new country.

I shot a good bull after 15 actual days of hunting. Buddy shot a good bull after, I believe, 7 or 8 days of hunting. Bigger bulls seen. Mine was bigger (ha!). Brother missed a couple bulls, one of which was a hawg. We definitely did better than what the traditional success rate is for SEF. You'll have fun if you get a couple miles in from the roads by first light and hunt hard for a week or so. Tactics depend on what part of the season you'll be there.

EE

[blackdog]

I tagged along when my brother drew this tag about 5 years ago. We were in to big bulls every day, but it just didn't seem like they behaved 'naturally'. Every bull that we encountered seemed to be cow call shy like crazy. Best bet seemed be locate good areas through sign or listening for bugles, then set up on trails or wallows.

It was fun, and I have enough points to draw now but I'm not using them there.

[Thehunter]

I had friends wife draw it last year for deer. I made two trips for about 3 days each. One in August and one in October....It hold's some nice bulls.
Personal i would hit up Mt.Emily, you have a lot more elk to choose from. It's been two years sinse i've been up Mt.Emily but i believe in one day we saw 4 bulls 6 point or better. Each day produced about 200 head of elk. If you have neve hunted neither place then don't waste your points this year. Do some scouting......Mt. Emily is huge.....Starkey experimiental is a cake walk........

[bobber dance]

It is a good unit, that holds alot of BIG BULLS!!!, however 40 square miles is a pretty small area when you are sharing it with 80 hunters. As stated before the elk don"t seem to act normal. If archery hunting, I would hunt out of a tree stand. With that many hunters, something should run by