Late Season Bull Elk Hunt
NV Unit 231
Nov. 23-29, 2019
Tag holder: Garner
Friends on hunt: Katherine, Michael, Melissa, Brittany, Erik, Tommy, Tango
Friends contributing gear: Alan, Ronda, Ryan, Jason, Garth
Friends Scouting: Sean
After 8 years of gathering bull elk points in Nevada, I finally drew a tag for the coveted unit 231. The Nevada draw process was kind to us this year as we obtained 2 pronghorn tags, Katherine’s mule deer buck, and the bull elk tag. We were successful on my pronghorn hunt, but came up short on Katherine’s. Katherine gave her buck mule deer tag back to focus on my elk hunt and keep her points for the next year. It’s a crazy but fair process in Nevada and it keeps the wildlife management going in the right direction.
The planning for the elk hunt began as soon as I was notified of a successful draw in June. I put the message out to every friend across the country to spark interest in helping out. An elk hunt is a big deal, with a big animal, in BIG country. There was no way I wanted to do this by myself. I heard from a few pals, but it got narrowed down to Brittany and Erik from Atlanta, Michael and Melissa from Washington D.C., and Tommy from Vegas going on the hunt. That would be plenty of people to make this thing happen.
My long time hunting pal Alan had a very interesting way to help on this hunt. He never misses out on anything, but this time his job strapped him down. Knowing that the terrain was nasty and unforgiving, and we needed to pull a U-Haul trailer, he lent us his super capable Ram Power Wagon for the week….. without him, unfortunately. So, I traded him the SS and we were in text contact throughout the hunt via Garmin In-Reach devices. His truck made the trek very smooth and comfortable.
The gear layout process and checklist started weeks out. We had the entire front room of the house dedicated to the trip. Katherine and I did four scouting trips in the area checking trail access and camp locations. Each time we went out, the gear was reassessed and checked. And, we saw elk every time we went up there.
No hunt is complete without proper training with the weapon of choice. Since the shot could possibly be a long one, out to 400+ yards, Alan’s rifle was the best choice by far. He lent me the custom 7mm Rem Mag months out and I put it through its paces. I practiced every possible shooting position at varying ranges. Thankfully, Alan even took me to the 400 yard range to see what was possible. Unfortunately, with little to no wind. The actual hunt was unlikely to have perfect conditions.
The notes below are a special addition from Brittany. She quizzed everyone for details and kept on track. It gives a detailed description of each day.
Wildlife seen: Bluejays, Mountain Lion w/ kill in mouth, Bobcat (G only), Bull & Cow Elk, Buck & Doe Mule Deer
Friends on hunt: Katherine, Michael, Melissa, Brittany, Erik, Tommy, Tango
Friends contributing gear: Alan, Ronda, Ryan, Jason, Garth
Friends Scouting: Sean
The Backstory by Garner
After 8 years of gathering bull elk points in Nevada, I finally drew a tag for the coveted unit 231. The Nevada draw process was kind to us this year as we obtained 2 pronghorn tags, Katherine’s mule deer buck, and the bull elk tag. We were successful on my pronghorn hunt, but came up short on Katherine’s. Katherine gave her buck mule deer tag back to focus on my elk hunt and keep her points for the next year. It’s a crazy but fair process in Nevada and it keeps the wildlife management going in the right direction.
The planning for the elk hunt began as soon as I was notified of a successful draw in June. I put the message out to every friend across the country to spark interest in helping out. An elk hunt is a big deal, with a big animal, in BIG country. There was no way I wanted to do this by myself. I heard from a few pals, but it got narrowed down to Brittany and Erik from Atlanta, Michael and Melissa from Washington D.C., and Tommy from Vegas going on the hunt. That would be plenty of people to make this thing happen.
My long time hunting pal Alan had a very interesting way to help on this hunt. He never misses out on anything, but this time his job strapped him down. Knowing that the terrain was nasty and unforgiving, and we needed to pull a U-Haul trailer, he lent us his super capable Ram Power Wagon for the week….. without him, unfortunately. So, I traded him the SS and we were in text contact throughout the hunt via Garmin In-Reach devices. His truck made the trek very smooth and comfortable.
The gear layout process and checklist started weeks out. We had the entire front room of the house dedicated to the trip. Katherine and I did four scouting trips in the area checking trail access and camp locations. Each time we went out, the gear was reassessed and checked. And, we saw elk every time we went up there.
No hunt is complete without proper training with the weapon of choice. Since the shot could possibly be a long one, out to 400+ yards, Alan’s rifle was the best choice by far. He lent me the custom 7mm Rem Mag months out and I put it through its paces. I practiced every possible shooting position at varying ranges. Thankfully, Alan even took me to the 400 yard range to see what was possible. Unfortunately, with little to no wind. The actual hunt was unlikely to have perfect conditions.
Late Summer scouting with Sean
Pronghorn success with Andrew (unit 121)
Garner and Andrew in the final minutes of the day.
Scouting and testing gear at Camp Asgard
Katherine glassing from White Rock Peak, Oct. 25th
2 weeks before the hunt, we noticed a few bedded like this.
The gear lay-out has begun.
Michael created a nifty comms station for basecamp.
The notes below are a special addition from Brittany. She quizzed everyone for details and kept on track. It gives a detailed description of each day.
Journal notes from the adventure by Brittany
Wildlife seen: Bluejays, Mountain Lion w/ kill in mouth, Bobcat (G only), Bull & Cow Elk, Buck & Doe Mule Deer
We needed a poo journal!
We named a new camp: Winterfell/Storm Shield
Day 0 -- Saturday, 11/23
Day 0 -- Saturday, 11/23
- Drove up and set up camp
- Erected the 40 ft. antenna
- Ate delicious taco/burritos for dinner
Our caravan in Caliente, NV
Brit enjoying the brisk air in Caliente, NV.
Setting up the mast at the first camp.
Hunt Day 1 -- Sunday, 11/24
- K&G (Katherine and Garner) set off together, M&M (Michael and Melissa) stuck near the ridges over camp, B&E&T (Brittany, Erik, and Tommy) went out towards Miller [Lite] Rd and stopped at three different spots
-K&G found a bull immediately and stalked it, but couldn’t get within range of a good shot; came upon 2 bulls later but were both spikes; probably came across ~12 cows over the day
- B&E&T didn’t see anything, but hiked a lot (up to ridges, across fields, up a rock)
- The evening was cold, windy, and sounded like critters were walking outside of tents; it was the coldest night of the trip where we woke up the next morning with 8℉
- We ate huge bowls of yummy chili and cornbread
- B&E&T didn’t see anything, but hiked a lot (up to ridges, across fields, up a rock)
- The evening was cold, windy, and sounded like critters were walking outside of tents; it was the coldest night of the trip where we woke up the next morning with 8℉
- We ate huge bowls of yummy chili and cornbread
Brit, Tommy, and Erik
Hunt Day 2 -- Monday, 11/25
- K&G&B&E hiked in off of Miller [Lite] Rd (actually the second stop from B&E&T the day before)
- As we left the truck and were about 80 yards away/up the hill, the H3 car alarm started going off for no reason. K&E ran back to check and didn’t find anything out of sorts, so hiked back to B&G
- We hiked in about 2 miles, finding fresh signs of elk in the snow (yellow, gnarly snow and scraped up trees along with tracks); at the lookout point, across on the next hill there were several doe mule deer and cow elk
- We sat for quite a while observing and scanning for bulls; E took a nap, then K spotted 2 bulls on a different ridge/slope; K&G&B&E hiked quickly down and back up the backside of a neighboring steep slope so we could come around and spot from ~300 yards; we found them, but then a squall of wind & snow came in and we didn’t know how long it would last and worried we’d be stuck so left and hiked back to H3 then to camp - what we didn’t know was we could’ve waited 30 minutes for the squall to pass and likely could’ve had the shot
- All the while, M&M&T hiked 4 hours to the top and we spotted T at the very tip-top while we were hiking up the backside prior to calling the hunt - they had sideways snow
- Back at camp, we decided we should break camp to move to a more sheltered location further down along Camp Valley Road. We packed everything within 1.5 hours! Our new camp was named “Camp Storm Shield” and/or “Camp Winterfell” - we hardly noticed the 45mph wind gusts
- We had chicken & rice doused with Frank’s Red Hot Sauce at our new camp that night
- K&G&B&E hiked in off of Miller [Lite] Rd (actually the second stop from B&E&T the day before)
- As we left the truck and were about 80 yards away/up the hill, the H3 car alarm started going off for no reason. K&E ran back to check and didn’t find anything out of sorts, so hiked back to B&G
- We hiked in about 2 miles, finding fresh signs of elk in the snow (yellow, gnarly snow and scraped up trees along with tracks); at the lookout point, across on the next hill there were several doe mule deer and cow elk
- We sat for quite a while observing and scanning for bulls; E took a nap, then K spotted 2 bulls on a different ridge/slope; K&G&B&E hiked quickly down and back up the backside of a neighboring steep slope so we could come around and spot from ~300 yards; we found them, but then a squall of wind & snow came in and we didn’t know how long it would last and worried we’d be stuck so left and hiked back to H3 then to camp - what we didn’t know was we could’ve waited 30 minutes for the squall to pass and likely could’ve had the shot
- All the while, M&M&T hiked 4 hours to the top and we spotted T at the very tip-top while we were hiking up the backside prior to calling the hunt - they had sideways snow
- Back at camp, we decided we should break camp to move to a more sheltered location further down along Camp Valley Road. We packed everything within 1.5 hours! Our new camp was named “Camp Storm Shield” and/or “Camp Winterfell” - we hardly noticed the 45mph wind gusts
- We had chicken & rice doused with Frank’s Red Hot Sauce at our new camp that night
The new camp, hopefully sheltered from the wind and close to the road out.
Hunt Day 3 -- Tuesday, 11/26
- K&G&B&E&M&M went road huntin’! We looped out Miller [Lite] Rd and stopped at B&E&T’s first stop from Hunt Day 1; we hiked up and glassed but saw nothing for quite some time.
- The hunting party then proceeded to Camp 1/Alan’s Bull Elk Camp to retrieve “Keys’” lost glove. From there, we drove up north of White Rock Peak and glassed all the barren terrain… still nothing.
- We pressed on and stopped in at Monumental Springs camp (which is def a keeper) and checked out the burn area (where we found an AC condenser). We walked out towards the ridges to glass. On the way, K tripped because she spotted something: “ANIMAL!” then K&B remembered to be quiet. It was a cow, then two, then five total that we could count right then!
- We spotted two bull elk higher up (4x4 & 5x5), so K&G set out to track to the bull while B&E&M&M set up the spotting scope to direct them in. K&G hiked in and found other bulls (one at least a 6x6!!)!
- B&E&M&M saw the higher up elk through the spotting scope and they were sparring
- Winds were gusting really strongly and temps were dropping quickly. We were at the end of the hunting day and G couldn’t get the shot on the lower, giant elk within shooting light and safe working hours.
- Snow was coming down fierce and throughout the night while sleeping we had to dust and scrape off the snow and ice from our 3-season tents.
- Before bed we had the most amazing pronghorn lasagne.
- The hunting party then proceeded to Camp 1/Alan’s Bull Elk Camp to retrieve “Keys’” lost glove. From there, we drove up north of White Rock Peak and glassed all the barren terrain… still nothing.
- We pressed on and stopped in at Monumental Springs camp (which is def a keeper) and checked out the burn area (where we found an AC condenser). We walked out towards the ridges to glass. On the way, K tripped because she spotted something: “ANIMAL!” then K&B remembered to be quiet. It was a cow, then two, then five total that we could count right then!
- We spotted two bull elk higher up (4x4 & 5x5), so K&G set out to track to the bull while B&E&M&M set up the spotting scope to direct them in. K&G hiked in and found other bulls (one at least a 6x6!!)!
- B&E&M&M saw the higher up elk through the spotting scope and they were sparring
- Winds were gusting really strongly and temps were dropping quickly. We were at the end of the hunting day and G couldn’t get the shot on the lower, giant elk within shooting light and safe working hours.
- Snow was coming down fierce and throughout the night while sleeping we had to dust and scrape off the snow and ice from our 3-season tents.
- Before bed we had the most amazing pronghorn lasagne.
Brit, Kath, Garner
Erik and his new best friend, the spotting scope.
Hunt Day 4 -- Wednesday, 11/27
- The sensational 6 went road hunting again in the new 10+ inches of snow, first returning to Monumental Springs camp.
- B&E&M&M set up shelter and M built a tiny fire practicing with his survival tools (and a Post-It Note offering from E HAHAHAHA!!!!). K&G hiked to seek out the herd from the prior day.
- The spotting folks lost total vis of even the nearest ridges, and high winds and heavy snow kept coming. Ultimately, no elk.
- So the gang proceeded toward Parsnip and Broken Arm camp but decided to go to Camp Asgard instead. K spotted what she thought was an animal, but we rolled forward down the road to confirm. Right before that, though, G got so excited he sprinted and tripped on a rock - knocking his head pretty healthily on the ground.
- At the spot K saw the “animal,” there were several cows and a spike on the ridge. K&G hiked over to try to find a bull, but no luck and couldn’t get a shot of the spike.
- We kept going down the road to Reed’s Cabin Summit and saw a bunch of mule deer right by the road (with two 4 point bucks).
- No elk still, so returned to camp and had lots of snow on all tents. We hung a tarp and built a big fire
- B’s fire log #2 lasted through the night… barely.
- We ate yummy ribeye and potatoes.
- We ate yummy ribeye and potatoes.
Deer on top of Reed's Cabin Summit
Hunt Day 5 - Thanksgiving Thursday, 11/28
- We woke up very snowed into our tents. B shoveled paths from each tent, and B&E started a fire with just a few coals left from B’s log #2.
- The breakfast burritos and quiche were tasty and filling.
- For the third time, we went back to Monumental Springs… nothing.
- Next toward Parsnip… nothing.
- We did see a Mountain Lion with a kill in its mouth and G saw a bobcat.
- We drove off the main trail later to a splinter that would give us a higher vantage for glassing, but saw nothing. Then trying to leave was a mess. We got stuck for quite a while in the snow, with ruts dug in - nearly a ditch with the Power Wagon. G finally backed all the way down while E coached from outside the H3.
- We went toward Asgard, but no one had trailed the path yet, so we decided to call it and go back to camp (and saw a buck mule deer near camp).
- There was more snow to dig out and we had grab bag / choose your dinner bag.
- We did see a Mountain Lion with a kill in its mouth and G saw a bobcat.
- We drove off the main trail later to a splinter that would give us a higher vantage for glassing, but saw nothing. Then trying to leave was a mess. We got stuck for quite a while in the snow, with ruts dug in - nearly a ditch with the Power Wagon. G finally backed all the way down while E coached from outside the H3.
- We went toward Asgard, but no one had trailed the path yet, so we decided to call it and go back to camp (and saw a buck mule deer near camp).
- There was more snow to dig out and we had grab bag / choose your dinner bag.
The last night's fire.
Day 6 - Brittany’s Birthday Friday, 11/29
- We chose to break camp due to below zero temps rolling in later that evening and a high on Saturday only getting to 12 °F with more snow in the forecast.
- Breakfast scrambles got us going - delish!
- K dug out the trailer, everyone pitched in to pack up everything.
- The girls had to help push the trailer onto the hitch - so heavy!
- As we started to leave, B&E thought a hay truck was a snow plow.
- We saw mule deer near Eagle Valley Resort.
- An actual snow plow on the highway almost sprayed us while airing up.
- A Ford Raptor flew past us while airing up with a giant elk rack in the back, how fitting!
- We ate at the Knotty Pine because Side Car was closed (again).
- That evening we unloaded the entire caravan and dumped it into the garage
Good morning from camp!
Katherine and Garner heading out in the Jeep.
Rolling back to Vegas
Day 7 - House clean up and gear organize
- We packed up gear and headed out for “The Moustache Ride for Men’s Health” Normally a bike ride, but our crew just used Lyft and Uber to take us to Tenaya Creek Brewery at 10:30am. The bike ride raises money for a friend’s charity.
- Dinner was provided by K’s mom and dad, Honey Baked Ham, cheesy potatoes, baked beans, green bean casserole and B’s B-Day cake and cupcakes
- We all had amazing moustaches! Well, at least the dudes.
Garner, Katherine, Andrew, Matthew, Christie, Melissa, Brittany, Michael, and Erik
Day 8 - Total gear clean and pack up
- Vacuumed out tents and organized gear
- Much had to be returned to friends lending support for the hunt
Miguel and Luis cleaning the Power Wagon, and laying out tents for cleaning.
Closing Remarks By Garner
As I view it, the elk hunt was a massive success, but with no elk harvested. We were safe, somewhat comfortable, and had a TON of fun! Due to proper preparation, we had the correct gear for the elements and really thought things through. If there was an elk down, I am sure our hunting party would have made good work out of breaking down the animal and properly retrieving the meat. The next time I will likely draw a bull elk in NV will probably be 10+ years away. There is a mandatory 7 year waiting period even before you can apply for a tag. Then you can acquire points. Whew! But the good news is… Katherine has a lot of points, and the other hunting buddies do as well, but not Alan. His elk hunt was a successful harvested and he is currently in his waiting period.
