Lots of hunters!

[pianoman9701]

I've thought about muzzle loader, but I don't know. One shot and ya got to get in pretty close. And no offense to you stick (bow) hunters, but I did the bow hunting thing several years back, had a bad experience with it, and will never do it again. Plus even after days and weeks of practice still couldn't hit the broadside of a barn

I might piss you off a little, but you wouldn't be the first person (or the last), so here goes. This post makes you sound a little lazy, no offense to you. I think you're seeing a lot of hunters because you don't go in very far and you're not willing to do what it takes to become proficient at another weapon. Days and weeks of practice? Archery is a lifestyle. It takes up to 6 months to become proficient with your first bow if you practice all the time. You have to develop good habits and muscle memory to effectively kill an animal with one. You also need the right equipment; not necessarily the best bow, but a good one with arrows that match, a good rest, and a good sight. Then, it takes constant shooting and maintenance to keep you ready. I don't doubt that you had a bad experience with it after only "days and weeks".

Modern may well be the best season for you. Even so, get in butt-kicking shape and be willing to climb it steep for a couple of miles to get your own place. Then, the only people you'll run into are the other committed maniacs who train all year for one week of hunting.

[kentrek]

I've thought about muzzle loader, but I don't know. One shot and ya got to get in pretty close. And no offense to you stick (bow) hunters, but I did the bow hunting thing several years back, had a bad experience with it, and will never do it again. Plus even after days and weeks of practice still couldn't hit the broadside of a barn

I might piss you off a little, but you wouldn't be the first person (or the last), so here goes. This post makes you sound a little lazy, no offense to you. I think you're seeing a lot of hunters because you don't go in very far and you're not willing to do what it takes to become proficient at another weapon. Days and weeks of practice? Archery is a lifestyle. It takes up to 6 months to become proficient with your first bow if you practice all the time. You have to develop good habits and muscle memory to effectively kill an animal with one. You also need the right equipment; not necessarily the best bow, but a good one with arrows that match, a good rest, and a good sight. Then, it takes constant shooting and maintenance to keep you ready. I don't doubt that you had a bad experience with it after only "days and weeks".

Modern may well be the best season for you. Even so, get in butt-kicking shape and be willing to climb it steep for a couple of miles to get your own place. Then, the only people you'll run into are the other committed maniacs who train all year for one week of hunting.

also dont forget about those lil hidy holes that them commited maniacs ride,walk past every year..

just hunt where there isnt peaple..

places that..

have no water..
have lots of brush..
have lots of miles to get to.
have huge mtns to climb..
have no trails..(kind of a bigy in the winston) not too many peaple cross counrty it
have few animals..
is private..
are sleeper spots around urban areas..(another bigy in western wa)

[Bean Counter]

You should try Monster Bull Meadows, just past the Notellum Creek drainage. its public land (so you don't have to pay), OTC (so you don't have to figure out how a draw works and wait your turn in line), you can drive right up to the meadows, and its open during the rut for modern firearm. Game and fish requests that you use at least a .375 Holland and Holland magnum (gotta prove how big your manhood is), with at least a 14x scope (so your hunt doesn't drag past the first afternoon). This isn't too much to ask being that the unit has a 25% bull ratio and the average antler point is 6x6.

[brokehunter]

I might piss you off a little, but you wouldn't be the first person (or the last), so here goes. This post makes you sound a little lazy, no offense to you. I think you're seeing a lot of hunters because you don't go in very far and you're not willing to do what it takes to become proficient at another weapon. Days and weeks of practice? Archery is a lifestyle. It takes up to 6 months to become proficient with your first bow if you practice all the time. You have to develop good habits and muscle memory to effectively kill an animal with one. You also need the right equipment; not necessarily the best bow, but a good one with arrows that match, a good rest, and a good sight. Then, it takes constant shooting and maintenance to keep you ready. I don't doubt that you had a bad experience with it after only "days and weeks".

Modern may well be the best season for you. Even so, get in butt-kicking shape and be willing to climb it steep for a couple of miles to get your own place. Then, the only people you'll run into are the other committed maniacs who train all year for one week of hunting.

Nah you didn't upset me. There are many good reasons I do not bow hunt. Nor am I lazy. I do lots of hiking when I'm in good area and not surrounded by several other guys trying to shoot the same elk. I do a lot of scouting different areas every year so it's just a matter of time before I find a decent spot I can call my own. I'm just saying that it's quite a bit different up here than it was in Oregon. Been hunting up here for nearly 10 years and still just trying to get used to it. I wish it wasn't so spendy to hunt out of state. Its crazy what they want for tags! I think it's crazy I paid over a hundred bucks for a deer and elk tag last year here in my own state! I do know that this next season I will see a lot more animals that I am confident in, and looking forward to it!

[huntnnw]

I've thought about muzzle loader, but I don't know. One shot and ya got to get in pretty close. And no offense to you stick (bow) hunters, but I did the bow hunting thing several years back, had a bad experience with it, and will never do it again. Plus even after days and weeks of practice still couldn't hit the broadside of a barn

I might piss you off a little, but you wouldn't be the first person (or the last), so here goes. This post makes you sound a little lazy, no offense to you. I think you're seeing a lot of hunters because you don't go in very far and you're not willing to do what it takes to become proficient at another weapon. Days and weeks of practice? Archery is a lifestyle. It takes up to 6 months to become proficient with your first bow if you practice all the time. You have to develop good habits and muscle memory to effectively kill an animal with one. You also need the right equipment; not necessarily the best bow, but a good one with arrows that match, a good rest, and a good sight. Then, it takes constant shooting and maintenance to keep you ready. I don't doubt that you had a bad experience with it after only "days and weeks".

Modern may well be the best season for you. Even so, get in butt-kicking shape and be willing to climb it steep for a couple of miles to get your own place. Then, the only people you'll run into are the other committed maniacs who train all year for one week of hunting.

   any of todays bows will shoot well and plenty of energy to harvest the biggest of animals in north america. All about going to a good pro shop and getting set up right and tuned! and bow fit to you

[funkster]

It doesn't matter if there are 15-20 trucks at a gate. Stop complaining and think about it for a minute. There must be a lot of animals if 15-20 trucks are parked there everyday. Sounds like you are a late riser? When I get to a popular gate, there are usually 1-2 rigs mine and my hunting crew. You can get past the crowds easy, usually under 5 miles. We hunt 8-15 miles back and do that daily and see maybe 1 other hunter all day. With the population in Washington at 6,830,038 you have to be willing to do what the another hunter won't. This might take a little more effort than riding around in a truck all day, but trust me, you will "get on" more animals

[BULLBLASTER]

Probably best to avoid the coweeman at all costs! 

[PlateauNDN]

It doesn't matter if there are 15-20 trucks at a gate. Stop complaining and think about it for a minute. There must be a lot of animals if 15-20 trucks are parked there everyday. Sounds like you are a late riser? When I get to a popular gate, there are usually 1-2 rigs mine and my hunting crew. You can get past the crowds easy, usually under 5 miles. We hunt 8-15 miles back and do that daily and see maybe 1 other hunter all day. With the population in Washington at 6,830,038 you have to be willing to do what the another hunter won't. This might take a little more effort than riding around in a truck all day, but trust me, you will "get on" more animals

    Couldn't have said it better myself.  If your not the 1st vehicle parked anywhere then you're late.  I get up there day before or leave my house by at least 1 or 2 am to be up there a couple of hours before sun-up.  Do what others won't and you'll be successful more times than not.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I agree with Piano ...If you really want it you have to work for it ...Plain and simple ...put on some boot leather and you will not have such a problem ... Hunting public land is tough but you can avoid the crowds by hiking in a couple more miles than the average guy ....unless your disabled or something ...I hunted Coweeman last fall with my son and we waited until the last week of the season and we saw no one except the friends we were hunting with ...Dropped  2 elk with in 10 minutes of each other ...that was sweet !

[CamoDup]

You should try Monster Bull Meadows, just past the Notellum Creek drainage. its public land (so you don't have to pay), OTC (so you don't have to figure out how a draw works and wait your turn in line), you can drive right up to the meadows, and its open during the rut for modern firearm. Game and fish requests that you use at least a .375 Holland and Holland magnum (gotta prove how big your manhood is), with at least a 14x scope (so your hunt doesn't drag past the first afternoon). This isn't too much to ask being that the unit has a 25% bull ratio and the average antler point is 6x6.

  I think I've been there.. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!

[b0bbyg]

You should try Monster Bull Meadows, just past the Notellum Creek drainage. its public land (so you don't have to pay), OTC (so you don't have to figure out how a draw works and wait your turn in line), you can drive right up to the meadows, and its open during the rut for modern firearm. Game and fish requests that you use at least a .375 Holland and Holland magnum (gotta prove how big your manhood is), with at least a 14x scope (so your hunt doesn't drag past the first afternoon). This isn't too much to ask being that the unit has a 25% bull ratio and the average antler point is 6x6.

  I think I've been there.. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!

Thats the tag I drew,   Glad to hear good reports from my unit.
 

[shorthair15]

yes avoid the coweeman there are no elk in there . i have hunted rifle and had success for elk and deer. just prefer hunting with my bow alot more fun. get a mtn bike and start exploring areas as much as you can get back in there a few miles im sure you will find some areas. good luck this season

[brokehunter]

yes avoid the coweeman there are no elk in there . i have hunted rifle and had success for elk and deer. just prefer hunting with my bow alot more fun. get a mtn bike and start exploring areas as much as you can get back in there a few miles im sure you will find some areas. good luck this season

Yes thank you, that's exactly what we are going to do here shortly is ride bikes into an area we've been mapping out. Looks promising. Thanks again and good luck to you as well!