Wildlife Biologist Questions

[live2huntelk]

Interested in hearing what you ask wildlife biologist about a specific area you plan on hunting.

[Indian Summer]

I've never had to call one but I've worked with some and also paid attention to their spring elk counts because all management is based on that.

If I were to ask one a few key questions it would be what is the elk density and the bull to cow ratio just to qualify the area as having potential. But that's public information. So maybe what age the bulls in the area are making it to. I'd be hoping to hear something like "There are places in there where the bulls die of old age"

If he was nice enough and offering information pretty freely I might come right out and ask if he knew a place where he could point me to. Just make sure you are organized and have your questions written down so you don't take too much of their time.

[Swede]

I have found State wildlife biologists are quite helpful. To get good information you need to tell them what you are really looking for. If it is only a big bull you are after, then say so. If any legal elk will do, that is an entirely different matter. You might ask him or her about any specific habitat areas they could recommend. I have asked about their thoughts on specific places. If avoiding other hunters is a priority, then go ahead and ask that, but also plan on going where others are not willing to go.

[elkstalker]

I talk to fish and game biologists, as well as BLM and Forest service biologists. I work for the BLM, so I know there are tons of people in these organizations that hunt, you just need to find the right one. I've talked to FS biologists who could care less about elk and just care about "sensitive" species. In these cases, I sometimes ask the receptionist, "Who is the most avid hunter in the office?" And talk with them. Keep in mind these people hunt also, and aren't going to give out their honey holes. When hunting areas that are grazed by cattle I will also talk to the range conservationist in charge of the area. I ask them how many and what kind of livestock uses the areas, what are the pasture rotations (where are they and when), and sometimes get the number of the ranchers, because they know the country better than anyone else.

When talking to F&G biologists and conservation officers, I usually already have my spots picked out or at least narrowed down to 5 or 10 locations. Share with them the type and intensity of hunting you do (i.e. road hunting, bivy, base camp, etc) and what your expectations/hopes are for the quality of animal. They should be able to validate the spots you've chosen and help guide you in the right direction.

[Swede]

As a former Forest Service employee, I agree 100% with elkstalker. In addition, if you get real lucky and see a range tech out checking their allotments, they can be very helpful. The tech that gets out a lot, and leaves the office first thing in the morning, knows where the elk are. They hear the ranchers complain how the elk are eating too much forage, and they look for evidence of use. They see elk and the evidence of elk.
If you go into the office during the middle of the work day, you are likely to deal with people that stay in as much as possible. For a lot of employees, working in the outdoors is not as romantic as they had hoped when they went to college. That and office duties can sure keep them close to their desk. These people don't have any up to date information, but can still talk a good line.

[WapitiTalk1]

X3 on the BOG (boots on the ground) guys as information sources. I contacted a Ranger Station in Montana 5 or 6 years ago before hunting back there and ultimately connected with a field guy (survey crew I believe) who spent a ton of time in the woods (he was also a hunter). I was to hunt an area I had not hunted in 15ish years and figured the makeup of the elk herd had changed so wanted to talk to a BOG guy. He was extremely helpfull and I even had the chance to meet up with him during my two week hunt.