Never hunted elk before... where do I start?

[Kc_Kracker]

so I have never hunted elk, so i dont know where I should tag for east or west, and where to go. Im not trophy hunting this year just meat hunting, so time to ask you guys for advice. i would prefer west side but if the east side is much easier/better chances then tell me 

[adamR]

What weapon are you wanting to hunt with?

[Bookworm007]

I'm sure someone with much more experience will chime in, but in my seven years of elk hunting I have hunted all around st helens and mt adams. The real difference I notice is how wet you get 

I for one like to be in the nastiest weather possible because the elk don't seem to care and other guys will throw in the towel. What is your hunting style? Do you like hiking in behind locked gates? Do you plan on camping or driving up each day? (some units are starting to have very limited public land for camping) Also if you are only in it for meat then try to find a any bull unit that fits your requirements.

[Kc_Kracker]

adam- modern, not good enough in arch yet for an elk and wouldn't want to fudge it up

bookworm yes i was thinking the same, any bull unit. the hunting style will depend on where I am I guess. I tend to find gates and hike in, look for some areas that have sign and start trying to track. cant wait to try to call one in  I would really rather be on this side hunting, Ill take rain of that white frozen crap any day 

[kentrek]

the best thing you can do is find someone who has killed elk an do your best to tag along an learn everything you possibly can....the school of hard knocks is..well..hard an long..


so my best advice is to get a "pard"

hope thats not a redundant comment


good luck !

[Kc_Kracker]

I can hunt near anything I grew up hunting but never elk, no idea where to go, mostly I just need a direction or area that would be worth hiking in and putting the work in but I have no idea where in WA elk are, aside from Greenwater but its not open to hunt

[stryker]

I saw some track up in Hancock Snoqualmie opening weekend, but didn't see squat yesterday in the same area.

[dscubame]

I can hunt near anything I grew up hunting but never elk, no idea where to go, mostly I just need a direction or area that would be worth hiking in and putting the work in but I have no idea where in WA elk are, aside from Greenwater but its not open to hunt

That is the big question for most that wish to kill and not just hunt Elk in WA.

[Bookworm007]

Haha yeah that is the trick around this whole state is to kill and not just hunt. Unfortunately its one of those easier said than done deals. I personally hunt the Grayback or Lewis River units depending on the year and see plenty of elk, but this year i got drawn for Margaret    You might think about hunting Wiston I have never been in there but I hear its good hunting and if you hike in a ways you can get away from the crowd. Pretty much anywhere you can expect to get an elk in Western Washington is 3 point or better. Hope you find yourself a dandy!! We will be waiting for pictures and the story!

[rosscrazyelk]

Not to sound like an ass but I would of started my homework alot sonner than yesterday.
Also I am a firm believer in scouting . Know your area. Know what the elk like to do when pressured. Escape routes and such.
Good luck

[Ripper]

  I agree, most people, myself included, like to help others out. However, we like to meet and get to know someone first so as to feel comfortable with your abilities, ethics and knowledge. Then it's nice to get out together and scout. If all you're looking for now is a direction then as someone pointed out earlier, Mt Adams, St Helens area does hold a lot of elk. Without any prior scouting though, your chances are slim unless you get lucky and  blindly have one walk out in front of you! I do wish you luck, and anything you learn this year will help you next.

[PlateauNDN]

Not to sound like an ass but I would of started my homework alot sonner than yesterday.
Also I am a firm believer in scouting . Know your area. Know what the elk like to do when pressured. Escape routes and such.
Good luck

I agree, most people, myself included, like to help others out. However, we like to meet and get to know someone first so as to feel comfortable with your abilities, ethics and knowledge. Then it's nice to get out together and scout. If all you're looking for now is a direction then as someone pointed out earlier, Mt Adams, St Helens area does hold a lot of elk. Without any prior scouting though, your chances are slim unless you get lucky and  blindly have one walk out in front of you! I do wish you luck, and anything you learn this year will help you next.

 

[pianoman9701]

In reference to your original question, you start in the gym. You walk with steep inclines, run if you're able, lift weights, jump, and do core. And then work on your maps. And then, you scout. And scout some more once you've uploaded your waypoints to your maps. And scout. You should be ready by next elk season. Good luck KC.

[RuttinWapati]

 

[Bean Counter]

I agree, most people, myself included, like to help others out. However, we like to meet and get to know someone first so as to feel comfortable with your abilities, ethics and knowledge. Then it's nice to get out together and scout. If all you're looking for now is a direction then as someone pointed out earlier, Mt Adams, St Helens area does hold a lot of elk. Without any prior scouting though, your chances are slim unless you get lucky and  blindly have one walk out in front of you! I do wish you luck, and anything you learn this year will help you next.

 

If you have the means, hire a guide this year. Make sure you get great references.

[Mr Mykiss]

The good news for you (and I truly mean this) is that you're starting your quest for elk knowledge with about 359 days until next elk season, tons of time to learn. I'd say shed hunt, buy 3 trailcameras, hike in September and August when you're not playing with trailcameras to learn the area(s) you might be hunting... keep us informed.

[James]

The best time to scout is during the season; so I would say your timing is prefect for next year.  Grab a tag, take some time off work, and go hiking with your gun now.

[stryker]

so I have never hunted elk, so i dont know where I should tag for east or west, and where to go. Im not trophy hunting this year just meat hunting, so time to ask you guys for advice. i would prefer west side but if the east side is much easier/better chances then tell me 

Im kinda in the same boat except, this year is the first time in 29 years since I have hunted. Gates...? What the hell? 30 years ago you could go anywhere.

Finances didnt allow for the rifle till very recently so late start. As Mr Mykiss put it "359 days until next elk season". Thats how my deer season is going. Scouting with a tag and a rifle and an 11 year old.

Hell yea I want to get one, but the adventure and sharing/teaching? with lil dude is half of it. Was gonna do Elk but once I realized I cant even find a deer... 

I guess I'll be out hunting/scouting durring late season.

358.5 more days...

[Kc_Kracker]

The good news for you (and I truly mean this) is that you're starting your quest for elk knowledge with about 359 days until next elk season, tons of time to learn. I'd say shed hunt, buy 3 trailcameras, hike in September and August when you're not playing with trailcameras to learn the area(s) you might be hunting... keep us informed.

nope, i have 4 days to the start of elk season, and I had s spot picked out but its not open i guess so on to plan B, scout n hunt at the same time. I have seen more elk this season than BT thats for damn sure!!   

stryker, yes property has been sold since 30 years ago, locked gates, all over 

[washelkhunter]

I would pick a unit with good access to large areas with closed roads. Find areas which have plenty of graze for the elk and places for them to hide. Park, put on your gear and head out. Good luck. 

[Kc_Kracker]

yep thats the plan.

[netcoyote]

PM sent

[762Armo]

I would pick a unit with good access to large areas with closed roads. Find areas which have plenty of graze for the elk and places for them to hide. Park, put on your gear and head out. Good luck. 

Quick question, when looking at GMUs and what not online and trying to find a place to go hunting, how can you tell in which areas have closed gates, and closed roads and where they are?

[Bookworm007]

I would pick a unit with good access to large areas with closed roads. Find areas which have plenty of graze for the elk and places for them to hide. Park, put on your gear and head out. Good luck. 

Quick question, when looking at GMUs and what not online and trying to find a place to go hunting, how can you tell in which areas have closed gates, and closed roads and where they are?

Pretty much you have to go drive up there and check it out. You can get a clue by looking at landownership. Pretty much all timber company land is gated, but sometimes the gates open for hunting season. I guess you could call to find out but the most reliable info comes first hand. DNR land generally has access on main thru fares but side roads get gated, but national forest land is open lots of times. As my father puts it I am a "mountain goat" so I tend to like hiking 4 miles in just to get away from other hunters. It gets a little interesting after you shoot something but thats part of the experience right? 

[762Armo]

I would pick a unit with good access to large areas with closed roads. Find areas which have plenty of graze for the elk and places for them to hide. Park, put on your gear and head out. Good luck. 

Quick question, when looking at GMUs and what not online and trying to find a place to go hunting, how can you tell in which areas have closed gates, and closed roads and where they are?

Pretty much you have to go drive up there and check it out. You can get a clue by looking at landownership. Pretty much all timber company land is gated, but sometimes the gates open for hunting season. I guess you could call to find out but the most reliable info comes first hand. DNR land generally has access on main thru fares but side roads get gated, but national forest land is open lots of times. As my father puts it I am a "mountain goat" so I tend to like hiking 4 miles in just to get away from other hunters. It gets a little interesting after you shoot something but thats part of the experience right? 

Where do I look to find who owns the land?

[bear hunter]

Just get out and Hunt. I just bagged a nice spike in manstash unit 340 Saturday on the opener. I learned how to hunt by just getting maps out and calling the game dept. Lots of driving and hiking through the woods just seeing animals then looking to see if the units are open to hunt. Try 340,342,336,329,328. All units around these areas have elk just get out and hunt GOOD LUCK

[stryker]

I went to the DNR and WDFW websites and started digging around in their archive of PDF maps. DNR Land, WDFW Land, State and National Forest boundries, Land Trusts.
http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/eng_rms_trustlands_map_nu2.pdf

Part of my search included 'what pass I need' to park at any given location.
http://www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/amp_rec_discover_pass_statewide_map.pdf

I also used the county parcel viewer to check ownership of an area I might be interested in after. I also do some scouting on Google Maps. They show property lines when you zoom in close enough on the map in MAP mode.
http://www5.kingcounty.gov/iMAP/viewer.htm