Elk Hunting near Bancroft

Hello,

I'm new to this forum and have been enjoying reading lots of interesting stuff.

This year I drew an elk tag in WMU 61, harvest zone 5. Seams to be the elk hot spot...

I am wondering if anyone on this forum knows anything about hunting elk in that area? I read an other post saying that elk will congregate in farmer fields in late September. so my best bet is farmer fields on private property? no use trying to locate elk in the woods on public lands?

Does anyone knows a farmer that would allow me elk hunting? I'm planning to drive down to Bancroft and knock on some doors this Sunday.

When Elk hunting, should I hunt like deer, sit and wait? Or should I be more active and walk around calling for them?

any other advice would be helpful, I'm going to give this my 100 percent.

Thanks in advance!

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Originally Posted by AndyMack

Hello,

I'm new to this forum and have been enjoying reading lots of interesting stuff.

This year I drew an elk tag in WMU 61, harvest zone 5. Seams to be the elk hot spot...

I am wondering if anyone on this forum knows anything about hunting elk in that area? I read an other post saying that elk will congregate in farmer fields in late September. so my best bet is farmer fields on private property? no use trying to locate elk in the woods on public lands?

Does anyone knows a farmer that would allow me elk hunting? I'm planning to drive down to Bancroft and knock on some doors this Sunday.

When Elk hunting, should I hunt like deer, sit and wait? Or should I be more active and walk around calling for them?

any other advice would be helpful, I'm going to give this my 100 percent.

Thanks in advance!

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Many have spent years hiking/following/studying and calling the elk long before they were legal to hunt. Not likely to get much advice on where to hunt them other than to do as you yourself mentioned, talk to farmers and hunt their fields. Meaning set up in the wooded edges and call.

Most farmers I know are asking 500 per person and half of any harvest for permission to hunt their property.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AndyMack

Hello,

I'm new to this forum and have been enjoying reading lots of interesting stuff.

This year I drew an elk tag in WMU 61, harvest zone 5. Seams to be the elk hot spot...

I am wondering if anyone on this forum knows anything about hunting elk in that area? I read an other post saying that elk will congregate in farmer fields in late September. so my best bet is farmer fields on private property? no use trying to locate elk in the woods on public lands?

Does anyone knows a farmer that would allow me elk hunting? I'm planning to drive down to Bancroft and knock on some doors this Sunday.

When Elk hunting, should I hunt like deer, sit and wait? Or should I be more active and walk around calling for them?

any other advice would be helpful, I'm going to give this my 100 percent.

Thanks in advance!

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A friend of mine lent me a cabin of his a few years ago, when I worked in the park and pretty close to his property was an original elk release site... Not sure what management unit, from quick googling looks like we were in 57, but it could have been 61, hard to tell on the map... Anyhow, this was north of Bancroft, between Maynooth and Maple Leaf, closer to Maynooth, just outside of town. Mostly forest land, with lots of crown and a few farms. Apparently there were elk in our back yard at times, but I never saw any... Not a huge tip, but there are some in that area. Might want to ask at the gas station in Maynooth, some of those locals have no issues with some pointers...

Thanks for the advice.

when you say many have spent years studying elk before they were legal to hunt, but not likely to get much advice on where to hunt them... do you mean that people that know lots about elk would not share knowledge?

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Originally Posted by AndyMack

Thanks for the advice.

when you say many have spent years studying elk before they were legal to hunt, but not likely to get much advice on where to hunt them... do you mean that people that know lots about elk would not share knowledge?

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People that have spent time and money scouting, calling and photo shooting elk in the anticipation of an eventual elk season won't likely do it free if at all(some are competing in the draw also). None I know will, outside of a general how to. Plus many paid over and over and over as landowners with NO COMPENSATION or sympathy from Ontario from elk damage and seek reimbursement any way they can to offset the years of damage(the reason for the land usage fees)

On top of that, not one resident/landowner of the area was picked in the draw the first year it was opened and that "toasted" a few people that are in the know about elk and suffered financial losses.

Interesting. Wasnt aware of those issues but now i am. I guess there are always such dynamics at play when dealing with game management. Hopefully some farmer allows me to help him out with his or her elk problem. PS: general know how was what i was looking for.

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Originally Posted by AndyMack

Interesting. Wasnt aware of those issues but now i am. I guess there are always such dynamics at play when dealing with game management. Hopefully some farmer allows me to help him out with his or her elk problem. PS: general know how was what i was looking for.

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The elk destroyed fencing and crops with no restitution from the MNR, only more patrols and threats.

I don't hunt 61 so I don't know the landowners there. Try contacting a few and gauge their response. They will also have the latest most updated info. on efficient harvesting times etc. Plus some will look forward to the fee and the meat.

Another plus is that it has been a few years of open season so many may have loosened up. On the other hand many aren't receptive to outsiders.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AndyMack

Hello,

I'm new to this forum and have been enjoying reading lots of interesting stuff.

This year I drew an elk tag in WMU 61, harvest zone 5. Seams to be the elk hot spot...

I am wondering if anyone on this forum knows anything about hunting elk in that area? I read an other post saying that elk will congregate in farmer fields in late September. so my best bet is farmer fields on private property? no use trying to locate elk in the woods on public lands?

Does anyone knows a farmer that would allow me elk hunting? I'm planning to drive down to Bancroft and knock on some doors this Sunday.

When Elk hunting, should I hunt like deer, sit and wait? Or should I be more active and walk around calling for them?

any other advice would be helpful, I'm going to give this my 100 percent.

Thanks in advance!

---

Hi Andy,

Talked with a local just last week about Elk in that area.Apparently Upper Turniff Road off Highway 62 in WMU 61 looks like a place a guy might want to take a look.Had a peek on the Ontario Crown Atlas and see a pile of crown land just east of Upper Turniff Road and Old Detlor Trail. The corner shows as G340 on the Crown Map.I can also see a road called Spruce Lake Trail on the Crown Land.I would take a peek at that area if I was you.

I tough I would share the conclusion of my hunt with you guys. I ended up getting permission on a private property and got a cow. Most elk are on farmers lands because that is where the food is, in harvest area 5 anyways. Elk act much like deer in that sense. the locals do not like to give permissions out because it is so hard to get tags for themselves. Maybe the Ministry should keep a certain number of tags just for the locals, which makes sense to me. anyways, it was a cool experience and it starts the season really well.




Attachment 33402

Congratulations
Not to many guys can say thy have a Ontario elk.

Congratulations! Glad to see a success story on the elk hunt posted here!

Good job-can you share with us how was the hunt....did you call?stalked,sit and wait.........Thanks

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Originally Posted by AndyMack

I tough I would share the conclusion of my hunt with you guys. I ended up getting permission on a private property and got a cow. Most elk are on farmers lands because that is where the food is, in harvest area 5 anyways. Elk act much like deer in that sense. the locals do not like to give permissions out because it is so hard to get tags for themselves. Maybe the Ministry should keep a certain number of tags just for the locals, which makes sense to me. anyways, it was a cool experience and it starts the season really well.




Attachment 33402

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Well done.....

I walked the whole property a week before the hunt and identified two areas that were heavily used. It was pretty obvious, tracks and scats. The first day I sat and waited until the afternoon when I heared bugling. Althoug I had a cow tag a decided to call (I had ordered a call online) for a bit of excitement. I also thought cows would not be far from the bull. I stayed put and called for at least an hour but the bull didn't want to come in so I decided to walk towards him. Im obviously not experience in elk hunting cuz I never saw him... The next day, eventhough I thought I had blown it, I sat at the same place and heared the bull bugle again. I stayed put and a few hours later I saw a few cows come in. I waited until they got real close and made my shot on the biggest one.

Now that I experienced calling I want to moose hunt!!

That's awesome Andy,congratulations and thanks for sharing the story with us. Did you just enter the draw on a whim?

Thank You for the reply-great ,lifelong memories of a unique andventure

Did it end up costing you half An animal for permission. How did that go for you in finding a spot? Congrats on a great trophy

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Originally Posted by Rugger

That's awesome Andy,congratulations and thanks for sharing the story with us. Did you just enter the draw on a whim?

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Yes I did, when I got a tag I panicked and put everything on hold to get an elk, pressure was on! becasue when you get a tag, you cannot re-apply for 5 years.

Congrats on the elk!!

Well done!!!!

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Originally Posted by exgunner

Did it end up costing you half An animal for permission. How did that go for you in finding a spot? Congrats on a great trophy

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no, sharing the meet was not part of the deal. I paid $300 to hunt the property, thats it.

Big time congrats, that is quite the accomplishment to harvest an Elk in Ontario!

Congrats Andy!

A hunt you'll never forget!

Ryan

That sounds like it worked out well for you congrats again

so are these things ever going to grow in numbers to a point that they'll be worth hunting?

Great work getting an ontario elk. Pretty exclusive club that i would love to join some day.

I know it vas long ago but did you get successful ...?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AndyMack

Hello,

I'm new to this forum and have been enjoying reading lots of interesting stuff.

This year I drew an elk tag in WMU 61, harvest zone 5. Seams to be the elk hot spot...

I am wondering if anyone on this forum knows anything about hunting elk in that area? I read an other post saying that elk will congregate in farmer fields in late September. so my best bet is farmer fields on private property? no use trying to locate elk in the woods on public lands?

Does anyone knows a farmer that would allow me elk hunting? I'm planning to drive down to Bancroft and knock on some doors this Sunday.

When Elk hunting, should I hunt like deer, sit and wait? Or should I be more active and walk around calling for them?

any other advice would be helpful, I'm going to give this my 100 percent.

Thanks in advance!

---

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alfoldivandor

I know it vas long ago but did you get successful ...?

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If you skim through the thread he harvested a nice cow [emoji106]

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