Bull Elk Down! The Story of Wyoming's Feedgounds

Late-season elk hunting in Wyoming is a whole different challenge, and Marcus Hockett is up for the adventure. In this episode, we dive into Wyoming’s elk feed grounds-a unique system designed to help elk survive brutal winters. Marcus shares the history behind these feed grounds and weighs in on the pros and cons of this controversial conservation tool.
The hunt takes an exciting turn when Marcus spots a great bull elk. After a successful harvest, the real work begins as the team uses backcountry skiing gear to haul the bull out through deep snow.
This hunt has it all-winter landscapes, fascinating conservation discussions, and a hard-earned pack-out.
#elkhunting #elk #freshtracks
Join Fresh Tracks+ For Early Access - www.freshtrack...
GOHUNT Gear Shop - Promo code RANDY for 10% off in the gear shop. bit.ly/46Jp5EW
GOHUNT INSIDER Use promo code RANDY to get $50 of store credit when you sign up for goHUNT INSIDER. bit.ly/481yo46
Kenetrek Boots- Buy a pair of boots and get a free pair of gaiters when promo code RANDY is used at checkout. kenetrek.com/
Ollin Digiscoping System - Save 10% with promo code RANDY ollin.co/
Outdoor Class - Save 30% on your membership with promo code RANDY30. watch.outdoorc...
Elkhorn Coffee Roaster - Save 15% on orders over $30 with promo code RANDY. elkhorncoffeer...
Alpacka Raft - Save 10% on some pack rafts with promo code RANDY. alpackaraft.com/
MTN Tough - 30 Day Free Trial when using code RANDY. Be sure that monthly subscription plan is selected on the payment page.
lab.mtntough.co...

[@alaricgeimer3451]

Its neat watching you hunt in the area along where i go to get groceries. I see elk among those hills all winter long.

[@jakef1977]

What a crazy hunt. I agree with having hunters help with the problem. With intelligent thinking and the means to make it happen hunters can always help far more than they hurt. Thanks for sharing

[@johnecrouch2671]

That's why as a Wyoming resident I've never put in for this late season "feed ground" tag. And your absolutely right the elk feed grounds are very much a catch-22 situation. I don't have the answers and I'm sure no one else does either. Congratulations on a well deserved and hard earned bull.

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Agreed, the Wyoming feedgrounds system is a tricky one.

[@sapperROSS]

Welp this tag just got way harder to draw lol

[@zaynemikita6897]

Notice Fresh Tracks doesn't comment back on this?

[@zaynemikita6897]

Well Randy and the crew can't keep their freaking mouths shut. They put too many details in the comment sections. I am pretty sure i figured out the unit from draw stats he put down below.

[@blaineparker8733]

Great story about how and why Wyoming feeds elk. In Oregon where I live, they have winter feeding sites in 10 different locations across the state. Thxs again for a great video!

[@stevereagan304]

Great job being patient!

[@travismiller9841]

Marcus, I love all of your stuff dude.

[@ScotWalt858]

Very nicely done!!

[@justinjohnson4325]

Nice work!

[@donseman7524]

Good cold show thanks

[@winterwolf13]

Marcus. I know you were trying to shoot a monster bull and just ended up settling on a last day bull per se but that’s still an amazing bull. Good job man and a great hunt. Kinda sucks that the shot wasn’t on film but that’s not the best part. Glad you got to spend time with your family on this amazing hunt

[@zaynemikita6897]

You think he freaking cares?

[@andymicka9065]

Great bull!! Just so you know multiple counties in Northeast Oregon have elk feed stations that are operated by Fish and Wildlife. We call them the "hay fence" meaning the fence of hay that keeps the elk out of agricultural valleys.

[@blava9081]

Utah feeds elk too at Hardware Ranch WMA

[@stuartrussell981]

“Shooting an elk coming off the haystacks, just feels different”--says the guy who applied for a late season specifically “keeping elk off the haystacks” hunt. 🤷‍♂️

[@winterwolf13]

I’m pretty sure he didn’t realize that’s what it was when he applied

[@zaynemikita6897]

Yea you cant make this crap up.

[@bradpraus1112]

Hey Marcus! Can you tell me how many elk have died due to CWD???

[@user-rw4qd7ev8x]

@@bradpraus1112 CWD regulations kill animals, not cwd

[@Fresh_Tracks]

Nobody knows exactly how many, as they are not all recovered. Google is your friend and you will find many cases where they have died from CWD in many different states. Here's a Wyoming one from last month - oilcity.news/wyoming/outdoors/2024/12/29/cwd-found-in-new-wyoming-hunt-area/

[@brianjohnson8918]

If you're breaking new ground snow shoes are still the way to go.

[@reogroenewald6361]

Yeah.....

[@roger5322]

Like Randy says....."Never shoot an elk on the first day that you ain't going to see on the last day" 🤔

[@Mr880881]

Guess you forgot the snow shoes at home

[@cameroncross5721]

Great hunt sometimes hunts are easier than some I wouldn't worry about it coming from a farmer's field way better than wacking stuff behind wire

[@aarons307]

Its only a small portion of Wyoming that has feed grounds, the far west side. Elk are not fed across the entire State. That should have been stated in the video...I found that discussion a little slanted. Montana's landscapes are certainly different than Wyoming's. Like you said, Wyoming chose long long ago to feed elk to protect agriculture producers in this region of Wyoming. What you could have elaborated on is the work WY G&F has been doing to reduce feeding and distribute elk more on what winter range is available in the feed ground areas. And if we can use hunting as a management tool to reduce elk numbers instead of just letting them starve to death if feeding is phased out, that would be good for both the elk and hunters.

[@jamesmooney5348]

Cool hunt. Yeah, be thankful they let hunters do this.

[@wynott5128]

Exactly like me I’m the only one in my house that eats the end piece of bread. 😆

[@kenwiltsie6920]

How do you draw this permit?

[@user-rw4qd7ev8x]

After this episode don’t waste your time, applicants will be 10x after the ole Newberg crew work their magic

[@guns4funfreedomkeeper999]

Your wife is a remarkable human being.

[@charlesmarra6942]

why are not using snowshoes ??????

[@chriskahn7123]

Backcountry skis have better float and glide than snowshoes and are better at covering distance

[@tolt1776]

​@@chriskahn7123no they don't

[@stratyoungberg1692]

@@tolt1776 yes they do.

[@reapergrim76]

Awesome stuff! 👌 😊

[@tigea9078]

You kept stating you didn't care for that style hunting. Elk meat or ego? I'm there for the meat ill let my ego get in the way somewhere else. 😂

[@johnmorley6663]

Marcus you got a winner, she looks like she enjoys the adventures

[@Waylon7499]

Cool hunt. Looks like a blast

[@jorgemunoz5333]

Sweet hunt!

[@OregonOutdoorAdventures]

every time i hear one of these guys say "oh its day 1 i don't wanna shoot an animal" i know for a fact i could never hunt with that person. i'm out there to get meat in the freezer period.

[@richardarmitage5976]

Yummy, I bet that meat will be dark brown and crispy.

[@factanonverba6169]

If you do not take that which Artemis presents to you, you will go hungry.

[@jeremymynear663]

Thats a smoker bull. Probably your biggest bull ever?? Honest question....had you watched this video of someone else doing it instead of yourself, what feelings would you have had?? Hard hunt, but just seems like better ways to.manage that issue.

[@jakeblack4095]

Looks like a grinder hunt persistence paid! Fun one for sure

[@1shotbarbeque881]

Wow with all the money you make you can't afford a pair of snowshoes.? I'm calling randy 😒

[@dto_outdoors]

Yall are sure attacking the feed grounds a lot lately in your videos.

[@kenwiltsie6920]

You need a snowmobile

[@wapitibob]

Been waiting for t his one.

[@tyson8615]

You tell this whole long story but manage to not get the shot on film once again Another lame video from Marcus.👎

[@freedomjack7435]

Stfu lol. Great video

[@Paul-c7e]

If you can't enjoy in a hunting video that doesn't include a kill shot, I feel sorry for you. The "whole long story" is what makes hunting such an amazing sport. Marcus did a great job telling this one.

[@Fresh_Tracks]

If the kills shot is what you watch for, please, go watch a different channel.

[@winterwolf13]

Chill out. We don’t hunt for the film shot. We hunt for the meat. The films just a bonus

[@ktmkaratechips]

Can’t disagree more. I really enjoyed this one

[@glennschroeder5140]

You look like Biden walking the the snow😂

[@patphipps9702]

You type like he talks

[@jamesmooney5348]

What was, will no longer be.... And, I'm glad

[@tolt1776]

​@patphipps9702 you like idiotic white people who aren't true conservationists.

[@MarkVankeuren]

So funny how these guys alway draw limited tags that are hard to get.🤔

[@Fresh_Tracks]

"Hard to get?" If you consider a hunt where 5 non-residents apply for 2 tags is "hard to get," then we have different definitions of "hard to get." None of the non-residents burned more than 5 points in the cheaper Regular Draw to get this tag. A non-resident drew with 5 and the other drew with 3 points. Most would not put that in the "hard to get" category. If folks would have been paying attention when this hunt was established in 2023, they could have drawn it in the Special Draw as a second choice.

[@zaynemikita6897]

​@Fresh_Tracks with all these details, I was able to deduce probably what tag you put in for. It is ironic that you guys claim to not spot burn but when you detail so much it's hard not to. Thanks but, no thanks. Its ok plenty of other social media people spot burn too. Thanks.