Parrey Cremeans on the California Elk Trifecta
John E. Phillips 06.08.13
Parrey Cremeans guides for elk, mule deer, blacktail deer, and other species in California, Mexico, and other areas with Just For Hunting, a full-service outfitter (visit www.justforhunting.com, or call 650-888-0808). If you plan to hunt in the far West, make your reservations now to hunt with this Mossy Oak Pro. If you can’t get in for this year’s hunting season, go ahead, and book for next year.
Most people don’t think of California as a hunting destination or a mecca for elk. But out here we have Tule elk to the south, Roosevelt elk to the south, and Rocky Mountain elk in Redding, California, where we’re based. One of the problems of hunting elk in California is that you can’t buy tags over the counter. You have to put in for a tag and be drawn for any of the three species of elk. There also are landowner tags available for all three species, but those tags are expensive.
The easiest tag to get probably is for Roosevelt elk, since it has the most hunter tags available. The most difficult species is the Tule elk, because California is the only state where you can harvest them. More and more people are putting in for those tags. In California, you only can choose one elk, not only one species but one particular unit in an elk species’ range.
Tule elk are somewhat smaller than Roosevelt or Rocky Mountain elk, and their antler development is slightly different. These elk have crowning on the top of their antlers and shorter tines. The state record only is about 353 to 355. We take Rocky Mountain elk that score 400 inches here in California. Last year, a bowhunter took the world record Roosevelt elk, and it measured 406. We’re about 90 to 95 percent successful for elk, depending on the size you want to take. With our private land elk tags, we require our hunters to refrain from shooting elk less than 350 inches, but we only get one tag per year for a private-land hunt.
For Rocky Mountain elk on public lands, you should have a good chance of taking a bull scoring 280 to 350. If you really want to work hard and spend the time, you may be able to take an elk bigger than 350. If you lack taking one of the three species of elk, you may have a chance to take that particular elk in California. We guide for all three species, but I suggest you plan to put-in for the drawing early. Too, remember you only can put in for one type of elk and one unit each year.
In our next article, Cremeans tangles with feral hogs in California.
John, the 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the year and the 2007 Legendary Communicator chosen for induction into the National Fresh Water Hall of Fame, is a freelance writer (over 6,000 magazine articles for about 100 magazines and several thousand newspaper columns published), magazine editor, photographer for print media as well as industry catalogues (over 25,000 photos published), lecturer, outdoor consultant, marketing consultant, book author and daily internet content provider with an overview of the outdoors.
Phillips has been a contributor to many national magazines, has been affiliated with 27 radio stations across Alabama serving as their outdoor editor and wrote for a weekly syndicated column, "Alabama Outdoors," for 38-Alabama newspapers for more than 13 years. Phillips was Outdoor Editor for the "Birmingham Post-Herald" for 24 years. Phillips was also the executive editor for "Great Days Outdoors" magazine for 3 years.
The author of almost 30 books on the outdoors, Phillips is a founding member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) and an active member of the Southeastern Outdoors Press Association (SEOPA). Phillips also is the owner of Night Hawk Publications, a marketing and publishing firm, and president of Creative Concepts, an outdoor consulting group.
Phillips conducts seminars across the nation at colleges in freelance writing, photography and outdoor education besides teaching courses in how to sell what you write to writers' groups. Phillips received his photography training as a still-lab photo specialist for six years in the Air Force. He was the chief photographer for Mannequins, Inc., a Birmingham modeling agency, for 11 years.
While serving as 2nd Vice President of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, Phillips was in charge of all press releases for the organization as well as serving as Chairman of Alabama's Big Buck Contest, which he founded more than 30 years ago. He also was president of the Alabama Sportsman's Association for three years.
Phillips is the recipient of a Certificate of Merit from the Governor of Alabama and the Department of Conservation for his work in the outdoor field. Phillips is vitally interested in the outdoors and travels the nation collecting personalities, stories and how-to information for his articles and features.
EDUCATION: B.S. degree from the University of West Alabama with a physical education major and a history minor.
EXPERIENCE: 10 years parttime and fulltime physical director for YMCAs and 34 years as a freelance writer, photographer, editor, book author, lecturer and daily-content provider for websites. Currently, Phillips is a field editor for Game and Fish Publications; serves on the editorial board of Grandview Media; is a regular contributor to 12 internet magazines and a daily content provider for 8 websites.
WRITING AWARDS: Runnerup - Best Outdoor Magazine Feature - 1981 - SEOPA; Certificate of Merit - Awarded by Alabama's Governor for writings on conservation; Most Outstanding Sports Writer in Southeast - 1983 & 1984; Best Outdoor Feature in Alabama, 1987 - Alabama Sportswriters' Association 3rd Place; Best Book of the Year - 1989 - SEOPA; 2007 - inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame as a Legendary Communicator; 2008 - received award naming him 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the Year from the Crossbow Manufacturers' Association; 2009 - GAMMA Honorable Mention for Consumer/Paid Best Essay for July/August 2008 in "Southern Sporting Journal."
