2009 North Dakota Cow Elk Season

I drew my once-in-a-lifetime elk tag in North Dakota this spring. I chose to apply for a cow elk tag in Unit E4. E4 is the smallest unit and is found just to the north and west of Interstate 94 and the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP). My family and I are moving to Alaska this fall (2010) so I wouldn't have another chance at a resident tag in the next couple of decades at a minimum. A cow tag seemed the most probable since most hunters apply for an any elk tag which allows them to take a bull or cow.

I wasn't able to scout due to time and money limitations as a graduate student working on the prairies of NW Minnesota. I spent alot of time with maps and on the phone with folks like Mike Oehler, wildlife biologist at TRNP, and Marty Egeland, local ND Game and Fish employee. They both were enthusiastic about my opportunity and gave me as much information as they could. The most common recommendations I heard were 1) elk distance themselves from cattle (or heavy grazing due to the obvious reduction in forage), 2) they prefer ash draws for cover, and 3) get away from the roads.

I'll throw in a spoiler because I can't finish this topic tonight but I was successful in shooting a ND cow elk. However, I was unsuccessful in killing and retrieving it. I did help a fellow hunter harvest and pack out his animal. I will include that story and more, including my daily exploits, in a future post.

PG13