WA State Elk Units

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AutumnPulse

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Hey all you WA Elk hunters.

Next year I will have max pref. points for elk in WA. I am trying to decide where the best unit to apply for would be.

It is an easy choice for me this year, because I know that I will not have the time to devote to hunting if I did draw a premium tag, so I applied for the ghost point. I will hunt this year, but my wife is newly pregnant and we don't know how she will be doing, come fall. Therefore, it is alot easier to dismiss hunting the whole season, if she needs me and is having difficulty.

So, for next year, (knowing that even with max points, there is by no means ANY guarantee) I am debating between applying for either the Blues in SE WA like Dayton A or Wenaha, or one of the premium areas around Ellensburg like Peaches Ridge or the Colockum.

Neither of these areas are my general hunting area, and although I do well in my general area, a premium tag is a premium tag. I have a couple of 6 point bulls already, but nothing above 310. I am not trying to set the new state record or being to picky above what I think the premium areas could produce. I would drop the hammer on the first bull that I saw that was 330 or above. If you had max points, where would your first choice be?

By the way, the peninsula is not an option. I don't like hunting in areas that have ferns larger than I am. I would either apply for a unit around the Yakima herd or the Blues herd, and upon drawing the tag, would devote the time to get to know where i am hunting.

Thanks for your opinion.

-Autumn Pulse

"Be a straight-shooter in all that you do."
 
If you don't have max this year you wont have max next year. Ha.


Here's how I'd play it. I drew PR with archery last year and know of two others in my circle that drew with rifle. Local gal took a TOAD out of the blues last year. either one is just about a gimme if you put a little effort into it.

Since there are so few Blue Mtn tags, I'd put them 1 st on list and follow it up with the Yakima area permit. If you don't draw the Blue you could still get the yakima.

Just my thoughts, Congrats on the baby!
 
blues blues blues
big bulls....
as long as you can handle the country
watershed
super steep, giant bulls.
 
What is the # of points to reach max?
I'm sitting on 11 this year and need to ask the same question only I need to apply for the west side because that is where I live and if I put in for east side and did not draw I would have to skip the season because I will not travel to the east side to hunt spikes.
Anyone have an opinion on what the best west side unit is for 300 plus bull.
I live on the penninsula and don't think that one could intentionaly go out and find a 300 bull during any season.
Thanks
John
 
So your saying the blues are better all around if you can get the tag? Terrain elevation and hiking distance don't bother me. Tons of other hunters do.

I am a backpack hunter that prefers to get away from crowds and easy terrain. I don't mind getting 7-8 miles from the truck and I know what I am getting into when I pull the trigger on a bull that far back. Had to do it last year.

I have most often found that the elk are not stupid and they are typically about a mile or two farther than where most people turn around for exhaustion or fear from getting to far from the truck.

So, If I drew the tag, I would be looking for the nasty steep terrain type stuff because that is obviously where the big boys are hiding and where most people don't want to go.

Someone above said, seemed to elude to that you could choose your bull. Is it really that good? To where you are having to wade through the 300's to find 330 or better? I have plenty of experience hunting elk, but I have never experienced that before. That would be something new. I know how to pass on a raghorn, but I can't say that I have ever had to pass on multiple 6 points because they were not big enough. I figured that I would probably face that if I drew a premium tag, but from the poster's comment above, it sounds like you might have to face that multiple times per day, just to get to the one your looking for.

Anyway,

Thanks for the advice, I will definitely look into the blues.

Autumn Pulse


"Be a straight-shooter in all that you do."
 
Take one look at the washington state big game record books and you will see that all of the biggest bulls come from either yakima or kittitas counties. Id stick with the yakima and colockum herds. Goose Prairie isnt a bad draw either or the Little Naches A with that October 1st-10th season for any bull, might catch the very end of the rut on that hunt. As to the number of max points without having turned in a poacher the most you can have is 11, but outwest if you would like to apply on the eastside stick with the above advice and if you dont draw, give either the selkirk, alladin or 49 degrees north any bull units a try, the region one biologist and colville nat. forest biologist have both told me that the elk population is higher in that portion of the state than it ever has been.
 
Autumn pulse obviously never has been in the "Watershed" - a little sarcasum Autumn - the watershed is the toughest country to get in and out of on foot, that I've been around. YOu better pack a lunch of your going to hunt that place. Great bulls but tough country for sure.

I agree, stick with the yakima or upper reaches on the colockum side, there really are some very nice bulls up there, the areas west of the highway up the teanaway hold some great bulls . . .

The upper Taneum, around peaches holds good bulls if youre willing to get away from all the weekend warrier bull buglers. . .




"Roadless areas, in general, represent some of the best fish and wildlife habitat on public lands. The bad news is that there is nothing positive about a road where fish and wildlife habitat are concerned -- absolutely nothing." (B&C Professor, Jack Ward Thomas, Fair Chase, Fall 2005, p.10).
 
The success rate for the blues tags is always 100%. The Yak herds are high but not 100%. I also know that the biologists or game guys in the blues were very helpful to the gal who drew there. With only a handful getting tags they seemed more open with the intel.

So, missalot, you don't like our system? Do you prefer the Colorado system? or perhaps the Utah system? What difference would you like to see?

I drew Peaches with 6 points last year (archery). So, I'm back to '0' BUT, I still have a chance. I like our system because I have a chance unlike Colorado. I do think the Utah system, though very confusing, does have a copromise that helps the very unlucky. Of course alot depends on what units your putting in for too.
 
autumnpulse...i sent you a pm. take your question and go and ask it there...see what you get. i think if you can handle the terrain, and take what tfinalshot said to heart, it's seriously nasty stuff, that that is where the best odds of a big bull are to be found. take a long weekend and drive over there and look around if you have time before you put in for the tag.
 
"take a long weekend and drive over there and look around if you have time before you put in for the tag."

you have to hike the rim, it is unlawful to enter the watershed without a tag or without a person with a tag. It use to be that you could take one other person in, I dont know today if that's still true, but I believe you still are not allowed in there without a tag. . . No hiking in other words. . .

Here's about the best scouting you can do:

INDIAN RIDGE TRAIL #3221

Trail Beginning: Mill Creek bridge at County Road 582 and Forest Service Road #65. (2380')

Trail Ending: Top of Indian Ridge. (5400')

Access: 1) Lower Trailhead: From Walla Walla take the Mill Creek River Road 14 miles to County Road 582 and Forest Service Road #65, 2 miles.
2) Upper Trailhead: Continue up Forest Service Road #65 for 8 miles. Take the 015 spur road 1 mile to the trailhead.

Restrictions: Entry into the Mill Creek Water Shed is strictly prohibited.

Attractions & Considerations: Trail is open to hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers. Beware; the north side of the trail is the Mill Creek Watershed. This trail offers a panoramic view of the Mill Creek Watershed and follows Forest Service Road #65 closely with several spur trails leading to the road. Users can expect moderate use during hunting season.

Length: 3.0 miles
Elevation Variance: 2380' – 5400'
USGS Quad Maps: Big Meadows
Recommended Season: May 1 - October 30
Use: Light
Difficulty: Most Difficult
 
I'm not familiar with either the colorado or utah systems, but I'm guessing that they are preference point systems. In my opinion the preference point system is better if there is a percentage of tags that are open to everyone. This way everyone has a chance to draw and eventually everyone will work their way up to a level that they can be pretty certian of drawing. All the bonus point system does is increase the likelyhood that you will draw, but you never really have a clear edge, especially when there is a cap on points like Wa has. How many guys reach max points every year compared to the few that lose their points because they drew a tag? Lastly, I don't want to butt heads with someone who likes the WA system. If it works for you, I'll get out of your way and let you use it. I have better places to hunt.
 
I don't believe WA has a cap on points, you just keep adding to them every year you do not draw. The comment on a previous posting about the maximimum points you can have without turning in a poacher is 11 points refers to how long the point system has been in effect. I guess it has been 11 years now.
 
And some of us who have almost 30 points (bonus poacher points) still cannot get drawn! Yep, the system is messed up!
Eric

Ultra liberal, wolf loving, illiterate, gay, hippie midgets on crack piss me off!!!!

deerline.gif
 
I have seen some large 300-350 class bulls in the Taneum unit while bowhunting in the last few years. However, the best area to hunt, imo, would be in the blues. Specifically, I have seen bulls in the class you are looking for near the Mountain View or Mountain Home area...can't remember the exact name. It's a sheep area and I see the bulls while scouting and photographing the sheep. (yeah, it's steep and not many people) The only issue would be that some of the bulls are down low on or near private property... This area is located near the Grand Ronde.

The Pope
 
Autumn Pulse, you would have to have 12 points after applying this year to be at max points. If you have 11 then your a point down. The wdfw web site has your app history and you can see it year by year starting in 96. And there is no cap on points, if you put in for 100 years you would have 100 bonus points.
 

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