Wmu 422

[tlambo]

Has anyone hunted 422 in the last couple of years? the harvest report shows a few elk taken out of there and one moose. Just looking for some indication if it's even worthwhile adventuring out there? is there much for deer? and yes I know I can go look, just looking for someone to be a little helpful and give me an idea if it's worth while wasting any priority to begin with. Thanks in advance!

[MountainTi]

The odd critter around but as with most mountain WMU's numbers of ungulates are pretty low

[Grizzly Adams1]

More like sheep country as I remember.

[MountainTi]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams1

More like sheep country as I remember.

Saw a decent bull moose in there once a few years ago. Few elk kicking around but few and far between.
Actually say a pretty decent mule buck for a mountain WMU in there last week. Pretty heavy 4 point. Not a deer I'd consider shooting out east on a draw tag but a good buck for out there. Was hanging out with a smaller 4. They were in sheep country

[MooseRiverTrapper]

Just another spot on the eastern slope with proven world class elk habitat. That is nearly void of elk.

[natedoo22]

I'm going in this week for a 10-day trip to try & fill my elk draw after a 9 year wait. I've been in & around the Onion Lake area & trails, but much like the other responses have stated that it's sparse for ungulates. My hope is to get further back on foot & get into some uncharted area for myself.

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by natedoo22

I'm going in this week for a 10-day trip to try & fill my elk draw after a 9 year wait. I've been in & around the Onion Lake area & trails, but much like the other responses have stated that it's sparse for ungulates. My hope is to get further back on foot & get into some uncharted area for myself.

Wolves cleaned up the back country years ago and there are very few Elk left.
Doesn't matter how far you go.... what matters is finding where the Unicorn lives.
In the mountains, this typically means as close to constant human presence as possible.

[natedoo22]

Absolutely, I've spent some time back there hoping to get lucky. But you're right just have to find that unicorn.

[MountainTi]

Originally Posted by natedoo22

I'm going in this week for a 10-day trip to try & fill my elk draw after a 9 year wait. I've been in & around the Onion Lake area & trails, but much like the other responses have stated that it's sparse for ungulates. My hope is to get further back on foot & get into some uncharted area for myself.

Honestly you are better off hanging out around the road in if you're looking for elk

[natedoo22]

Originally Posted by MountainTi

Honestly you are better off hanging out around the road in if you're looking for elk

I've seen them there as well haha

[DRhunter]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

Wolves cleaned up the back country years ago and there are very few Elk left.
Doesn't matter how far you go.... what matters is finding where the Unicorn lives.
In the mountains, this typically means as close to constant human presence as possible.

This has been my experience (not in 422 specifically, but in other mountain zones) and those that I have run into in the areas that have been hunting elk for a lot longer than I have been looking for sheep in the areas. All the elk are closer to the roads where there are slightly fewer predators and they have a chance to survive and keep their calves alive.

Good luck, I do still see some nice bulls, but they are few and far between.

DR

[Big Grey Wolf]

Years back a foothills rancher/guide mentioned it was regular to be able to count over 1000 elk on trip down forestry trunk road in winter. Them were days when All mountain 400 zones would produce high elk numbers along with 6/7 point bulls.