Anyone hunting this from Mill Creek or Swampy Pass trail heads.
Looks like I will be hunting it alone.

Camping at trail head with two mules.

Arriving Wed, Oct 16th, departing Monday, Oct. 28

Son-in-Law and his brother will be going up the trail from mill creek 1st season. I believe he's talked with you before about how to hunt that unit. I took a pass this year, maybe another time.

Yea, first season gets to be some crowded. It usually takes me 3-4 days to find the elk and then the season is over in 5 days.

I never understood why 1st rifle was only 5 days. They could add a couple of days at the start of the season without interfering with other seasons.

Vince:

I just got back from a backpack trip into that area. Hiked the Mill-Castle loop in Four days, three nights. The upper basins are pretty dry, forage is poor above 12,500'. No large herds hanging out in the high basins. The forage is really lush around timberline and I think that's where they are hanging out right now. Local outfitter told me that it was dry early in the season but has been raining lately.

It rained every evening while I was there. But a lot of the seeps are dry. I think this year will be a lot like last year.

I took this photo from the Mill Creek parking lot.

I have a 3rd season tag otherwise I would jump at this invitation. .

For any of you guys who want to learn something about elk hunting, saddlesore is a great guy to learn from and he's good camp company.

KC

KC. Was there water in Mill Creek?

Looks like my plan of where I told you I would hunt might be good, if they drift down to those low hay fields.

Thanks for the report.

Vince:

Sure there's water in Mill Creek. Even in the driest years there's always water in that creek. But the level is low enough that it's not too difficult to cross.

Good luck.

KC

I'll be in 54 starting next Wednesday. Pm me after ml and I'll give you a report you've been very helpful to me in the past.

I'm going in the third season.

I thought everyone was going to boycott Co for their gun grabbing ways. Boy that lasted a long time. LOL

I didn't send them $750+ for moose, goat an sheep license. What did you do to help the cause?

I didn't hunt there this year and I bypassed them while on vacation this spring on my trip to the gulf of Mexico.

Just got back from a weekend trip. Saw this pretty little 4x5 and a couple others.






Sorry for the poor picture quality from my small point-and-shoot.

KC

Sure doesn't look they are way up high.

Vince

Can you get out the message to especially boycott are 23 / 24, which is the Meeker area. I know a guy who knows a guy who said area 23 / 24 is VERY anti-gun.

The rich guys up the White River may be anti-gun, but they aren't residents. The Meeker Gun Club is one of my favorite ranges and the members that I have met are all first-class gun guys. Now that the petroleum boom is subsiding, hunters and anglers are one of Meeker's important economic drivers.

I have spent a lot of time in Meeker and surroundings for the last twenty years, and not just during elk season. Never met anyone who was particularly anti-gun. Hell, the sheriff is an avid hunter who hunts just about anything and hangs out with Greg Tannel.

I was just poking fun to keep the non-residents out of my favorite hunting area.

I had every intension of doing just that. Then my older brother calles me up and tells me that he's ready to go again and am I up. What can I say I gave into peer pressure.......

Well, it is true that those guys have pretty much shot all of the elk and the mule deer haven't recovered from the awful winter of three years ago...

Thanks for posting these up KC! I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw that guy hopping the fence so close to us - he had no clue we were there. I can hardly wait for 3rd season to come around!!!

For some reason I thought you weren't going this year. Glad you can and best of luck to you.

I was set not to go, but a young fellow asked me to take him so we put in for ML cow tag up in12.Leaving this AM.

I bought the OTC w/Cap for 54 just in case I decided to go. Probably 50/50 that I won't, but I am feeling a little bit better health wise at the present. If it tips back the other way, I will cancel

I have the first several days off that you listed. I can provide a little company.

Vince:

I need to prep my camp for 3rd season. That will require a day hike from the Mill Creek trailhead. If you're going to be camping in the vicinity of the Mill Creek trailhead, I can join you for a few.

KC

I wish I were going. Maybe in a year or two. Good luck to any and all of you.

Saddlesore:

My friends and I will be there 2nd season. We've only hunted this area once, back in 2010, and we got dumped on with snow. Supercrewd has been an amazing help but if you want to chat I'd love to hear from someone who may know this area a bit better than we do. Let me know...

-DJ