Success was nearly 100 percent on some excellent bulls. While no "Booners" were taken, they were seen and will probably be taken this year or next. Darwin Cary of Scoop Lake Outfitters reports one client passed on 22 bulls scoring 320 or better on his hunt while chasing a true monster in the 375-class. Scoop Lake hunts both sides of the Kechika River, which divides area 7-51 (open to elk hunting for more than 15 years) from area 7-52 where the elk are thriving in a vast burn and had never been hunted. An old hand in the business, Cary says his area offers one of the best free-range elk opportunities in North America. It's so good in fact that he will penalize a hunter for shooting a bull under 300 points. In other words, a 300-plus point bull should be a "gimme." Carey says there is lots of rutting activity and that the elk are very responsive.
The penalty fee for taking a small bull with Carey is $2,500, the same trophy fee levied for a bull scoring more than 350 B & C. Carey charges $10,900 for this 10-day hunt. That can be combined with Stone sheep, mountain goat, moose, bears and caribou.
A long-time favorite of mine who is also offering this elk hunt is Simpson Stone Sheep, operated by Frank........(continued)
