Washington elk unit?

northwesthunter · May 19, 2005

Does anyone know what unit that 400 plus bull that was killed with a bow last year I believe. Is there a special elk permit unit offered only to bowhunters in Washington? Tks Nwhunter

Craig · May 19, 2005

I'm not sure about that bull but it seams like the real big bulls come out of the Blue mountains. Good luck trying to draw a permit.

polarbear · May 19, 2005

I am not sure about the one from last lear, but the 400+ that was taken 2 years ago was from Kittitas County.

Eric

ridgerunner · May 20, 2005

Any of the three main elk areas has kicked out a 400+ bull in the last decade with more on the way I would suspect, pick a good unit and hope you get drawn.

338WIN · May 21, 2005

Teanaway if I remember correctly, but there were pictures here of a huge elk taken on the coast, too.
You just have to put in for the bull tags and pray you get drawn. If you've ever looked at Littlefoots pictures you'll see that there are a lot of big bull elks growing up in E.WA. Visit any of the feeding stations in the winter and the number and size of bulls that just keep coming over the hills will amaze you.
Don't know if WDFW has decided to continue with the current plan and let bulls really mature or if they will issue more permits.
There should be some huge bulls in most of the areas already mentioned.
Good luck!

WAmuleyHunter · May 22, 2005

peaches ridge.

slider · May 22, 2005

250 applicants for 300 Tags!!! 3000 applicants for 10 Tags!!! I wonder which unit has BIG BULLS??? Look to the East slopes of the Cascades!!! Good Luck

kirkl · May 23, 2005

338win was right, teeanaway,

peaches ridge had a big one come out last year? didnt hear anything about that.

ramslam · May 23, 2005

The auction hunter took a 400 SCI bull from the Blue Mountains.

northwesthunter · May 25, 2005

Thanks guys I was guessing teanaway too. I am a west sider trying to decide if I should gamble on an eastside special archery permit and risk not getting drawn and have a eastern general tag. I can stay home and be in elk here with a general tag but in the brush. I think I have 6 points any ideas? nwhunter

Muleyslyr · May 26, 2005

I'm assuming you want an archery tag....if so, with 6pts, I think your odds are REALLY good on any unit over there. Get the new regs that are out, and look at some of the odds for drawing for archery. If you do decide over east, make sure the unit is the one you want, cause' you'll probably get drawn.

MADMAX · May 26, 2005

I recommend the peaches tag for east side and the Margaret or Toutle west side
2cents worth

northwesthunter · May 26, 2005

Has anyone hunted the good draw units on both east and west sides and from experience have a preference. I am a bow hunter and am a west sider always hunt the olypen and we do have lots of elk and some good ones but lots of brush too. Also not a full blown rut duriong bow season either here. I would like to try the east side if I thought it would be a neater hunting experience. More open country, bugling bulls etc. My brother drew thetoutle last year and got a descent bull and I coudl go for that or the margaret but really am interested in trying the other side. Would be willing to share some west side elk info if someone wanted to talk more. Thanks nwhunter

Oregonbowhunter · May 28, 2005

How are washingtons eastern archery general units for elk? I know it's a broad question but It looks near impossible to draw some of those LE tags.

boneaddict · May 28, 2005

The Peaches bull was a monster. That was two years ago. Last years biggest bull came out of the Teanaway. There was also a 390 bull taken off the Firing center in an any elk hunt with a muzzelloader. Basically anything east has a shot, just get drawn. The Blues have been taking some hits the last few years with predation, and the herd hasn't been doing good. I know nothing of the west side, but know there are some dandies over there. As mentioned before, just look at the draw statistics.

Muleyslyr · May 30, 2005

Like some of have said....look at the draw stats, but also, and maybe more importantly, go one step further and check the success rates of those areas. They have every unit, east and west, posted on the WA F&G website. Do some homework....would hate to see all those points go to waste.

sjhgraysage · May 31, 2005

One thing to remember is that if you list more than one hunt choice you could draw any one of the choices and then you have a tag that may or may not be what you wanted and the points are gone. A couple years ago I drew the LE rifle tag for the Rimrock unit with one point and it was my third choice. There are elk there but for a lot of reasons I failed to get a bull, even with opening day help from a local guy. The archery season is better now than it was 3 - 4 years ago but still ends just prior to full rut activity. I believe that the people who get the muzzleloader season tags have the best tag for hunting bulls. I live in Spokane and the Blues are known for good bulls but tags are few and poachers are stealing a lot of chances from the rest of us.
Good luck in the drawings.
Scott