WA State "Selkirk" or "49 Degrees North" Unit

[AutumnPulse]

Have any of you WA State hunters ever hunted elk in the Selkirk Unit or in the 49 Degrees North unit? I am thinking about hunting there next year and am looking for any input you might have. I am not asking for the magic drainage or your special spot, but just general experience or something like that.

The state numbers say it has the lowest harvest rate but also some of the lowest hunter pressure. It sounds like my kind of hunt. I am a backpack hunter that doesn't use atv's or horses, (can't afford either) but likes to dissapear for a couple of days and get back in as far as common sense allows.

Any experience or input into either of these units would be greatly appreciated. I am planning on putting in for a low-odds draw area first, but am really expecting to be hunting one of these two that I mentioned.

Thanks,

AutumnPulse

 

[ridgerunner]

Do lots of research, they are elk over there but spread out and can be tough to find. If you want to backpack I'd look at Selkirk first. F&H news did a map on those areas within the last 3-4 years, I'd try to get ahold of that. Also call WDFW bio and see what they recommend. Good luck.

 

[boneaddict]

LAST EDITED ON Nov-08-05 AT 05:32PM (MST)[p]Here is the caliber of bulls you will be hunting. They are few and far between in real rough stuff. I'll get you a picture of this years as soon as I get it on film.

 

[boneaddict]

 

[AutumnPulse]

Ridgerunner and Boneaddict,

Thanks for the input. Yea, I know I will have to do my homework, but that's what the off season is for. Boneaddict, looks like that first bull had been through a few fights. Did they both come from the same unit? If so, which one? Did you take them on public or private?

You say bulls like that are few and far between, is that because the genetics in the area, or they just don't get a chance to grow old? I did talk to a biolist in the area and he pretty much said the same thing as ridgerunner, that the elk are really spread out in small groups. I guess I would rather have that than to be hunting one major herd that could be anywhere in the unit. Also, when hunting a large herd, your typically not the only person that knows it's whereabouts. I moved to WA from Montana and while there, always preferred to get away from the people. I typically found that some of the best hunting were in those areas that were not really known for being "awesome" elk areas. Any other info offered would be much welcome. I would also love to hear the story on that European Style Mounted Bull you got there. Thanks again.

Autumn Pulse

"Be a straight-shooter in all that you do."

 

[boneaddict]

They are from different units over in the NE corner(public). Few and far between meaning that the elk are scattered in herds. The best way to harvest one is to know a logger. They watch them all summer and early fall. There are some serious giants over there though. More pressure than advertised, yet very little harvest. Moose is going on at the same time, so you can also talk with those guys. They get out quite a bit. They have three main populations over there, or what they call herds. There are more elk scattered out from those areas, which I tend to ignore for the mere fact that the game department tells everyone inquiring about those three main core areas, which obviously attracts all the attention. If you know elk very well, you can do yourself well by studying maps or looking at the area.