Proof that there are Elk in A zone (NorCal) + closing day bonus!

[Konocti's Wigwam]

Things are gonna get quiet now since A zone is officially closed and that's the area my property is in. I have a pig tag so all is not over just yet.

One of my friends that frequents a friend's cabin not far from my property has been entering points for Elk in CA for about 50 years, never to get drawn...his buddy that owns the cabin was pretty fortunate to get drawn after about 20-25 years.

This is not just proof that Elk do exist in A zone, but that it is possible to draw a tag on points, despite what the populace thinks.

The tag was for a cow or bull, either sex. They found a cow on Saturday, the day before the closing in A zone. Also, he's using a muzzle loader, that's pretty cool in itself. I'll have to ask him, that looks like a flint lock.




As a bonus, he tagged out on Sunday, closing day in A zone, got him a little forky buck. Unfortunately, I just found out that he doesn't save the tongue...but he's going to save them for me in the future. Same with my contractor and his girlfriend, they don't eat the tongue either. Turns out that most people don't eat the tongue, but my family loves tongue... My friend ground a most of the elk hams into ground meat.

NOTE: I was watching a Steven Rinella video, and he said even though the ham is really lean, he cooks it in the oven and he suggested as rare as you can stand it, and you will be surprised that it VERY tender. He suggested this over the pressure cooker as he claims the pressure cooker dries out the meat. I must try this method. I have one more deer ham in the freezer.

 

[nockhunter]

Not a flint lock, looks like a side hammer muzzle loader.

Mike

 

[Konocti's Wigwam]

Not a flint lock, looks like a side hammer muzzle loader.

Mike

I wasn't sure, reminds me of the type of vintage rifle a blacksmith mentor was making. How do those handle the primer? Do you pour black powder down the barrel and tamp it down?

BTW, this is the video where Steven Rinella speaks of doing the ham med.rare or rare.

DISCLAIMER: if you don't like Steven Rinella, don't watch this. Otherwise, this is a very helpful video for preparing game meat. See 17:00 where he discusses cooking rare.

 

[DiRTY DOG]

I see elk in A zone public land almost every time I go out. Just can't shoot 'em. Last year they were bugling like crazy during deer season. I have a few real bruisers on film somewhere...

 

[Konocti's Wigwam]

I see elk in A zone public land almost every time I go out. Just can't shoot 'em.

I've never seen one SLO or south of there, but it makes sense. You must be not too far from my property in Lake County, if you're in A zone. Are you in North A zone area? I'm going out in that area soon, but looking for pig. The tags are not only expensive but hard to draw. That last pic is a beauty! Nice rack! Too bad you didn't have a tag.

Have you seen any bears this year? I want to get a tag for a bear, seems a better deal tag wise. My friend got his near the top of the Mayacamas over above Middletown. Lake County looks like an awesome place to be, just need to get rid of Captain Hairdo and turn get the state straightened out...seems promising to me.

The one good thing about California is that there's a LOT of BLM land. It's a kind of double edge sword.

 

[DiRTY DOG]

I've never seen one SLO or south of there, but it makes sense. You must be not too far from my property in Lake County, if you're in A zone. Are you in North A zone area? I'm going out in that area soon, but looking for pig. The tags are not only expensive but hard to draw. That last pic is a beauty! Nice rack! Too bad you didn't have a tag.

Have you seen any bears this year? I want to get a tag for a bear, seems a better deal tag wise. My friend got his near the top of the Mayacamas over above Middletown. Lake County looks like an awesome place to be, just need to get rid of Captain Hairdo and turn get the state straightened out...seems promising to me.

The one good thing about California is that there's a LOT of BLM land. It's a kind of double edge sword.

I'm likely very close to your property. I don't normally see bear or pigs, but I do run into them occassionally. None this year so far. Lake county is way too hot in the summer...

 

[Fast14riot]

I have pictures somewhere (on film) of the herd on Grizzly Island here in the delta. Talk about feeling out of place! Had a black bear roaming around Roberts and Union Island a couple years ago. Plenty of lion sightings just a few miles north of me (10-15 miles). Used to hunt pigs 20 minutes from home on Roberts island, too.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Not a flint lock, looks like a side hammer muzzle loader.

Mike

Percussion lock. (capper) Whatever it takes to get the job done.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Got LOTS of Elk around my area, just can't shoot them. Elk droppings in the front yard where they are eating the leaves off the trees and fallen apples.
Got one heard that can be seen every day. Sometimes less that 50' from the road. If you slow down to look, they will move away.
Elk whistles/trumpets all around the area.
The heard probably numbers close to 100.
In a big hay field. Grass tall enough to hide the babies. Look close and you can see antlers off by themselves.

 

[alintx]

He just ground up some of the finest steaks on the planet. As for pigs,,,, tags? Sounds communist to me. That's considered a domestic animal in Texas. No limit, no closed season. We even shoot em out of helicopters. They are horrible for the environment, and not native species!

 

[jxb]

That was my thought, I wouldn't grind anything elk or venison that won't make roasts or steaks. Just cut the steaks cross cut and don't over cook em. Yummyness

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

1 inch thick, Elk Round Steak, cut into Cubes then,. Browned / Floured and made into, Elk Soup or, a Stew !!
I give my son,.. All, the Hamburger !
I'm hoping to help my grandson, get his First Elk this Year, in central Idaho ( he's 14 y /o ) shooting my "retired", NOW Braked, .270 WSM,. He shoot's it, Well, obtaining a 4 shot group of, sub 6 inches Prone at, 487 yards,. in the 5-7 mph, Wind,. He's,. Ready !
I've Hunted, Modoc / Lassen Back in, the 1970's- 1980's. There ARE, some Nice Deer, there !

 

[Konocti's Wigwam]

I'm likely very close to your property. I don't normally see bear or pigs, but I do run into them occassionally. None this year so far. Lake county is way too hot in the summer...

I will second that, it's always about 10 degrees hotter than where I currently live in the South Bay.

I have seen pigs at a guy's place in Clearlake Oaks last year, they were rooting in the leaves.

The other place I have heard there are pigs is Cow Mountain, the north is BLM land. There's also a BLM area over off 20 in the Cache Creek area...damn, looking on the map just now I see this place near Cache Creek called Phipps Creek Elk Viewing Area...that's encouraging. No Elk in San Jose, so good to see them there. I was thinking to go out over by Eel River Campground.

Got LOTS of Elk around my area, just can't shoot them. Elk droppings in the front yard where they are eating the leaves off the trees and fallen apples.
Got one heard that can be seen every day. Sometimes less that 50' from the road. If you slow down to look, they will move away.
Elk whistles/trumpets all around the area.
The heard probably numbers close to 100.
In a big hay field. Grass tall enough to hide the babies. Look close and you can see antlers off by themselves.

You guys are giving me quite a bit of hope, I didn't realize there was even Elk around my property in Lake County,

I have pictures somewhere (on film) of the herd on Grizzly Island here in the delta. Talk about feeling out of place! Had a black bear roaming around Roberts and Union Island a couple years ago. Plenty of lion sightings just a few miles north of me (10-15 miles). Used to hunt pigs 20 minutes from home on Roberts island, too.

Wow, that's almost at my home in San Jose. Of course Grizzly Island is archery only, as I recall. The CDFW does hold events there for the members, but no bow here. I've never seen an Elk around my property, but there's plenty of deer in Buckingham Park, where my property is. I have several bucks at my property providing stud service! LOL

 

[Konocti's Wigwam]

He just ground up some of the finest steaks on the planet. As for pigs,,,, tags? Sounds communist to me. That's considered a domestic animal in Texas. No limit, no closed season. We even shoot em out of helicopters. They are horrible for the environment, and not native species!

I agree, but not sure exactly what he ground up. I would make roasts out of it. I need to try it medium rare and see how that is. Rinella raves about it. I've been under the impression it needs to break down in the pressure cooker, or stewed for several hours to soften up, but Rinella says no.

 

[Fast14riot]

I used to put in for the Grizzly Island special pig hunts every year they had them, but only 15-20 tags total are awarded. Archery and shotgun only. Lost my access to the corn field on Roberts Island for pig and upland bird hunting.

This is a good article on the Tule Elk in CA and the conservation efforts and distribution.

Tule Elk

The Department of Fish and Wildlife manages California's diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public.

wildlife.ca.gov

 

[Bc'z]

I used to put in for the Grizzly Island special pig hunts every year they had them, but only 15-20 tags total are awarded. Archery and shotgun only. Lost my access to the corn field on Roberts Island for pig and upland bird hunting.

This is a good article on the Tule Elk in CA and the conservation efforts and distribution.

Tule Elk

The Department of Fish and Wildlife manages California's diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment by the public.

wildlife.ca.gov

That far inland are they Tule or Roosevelt?
I thought the Tule were on the coast?

Let me know if you wanna come up next year for elk, I've spent last 2 weekends in a elk rick environment...
11 bulls spotted all easy rifle shots, not so much with a bow.

Edit to say, it's easier and cheaper for you to hunt with me than wait your whole life to draw a tag, but we’ve talked about this

 

[Fast14riot]

That far inland are they Tule or Roosevelt?
I thought the Tule were on the coast?

Let me know if you wanna come up next year for elk, I've spent last 2 weekends in a elk rick environment...
11 bulls spotted all easy rifle shots, not so much with a bow.

Tule are the valley elk. Smallest of the elk species. They usually don't go past the coastal range in the northern part of the state, but will in SoCal. Historic range was estimated all the way east to the Sierra foothills.

Elk next year would be awesome. Gotta start planning it out now. We'll talk.

 

[nmkid]

Tule are the valley elk. Smallest of the elk species. They usually don't go past the coastal range in the northern part of the state, but will in SoCal. Historic range was estimated all the way east to the Sierra foothills.

Elk next year would be awesome. Gotta start planning it out now. We'll talk.

Lots of Tule elk between Lone Pine and Bishop.

 

[Fast14riot]

Lots of Tule elk between Lone Pine and Bishop.

I haven't been above Shaver Lake/Sierra Camp towards 395 in that area, but I can believe it. Over at Ft. Hunter Liggett there is a herd too, so I know they're in the southern central valley. I've done a couple photo hunts for tule elk 20ish years ago, but haven't kept up with the central valley herds since then.

 

[Fast14riot]

I'll say that just from the picture OP posted, that is a Tule Elk. Roosevelt elk don't have the super dark cape down the back of the neck and Tule are also smaller. 700lbs is a good sized cow and bulls topping out around 850lbs. Tule are also much lighter colored in the body.