WA ELK? where to start

[nwfisher]

Hey guys, just looking for some general info as looking in the WDFG book is a bit overwellming, I am looking for a few good ideas as where to start my elk hunting in 07. never hunted elk but really want to get into it. I am a younger guy just 21 and want to become a productive WA elk hunter.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be great,
Thanks

 

[Alchase]

That depends on what you are looking for. If you want something with more then a spike, go West side. There are lots of locations that hold elk, but you will have to get wet and do some serious brush busting. Hunting the West side is tough country, with thick under brush, and most clearcuts are full of slag that makes it really tough to walk through.
The East side is spike only, but the terrain is more forgiving then the west. Muzzle loaders do really well on either side. Archery hunting I would go Eastside just to stay dry, LOL.
Either way you go you can do well if you adapt to the terrain. I find that time in the field is in direct relation to productivity here. Hard to be successful if only hunting a Saturday.
Or you can be like the rest of us and try to figure out where Boneaddict's honey hole is, the man knows how to find elk.


There are only two types of people - The Hunters and the hunted,
I hunt.
Alchase

 

[Bob D.]

I just replied to your other post, but I'll say it again here. Check out the area around Mt Adams or Mt St Helens. You can get into some good elk hunting there, if you're willing to do a lot of hiking. But like I said in the other thread, not many outfitters in that country, if any.

 

[hunterofelk]

What kind of elk do you want? I'd suggest you start off applying for a special permit to hunt antlerless elk in the Nachees, Taneum or Manashtash units. Also get the Master Hunter Certificate so you can hunt the damage hunts. Start off your elk hunting with a cow so you will learn how to take care of the animal after it is down. They're a lot bigger than deer and are quite a chore to field dress. The first animal I gutted alone was a full-grown cow and it took about an hour to finish.
I suggest hunting cow elk first because they are the most numerous and you should bloody your hands early on so you can get to hunting bulls. Again, get that master hunter certificate.
Maybe find a group of hunters that will accept you in their hunting camp. That can be very difficult. Easier to find a good job than some hunting buddies. If you can't, do some scouting up the Nachees drainage and find some spots to watch like edges of clear cuts or saddles or points on a ridge line. The first three days of general elk season the animals are running from one drainage to the next as the population of hunters bump them. The last days of the season the elk are brushed up and if you're good at timber hunting you might find one.
Again I've got to remind you the elk is big and getting the meat to the road is hard work if you're alone and new at it. You'll have to invest in a chest freezer.
As you scout and study the animals you'll understand why so many people admire the animal and work to preserve elk and elk hunting. Hearing the bulls bugle is very thrilling and isn't that why we want to be out there with the elk?

 

[nwfisher]

Wow thanks for the fast replys. I am going to look in the game book for special permits, we are young dudes but there are around 3 to 4 of us that are going to be hunting for sure 2 of us.

I wouldnt mind shooting a cow! Elk taste great and that is what I am going for and the experience!

Sort of hard to tell where the good elk hunting is by just reading the wdfw game laws book hehehe.
Thanks again for all the help

 

[Bob D.]

That is a very good suggestion, go for a cow elk permit in one of the Yakima units. I just assumed you would only be interested in hunting bulls, because it seems that's what everybody wants. But, as everybody knows, you can't eat the antlers.

 

[nwfisher]

Exactly. Im not very familiar with the eastern elk units and how the draw works, what are the best 3 units to draw or or hunts, I believe that you get 3 picks correct?

if no one wants to give the info on this I understand as hunting grounds are a sacred.

Thanks already

 

[JACKELOPE]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-22-07 AT 10:04AM (MST)[p]you should look online at the harvest reports. not the regs. that will give you a better idea. any of the areas mentioned above have elk in good numbers. the '06 reports won't be out for a while, but the '05 reports are there. study those, pick a few gmu's and go scout. if you decide you don't like the area, pick another. consider the weather when you are scouting. where the elk are in the summer, they may not necessarily be there during the season. snows, crowds, etc will move them.
i think you get 4 choices. if you don't get drawn, go hunt the units you choose anyway. you could still take a spike bull, plus you'll learn the terrain and where the elk hang out while you're there, and you'll have a betther chance of getting drawen next year. you might also want to consider a muzzleloader hunt. less crowds for the most part and maybe better draw odds??

 

[finnman]

I would stick with Bob D. advice and put in for an antlerless permit in the Manastash, Umtanum,Bumping, or Cowiche units. It would be hard to not have a successful hunt in one of these areas on a cow tag. Jason R.

 

[nwfisher]

Thanks for the help guys ! I am looking into it now hoping to get drawn for a cow tag in a area that is filled with elk! I will be doing a week long scouting trip about a month early or so...and still looking for as much info on what GMU's to try for

thanks again!

 

[Crunchy]

I'd say if you want west side elk take the Stampede Pass exit off of I-90. Forest Service Road 54 takes you way back in and you will have to find your own spot from there, but thats a good start. You will see alot of elk sign

 

[shadowstalker]

Yakima herd .

 

[Bushcraft]

I'd start by taking a trip over to one of the feeding stations in the state so that you can see for yourself that there are actually elk in this state. Without a lot of scouting, someone new to the pursuit of these animals in this state might get a little disenchanted by the perceived lack of elk when the season is open. Just a thought to help keep your mind right.

________________________________________________
Liberalism is the philosophy of Western suicide.

 

[Alchase]

Then during season, find the deepest, darkest, nastiest, looking terrian that no other idi.....uh hunter would think of entering, and go hunting. That is usually where the elk are. Or you could do like I do, wait for some other stup...uh really really dedicated hunter to go into that nasty terrian and sit just out side and shoot what he flushes, LOL.

There are only two types of people - The Hunters and the hunted,
I hunt.
Alchase

 

[finnman]

If I were just starting out and didn't know where to go I would go hang out at your local archery pro shop and ask some questions and just be polite, someone will be willing to throw you a bone! I can't speak for the rifle season(I have not hunted it in 10 yrs) but the archery seasons on the wet side of Washington have been good to my brother and I, in 2005 I shot a 5x5 bull opening morning at 7:00, 40yds quartering away, the bull ran about a 125yds before expiring, it died 200yds from one of the largest forest service roads in the "PINCHOT". We also got a cow that morning. Don't give up on the late archery seasons, we have killed most of our elk during this hunt! Good hunting! Jason R.